Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-05-25
The Revised New Testament,

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Probably no time in the history of mod
ern Christianity has ever witnessed so
widespread and intense interest in the
reading of the New Testament Scripture
as since the goth instant. when the new
revision was put on sale in New York,
and thence sent out to all parts of the
county. Not only Christians. but the
people at large, including unbelievers and
protested infidels, have watched with in
tense interest for the appearance of the
work.
1t was announced some time since that
the revision of the New Testament had
been completed, and that the work was
in print in England but that it would not
be put upon sale in this country until
May 18th. Meanwhile the authorized
publishers were endeavoring to so secure
orders for their edition as to nulify the
advertised purpose of the American pub
fishers to produce cheaper editions imme-
diately upon the appearance of the revis-
ion, without any payment of copyright
claims to the authorized publishers.
The date of issue was then postponed
until the goth, and on that day the New
York booksellers were supplying the pub
lie. The Boston booksellers were be-
sieged on Friday by u great inquiry for
" the New Bible" but were not able to
supply copies until Saturday, much to the
chagrin of Boston enterprise, which never
likes to fall into the wake of New York,
whether in secular activity or religious
information.
At present writing the book stores are
generally supplied throughout the country,
and probably many people are reading the
Scripture who have not given SO much
attention TO it for long time, if ever.
The changes in the text are numerous
and frequent. so far as the phraseolgy is
concerned, but remarkably free from vital
discrepancies in statement of facts and in
teaching of doctrina truth. 1t is both
comforting and encouraging to the Chris.
tian believer to behold this new proof of
the accuracy of the version so long used
in that amid all the changes in the use of
language, in the reversion of meaning by
conformity to custom, rs it drifts with the
tide of time, in the disappearance of words
which have become obsolete, and in the
industrious coinage of new words 50 prev
alent in our age, yet in the two hundred
and seventy years since the King james
version was issued, so little change; is
found necessary to bring the translation
Fl ON the original to the standard of our
present established usage of language, &C
cording to the best English and American
biblical scholars, and as the result of ten
years labor and research on their part.
Where and what is the ancient classical
work which will so triumphantly survive
such crucial test ?
We will not particularize in regard to
changes as our readers will be able to
make their own comparisons of the former
with the new version,
Personally we are impressed with the
clearness of expression in the phraseologv
of the new version. and that in the main
it is less ambiguous than formerly. Sc
we're criticisms are made in some quarters
upon the changes by the committee of re.
vision, but we opine that their scholarship
and erudition is far superior to their aver
age critic, and that it is safe to rely upon
their rendering as accurate.
The prevailing thought as we compare
the old and the new, is that amid all the
changes of earth. whether of people, of
custom, of landmarks, or in the use of
language, yet the Greater of the universe
is unchanged and Interchangeable in His
attributes of power, of holiness, of Justice
and of mercy. So of the word of His truth,
of the revealed plan of salvation to the
human race, and of the character and at
tributes Of our Savior.
And we turn with comfort to Heb 70 IS
in the revised version to read, not n new
truth. but the same eternal truth of the
ages past, present and future, but set in
still more emphatic language than we have
heretofore quoted, Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday and today, yea, and for
ever"