Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-08-28
Adnraster fntelllgenrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. AUG. %. 1890.
The Revised Bible.


The Revised Bible.
There is no subject OF such universal
and unabating interest to all Christen-
dom as the Bible, and the article which
we publish on our first page to-day, rela-
tive to the progress Of the movement for
the revision OF the King James version,
will he read with much interest we doubt
not. That version has long been regard
cd as well Of pure English undefiled,
and holy men for generations have
shrunk from altering the stately
simplicity Of its text. The present
movement for its rcvision-necessarily
involving excisions and expurgations-
was met with stern opposition from
many quarters, and its progress has been
received with doubts and with apprehen-
sions much better founded than those Of
Bishop Coke, whose chief concern seems
to he lest some others than representa-
tivcs of his own church should partici-
pate in the revision. Really, however,
there is no reason why the text of the
Holy Scriptures should not have applied
to its correction and illumination thel re-
suits Of the scholarship and scientific ac-
QUESTION Of three centuries, than any
other subject Of human knowledge and
agency Of civilization and evangelization.
Earnest as were the last revisers in their
work, Of ripe scholarship and profound
religious veneration, the discoveries OF
science. the rapid advances in pathological
studies, and the archaeological investiga-
tion of the last twenty years especially.
have made it altogether possible. if not
absolutely necessary. to make the English
translation conform more closely than
it now does to the original. This is
abundantly illustrated every sunday hy
preachers who give new twists TO Their
texts, and BY commentators who explain
to,their readers that 50 many parts Of the
scripture are not 10 le read AS they art
printed.
The accDun. which We print contains
ample apology for the undertaking Of
work, and All interesting account OF tie
way in which it has been done. Some
uf the details are Of curious Interest
and recall the incidents Of those famous
editions of tie scriptures in which Adam
and Eve made then selves breeches:
and i'll which Gods people were enjoined
to :. commit adultery These editions
were. Of course, diligently suppressed.
and vet the lbunders which made them
the horrors Of the church and the rare
game Of photographers were scarcely
more serious than the mistakes which
the modern revisers find. in the light Of
new learning. that their predecessors
made deliberately and in the sincere be
lief that they were doing the best fox the
truth.
1t seems that by-and-bv' used to
mean instantly. while go to" signiiled
come mules were warm springs. and
Joseph coat Of many colo.s," which
las 80 well served the purposes Of the
nursery. Of the Sunday-Schoo!. and Of
Biblical panoramas, was only "a tunlc
with long sleeves The entire cXcisiOn
of the story Of the woman taken inadul-
ttry and even Il brief amendment TO the
ordinary version Of the Lords Prayer,
will awaken more general interest. 1t is
startling, if not discomfOrting, to hear
that such familiar texts as "many be
called but few choscn' and g if any man
hath ears to hear let him hcar'' have not
passed the tests of authenticity.
But since the authOrityof learned men
ut different times in the worlds progress
has been universally recognized to
amend the translatiOns and cOdiiicatiOn
Of the Scriptures; to reject this or that !;
to intcrpolatc, revise, alter and change ;
and since the present movement was un-
dcrtaken in catholic spirit, for no
special end, and has been guided by pro
found scholarship, there is no reason why
ut no remote time, its conclusions
should not be accepted by all Protestant
churches Us their standard version, how
ever radical the changes proposed. For
if the end of knowledge is the truth no
sentimental feeling can withstand its
advance and because the Bible is the
sacred book it is, there is all the greater
reason why the popular version of it
should he purgcd and purified and cstab-
lished hy the ripcst scholarship of adj
yaucinu cent llricS