Who Is This For?
Best For:
Historical study, understanding the origins of English Bible translation, medieval English interest, and appreciating the courage of early translators.
Not Ideal For:
Regular devotional reading, serious Bible study, modern worship, or those unfamiliar with Middle English.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the WYC
- Historic first complete English Bible
- Modernized spelling improves readability
- Invaluable for understanding translation history
- Window into 14th-century English Christianity
- Public domain - freely available
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Still uses archaic Middle English vocabulary
- Translated from Latin, not original languages
- Requires effort even with modern spelling
- Based on Vulgate with its limitations
- Primarily of historical rather than practical value
Overview
John Wycliffe's Bible was the first complete translation of Scripture into English, completed around 1382-1395. This edition presents Wycliffe's text with modernized spelling while preserving the historic Middle English vocabulary, making this foundational translation accessible to contemporary readers.
Want to read the WYC Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the WYC
- First complete English Bible
- Predates printing press - circulated as manuscripts
- Modern spelling edition improves accessibility
- Historical significance as Reformation precursor
- Public domain
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wycliffe Bible (Modern Spelling)?
John Wycliffe's Bible was the first complete translation of Scripture into English, completed around 1382-1395. This edition presents Wycliffe's text with modernized spelling while preserving the historic Middle English vocabulary, making this foundational translation accessible to contemporary readers.
How can I read the WYC Bible online?
You can read and search the Wycliffe Bible (Modern Spelling) online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the WYC translation.
When was the WYC Bible published?
The Wycliffe Bible (Modern Spelling) was first published in 1395. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the WYC Bible?
Historical study, understanding the origins of English Bible translation, medieval English interest, and appreciating the courage of early translators.
How does the WYC compare to other Bible translations?
The Wycliffe Bible (Modern Spelling) (WYC) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the WYC Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the WYC Translation
John Wycliffe (c. 1328-1384), an Oxford theologian and philosopher, became convinced that common people should be able to read Scripture in their own language. At a time when the Church forbade vernacular Bibles, Wycliffe organized the first complete English translation, completed around 1382-1395.
Two versions of the Wycliffe Bible exist: the Early Version (c. 1382), a highly literal translation from Latin, and the Later Version (c. 1388-1395), a more idiomatic revision associated with Wycliffe's follower John Purvey. Wycliffe himself likely translated the four Gospels and possibly more of the New Testament, while his associates completed the Old Testament.
The translation was made from the Latin Vulgate, as Wycliffe lacked access to Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Despite being handwritten (predating the printing press), hundreds of manuscript copies circulated among the Lollards, Wycliffe's followers.
Wycliffe died of a stroke in 1384, but the Church pursued him even in death. The Council of Constance declared him a heretic in 1415, and in 1428 his remains were exhumed and burned. The 1408 'Constitutions of Oxford' banned English Bible translation without episcopal approval.
This modern spelling edition updates Wycliffe's orthography for contemporary readers while preserving his vocabulary and translation choices.
Translators
Meet the 3 Key Translators and Contributors
John Wycliffe
Project leader and translator
Oxford theologian and philosopher (c. 1328-1384), called 'The Morning Star of the Reformation.' Challenged papal authority and advocated for vernacular Scripture. His followers were called Lollards.
John Purvey
Reviser (Later Version)
Wycliffe's secretary and follower who produced the more readable Later Version after Wycliffe's death.
Nicholas of Hereford
OT translator
Oxford scholar who translated much of the Old Testament. His work stops abruptly at Baruch 3:20, where he may have been arrested.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Translated from the Latin Vulgate, the Church's official biblical text. Wycliffe did not have access to Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"Wycliffe's translation started a revolution, enabling ordinary people to have access to the Bible in a language they could understand. He is called 'The Morning Star of the Reformation.'"
— Britannica, John Wycliffe - Bible Translator (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
The first translations are rigid and literal translations of the Latin Vulgate, and historians now doubt that Wycliffe personally translated the versions that bear his name—he was likely the driving force behind the project rather than the translator.
— Wikipedia, Wycliffe's Bible (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 3 Major Revisions and Updates
- c. 1382 Early Version completed - highly literal translation from Latin.
- c. 1388-1395 Later Version (Purvey's revision) - more idiomatic and readable.
- 2017 Modern spelling edition produced to increase accessibility.
Compare Translations
See how the WYC compares to other English Bible translations.
Other Translations
Explore these popular Bible translations: