Thesis
God’s Word, Man’s Will: An Analysis of Translation and Ecclesiastic Authority in the Medieval Church
University of Iowa
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Iowa
Spring 2025
Abstract
What does it mean to translate, and can it be done in a truly objective manner? How is this process unique when handling texts of great religious significance like the Bible? This thesis aims to critically analyze these questions specifically through the lens of the Catholic church during the Middle Ages in Europe. By comparing select verses (Matthew 16:18-19 and John 6:63) from both the Latin Vulgate and the first English translation of the Bible, translated by theology scholar and Christian reformer John Wycliffe, I argue that medieval authority over both religious interpretation and more secular institutions like the legal and political systems ultimately boils down to how religious texts are translated. Further, I argue the importance of recognizing who was allowed to translate and interpret religious texts, and attempt to identify the implications of that authorization for the laity, most of whom were illiterate. Lastly, I posit that similar issues of translation and interpretative authority may persist presently, and in a conceptually comparable way to how they did during the Middle Ages, and continue by providing suggestions for how to frame discussions of religious authority to equip believers with the intellectual autonomy to own their religious beliefs for themselves. I conclude by summarizing the role of translation in framing the sociopolitical culture of Medieval society and why such a phenomenon applies to modern-day Christian theology and doctrine. Further, I articulate why the acts of translation and interpretation are forms of literary creation in their own right and thus come with ethical guidelines and moral considerations that must be taken into account by translators and religious authorities to protect the integrity of religious belief and the rights of the general public.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- God’s Word, Man’s Will: An Analysis of Translation and Ecclesiastic Authority in the Medieval Church
- Creators
- Jaden (JB) Bartlett - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Eric Ensley (Mentor) - University of IowaLori Branch (Advisor) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Project Type
- Honors Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- English and Creative Writing
- Date degree season
- Spring 2025
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 30 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © Jaden (JB) Bartlett
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- CLAS Honors Theses
- Record Identifier
- 9984827338202771
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