Sola Scrittura: Remembering Diodati on Reformation Day 2020

Giovanni Diodati (1576-1649) may be the most important reformer whose name you’ve never heard. That was the case with me at least until recently when I was preparing for a Zoom seminar with believers in Italy on how to study the Bible. I soon learned of Diodati’s seminal translation of the Bible into Italian, and how his life and ministry exemplified Sola Scrittura. This led to my Reformation Day post on Diodati.

Diodati joined the faculty of the Geneva Academy at the invitation of Theodore Beza when he was only 20 years old. He represented Geneva at the Synod of Dort and helped write the Canons of Dort. His innovative Pious and Learned Annotations look remarkably like current commentaries you may have just read. His translation of the Bible into Italian was published before the King James Version, when he was only about 30 years old, and it has been in print in various revisions ever since. It was the first Italian translation based directly on the original biblical languages.

We need positive role models today. My new post covers Diodati's exemplary ministry, a ministry that survived bad health and major disappointment because it was built on the foundation of Sola Scrittura. I hope you will find it encouraging in the spirit of Hebrews 13:7, Remember your leaders who taught you the Word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith (NLT).

Interested in Como Intepretare La Bibbia, a seminar in English with Italian translation on how to interpret the Bible? Go here.

All the Best,

David

drdavidlturner.com