BIBLE REVISION, WITH SPECIMENS by Christian at Work

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1881

BIBLE REVISION, WITH SPECIMENS.

By Christian at Work

It will be ten years on the 6th of next May since the matter of revision of the Scriptures was brought before Convocation by the Bishop of Winchester, and the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. One half of that body, under the Presidency of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, devoted themselves to the revision of the New Testament, the remainder to that of the Old Testament. The sittings of the former body have been held once a month for a week at a time, those of the latter for a fortnight six times a year. Then came the co-operation of the American Committee. And now we have as a result the completion of the New Testament, which, as we were assured by the American Committee, was to be published early the present month. But now comes the news, quite unanticipated, that the publication is delayed, and will not be made until the first of May. Meantime, the London Record has made public some of the results of the New Revision—with a view, doubtless, of feeling the public pulse. And now we are told there is a good deal of "churchly" opposition manifest, and especially that "hell" in so many instances should have given place to "hades." This illustrates the force of prejudice; for if anything in the present version is clear it is that hell—Gehenna, the place of torment—is often used incorrectly and wholly unwarrantably as a synonym for "the place of departed spirits," as in Acts 2:27,—"Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hades, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Obviously Christ did not, after death, descend into hell, the place of torment, but into hades, "the place of departed spirits," however much the London church journals may take counsel of their prejudices and desire to retain an old, but incorrect derivative.

A few "advance" proofs of the New Revision have already made their appearance in London, and the alteration which will first strike the eye is the substitute of paragraphs for the old-fashioned chapters and verses. This is a most welcome change, the present arbitrary arrangement being alike devoid of rhyme and common sense. The omissions and changes in rendering which will be found in the revised New Testament, will, however, invite the greatest and closest attention both of devout readers and of critical students. Following the Sinaitic, Vatican, and Alexandrine manuscripts, the words in John 5:3, "Waiting for the moving of the water," have been expunged. The whole of the text, Acts 8:37, which has been often quoted by Baptists as crucial, will also disappear; as will also the words, "Let us not fight against God," in Acts 23:9. In accordance with the Sinaitic and Vatican MSS., Matt. 23:14 is expunged. A more striking change is the omission of Mark 9:44, 46, "Where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched." We only add though, that the doctrine of the eternal punishment of the wicked by no means rests on a solitary passage in Mark. John 5:4 is also expunged, a fact which will somewhat invalidate the authority of the Alexandrine MS.

As for other changes, we subjoin the most characteristic, printing both the present and the New Revision by way of comparison:—

THE AUTHORIZED VERSION.	THE NEW REVISION.
Matt. 6:9-13: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.	Matt. 6:9-13: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matt. 19:17: Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.	Matt. 19:17: Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good; but if thou wouldst enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mark 8:36, 37: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?	Mark 8:36, 37: For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? For what should a man give in exchange for his life?
Luke 10:15, 16: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.	Luke 10:15, 16: And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt be brought down unto hades. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.
Luke 16:8, 9: For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.	Luke 16:8, 9: For the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
Acts 2:47: And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.	Acts 2:47: And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved.
Acts 17:23: To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.	Acts 17:23: To an unknown God. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this declare I unto you.
Acts 26:24-29: And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.	Acts 26:24-29: And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning doth turn thee to madness. But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but speak forth words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldst fain make me a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.
1 Cor. 16:22: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.	1 Cor. 16:22: If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathma Maranatha.
2 Cor. 2:15: In them that are saved, and in them that perish.	2 Cor. 2:15: In them that are being saved, and in them that are perishing.
2 Cor. 4:6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts.	2 Cor. 4:6: Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts.
Eph. 6:24: Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.	Eph. 6:24: Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in uncorruptness.
Philip. 3:20, 21: From whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.	Philip. 3:20, 21: We wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory.

The reader will look in vain here for any violent changes. Indeed, it is difficult, in the specimens printed above, to realize the thoroughness, the importance, and completeness, of the work done by the two committees. But the work is important; indeed, in the matter of Bible interpretation and exegesis, no more valuable work has been done since the time when the King James' version was given to the world, two and a half centuries ago. The Christian world will anxiously wait for the complete Revision, and will want to know why it is obliged to wait three months more for that which is already prepared, and which should not be withheld an hour later than is absolutely necessary.—Christian at Work.