NOTE.
the pre-lutheran german bible.
According to the latest investigations, fourteen printed editions of the whole Bible in the
Middle High German dialect, and three in the Low German, have been identified. Panzer already
knew fourteen; see his Gesch. der nürnbergischen Ausgaben der Bibel, Nürnberg, 1778, p. 74.
The first four, in large folio, appeared without date and place of publication, but were
probably printed: 1, at Strassburg, by Heinrich Eggestein, about or before 1466 (the falsely so-called
Mainzer Bibel of 1462); 2, at Strassburg, by Johann Mentelin, 1466 (?); 3, at Augsburg, by Jodocus
Pflanzmann, or Tyner, 1470 (?); 4, at Nürnberg, by Sensenschmidt and Frissner, in 2 vols., 408
and 104 leaves, 1470–73 (?). The others are located, and from the seventh on also dated, viz.: 5,
Augsburg, by Günther Zainer, 2 vols., probably between 1473–1475. 6, Augsburg, by the same,
dated 1477 (Stevens says, 1475?). 7, The third Augsburg edition, by Günther Zainer, or Anton
Sorg, 1477, 2 vols., 321 and 332 leaves, fol., printed in double columns; the first German Bible
with a date. 8, The fourth Augsburg edition, by A. Sorg, 1480, folio. 9, Nürnberg, by Anton Koburger
(also spelled Koberger), 1483. 10, Strassburg, by Johann Gruninger, 1485. 11 and 12, The fifth and
sixth Augsburg editions, in small fol., by Hans Schönsperger, 1487 and 1490. 13, The seventh
Augsburg edition, by Hans Otmar, 1507, small folio. 14, The eighth Augsburg edition, by Silvan
Otmar, 1518, small folio.
The Low Dutch Bibles were printed: 1, at Cologne, in large folio, double columns, probably
- The unknown editor speaks of previous editions and his own improvements. Stevens (Nos.
653 and 654) mentions two copies of the O. T. in Dutch, printed at Delf, 1477, 2 vols. fol. 2, At
Lübeck, 1491 (not 1494), 2 vols. fol. with large woodcuts. 3, At Halberstadt, 1522.
Comp. Kehrein (I.c.), Krafft (l.c., pp. 4, 5), and Henry Stevens, The Bibles in the Caxton
Exhibition, London, 1878. Stevens gives the full titles with descriptions, pp. 45 sqq., nos. 620 sqq.
Several of these Bibles, including the Koburger and those of Cologne and Halberstadt, are
in the possession of the Union Theol. Seminary, New York. I examined them. They are ornamented
by woodcuts, beginning with a picture of God creating the world, and forming Eve from the rib of
Adam in Paradise. Several of them have Jerome’s preface (De omnibus divinae historiae libris, Ep.
ad Paulinum), the oldest with the remark: "Da hebet an die epistel des heiligen priesters sant Jeronimi
zu Paulinum von allen gottlichen büchern der hystory. Das erst capitel."
Dr. Krafft illustrates the dependence of Luther on the earlier version by several examples
(pp. 13–18). The following is from the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5:21–27:—
the ninth bible, 1483.
Habt ir gehört, das gesaget ist den alten. Du solt nit tödten, wellicher aber tödtet. der
wird schuldig des gerichts. Aber ich sag euch, daz ein yeglicher der do zürnet seinem
bruder. der wirt schuldig des gerichts. Der aber spricht zu seinem bruder. racha. der wirt
schuldig des rats. Und der do spricht. tor. der wirt schuldig des hellischen fewrs. Darum
ob du opfferst dein gab zu dem attar. und do wirst gedenckend. daz dein bruder ettwas hat
wider dich, lasz do dein gab vor dem altar und gee zum ersten und versüne dich mit deim
bruder und denn kum und opffer dein gab. Bis gehellig deim widerwertigen schyer. die
weyl du mit im bist him weg. das dich villeycht der widersacher nit antwurt den Richter.
und der Richter dich antwurt dem diener und werdest gelegt in den kercker. Fürwar ich
sag dir. du geest nit aus von dannen. und das du vergeltest den letzten quadranten.
luther’s new testament, 1522.