SCIO, FILIPPO. - Piarist bishop and theologian, b. at La Granja (Spain) on 28 Sept. 1738, d. at Valencia on 9 Apr. 1796. Having completed his studies in Rome, he taught in various houses of his province of Castile, of which he was also provincial. He had profound knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Syriac.
S. is celebrated in Spain for the publication of the Bible in Spanish, an undertaking that until then no one had ever attempted. It appeared in Valencia in 1790 and in the following years and is noteworthy for its abundance of notes, for its dissertations on the method of making vernacular translations, for the chronological tables added, and for the introduction prefixed to each book. Taken as a whole, it was a highly learned work, requiring great patience. Modern critics, such as Menéndez y Pelayo, blame it as an excessively literal translation, made directly from the Vulgate rather than from the originals; but S. intended to publish a work for the people, who knew no text other than that of the Vulgate. S. also published other minor works. Appointed bishop of Segovia, he was prevented by death from taking possession of his see.