The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-07-07
A REVISED BIBLE.

rectlon OF the Bible, according TO Ln
present advanced state Of hermeneutiC
and by comparison with the ancient mar
uscript versions of the New Testamen
that have recently been brought to light
We are glad to see that the great worl
is taking form, and, indeed, has alread
begun most auspiciously.a 1t was lnaug
Grated in the Church of England by tn
Convocation of Canterbury, and although
it is repudiated by the Archbishop Q
York, and violently opposed by LORI
Shaftesbury and other conservatives,
who fear that the heavens will fall ii tn
exact truth is told, it receives the cordia
cooperation of many of the ablest AM
most cultured scholars IN England.
The members of the committee ar
chiefly Episcopalians, and among then
we find Archbishop Trench, Bishops
Thirlwall, Harold Browne, Wherefore,
and Selwyn; Professors Lightfoot anc
Pussy, DR.. Vaughan, and other eminent
scholars and divines. Professor NewtI
and DR.. Alexander will represent the
Independents; Drs. Gotch and Angus
the Baptists; Professor Fairbairn and
EaGie, the Presbyterians; Professor
Moulin, the Wesleyans; Rev. G.. Vance
Smith, the Unitarians, and DR.. J. H.
Newman, the Roman Catholics.
The present King James Bible with
which this age is familiar, was based on
the old Bishops Bible of Queen Eliza
beth,s time; as the Bishops Bible was
based on Crammer's and the Geneva
edition. And as King Jam,s's Forty
seven resolved that their Bible should be
"as little altered as the truth of the
original would permit" so the Canter-
bury Convocation have already defer
inined Ito introduce as few alterations
as possible into the text of the Authorized
Version, consistent with faithtulness."
1t certainly seems as if the revised
Bible would be likely to meet with
heartier and more general acceptance,
by those for whom it is intended, if the
Archbishop of Canterbury had asked the
cooperation of the forthcoming Evan
gellcal Alliance in the appointment OF
half dozen of the best American schol-
ars-though we have not many who
would compare favorably, in point OF
classical Leaning, with those graduates
of Oxford and Cambridge whom we have
named. AZ se~ss< se
Already the labor of re-translation and
comparison of versions has been MAPPED
out, and the Pentateuch and the Synop-
tical gospels haye been taken in hand.
The general principles adopted to guide
the work, are as follows
1. To introduce as few alterations as
possible into the text of the authorized
version consistently with faithfulness.
2. To limit, as ia asr possible, the ex
preston of such alteration to the langu-
age of the authorized anu earlier English
versions.
3. Each committee to 60 twice over the
portion to be revised, once Professionally,
the second time finally, and on principles
of voting as hereinafter is provided.
A. That the text to be adopted be that
for which the evidence is decidedly pre-
pondeiating, and that when the text SO
adopted differs from that from which the
authorised version was made, the altefa-
ton be indicated in the margin.
5. To make or retain no change in the
text on the second final revision by such
company, except two-thirds OF those
present approve OF the same, but on the
first revision to decide by simple ma
jorities
g. In every case of proposed alteration
that may have given rise to discussion,
to defer the voting thereupon till the
next meeting whatsoever the same shall
be required by one third OF those present
at the meeting, such intended vote to be
announced in the notice for the next
meeting.
7. To revise the headings of chapters,
pages, paragraphs, italics, and punctua-
ton.
8. To refer on the part of each COM
pany, when considered desirable, TO
divines, scholars, and literary men,
whether at home or abroad, for their
opinions
1t is to be presumed that commission
of so high character as this OF Canter-
bury will seek the absolute truth. with
out regard to any sect or creed. Horace
Mann used to say to his class, /" When
you read the old Latin maxim Fiat Jus
titlG rudt cattna, remember that, instead
of meaning Let justice be done though
the heavens fall, it ought to read Let
Justice be done lest the heavens fall
for, bless you if justice is done, the
heavens won't fall" Let not the COM
mission hesitate to strike out from our
present Bible all those parts that have
been intefjected by otficious monks, and
to add whatever, by mistake or intent,
has been omitted. The world has lived
long enough on the husks of dogma now
let US have, the naked truth.
Greek manuscripts Of the New Tesla.
ment are now in the hands of our scholars
six centuries older than any that were
known to King Jamess Forty seven, and
these must be the base of the radica
changes. The new Bible will have losl
some familiar verses, some precious
spothegms, some Judean stories that ar,
l. DO ii