Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-12
The Revision Of the New Testament


been in progress among US which has an
interest for all English speaking people
the revision of the English New Testa-
ment 1t began with resolutions of the
Convocation of Canterbury at a session
held on May 5, 1870 They were to the
effect that il was desirable that 9 revision
of the authorized version of Holy Scrip
ture should be undertaken; that no
changes should be made but such as
faithfulness required; that the style of
the language of the existing version
should be closely followed, and that the
co operation of scholars of other nations
and other religious bodies should be in
vited
A committee of eight Bishops and
eight Presbyters was appointed to carry
ut these resolutions, of whom three
bishops (Winchester, Gloucester and
Bristol, and Salisbury, together with the
Prolocutor of the Lower House, now
Dean of Litchfeld, the Dean of Canter-
bury Dr. Afford, the Dean of West.
minister, and Canon Blakesley (now Dean
of Lincoln), formed the original New
Testament Company At the first meet
ing of the united committee twenty
one scholars were elected as men,
bers of the New Testament Com
pany. The same year companies
were formed in America to cooperate
with the English companies, the New
Testament Company consisting of fifteen
eminent American scholars. Both the
English and the American Company con-
| tain members of the larger religious
bodies in the two countries, respectively.
About half of the added members of the
English companies were members Of the
English Church. In the American COM
panies the various religious bodies are
pretty equally represented.
The mode of working between the two
companies is interesting. The English
Company first revised the Greek text and
the translation, examining together every
verse and every word. This was done
at the rate of about forty verses a day,
and it took six years to complete the first
revision. AS each portion was com.
! pleted copies were sent to the American
| Company, who in due course sent back
their criticisms and suggestions. These
were carefully considered during the
second revision, which occupied two
years and half. AS the various portions
of the second revision were completed,
! they were sent to America, and the
| Americans sent back further criticisms
and suggestions. which were in turn
carefully considered. At last the re-
! vised version was sent over to America
in its final form, and the American
! brethren sent back in return list of
passages in which they record their pre-
ference for other renderings than those
adopted by the English Company.
These, it is understood, will be found at
| the end of the large edition of the re-
vised New Testament to be issued by
the University presses.
The meetings of the English Company
began each day at eleven o'clock and
closed at six. After prayer, the minutes
of the previous meeting were read and
| confirmed. A verse was then read from
the authorized version. Any proposals
for changes in the Greek text were made,
discussed and voted upon; and then any
changes in the renderings of the English
| translation. At the first revision a ma.
| jority of the members present decided
all changes. At the second revision
all these changes were liable to be
reconsidered, and then no disputed
change, either in the Greek text or
in the revised translation, was affirmed
unless a majority of two-thirds of the
members present approved it. This rule
| was laid down at the outset, and gave a
| great preponderance, not unreasonablY,
to the authorized version. At the same
time it was likely to end in the reten,
tion of readings and renderings which
decided majority of the company
| deemed the less satisfactory. 1t is OBJ
vious to remark also that under such a
rule many rendering was likely to be
retained, not because the authorized YER
sion Is the best possible, but because it
was not found practicable to hit upon
expressions which were deemed by two
thirds of the company to be preferable
to the authorized. Sometimes, too, as
it may be supposed, the rhythm and sa-
cred associations of the authorized YER
sion would be likely to carry the day
against renderings that had possibly
greater technical accuracy on their side.
Most readers will rejoice in the conserva-
tive influence Of these rules, and they
have certainly ended in the more careful
examination of every word of the New
Testament, whether in the English or il
the Greek.
The meetings of the English Company
were generally held, by the courtesy Of
the Dean of Westminster, in the Jerusa-
lem Chamber, room belonging to the
Deanery. Here met the Assembly of Di-
vines in 1913; and, in 1859, the Commits
sion to revise the Liturgy of the English
Church. Some of the greatest English
theologians of all schools have assembled
within its walls; and many eminent men
have here lain in state on their way to
their final resting place IN the adjoining
Abbey. A room richer in appropriate
historical memories is not to be found in
England.
The New Testament Company has met
ten times year during the last ten years,
for four days each time, and generally
for seven hours each day. 1t may be
said, therefore, that they have given
four hundred working days to these con-
ferences, in addition to much Individual
previous preparation. And as this work
has been done without fee or reward by
busy men, they deserve on that account
alone the hearty thanks of all the
| churches.
England's Wicked War.
Washington Post.
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