Os Efeitos da Cooperação Britânica na Tradução, Edição e Popularização da Bíblia Almeida: Do Século XVII ao Século XIX

Resumo

The first translation of the Bible into Portuguese was carried out during the 17th century in Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia. Its printing process began in 1681, when the New Testament was published in Amsterdam. However, it was only in the 18th century that this translation was printed in its entirety, mainly due to the support of a newly founded British institution: the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Since then, a complex network of editions has developed around this translation. Throughout this process, British cooperation was crucial, particularly from the early 19th century onwards, through the initiative of another London-based institution – the British and Foreign Bible Society –, when the Almeida’s Bible became truly popular. In this article, we aim to explain the nature and significance of British influence in this process, from the origin of the translation to its literary consolidation, and also evaluate its results, both positive and negative, within the Portuguese-speaking world.