The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-09-23
TIE REVISED BIBLE.

/
the translation of the Bible. The
present and the older authorized
versions for public use in churches
proceeded from the undivided ma
tiOnal Church of England, before
the other evangelical denomination:
were organized. and before the
American people had nm independ.
ent existence.
The new revision took lis origin
very properly. in the Convocation OF
Canterbury 1.-THE cradle of Anglo
Saxon Christendoml May 6, 1870
by the appointment of a committee
of eminent biblical scholars and dig
nitaries of the Church of England
with power to revise, for public use
the authorized English version OF
1911, and TO associate with them rep
resentative biblical scholars of other
Christian denominations using that
version.
The English committee is divided
into two companies, one for the Old
Testament and one for the New.
The American committee was or
ganized i'll 1871, by invitation, and
with the approval of the British
reyisers, and hogan active work in
October, 1872. Ii is likewise selected
from different denominations. and
divided INTO two companies. The
American Bible Society has no part
or responsibility in this enterprise,
and can have none within the limits
of its present constitution.
The British and American COM
mittees are virtually one organiza-
ton, with the same principles and
objects, and in constant correspond
ence with each OTHER. They do not
intend to issue two separate and dis
tinct revisiOns, but one and the same
revision for both countries.
s COMPOSITION.
The two committees embrace at
present 79 active members, SO in
England and % in America. Be
sides, the English committee lost by
death and resignation 10, the
American committee : members.
Adding these, the whole number of
scholars who at any time have been
connected with this work, amounts
to 1O1. Among these are many of
the best Biblical scholars and COM
mentators of the leading Protestant
denominations in Great Britain and
the United States: Not few Of
them are well known hy their works
iii Europe and America. The
American members are nearly all
professors of Hebrew or Greek ex-
egesis i'll the principal theological in
situations of the Eastern States and
have been selected with regard TO
competency aud reputation for Rib
lical scholarship, denOminational
connection and local convenience or
easy reach of Now York, where they
met every month.
The object of this Anglo-Amer-
lean enterprise is to adapt King
James version to the present state
of the English Language, without
changing the idiQm and vocabulary
and to the present standard of Bib
lical scholarship, which has made
very great advances since 1911, es-
pecially during the last thirty years,
in textual criticism, Greek and
Hebrew philology, in Biblical geog-
faphy aNl archaeology.
Ii is not the intention to furnish q
new version (Which Is not needed,
and would not succeed), but a con-
servatiye revision OF the received
version, so deservedly esteemed as
far as the English language extends.
The New Bible is to read like the
old; aud the sacred assafiaEiops con
nected with II are not to be dis
turbed: but within these limits all
necessary and desirable corrections
ana improvements on which the hest
scholars are agreed win be intro
duced; good version is to be made
better: clear and accute version
clearer and more accurate: the old
est and purest text is to be followed:
errors. obscurities and inconsistent
cies are to be removed; uniformity
in rendering Hebrew and Greek
Wpfas aDd proper names to be
sought. I'm one word, the revision
is to give, in idi0matio English, the
nearest possible equivalent for the
original word of God as it came
from the inspired organs of the Holy
Spirit. 1t aims to be the best version
possible in the nineteenth century.
as King James version was the best
which could be made in the seven
teenth century.
MODE OF OPERATION,
The English companies transmit,
from time to time, confidential cop
les of their revision to the Amcri-
can companies; the American COM
panies send the results of their la
bors to the British companies, like
wise in strict confidence. Then fol-
lows second revision on the part
of both committees, with a view to
harmonize the tWp revisions, and the
results Of the second revision are
transmitted in like manner.
If any differences should remain,
after a final vote, they viii he indi-
Gated In an appendix or preface.
Happily, they will be few and I'M
essential as compared with the large
number of improvements already
adopted by both committees.
The work is not distributed among
subcommittee, as was the case
with the Ievisers of King James.
but the whole Old Testament Com
pany goes carefully through all the
books of the Old Testament, the
New Testament Company through
those Of the New, and III this way
greater harmony and consistency
will be secured than was possible
under the other system. ~
When the revision Is thoroughly
matured, it will be given to the
public, as the joint work of both
committees, by the University
Presses of Oxford and Cambridge.
which publish the best and cheapest
editions of the Bible in England.
and will insure the utmost accuracy
in typography. When adopted bv
the churches and Bible societies of
the two countries, the revised
English bible will become public
property, like King James version.
After they have finished their la
bors the two committees will dis
band. Ii will then be for the
and Bible societies 10 take
up the revision, and to decide wheth-
er it shall take the place of King
James version. or ut least be used
with it. in public worship.
Ii Is not expected. of course. that the
old version. which is so deeply i'm
bedded in our religious literature.
will ever 60 entirely out of use. GER
tainly not for long time 10 come.
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