“Open Your Eyes, O Spaniards”: Cipriano de Valera—A Forgotten Spanish Protestant of the 16th-Century

The common consensus over several generations, if not centuries, has been that the Reformation of the sixteenth century entirely bypassed the nation of Spain. While there is no doubt as to its slow progress and quick demise, a Protestant movement did occur in Spain.1 One key figure was Cipriano de Valera (c.1532–1602), most known for his revision of the Spanish Bible that is still the dominant Spanish Protestant Bible in use today. While we have little knowledge of Valera’s personal life, we do gain a sense of the man through his writings. In all, there are about seven published works, which mostly include trans-lations of others’ work, original prefaces, and adaptations of various tracts. By examining two of his works—his tract on the papacy and the mass and his preface to the translation of Calvin’s Institutes—I will highlight this largely forgotten Spanish Protestant and draw attention to his evangelistic love for his countrymen. Keep reading