The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-08

PROPOSED REVISION OF THE SCKlyl URES-AN
NlvERsARY OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE UNION
Some ten years ago movement was set on
foot by some of the leading Baptist miaisters
in the United States, having for its object re-
translation of the Bible. The friends Of the move
ment professed to see in both the Dbuay and
the King James versions Of the good book
innumerable passages which were not only
neutrality-suspicious. Of the original, but which
were in themselves utter nonsense and aysur-
dity. They went to work and collected olot
Of these, comparing with them what they
claimed to be correct translations. But al
though many intelligent people, secular and!
clerical, agreed with them in regard to the ex--
istenee of numeroustrivial errors in the present
recognized version, still they got very few to go
with them in their work Of radical change.
1t was generally regarded as an extremely dan
gerous experiment, and one which might have
tendency to promote rationalistic ideas. But
the innovators were not affected by such an
argument They went to work, collected
funds, appointed translators, Distributed tasks,
and have been doing up the new and revised
edition into various modern languages, so that
the advantages of the change, if any, may not
be- restricted to those who read the English
tongue only. The tenth anniversary of the
American Bible Union was held in tlhis city
during the week, at which reports were made
in regard to its operations and any number
of committees appointed.
1t is not the province of a secular newspa-
per to decide whether the present standard
versions of the Bible are, or are-not, UP to the
mark But we think that if the translators, of
the new version, were fully competent for
their task the work might have been, with. or
binary Industry completed years ago. We
know that an equal amount of translation could
be done in the editorial rooms of the HERALD
in the course of - few weeks; and we do not
see why, if these Baptist revisers are so fami--
liar with the original Greek or Hebrew.as they
profess to be. the work should have occupiedi
more than a few months at most, particularly
where they had two.good translations ready to.
their hand.
At all events, we, de- not see howany great
gain can be realizsGto the world by this work
Of the American Bible Union. The Catholic
church, which represents two-thirds of She.
Christian, world, regacds the Bible simply.ins
the light Of q collections Of precedents and pues
cepts, araDr. Bellows the apostle OF the new
Catholic-P protestant church, evidentlytakes the
same view Of it.. That being so, it is hardly
worth w1ile to upset. the present recognized,
versions Of it. for the sake of undermining tie
style. The only effect Of it will be to mar the
beauty aAd force Cfits, language, and iperhans
to lessen the veneraion In which it IL held. II
the present TRANSACTIONS are imperfect, why.
may not the new one be also imperfect and why
may not'the varioaa publishers throughout the
country get up diatinet versions and advertise
them in the usual style! We rather think that
the rtist ministers would have acted mere
prudently in Getting well enough alone"