Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-21
Fcom the Christian Intelligoncer
TBE ExcEILENcE OF THE PRESENT ENGLIS

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE PRESENT ENGLISH
VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES.
In 1920 there as published at Glasgow
a sermon with the title, "4he c;rcellence OF
the authorized version of the sacred Scrip
lures defended against the Soclnians.-A
sermon deIuered at the Monthly Lecture IN
GlouceSer.str. chapel, Oct. IS. 1920, y
lanes Lister, Minister of Lime. street chap
e1." The latter part of 1t is directed against
the Socinian improrsd $50 called version.
The preceding part gives the history of
the present version in common use, and
vindicates its excellence, which as IL may
prove interesting and instructive, we extract.
-CH. Int.
In discussing the subject, the preacher
has adopted the following method -
/. Give n. history Of the ranslatlons
which preceded, and paved the way for our
version.
II. State the manner in whlchthe version
itself was accomplished.
iii. Subjoin the testimonies OF some OF
the frs. scholars and critics to the ex-
celleuce of our version.
w. And examine briefly the claims Of
the improved version.
l. Let me detail the trauslations which
paved the way for our present ono, and
which the translators used as helps in their
great undertaking.
The first is the Septuasint, the Oldest in
the world, and the groundwork OF all tile
;ranslations which have followed. This IS
a translation into Greek of the Old Testa-
ment. Itwas made in the reign ofPtolemy
Philadelphus, about two hundred and eighty
wears before Christ, was universally used
in the Jewish Synagogucs, and was for three
hundred years equally venerated by the
Christian churches. 1t is called TIC
Septuaeint because scventy-two interpreters
are rec orded to have been employed III the
great work.
?. The Jewish Targums may be next
mentioned. After the Babylonish captivity
the purity Of tho Hebrew tongue was Cor.
rupted, and neigbouring dialects prevailed
among the Jews. These Targums are
paraphrases Of the Hebrew text in the
Chaldee; and, in many instances, both
afford clear light to the meaning of the
Hebrew-and an unquestionable evidence
of the ancient Jewish faith in the divinity
and spiritual kingdom of the Messiah.
8. The Samaritan is next in order. This
is a very servile copy Of the Pentateucl,
and by its singular deviatons from it in
some texts has excited much discussion
among the learned.
4. Ofall modern versions, the Syrlac
versions stand first. They were made,
most probably, in an earlier part OF the
second century. There are two Syriac
versions of the Old Testament, one made
from the seventy, and one from the Hebrew
original. The version of the New Tesla
ment has long been highly valued among
scholars.
S. The Latin. In the first centuries,
various Latin translatons were made 10y
private individuals for the western churches
ip Europe, as the Syriac had been made
for the eastern world. But al! these Latin
versions were finally absorbed in the superior
work of the learned Jerome, whose version
altered and improved, and called the Vul-
gate, has long been the standard text among
all the subjects of the Pope. 1t is from the
Vulgate that the authorized Catholic versions
are derived.
6. In very early age, probably the
seventh, an Ethiopic version was made.
This was introduced into Egypt and Africa.
Z. The Coptic. DR.. Wilkins refers it to
the third century.
8. The Armenian. This embraces the
whole sacred scriptures, and was made
from the seventy in the fourth century.
9, There is an old Persian translation
from the Seventy. There is also version
of the Gospels nearly 500 years old.
10. The Gothic Bishop Ulphilae rendered
the sacred scriptures into Gothic in the
fourth century, omitting the Kings and
Chronicles, lest his barbarous countrymen
should read the Jewish wars. Ofths truly
venerable version the four gospels remain.
IL. The French. The most ancient in
this language is one effected by Peter de
Vaux, in 1l60. Hewas esteemed leading
man among the Waldenses. Raopl made
another in 1880. In 1885 Olivetan publish
ed another French version, and in 1850, a
fourth was edited at Louvain. An these
French versions preceded our authorized
version, and were doubtless known to the
translators.
l2. The Italian. In l47l, Malermi
published his; and in 1882, at Venice,
Brucioli produced his. Our version being
begun at 1904, these Italian ones preceded
j..
13. The Spanish. The Oldest mentioned
is in 1900. The epislles and gospels were