Who Is This For?
Best For:
Church history study, understanding medieval Christianity, English language history.
Not Ideal For:
Primary Bible study, devotional reading, those wanting original language basis.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the WYC+
- Historic translation made accessible
- Helpful explanatory notes
- Complete Bible
- Public domain
- Window into medieval Christianity
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Based on Vulgate not original languages
- Still feels archaic
- Specialized interest
- Not for primary Bible study
Overview
The Wycliffe Modern Spelling Enhanced edition updates the historic 1388 Wycliffe Bible with modern English spelling and additional explanatory notes, making this foundational English translation more 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+
- Modernized Wycliffe spelling
- Explanatory notes
- Historical translation
- Public domain
- Enhanced helps
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wycliffe Modern Spelling Enhanced?
The Wycliffe Modern Spelling Enhanced edition updates the historic 1388 Wycliffe Bible with modern English spelling and additional explanatory notes, making this foundational English translation more accessible to contemporary readers.
How can I read the WYC+ Bible online?
You can read and search the Wycliffe Modern Spelling Enhanced 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 Modern Spelling Enhanced was first published in 2018. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 9th Grade reading level.
Who should use the WYC+ Bible?
Church history study, understanding medieval Christianity, English language history.
How does the WYC+ compare to other Bible translations?
The Wycliffe Modern Spelling Enhanced (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
The Wycliffe Modern Spelling Enhanced edition builds on earlier modernization efforts of the 1388 Wycliffe Bible. While the standard modern spelling edition updated Middle English spellings, this enhanced version adds explanatory notes, clarifications, and additional helps for readers.
The goal is to make the historic first complete English Bible accessible to modern readers while preserving its character as a translation from the Latin Vulgate. This allows readers to experience the Bible as medieval English Christians knew it.
Translators
Meet the 2 Key Translators and Contributors
John Wycliffe
Original Translation Organizer (1380s)
English theologian and Oxford professor who organized the first complete English Bible translation.
Modern Editors
Spelling Modernization and Enhancement
Contemporary editors who updated spelling and added explanatory materials.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
The 1388 Later Version of the Wycliffe Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate.
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
Around 250 individual manuscript copies survived despite the church's attempts to destroy them. The Middle English is now very difficult for modern readers to understand.
— Wikipedia, Wycliffe's Bible (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 3 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1388 Original Later Version produced.
- 2017 Initial modern spelling edition.
- 2018 Enhanced edition with additional notes.
Compare Translations
See how the WYC+ compares to other English Bible translations.
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