General Prologue of the Wycliffe Bible

The General Prologue of the Wycliffe Bible, also the Great Prologue of the Wycliffe Bible, is a 15-chapter explanation, generally attributed to John Purvey, of translation procedures in his later version of the Wycliffe Bible translation done originally by John Wycliffe in 1382–1384.

The Gospels and some other books within the New Testament were likely circulated around 1388, before the General Prologue was written. John Wycliffe did not participate in the writing of the General Prologue since he died in 1384 and the General Prologue was not started until about January or February of 1395 and finished before January or February of 1397.

The General Prologue and the later version of the New Testament portion of the Wycliffe Bible, done after 1395, are attributed to Purvey as the main translator and editor/writer. The earlier version of the Wycliffe Bible, done around 1382, is attributed to John Wycliffe as the main translator and editor/writer.

There are 250 Wycliffe Bibles that survive today in various degrees of completeness. It is estimated that about twenty-one contain or might have had the complete Wycliffe Bible (also known as the English Wycliffite Bible or the Lollard Bible). There are 89 Wycliffe Bibles that contain just the New Testament. There are fifteen Wycliffe Bibles that have just the four Gospels of the New Testament. There are four copies of the Wycliffe Bible that comprise only the letters from the Apostles to the Christians commonly called the Epistles.

There are known to be nine (Deanesly says 10) hand written copies of the General Prologue that survive today. There is one that is a manuscript by itself, while there are six attached to the later version of Wycliffe Bibles. There is wording in the General Prologue that give a probable time of writing of the later version of Wycliffe Bibles at about 1395–1397. The other two General Prologues are attached to revised earlier version Wycliffe Bibles, revised 1395–1397. There are more than 200 later versions of the Wycliffe Bible that do not have the General Prologue attached. The Prologue contains wording that indicates it was written between 1395 and 1397. Purvey, as the eximious doctor prominent leader of the Lollards at the time, is credited with the later version Wycliffe Bible New Testament portion, as well as the General Prologue.

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