A Marvelous Book, Part 2

As I continue my reading of The Lindisfarne Gospels: Society, Spirituality and the Scribe by Michelle Brown, I have learned some interesting facts about the Lindisfarne Gospels which may prove useful for our ministry today.

The ‘Lindisfarne Gospels’ is a Latin gospel book written in the early 700’s. In fact, it is the earliest exact copy of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate transcribed by a native of Britain. At the time there were many ‘mixed’ copies of the Latin Bible which included bits from Jerome’s Vulgate as well as earlier Latin versions, but none with such precise representation of Jerome’s Vulgate. Scholars believe the original maker of the Lindisfarne Gospels was working within the convictions of the Lindisfarne community to strengthen the ties of Celtic Christianity to traditions of the larger Roman Church (this was before the days of Church of England and Protestantism). It was an intentional move of solidarity with the wider, universal Church, or to use more modern terms, a display of ecumenical or interdenominational relations.

A few hundred years later in the late 900’s a scribe by the name of Aldred—a Christian of St. Cuthbert’s following—inserted Old English translations between the Latin lines (called a ‘colophon’). Aldred’s colophon is the earliest translation of the Gospels into English we have to date, and is more than 500 years before William Tyndale’s celebrated translation to Early Modern English. The community of Christians who followed St. Cuthbert knew the importance of translating the Gospels into everyday language. Incidentally, Aldred’s colophon shares in the original intent of the Latin Vulgate, for the root of ‘vulgate’ means ‘vulgar’ or ‘common.’

So, the Lindisfarne Gospels stands in the byways of a world in change. On one hand, it represents the Celtic church’s desire to maintain the orthodoxy of the universal Church. On the other, it is a visible reminder of the need to ‘translate’ the Gospel of Christ into everyday language. This powerful testimony encourages us in our mission and ministry at the Church of Jesus Christ. We stand upon the timeless truths of God’s redemptive history, handed down to us through the historic church. This we call Tradition. Yet at the same time, we are confronted with the daunting task of communicating this truth to a generation that no longer speaks ‘church.’ This we call Mission.

Blessings,
JON

A Marvelous Book, Part 1

During our recent vacation, I had an opportunity to read a good portion of The Lindisfarne Gospels: Society, Spirituality and the Scribe by Michelle Brown. It has been calling to me for quite some time, having sat on my shelf since our last year in England.

The ‘Lindisfarne Gospels’—a Latin gospel book—is considered one of the great landmarks of human cultural achievement. Its inception began in the early 700’s in the northeast of Britain, probably written to accompany the following of the Celtic St. Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarne. It boasts a style of art which fuses Celtic, Germanic and Mediterranean forms, which is energetic and sophisticated. It is one of the most famous items in the national collections held at the British Library, enjoying periodic visits back ‘home’ to Durham Cathedral, where lies the remains and sundry relics of St. Cuthbert.

Michelle Brown’s opening description of the Lindisfarne Gospels captures some of the mystery which has drawn generations back to this book. “Its pages exude a passion, an energy and a thoughtful, receptive commitment to an earnestly held purpose, a higher ideal, which speaks of the very best of human aspiration. Books are about people. They can embody many different aspects of human activity—intellectual, literary, spiritual, ideological, artistic, historical, political and economic. They are portals into past lives, facilitating that vital organic communion between past, present and future. Whenever one such witness survives the ravages of time and the vagaries of fortune it presents a valuable testament. When such a survivor has come through comparatively intact and still preserves its brilliance its voice can be particularly eloquent. The enthusiasm and skill of the Lisdisfarne Gospels’ maker is a constant source of inspiration, the technical and artistic refinement a cause of wonderment, enquiry and admiration.”

Such imagination, ingenuity, artistry, excellence, devotion and care poured into a work of Word and worship! What a blessing! What a testimony! May we all be of the same mind in our mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
JON