SCIO, FILIPPO. — Sculptor bishop, theologian, b. at La Granja (Spain) on 28 Sept. 1738, d. at Valencia on 9 Apr. 1796. After completing his studies in Rome, he taught in various houses of his Castilian province, of which he was also provincial. He had a profound knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Syriac.
S. is famous in Spain for the publication of the Bible in Spanish, an undertaking hitherto never attempted by anyone. It appeared in Valencia in 1790 and in the following years, and is notable for the abundance of notes, for the dissertations on the manner of making vernacular versions, for the chronological tables added and for the introduction prefixed to each book. Altogether a very arduous and painstaking work. Modern critics, such as Menéndez y Pelayo, criticize it as too literal a version, made directly from the Vulgate and not from the originals; but S. intended to publish a work for the people, who knew no other text than that of the Vulgate. S. also published other minor works. Appointed bishop of Segovia, death prevented him from reaching his see.