BOOK NOTICES

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 18, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 11.

The Holy Bible, An Improved Edition. Based in part on the Bible Union version. American Baptist Publication Society, 701-703 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

This recently appearing translation of the Bible has been in progress for many years. While it is commonly called “the Baptist Bible,” and said to be for Baptists only, that has not been the object of its translators at all. In 1883 the Bible work of their denomination was committed to the American Baptist Publication Society, coupled with the duty of continuing the versions of the American Bible Union. The Union had translated and published a New Testament. In 1889 funds had accumulated to a sufficient amount to continue the work of translating the whole Bible. The work of revision and translation of Genesis, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, was committed to Prof. Bernard C. Taylor, D.D., of Crozier Theological Seminary; to Prof. J. R. Sampey, D.D., of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations; Prof. Wm. R. Harper, of the University of Chicago undertook the work of translating Isaiah and the minor prophets; while Prof. Ira M. Price, D.D., of the same institution, assumed the task of translating Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It was understood that each writer should be responsible for his own work, and follow his own plan. Dr. Harper’s work has been revised by Prof. G. M. P. Smith, of the University of Chicago. In this version the supplied words are reduced to a minimum, and when they do occur they are enclosed in brackets instead of placed in italics, as in our common version. The poetic form of the Hebrew is recognized in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, etc. Few notes are given in connection with the translation, and the language is modernized. Why it has been called the Baptist Bible is because where the word “baptize” and its derivatives occur in the original, the common form is retained and the literal translation is merely placed after it in marks of parenthesis. As for instance, “And they were baptized (immersed) by him in the Jordan.” Matt. 3:6. “Seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism (immersion)” (Verse 7); “I indeed baptize (immerse) you in water unto repentance.” (Verse 11); etc. The English translation is not placed after the transferred Anglicized Greek words as an alternative, but as a definition of the meaning of the Greek. We are glad of this translation by these eminent scholars. It will help to a new reading and study of the Word, and will be useful in comparison. We wish that the translators had held to the same style of language used in our common and American Revised versions. We believe that it would have been much better, would have led to much less criticism of the work which they have done, and would have brought the new translation closer home to the hearts of the common people. We see no ground, however, for the caustic criticism that has been indulged in by many of the reviewers of the Baptist version.

“Love and Letters,” by Frederic Rowland Marvin. Price $1.50 net. Sherman, French & Co., Boston.

In this volume Dr. Marvin has endeavored to set forth some of the good things which he has gathered in companionship with people and books. It is not a novel, nor a love story, but it has connected love and letters of great men, and given us some of the personal touches of noble and great lives which give the reader not only entertainment but a rare literary treat. Very choice and touching incidents are given from the lives of such men as John Stuart Mill; Henry IV, King of France; Oliver Cromwell; George Washington; and other great men of note and of letters, showing the affection that they had for their wives, the real true sentiments of their inmost hearts. The chapter headings of this charming book are “Love and Letters,” “The Good Neighbor,” “Silence,” “Noble Deeds of Humble Men,” “The College and Business Life,” “Old Age,” “Culture,” “Vicisti Galilaee.” Just one little quotation from the chapter on “Silence:”

“How beautiful is the quiet falling of the snow. All the long day that magnificent display goes on, and then, with countless stars in the silent heavens, night comes down, folding in its restful darkness the spectral landscape. Early morning adds to the white expanse its crimson and gold, and, behold, the new-born splendor becomes a thing no human language may even remotely describe. Gravity and cohesion keep the heavenly bodies in their celestial orbits and hold revolving worlds together, yet are they silent as the descending snow and invisible as the air we breathe.”

“The Companion Bible,” Part III, Psalms to the Song of Solomon. The Authorized Version of 1611 with the structures and notes critical, explanatory, and suggestive. Price $1.00. Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, London, New York, Toronto, and Melbourne.

We have before noticed the other parts of this very interesting, able, and instructive work,—first, the Pentateuch; secondly, Joshua to Job; and this gives us the third part, as above, with 14 appendixes. Part IV will contain the prophets, leaving the New Testament to Part V. The object of the work is not that of a commentary, but a suggestive helper, one that will lead the student to gather from the Bible itself that which will explain the Bible. It has given to us a vast amount of information, much of which has heretofore been inaccessible to the ordinary English reader. It is called “The Companion Bible” because the suggestive helps and the critical explanations are designed to be a companion to the text. It has been the aim of the compilers and author to exclude as much as possible the human element, so that the reader may realize that the pervading object of the book is not to enable him merely to interpret the Bible, but to make the Bible the interpreter of God’s Word and will to him. Therefore “The Companion Bible” is not associated with the name of any man, so that its usefulness may not influence nor limit the student by such consideration. All amended readings or suggestions or translations are confined to the margin. Those who have received the first two parts of the work will certainly welcome the third, and to those students who have seen none of the parts of this excellent work we heartily commend them all.

The International Bible Dictionary, Self-pronouncing. Edited by F. N. Peloubet, D.D., author of “Select Notes on the International Lessons,” assisted by Alice D. Adams, M.A. Price $2.40 net, postage 38 cents. John C. Winston Co., publishers, Philadelphia.

This new Bible dictionary is designed to bring to the great body of Bible teachers and intelligent Christian households the very latest and best for which a Bible dictionary should stand. The publishers tell us that “it has no room for detailed speculations and debatable theories, but devotes itself to the facts of the Bible itself.” These facts are illuminated from other sources that can aid the ordinary reader. It has 812 pages, 500 illustrations, 14 new maps of the Bible lands, in colors, bound in literary buckram, a material made to meet special tests, having really greater durability than ordinary leather. The type is clear and easily read, and the tables of money, weights, and measures are worked out in better form, and will be much more readily understood than in works of this kind generally. In the number of subjects treated and the illustrations contained it is greater than some of the Bible dictionaries of twice the size. In fact, it has over a thousand articles more than has Hastings’. While Hastings’ has but three illustrations, the International has 508. Its self-pronouncing feature is also excellent. Then, too, where proper names differ between the Bible versions, they have been added to this dictionary, and the significance of proper names is indicated where there is any good authority. While noting some of the theories of the higher critics, it has as a general thing held itself to the great facts of the Word of God. Apart from the speculations of the editor regarding the unscriptural Sabbath, and one or two other minor things which we have noticed, the work is an excellent one, and we commend it as a convenient, helpful, inexpensive Bible dictionary.