Museum of the Bible Magazine is featuring staff and interns to provide a closer look into the museum, the people working behind-the-scenes, and research and projects our staff are working on.

This month, we're highlighting our digitization intern, Yucheng Guan, who shares fascinating insights into the Luther Bible and the Polyglot Bible while interning here at the museum.

Discovering the Luther Bible: A Journey of Digitization at Museum of the Bible

My name is Yucheng Guan, and I am currently serving as the digitization intern at Museum of the Bible. As part of my internship, I have been given the incredible opportunity to work closely with some of the most significant texts in history, preserving them for future generations through digital imaging. This hands-on experience not only allows me to engage with rare and precious artifacts but also contributes to the museum’s mission of making these treasures accessible to scholars and the public around the world.

Figure 1: Yucheng at work in the museum's Digital Imaging Lab.

One of the most remarkable items I’ve had the privilege to digitize at Museum of the Bible is the Luther New Testament. This extraordinary artifact is not just a relic of the past but a cornerstone in the history of Christianity and the German language. As I delve into the details of this ancient text, I am constantly reminded of the profound impact it has had on religious practice, language development, and cultural preservation.

The Luther Bible

The Luther Bible, translated by Martin Luther in the early 16th century, was groundbreaking. Luther began his translation in 1521, starting with the New Testament, which he completed in 1522. The entire Bible, including the Old Testament, was finished by 1534. This translation was revolutionary as it made the scriptures more accessible by translating them into vernacular German, a language ordinary people used and understood. This democratization of knowledge facilitated personal engagement with the scriptures and played a crucial role in the Protestant Reformation.

The impact of the Luther Bible extended beyond religion. It significantly influenced the development of the German language, helping to standardize it and shape its literary form. Luther’s translation was not only accurate but also stylistically elegant, ensuring that it resonated with the people and endured through the centuries.

How Digitization Works

My work as a digitization intern this summer involves preserving such invaluable artifacts for future generations. Digitization ensures physical wear and tear on these ancient texts do not result in the loss of their content and historical significance. Digitizing the Luther Bible began with meticulous handling, then high-resolution photography, capturing every detail of the text and its intricate illustrations.

Once the images are captured, they undergo multiple rounds of quality control to ensure they meet the Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) standards. This includes checks for light uniformity, color accuracy, and image clarity, ensuring the digital reproductions are as true to the original as possible. The digitization of the Luther Bible preserves its content and makes it accessible to scholars and the public worldwide. Our online collections database allows individuals to explore this monumental work and gain insights into its historical and cultural context.

Working on the Luther Bible has been an enlightening experience, emphasizing the importance of digital preservation in safeguarding our cultural heritage. As we continue to advance in our digitization efforts, we ensure treasures like the Luther Bible remain accessible, preserving their legacy for future generations to study and appreciate. It is a privilege to be part of this process, knowing work contributes to the enduring legacy of one of the most significant translations in history.

Figure 2 (002619_066): Here Luther used the German legal term Denkzettel in Matthew 23:5 for the translation of the Greek word φυλακτήριον so that it read: “They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.” This legalistic language does not exist in the Vulgate or any ancient text.

Figure 3 (002619_350): Luther controversially added the word “alone” (allein in German) to Romans 3:28 so that it read: “So now we hold, that man is justified without the help of the works of the law, alone through faith.” The word “alone” does not appear in the Greek texts. 

Read about Yucheng's insights into the Polyglot Bible here.

By Yucheng Guan, Digitization Intern

Published August 29, 2024