ANCIENT TRANSLATIONS by M. E. Cornell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 21, 1859

ANCIENT TRANSLATIONS.

By M. E. Cornell

[Bro. Smith: The following sentiments and translations I copy from ancient works, which a Mr. Pillars, lawyer, of Tiffin City, Ohio, obtained by sending to London. The one called the Bishops' Bible is very large, weighing 19½ pounds, and cost $26,00. It was translated in A. D. 1539, and was printed in 1585. The Genevan Bible was printed in A. D. 1602. The translation of the New Testament by Wm. Tyndale, the martyr, was in A. D. 1526, being the first vernacular translation of the Greek. The two first mentioned are printed in the German Text, and the pronunciation of words is so different from the present, that it is difficult to read it. The extracts are verbatim, the spelling only, being changed. I will also give some extracts from the new translation of the American Bible Union. They are suggested for the Review if thought worthy. M. E. Cornell.]

Refuse all sense of Scripture contrary to the Articles of christian faith contained in the common creed. First and second table of God's commandments.

Mark and consider. 1. The coherence of the text, how it hangeth together. 2. The agreement that one place of Scripture hath with another, whereby that which seemeth dark in one, is made easy in another.

Take opportunity to confer with such as can open the Scriptures. Hear preaching, and to prove by the Scriptures that which is taught. Genevan Bible.

On Rom. vii, 12 is the following marginal note: "The conclusion that the law of itself is holy, but all the fault is in us which abuse the law." Rom. ii, 31. Note. "The taking away of an objection: yet is not the law taken away, therefore, but is rather established. We make it effectual and strong."

Matt. v, 17, 18. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy them, but to fulfill them. For truly I say unto you, till heaven and earth perish, one iota or one tittle of the law shall not scape, till all things be fulfilled." Note. "He beginneth with the true expounding of the law, and putteth it against the old (but yet false) glosses of the Scribes,

so far is he from abolishing the least commandment of his Father." Genevan.

Dan. vii, 25. "And think that he may change times and laws." Bps.' and Genevan.

Isa. xxi, 12. "The watchman said, The morning cometh and so doth the night: if ye will ask me any question, then ask it, return and come again." Bps.'

Ps. cxlvi, 3. "His spirit shall depart out of him, he shall turn again to his earth: at that day all his thoughts shall perish." Bps.'

Eccl. iii, 21. "Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend upward and the spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth?" Genevan.

"Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward?" Dr. Conquest.

"Who knoweth whether the spirit of man goeth upward?" Martin Luther.

"Who has seen the spirit of the sons of men, whether it goes upward?" The LXX. See also Vul. Chal. Syr. and Arab.

Job xix, 23–27. "O that my words were now written, O that they were put in a book, and graven with an iron pen, in lead or in stone to continue. For I am sure that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall rise out of the earth in the latter day, and shall be covered again with my skin, and shall see God in my flesh, whom I myself shall see, and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me. This my hope is laid up in my bosom."

Job xiv, 10, 11. "But as for man, when he is dead, perished, and consumed away, what becometh of him? As the waters pass from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man after he is asleep riseth not, he shall not wake till the heavens be no more, nor rise out of his sleep." Bps.'

"So man sleepeth and riseth not, for he shall not wake again, nor be raised from his sleep, till the heaven be no more." Genevan.

Isa. viii, 19. "And if they say unto you, Ask counsel at the soothsayers, witches, charmers, and conjurers; [then make them this answer,] Is there a people any where that asketh not counsel at God? Should men run unto the dead for the living?" Bps.' Note. That is, will they refuse to be taught of the prophet, who is the mouth of God, and seek help at the dead, which is the illusion of Satan?" Genevan.

1 Cor. xvi, 2. "Let every one of you put aside by himself, and lay up as God hath prospered him." Genevan.

"Let every one of you put aside by himself, laying up as God hath prospered," &c. Bps.'

"Let every one of you put aside at home, and lay up whatsoever he thinketh mete, to," &c. Tyndale.

BIBLE UNION.

Rev. iv. In the notes of the Bible Union on this text, it is stated the words "which are in Asia" are not found in some of the ancient MSS. Their editor recommends that they be omitted.

Rev. xiii, 12. "And all the authority of the first beast he exerciseth before him."

Rev. xvi, 14. "For they are spirits of demons doing signs." They mention several other translations, as "making signs," "working signs," "shewing signs," "working wonders," "who work prodigies," &c.

Rev. xviii, 2. "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons." Verse 4. "Come forth out of her my people, that ye have no fellowship with her sins."

Verse 7. "How much she glorified herself and lived luxuriously." Another renders "wantoned in luxury," another, "Luxurious way of living."

Rev. xix, 10. "I am a fellow servant with thee, and with thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus," &c.