Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-11-19
REVISION OF THE BIBLE.

REVISION OF THE BIBLE.
DIR. HOWARD CROSBY, one of the New
Testament revisers, says in the Novem-
Der North american ReUieW:
The work of the revisers has been double
one, to ascertain Il speak of the New Testa-
ment now the genuine Greek text, and then
to correct or modify the English translation.
1t is well known that Erasmus Greek text
was the result of the examination Of only five
Greek manuscripts Of a late date and a use of
the Vugate. The Elzevr second edition
1633), which has been the "Textus Re-
ceptus" ever since, was founded on Erasmus
text aud the Comprehension through the la
bors of the two Stephens and Beza, and
suppose 1t is safe to say that not over twenty
manuscripts were consulted In all that went
to make up this "TeXtus Receptus.n n It is
also safe to say that none of these Mss.
were OF ancient date except Codex BezR (D),
noted for its deviations from other authori-
ties. Now we have over a thousand Mss.
known and accessible to scholars; above all,
those venerable unCials the SinaitiC, the
Alexandrian (Al, the Vatican (B), and the
Ephraem (C). The field for induction is thus
vastly broader than 1t was when our present
Greek text was settled, and makes a correct
text presumably If not certainly possible.
The careful examination OF these Mss. and
the weighing of their authority have occuDied
the life labors of such men a. TisChendorf,
of the revsers comparatively easy one to
select the true reading in any given case. In
this work, Westcott, Hort and Abbott have
been conspicuous, who with Scrlvener have
developed cultured instinct regarding man
uscript authority which is as safe to trust as
1t Is marvellous in its character.
When the text is decided the work OF the
Greek scholar begins He is not simply TO
know Greek. but to know Hebrew, that he
may detect Hebraic idoms in the New Testa-
mani He NH fbprnnpb1u ,apHargtonl fba
difference between classic and Hellenistc
Greek, for Greek purst would find many
stumbling-bocks in both gospels and epistles,
and, above all, In the ADOc lypse. He is to
compare the Septuagint with many Old Testa-
ment quotations and illusions In the New
Testament, and its usa, of words generally
with the like words used by the evangelsts
and apostles. There must be also uiligent
labor 10 make words and phrases In different
parts OF the work correspond In English as
they do I'm Greek, the argument and meaning
being thus made more evident. Then comes
the office of the English scholar to see that
sentences are smooth and clear, and that a
perfect English model is given In what Is pre-
eminently the peoples book. such, then, is
the double work of the present reyisers
They have prepared a Greek text, and they
have translated it, observing, however in the
translation those principles TO which / have
already alluded, and SO preserving as far as
possible the language of the authorized and
earlier English writer's
The work has been in progress ten years,
but the American cooperation began in Oc-
tOher 1872. For eight years the English aud
American committees have wrought harmo-
niously together, exchanging copies OF their
results for consideration and reconsidera-
tlon. The English Committee numbered at
first fifty-twO, and the American Committee
twenty-seven, making seventy-nne In all,
but death has removed several members from
each committee. Our own has lost DR.. Tay-
lsaH NsaHusN 10 NN...N II.
Hadley. The New Testament Company IN
England numbered wenty-seven and in
America sixteen. The labors of this company
are nearly concluded. IL is probable that
their completed work will be I'm possession
of the ublic before this year expires The
Old Testament company will continue Their
labors for at least two years lOnger. The
American portion of the New Testament
Company has met monthly at No. AZ, Bible
House, New York, where the books and ap-
paratus necessary for the undertaking had
been provided The meetings began, each,
ON Friday morning at half-past nine o'clock,
ana enled on Saturday at one y. m. There
were two or three sessions on Friday and one
on saturday In June and August no meet
Ing was held, but In July there was a long
meeting OF four days at Andoyer New Haven,
New York or Princeton, Some of the mem
bers came from distance Of anOut four hun
dred miles, and many had TO make Journey
OF one and two hundred miles to attend the
meetings, aud yet these distant members
were almost always In their seats at the ap-
pointed times,
Speaking as a member Of the New Testa-
ment Company, may characterize each meet
ing as a spiritual and intellectual symposium.
more genial brotherhood never met Epis-
copallan, Unitarian, Methodist Baptist
Friend, Congregationalst and Presbyterian
knew no differences, and held one another in
respect and affection. Not a sectarian note
was ever heard Not harsh word was ever
uttered. The Tevered President Woolsey
guided our deliberations with wisdom and
urbanity. He read the verse, and then called
Tor comment and suggestion. Every one was
patiently heard, and then the decision was
recorded by our secretary, Prof. Short or
Prof. Thayer, Sometimes a long discussion
would enliven us, and hosts OF references
were made TO support either side aud (if
may let out the secreD there were times Wheu
the sOlenlnty that became the dignity of our
work was tempered by humorous hit or an
irresistible pleasantly. At such moments,
perhaps, any one who might suddenly have
entered our "Jerusalem chambern would
have scarcely OWNED our work
The portion on which we were to confer
was always appointed at the previous meet
ing, so that there might be a montn's pre-
liminary study before the comparison of notes
and the record OF the result In this way a
vast amount Of critical examination was given
to every sentence In the New Testament and
we may be sure that not even a word Of any
importance escaped searching investigation,
Rev. DIR. j. w. Chambers, in a paper read
before the recent General Presbyterian
Council on the new Bible revision says The
revision will be based on an iD3DrOUed tert.
The text employed by King James transla-
tors was derived from few manuscripts, and
those OF a late date, and abounds with ad-
mitted impe fectiOns. These it has been the
province OF Biblical criticism to discover and
remove, and for centuries the lahors OF
learned men have been devoted to this end.
1t Is estimated that there are about four
hundred cases In which the sense Of passage
Is affected by the reading that is taken
but comparatively only few are important