Written by Hugo Olaiz
Romans 15:4 (NRSV) For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
You may have heard of John Wycliffe, who produced the first handwritten English translation of the Bible in the 1300s. Or perhaps you know the names of William Tyndale or Myles Coverdale, the first to print the New Testament and then the whole Bible in English. One name you may not know is Casidoro de Reina, who translated the first complete Bible printed in Spanish in 1569. It’s often called the Bible of the Bear: On the title page, a bear consumes the sweet honey out of a beehive, even as it is being attacked by the bees. The title page also includes a quote from Isaiah 40:8, “The word of our God will stand forever.” I think Paul has a similar idea in today’s lesson from Romans when he calls scripture “steadfast.”
In order to publish his translation, Reina had to flee his home country of Spain, eventually dying in exile. I am grateful for Reina and many others, who, because of their courageous work, have given us instruction, steadfastness, encouragement, and hope.
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