Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-17 00:00:00

LITIRATURE.

REVISION OF THE ENGLISH BIEr.E, By JOHN BEA an, D.D.
London : Whiz&lLl, 178, Strand ; Manchester : Johnson

and Rlwson.

Many exciting events at home and abroad inter-
ferred to divert public attention from the demand which
sprang up, aed was eagerly discussed, some time since, for
a revised edition of the English Bible. The work now
before tie, the production of an able writer, and a profound
scholar, is designed to awaken the attention again to the
question, and to prove that the demand is one urged by
the necessity of a great want. The sulject is uncinestion-
ably one of the highest importance, and one which peculierly
calls for the jedgement of students and thinkers, such as
Dr. Beard. A demand for the revision of our English
Bible, is one sure to be mot at the onset by the strongest
objection, and involving many considerations of a serious
and important character, besides those which present
themselves obviously at the first view. More than mere
prejudice clings to the existing version of the English
Bible. The form of words which is made venerable by
centuries, which is made dear by the most precious mem-
ories and associations ; which has been familiarised to our
minds by all the preachers, writers, and orators of the
generations since its introduction, which has become
part of our daily lessons and prayers, and our most solemn
ceremonials, cannot be laid aside without very urgent
reason and grave consideration. It is not enough to observe
that this version is open to occasional verbal objections
from philologists, and keenly scrutinising critics. No
translation could possibly be produced, even of a modern
book in a cognate tongue, in which eager critisism could
not detect some inadevate renderings, some casual
blemishes. It is not even enough for them, that a version,
more satisfactory to scholars, in a schoolman's point of
view, could be produced. This version which we actually
have, has claims which place it beyond the reach of the
principle of scholastic competition to d.-cide who shall
bring out a better translation. If the existing English
Bible, even although shewing some deficiencies in the
exact rendering of occasional phrases and technical words,
is a faithful interpretation of the whole meaning, and the
general language of the Bible, it then becomes indeed an
attempt, involving no c .mmon clanger, to disturb a version
which has become the universal text-book of every indi-
vidual who speaks the English language.
But if, on the other hand, this version be not justly
considered always a faithful translation ? If it be ahewn
that much of our familiar Bible was never translated from
the great original at all, but is itself a translation of se
translation? If it be shown that many serious errors and
defects actually do exist, which the historical discoveries,
extending scholastic researches of recent days have laid
open ? What sufficient reason can then be brought for-
ward to convince men of ordinary judgement that the
translation can suffer in the reverence of the people by
having these defects amended ? It is not here proposed
hat an entirely new translation, substituting modern
English phraseology for the venerable language of the
Saxon Bible, shall be undertaken, although many will, no
doubt, feel satisfied, that the Book which all Englishmen
are to read, cannot lose any of its valise by having it
presented in the language which Englishmen actually
speak. Mau), of the reasons which are urge", and to
which we have just alluded, for retaining the old English
of our popular version of the Scriptures, may be held to
apply in a diffsrent degree to the Latin services of the
Raman Catholic Church. The words of these services are
made friendly by long usuare, and endeared by tradition
to vast nembers of the worshippers of that faith. They
are moreover universal, and the English or Irish Roman
Catholic is as familiar with the ceremonial language we
hear in Italy or Spain, as with that he listens to every
week in his own country. Bat the language of a church
service, all Protestants agree, should in !every country be
that which is perfectly intelligible to the people of the
country, which each hearer can fully understand for
himself, not relying on a mere vague sense of the general
meaning, or, as in many cases, listening to words whose
sound is indeed familiar, but to which that very kind of
familiarity brings him to listen without attaching any
meaning wheever. Something of the kind may undaubt-
telly be urged by those who are bold enough to claim
a wholly new translation of the Bile. The language of
our version is not the language Englishmen now speak.
Unnecessary difileulty seems thus to many to be ir.-
terposad between the worshipper and the :teachings
which he reverences. Many simple and pious-hearted
people are moved to emotion by bearing the sound
of well-known words in the mouth of a preacher,
who would find, if they were set ho explain ;the passage,
that its phraseology of being that of an catinct age, wee
wholly beyond their corapreheneion. A vague veneration
which does not concern itself about understanding is not
the reverence with which Prostestants desire to see the
Bible received. There are many arguments therefore to
be urged by those who demand a completely sew translation
of tha Bible; and probably the refusal ::t) admit of any
revision whatever, may furnish them with the strongest
they can put forward. In the pr:seat volume, Dr. Beard
merely as' or for a revision; and leaving aside thelabstraet
questions altogether, undertakes to chew that the present
version is not a faithful and adequite translation, such as
might be supplied under the revising care of English
scholars of the present day. He claims " for this nation
the greatest blessing it could receive, namely, a revised
English Bible-7a Bible so revised as to put within the