The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-05-29
The Bible Revision.
New York lImesl

The American committee on the revision
OF the authorized English version of the
Bible, has published a volume of nineteen
essays by nineteen OF its twenty-seyen mem-
bers, stating the reasons why such a revision
has been found desirable, snd the princi.
pies On which Ii is now being executed. We
regret very much that this volume has
been issued only for private circulation,
ior II Is book OF rare literary merit, and,
in spite of the modesty ard unpretentious-
ness with which II stels forward, il ia, and
VII always remain, an ornament 10 Ameri-
can literature. There may be found, here
and there, some repetitions and some ine-
qualities Of treatment; il could hsrdly be
avoided, when nineteen writers work out
7ubIect independently Of each other, and
rierely aPportloniDg Its principal divisions.
but these repetitions aud inequalities are
very slight, nd vanish entirely before that
harmony Of higher quality which per-
Tades The whole volume; harmony far
beyond the mere form harmony of spirit,
OF purpose, Of method, and OF means.
Ihou.r these various points Of the subject
are onls touched upon, and not exhausted.
the essa s7, nevertheless, go over the whole
ground which the question covers, and NJ
reader can peruse the book without being
deeply impressed by the competency with
which lie subject is grasped as a whole,
and by the amount OF learning and study,
the acuteness and perseverance, OF iryestiga.
tion, and the nobe serenity of temper with
which all its details are ire ated
There is also another reason why we wiah
that this volume should be made accessible
to ala practical one Most readers of
tho IL hla Il
idea ol aspiration from the original text to
the TRANSLATION. Even among Biblical
scholars, who daily converse with the He
brew and Greek texts, and daily have occa-
zion TO distinguish between them and any
translation Of them, there sre many who
make this same transmutation, irvolunta-
rily, instinc;ively; aud to the common
reader, who knows nothing Of Hebrew and
Greek, and never had occasion 10 make q
distinction between the original text and
translation, the translation, with which he
was educated, naturally and rightfulfy be.
comes the Holy Book, the inspired Scrip
lures. Hence, most readers Of the Bible
cannot hesr the book spoken of az a trans
lstlon, liable 10 contain mistakes and open
to improvements, without feeling hurt. and
the idea OF a revision of the Bible must
necessarily give them an impression as if
the axis OF the earth had become unsettled.
But We can think OF no means BY which the
way could be more easily prepared for a
ready and trusting acceptance of the labor
OF the committee than this very volume of
essays. 1t would interest and instruct the
reader without disturbing him. After an
introductory statement by Philip Schaff of
the organizitio of the Euglish and Ameri.
can Committees and their method of CO.
operation, it gives a sketch of the history
OF the authorized version and the other
English version on which it il based. by
Charles p. Krauth; an exposition of the
mission which this version has fulfilled,
and is still fulfilling, as classic in English
literature, by I. W. Chambers; and of the
reasons why a new revision has, neverthe-
less, become desirable, by Theodore d.
Woolsey, and then it turns into the details
OF the subject-the history of the Hebrew
text OF the Old Testament, BY Howard o.
good, and Of the Greek text of the New
Testament, BY Ezra Abbot; the progress of
Hebrew philology and Biblical science, by
w. Henry Green; the inaccuracies which
neoessarily crept into the old versions on
account Of the insuffciency of the scientific
materials, and the means we now have to
correct them, by Joseph Packard, George
+. Day, A. c. kendrick, Matthew B. Kid
die, and q. Emlen Hare. 1t IL, of course.
often very subtle and intricate questions
which sre tr.aed here, but the treatment
is everywhere exceedingly happy. The
common reader will be able to follow the
discussion without trouble, and though he
now and then may find some information
which he does not find 60 very willing to
accept, the writers have throughout evinced
20 perfect an understanding Of such feel
ing, and paid 80 scrupulous q respect to it,
that even he Who may have a drop of the
famous theological ire in his veins, cannot
help being carried away BY the spirit which
peryades the whole volume deep and
earnest desire to have our English transla-
ton OF the Bible as perfect as possible.
1t Is chiefly the progress of Biblical sci-
snce, geographical, arcta illogical, chrome
logical, pathological, &c, which has IN ade |
revision Of King James Bible almost q |
necessity. During the present century,
Palestine and the adjacent countries have
been literally ransacked from end to end, |
and the actual Identification of the locali- |
aes mentioned in the Bible, in oounection |
Win an exact knowledge of the climate,
soii, Vegetation, &c, of Bible land. has not /
oniy thrown Light on many Obscure poinas, /
specially in the Old Testsment. ~ ~,.d |
: eaa!ming freshnes and homs-kEun
ovef me whole record. At Tie - eiDa ]
the study Of comparative philoIoeY - -