What Version of the Scriptures Did Augustine Read?

I often get asked by people, “What version of the Bible do you recommend?” Today, we live in a time when there are no less than 100 English translations of the scriptures to choose from. But in 387 AD when Augustine became a Christian, he did not have the same opportunities available to him. Augustine did not know Greek or Hebrew so he was dependent on others to translate the scriptures for him. Making matters even more difficult, Augustine only had one translation of scripture to use, and it was a translation of a translation. The Vetus Latina or “Old Latin Bible” was translated from the Greek texts by many different translators over a century. This accumulation of translations were so varied and unpolished that Augustine was prompted to remark, “In the early days of the faith, every man who happened to gain possession of a Greek manuscript and who imagined that he had any faculty in both languages dared to make a translation.” Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus to create an authoritative Latin translation at about this same time commented, “There are almost as many forms of the text as there are copies.” One would have to wonder if this difficulty had the potential to impeded or misdirect Augustine’s understanding of the text?

I’d like to take you back to my blog two years ago, “Is the Theory of Original Sin Biblical – Part 7” where we discussed Romans 5:12. You will remember (Of course you don’t… but go read it. After all, it’s just two post below this one.) a major part of the discussion was on the Greek preposition, “ef’ ho”.  You will remember that “ef’ ho” can be translated to mean, “on which”, or possibly “on whom”, but its most common use is to say simply, “because”.  Here is Romans 5:12 in English from the Vulgate, which is similar the Old Latin text.

“…and so death spread to all men, through one man, in whom all men sinned.” (Vulgate, translated into English)

Reading this translation of Paul’s Epistle, one can clearly see how Augustine could arrive at his conclusions about the nature of man’s sin. Today, however all modern translators agree that the text is best translated not, “… in whom all men sinned.” but, “… because all men sinned.” Augustine’s ideas about “Original or Primal Sin” have dominated Christian Theology and thought for more than 1600 years.  Original sin says that men are not made sinners, but are constituted that way by God. What a terrible blasphemous thing to attribute to God! God hates sin and loves the world! Why would a God who loves you and me beyond our ability to comprehend create men sinful and then hold us accountable for what we cannot help?

Do all men sin? Absolutely. The Scriptures attest to that. Romans 3:23 says that, “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” The Bible declared that, “None is righteous, no not one.” (Romans 9:10-13) But the blame for our universal sinfulness is not universal. It rest squarely on each individual. I chose to open the door to sin, and it ravaged my life just as it did yours. We all stand accountable before God for the choices we have made. All of us know that we deserve condemnation, no one standing before God will say, it was not me, it was Adam. Praise God for the Gospel! Jesus became a man. The Bible says He was tempted in every way like we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) He was crucified and put to death, but death could not hold him. His death is for the forgiveness of our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world! (1 John 2:2) He is the one who is able to free us from our wretched condition!

It is hard to imagine that one misguided bit of translation could deliver so much damage to the church. So entrenched is this line of thought in the church today that I will be branded by many as a Palagian and a heretic for saying thing things I have. However, for me, and I hope you also, this seems to be the most reasonable understanding based on the scriptures. Doug Chaplin recently commented on the misinterpretation of “ef’ ho” in Romans 5:12 calling it the most disastrous preposition in all history and I’m inclined to agree.