Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-02-18
The Re,I.lsn Of the Ns~ Ts.,amsn,.

During the last ten years a work has been
in progress among US which has an interest
for all English-speaking people-the revision
of the English New Testament 1t began
with resolutions of the Convocation Of Can
terbury at a session held on May 9TH, 1870.
They we're to the effect that it was desirable
that revision of the authorized version of
Holy Scripture should be undertaken; that
no changes should be made but such as faith
fulness required that the style of the Ian
guage Of the existing version should be close
ly followed, and that the cooperation of schol-
ars of other nations and other religious bodies
should be invited.
A committee of eight bishops and eight
presbyters were appointed TO carry out these
resolutions of whom three bishops (Winches-
ter, Gloucester and Bristol, and Salisbury, to-
gether with the Prolocutor of the Lower
House, now dean of Lichfeld, the dean of
Canterbury (Dr. Afford, the dean of West
minister, and Canon Blakesley (now dean of
Linooln), formed the original New Testament
company. At the first meeting of the united
committee, twenty-one scholars were elected
as members Of the New Testament company.
The same year companies were formed in
America 10 cooperate with the English CON-
panies, the New Testament company consist
ing of fifteen eminent American scholars.
Both the English and American companies
contain members of the larger religious bodies
in the two countries respectively. About half
Of the added members of the English COM
panies were members of the English church !;
in the American companies the various reli-
gious bodies are pretty equally represented.
The mode Of working between the two
companies is interesting. The English COM
pany 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 q day, and it took six
years to complete the first revision. As each
portion was completed, copies were sent to
the American company, who in due time 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
We're completed, they were also sent to Amer
lea, and the Americans sent back further crit
icisms and suggestions, which were in turn
carefully considered. At last the revised YER
sion was sent over to American its final form,
and the American brethren sent back in re-
turn list of passages in which they recorded
their preference 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 revised New
Testament to be issued by the university
presses.
The meetings of the English company be-
gan each day at IL 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
majority of the members present decided all
changes; at the second revision all these
changes were liable TO be reoonsidered, 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 mem
bers present approved it, This rule was laid
down at the outset, and gave great prepon-
derance, not unreasonably, to the authorized
version. At the same time it was likely TO
end in the retention of readings and render
ings which decided majority Of the company
deemed the less satisfactory. II is obvious 10
remark, also that under such q rule many a
rendering was likely 10 be retained, not be-