Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-04-22

COMM UNICATI0 S.
For the Advertiser.
ANOTHER VIEW OF BIBLE REVISION.


ANOTHER VIEW OF BIBLE REVISION.
Mr. EDITOR In your paper of April 9th, is
communication, signed a." whose subject is I" Bi-
bic Revision" the object of the writer being main
ly to oppose this move. In his article the writer
gives his views clearly and dispussionacly, citing
numerous authorities IN support of his argument,
making perhaps one or two quotations from the
work itself, his expressed purpose being, to ava
ken in the minds of the people, u just sense OF
this great move in The religious world.
In order to carry out this design more fully,
hope lie will pardon me for looking at the subject
in different light. The writer sets out By saying,
"this (Revsion) is treading on sacred grounds"
&C. We hope no one doubts the sacredness OF
Gods Holy word neither in the inspired text, nor
in the imperfect translation Of James; but as this
work was performed by unnspired men, it is rea-
sonabe to suppose them not entirely incapable OF
error The blessed word of God contains no error,
for God cannot err, but the errors are mans they
arc not sacred, and man may tread upon them not
only with impunity, but, hope, with benefit, if
not now, at least in ages to come. Because James'
version " has been in use two hundred and fifty
years." does not argue that it cannot be improved
Since We first heard of this version VIC have heard
many, very many, imperfections acknowledged BY
all who profess any knowledge Of the originali
and because these errors have existed for two and
half centuries, wher: "personal feeling, party
prejudice, sectarian bias have interfered where
principle, TRUTH the actual facts alone should
have been admitted" is DO reason they Hust con-
continue to the end of time.
The writer asks, "wllat has this fast age found
wrong in the old Bible? May we not rather ask,
what has il found wrong in us :? That instead Of
shaping our conduct by its teachings we arc try
ing to make it sustain our opinions and practices
From the writer's argument, we suppose: by the
old Bible, he means James, which he acknowl-
ct scs is imperfect; and is said on good authority,
to contain more than 25, QUO errors. II III Book
the size Of the Bbe, involving such vast interests,
both in this and the world to como, this does not
require Revision, then We can form no idea Of
what would require it. What this fast ayr" is
pointing out in the old Bible was discovered many
ages past but as was said before, our predecessors
did not correct, from causes already mentioned.
But this last accusation by the writer OF trying to
make it suit our own "opinions and practices is
the most unrighteous of them all. do not know
his grounds. have never heard them accused,
even by the most violent opposcrs Of Revision, OF
even thought Of altering the original which they
hold as sacred as he does the translation of James.
ale that hath my word let him speak my word
faithfully" is in part the motto of the association.
Surely no man protesting 10 teach the word Of Di-
vine truth, invoking the assistance and the bles-
sing of God in his labors would be guilty Of such
sacrilege.
The writer further says, the Bible has passed
through the hands of revsionsts before" This
we grant, and further state that James VAS not
The first who attempted to translate the Bible: ana
he had Just as well go hack 10 the first, and there
by avoid the distinctive peculiartes Of all sue
ceeling ages. Just here would ask to say. that
James version itself is not free from the distinct
i've peculiaritcs Of the age in which it was writ
ten; for on the first page of the new testament we
read, "thc Gospel according to Stint Mathew
In like manncr Z" Saint Mark" &c. The prefix
Saiat, is Of Popish origin, and agreeable to the
Church Of England, the Revelation of Saint John
the Divine, is in Pupi>h form. In James transla-
ton, in perhaps four five places we find the en-
clamaton, Cod save the King" This version
the original does not war ant and is evidently hn-
man addition, being the English national exclama'
ton Of loyalty suitable to English taste, and ng-
ly vanity.
The writer next goes on to quote MIR. Hodge OF
Brooklyn, who says, ga man who can give per-
feet translation" &C., SC. We do not know MIR.
H. nor do we doubt his competence Or sincerity,
but the place We do not like and think no more,
maybe less, of anything enanating from that quar-
ter. Because work cannot be made perfect docs
not argue that no improvement shall be attempted,
and the spirit is not in keeping with this last
age" Suppose all men had been Of "Js opln-
ion, and remained so to the present day; We would
be favoured with no James version OF the blessed
word of God and the whole world would have de-
served long ere this the sentence of the servant,
who went and hid his talent, until the coming OF
his Lord
The writer continues BY giving Dr.. Cones ideas
Of the rendering OF the word Baptzo. This two
seems to be feeble objection to the work, because
one aoord cannot bc translated to suit oil sects the
whole must be rejected. Now, do not wish to
decide for the people in the matter OF rendering
this word into English, nor am willing to resign
that Office to al" or DR.. c. but let them judge
for tbemselves-let them think whether or not,
would men in the performance of that most sacred
ordinance, repair to distance, where much
wsses" could be ba, merely for the purpose os