He began to translate it in 1521, publishing the Gospels in June 1523 and the Epistles and Acts and Apocalypse in October and November.

The work was not as good as that of Luther or Tyndale.

It was based chiefly on the Vulgate, though not without reference to the Greek text.

Lefevre prided himself on being literal, remarking, with a side glance at Erasmus's _Paraphrases_, that it was dangerous to try to be more elegant than Scripture.

He also prided himself on writing for the simple, and was immensely pleased with the favorable reception the people gave his work.