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PRINTED
1572 AD.
NIEŚWIESKA BIBLE
The Nieświeska Bible was another Polish translation from the original languages. The author was an extraordinary theologian and linguist associated with Unity of the Brethren, Szymon Budny, a nobleman belonging to a Christian Orthodox family from Zabłudeń. He was raised by the Chodkiewicz family.
SZYMON BUDNY
Budny studied at the Jagielloński University in Poland, but also in Italy and Switzerland, where he encountered the ideas of Miguel Servet. He was fluent in Byelorussian, Polish, Czech, Latin, Hebrew, Italian and Greek. After returning to Poland, Szymon Budny settled in Prince Radziwiłł Czarny's mansion in Klecko, where he was a pastor. At first he was closely connected to Calvinism but later turned towards Armenian doctrines, which resulted in him being excluded from the church and stripped of his pastoral office. He translated the Bible in Nieśwież, which is why it is called the Nieświeska Bible. Szymon Budny tried to transmit the original Hebrew and Greek thought, which was a very difficult task, particularly for the Hebrew language. He coined many new words that were helpful for understanding the original text. The Nieświeska Bible was also read by Jews.
MOST OUTSTANDING HEBRAIST OF XVI CENTURY
It was impossible for Budny to comprehend the New Testament without a deep understanding of Hebrew thoughts and culture. He was an extraordinary person. His untraditional mind caused him to have a lot of enemies among Calvinists and the Unity of Brethren. In 1572 after many struggles with the publishers, the Nieświeska Bible was printed and quickly became a competition for the Brzeska Bible which Budny had accused of misunderstanding the Hebrew sources. He himself separated from the Nieświeska Bible, claiming it had too much intervention and censorship of the text by the publishers. Contemporary historian, Norman Davies, described Budny as the most outstanding Hebraist of the XVI Century.