Racovian New Testament
Encyclopedia
The Racovian New Testament refers to two separate translations produced by the Unitarian Polish Brethren
at the printing presses of the Racovian Academy
, Raków, Poland.
in his Anti-Trinitarian Library
lists the preface in Latin to a "Racovian New Testament", by the Transylvanian Unitarian bishop George Enyedinus
, which Sand notes is impossible since Enyedi died before either of the known Racovian versions were published. It may be that Enyedi's preface attached to some other translation produced by the Polish Brethren
, for example, as the suggestion by Wallace
that this may refer to the translation into Polish of the New Testament of Marcin Czechowic
published at Raków before the existence of the Academy in 1577 by Alexius Rodecki, and without the place of printing being indicated. Or alternatively since the preface attributed to Enyedi is in Latin, there may have conceivably have been a Latin New Testament originating from Rodecki's press which is now unknown.
view of scriptures and the typical Socinian belief in Jesus as "Son of God,.. not God, ...born of the virgin birth".
.
, Amsterdam 1660.
Polish Brethren
The Polish Brethren were members of the Minor Reformed Church of Poland, a Nontrinitarian Protestant church that existed in Poland from 1565 to 1658...
at the printing presses of the Racovian Academy
Racovian Academy
The Racovian Academy was a school of the Socinian Polish Brethren operating in Raków, Kielce County, Poland 1602-1638, and publisher of the Racovian Catechism in 1605....
, Raków, Poland.
Enyedi's "Preface to the Racovian New Testament"
Christopher SandiusChristopher Sandius
Christopher Sandius Jr. was an Arian writer and publisher of Socinian works without himself being a Socinian....
in his Anti-Trinitarian Library
Bibliotheca antitrinitariorum
The Bibliotheca antitrinitariorum, or Antitrinitarian Library, first published in 1684, is a posthumous work of Christopher Sandius , an exiled Prussian Antitrinitarian in Amsterdam, in which he chronologically lists all the Arian and Socinian or Antitrinitarian authors from the Reformation to...
lists the preface in Latin to a "Racovian New Testament", by the Transylvanian Unitarian bishop George Enyedinus
György Enyedi (Unitarian)
György Enyedi, in Latin Georgius Eniedinus was a Hungarian Unitarian bishop, moderator of the John Sigismund Unitarian Academy in Kolozsvár and writer known as the "Unitarian Plato"....
, which Sand notes is impossible since Enyedi died before either of the known Racovian versions were published. It may be that Enyedi's preface attached to some other translation produced by the Polish Brethren
Polish Brethren
The Polish Brethren were members of the Minor Reformed Church of Poland, a Nontrinitarian Protestant church that existed in Poland from 1565 to 1658...
, for example, as the suggestion by Wallace
Robert Wallace (Unitarian)
Robert Wallace was an English Unitarian minister, now best known for his Antitrinitarian Biography .-Life:He was born at Dudley, Worcestershire, on 26 February 1791. In 1808 he came under the influence of James Hews Bransby, who prepared him for entrance at Manchester College, then at York, under...
that this may refer to the translation into Polish of the New Testament of Marcin Czechowic
Marcin Czechowic
Martin Czechowic was a Polish Socinian minister, theologian and writer.-Life:...
published at Raków before the existence of the Academy in 1577 by Alexius Rodecki, and without the place of printing being indicated. Or alternatively since the preface attributed to Enyedi is in Latin, there may have conceivably have been a Latin New Testament originating from Rodecki's press which is now unknown.
Polish New Testament
Aside from Rodecki's printing of Czechowicz' version in 1577 the first official translation was that translation by Walenty Smalc from Greek to Polish in 1606, reprinted 1620. The existence of a preface from 1605 suggests that the 1606 edition may have been a second printing. An extensive subtitle argues for sola scripturaSola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
view of scriptures and the typical Socinian belief in Jesus as "Son of God,.. not God, ...born of the virgin birth".
German New Testament
1630 saw the appearance of a German translation by Johannes Crell and Joachim StegmannJoachim Stegmann
Joachim Stegmann Sr. was a German Socinian theologian, Bible translator, mathematician and rector of the Racovian Academy....
.
Other Unitarian New Testaments
The version of Stegmann and Crell is not to be confused with the German New Testament based on Courcelles' Greek text by Jeremias FelbingerJeremias Felbinger
Jeremias Felbinger was a German Socinian writer, teacher, lexicographer.He taught in Koszalin, Helmstadt, Bernstadt auf dem Eigen, Greifswald, and Wrocław, and lived at a "Strasswitz" near Gdańsk....
, Amsterdam 1660.