Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-29
THE RIBLEREVISION.
Interesting Particulars of the
Great Work.


Boston Advertiser,
The fact that q revision vi the author
lied version OF the Bible has been I'M
dertaken is well known, and the public
has from time to time been informed OF
the general character and progress OF the
work. But more particular statement
may be OF interest to many readers.
The fact that the version in common
use is not regarded by scholars as per-
feet translation of the original Hebrew
and Greek Scriptures has been made
familiar to the masses, not only by the
frequent corrections made by preachers
in their pulpits, but by many indepen-
dent translati0ns which have been put
out during the last twenty-five years.
These translations have, indeed, met
with no general favor, and have some
times, by their imperfectiOns and their
ill-advised deviations from the old YER
sion, seemed TO endear the latter more
than ever to the popular heart; but
they have, nevertheless, had the elect
Of disturbing the almost superstltlous
confidence which men have begun to
put in the authorized version. There
are certain errors in it which almost
every one has learned about. There
are obsolete words which have TO be eN-
planned afresh to every child. There
are inaccuracies which unnecessarily
obscure what might easily be made clear.
The progress Of biblical and pathological
knowledge, and the discovery Of manu-
script OF the New Testament far older
| and more accurate than those from
which the authorized version was made,
have rendered it possible TO satisfy the
| reasonable desire, on the one hand,
more perfectly TO reproduce for common
use the the meaning Of the Scriptures,
and on the other TO issue such version
as by the very method OF its production
would inspire confidence in its accuracy
and would forestall other one-sided
attempts to improve the common ver-
sion.
Accordingly, in the spring of 1870, the
Convection OF Canterbury, represent
ing the larger portion OF the Anglican
Church, resolved to inaugurate re-
vision OF the authorized version. Ger
tain members of the cOnvOcatiOn were
designated to serve in the work, and
other scholars, members both of the es-
tablished church and of the nOn-cOn-
formist bodies, were added to the num-
Der, there being about fifty in all, OF
which One-half constitute the Old les
lament company, and the other half the
| New Testament company. The most
noteworthy facts respecting the work
are as follows: % The New version Is
TO be a rerisiOR of the old one, not new
translation. The purpose is ito intro
duce as few alterations as possible in the
text OF the authorized version conss-
tcntly with faithfulness." (2) The
changes are, further, to be so limited as
not to affect the general style OF the old
version. Archaic expressions are not to
be changed when they cause no OBJ
security. When changes are made, the
principle adopted is "tO limit, rs far as
possible, the expression of such altera-
tons to the language of the authorized
and earlier English versions" That Is,
il words not now found in the Bible
must be introduced for the sake of faith
fulness. they shall, if possible, not be
such as have mOdsrp sound out of
keeping with the general style Otthe
Bible. CD Every part OF each OF the
Testaments is To be revised by the "hO''
company charged with its revision. a.
Every book of the Bible must he gone
over hricc, and at the second revision a
vote Of tw0-thiris is necessary in order 10
change any reading OF the authorized
version.
In the autumn of 1872, at the request
of the British committee, revision COM
mittee was organized in the United
States, consisting OF about twenty-five
members, divided into two companies,
like the British committee. Ii consists
of representative scholars of all the lead
ing Protestant denominations. They
are subject 10 the same rules as the
British revisers, and labor in COnjunc-
ton with them in following manner:
The result OF the frSi revision of some
portion of the Bible is transmitted in Il
printed form to the American com.
mittcc, and this is carefully examined
and compared with the authorized YER
sion and with original text by each mem
ber for himself. Then in monthly me t..
ings of two days duration each, each
company meets in New York 10 dclib-
crate upon the proposed changes. They
resolve to retain the reading OF the au-
thorizcd version, or To make new
changes not proposed by the BriSish
company, or tO modify the changes pro-
posed by the British. When this work
has been done twice, ii is sent to En-
gland, where it is made Use of by the
Brsish company in their ~coHirevision.
This second revision is then transmit
ted to the American companies, who
then again compare the difference, and
decide whether they will adhere 10
their former proposals or aCqulesce III
the British revision. In this way, by
successive comparisons, and sometimes
special discussions of the more i'm
pOrtant passages, the number of the di-
vergcncies is reduced as much as pos
sible The relations between the two
committees are perfectly friendly, and
the cooperation of different denom-
nations has on neither side OF the ocean
led to any friction.
The revision of the New Testament is
now nearly complete. That of the Old
Testament will not be ready ior pub
liCation for about three years. In En-
gland the University presses have en-
gagged to publish the Bible, and, as they
will have copyright on it, they bear
the expenses incurred by the British re-
vision in their work. In the United
States there will be no copyright; and
the American rcvisions not only devote
their time and study 10 the work OF the
revision, hut also assume the peCuniary
expense OF it, except in 50 far as inter
cstcd friends voluntarily contribute
money for this purpose. Upto the pres
| cpt time such contributions have been
sufficient To meet the actual cNpens 5
| incurred by the committee, 1t is Ia be
hoped that this all will be continued.
| Less than =, 600 a year will be needed
/ for the short period during which the
work is To continue. 4 finance COM
mittee has been organized. which IT,
ceives and disburses funds for this pur-
/ pose.
- 4 l.