Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-05-06
Revision Of the Scr 'ptures.

Revision Of the Scriptures.
A copy of the remarks of Deacon
William Colgate, in one of the Confer
nee at the Seventh Anniversary Of the
American Bible Union. has been handed
US BY the Rev. Mr.. Brown, Pastor of
the Baptist Church. in this place. with a
request that The subject be brought be-
fore our readers. Here is an extract
from Deacon Colgate's remarks.
In 1885. when l was in the American
Bible Society. l was convinced of the
importance of revision. That conviction
has never changed, nor been altered by
any argument that | have ever heard
presented. And I presume the most
cngent and forcible Arguments agains,
this work, / have weighed and studied.
When. in the course Of time, it WAS
thought proper to fern the Bible Union,
I cheerfully entered upon the work, join
ed my brethren in the organisation. and
have been with them until this time, as
a member of the Board. l thought it
would meet with great opposition AT first.
But | DID not think it would be SO fierce.
People have made more noise, and said
more against it. than | expected. l
could not think that brethren, who should
have been able thoroughly 10 appreciate
the importance of having the word Of
God faithfully translated from the dead
to the living languages Of this world.
would have arrayed themselves in op
position TO this movement. When we
commenced, it was with the greatest
pleasure that i engaged in it; for |
thought it was destined 10 do great good.
When doubts arose in The minds of sumo
valued brethren, as to whether We were
pursuing the great work in the best way
and al the best time, / wished with all
sincerity to consider their doubts; l MED
TO turn them over in my plain way of
thinking; l reverted tc all the arguments
l had ever heard; and | was struck with
one thing above all others: | could not
~reccllect one single passage of Scripture
that its opponents had ever used against
the great and holy work in which we are
employed-not one. though the objec-
tors were all religious persons.
The present received version Of the
Scriptures known as King Jsmes's, is a
revision rather than a translation. the
Of King James, and his able CO.
adjutors being, not to make a new trans
~lation, but TO make the best of many
translations already made. This version
was published in 1918. The principal
English version in use before hat time,
was called the Bishop Bible, which was
published in 1868. The Psalter in the
Episcopal Common Prayer Book. is from
this version.
To accomplish the great work of a
thorough revision OF the Scriptures
the different English TRANSACTIONS,
carefully comparing them with the orig
inal Hebrew. King James selected fifty
four of the most eminent scholars in his
realm from the different. Colleges. His
tory states that seven only participated.
The work was divided into six parts. as
were also the scholars, each section tax.
one part as their particular task
Each individual then revised and trans
lated each chapter Of that part OF the
Scriptures assigned TO his section, and
then all would meet together to compare,
and decide which, or what part of each
stand. When a book was CON-
pleted by n company, it was sent to
The rest to be considered BY them.
By this plan, the object desired. was
r ccomplished, namely, TO obtain a trans
to the English language. which
would be as nearly correct, as the differ
ent structure of the different languages
would permit. By it a most thorough
and careful examination was secured,
aud the concuiing testimony of a large
number Of eminent scholars 10 its accu-
racy.
With these facts before US. (Ehile we
our utter incompetency to judge
the case,) and the greet importance Of
a correct translation, it seems
to US highly improbable that any scholar
Or number Of scholars. Of the present
day can make any improvement upon
the present received revision. We sup
pose it to be a conceded fact that toe
scholars of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries were far better versed in the
new dead languages, than any Of the
day. The Latin language was
hen frequently usel by the linguists in
their daily intercourse, in conversation
and in correspondence. The laws and
records were in many cases in The same
language. They were more familiar
with it, and removed a shorter distance
Of time from the date of the promulga-
Of the New Testament.
But We will leave the subject to ADLER
hands.
PUTyAN's MoSrHLV Published By
Dix. Edwards Il Co.. No. 32l Broad
way N. Y. Terms. single copy So,
per year, two copies IS. Eve copies