As Christianity spread westward from Palestine and became more and more firmly rooted in the far-flung dominions of the Roman Empire, it was but natural that the need should arise for renderings of the Bible in Latin, the official language of that empire, and, as a result, there came into existence a number of more or less desultory translations, usually grouped together under the general title of "the Old Latin Version." Towards the close of the fourth century, however, a certain Damasus, then Bishop of Rome, decided that it was of prime importance for the spread of Christianity that someone should prepare a more standard version of the Bible, which would improve upon, and ultimately supersede, the "Old Latin" texts, which were clearly in need of revision. The man whom Damasus forthwith appointed to carry out this important task was his secretary, Eusebius Hieronymus—popularly known as Jerome—one who appears to have been well fitted to undertake this work, for he had a good Latin style and had studied Greek for many years, while he possessed an adequate knowledge of Hebrew.
The Version which Jerome at length gave to the world, is now known as "the Vulgate"—a term which derives from the Latin "vulgata." meaning "common," and which was applied to it because it was intended to be, and eventually became, the commonly accepted Latin version of the Scriptures.
Jerome's work was not entirely that of a translator. In producing his version of the New Testament he seems simply to have revised, rather cursorily, certain of the "Old Latin" texts which were then in use; and it may be observed that even this somewhat timid revision aroused a storm of criticism among the conservatives of the day. As regards the Old Testament, however, his work provides much greater evidence of originality.
