The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-06-02
THE NEW SCRIPTURES.
Sermon by the Chairman Of the American Re.
vision Committee.


PTTTsBURGH, May 29.-Dr. Pnilip schaff, Chair
man Of the American Section Of the Revision
Committee, who is attending the U. P, Assembly,
delivered a sermon In the First Presbyterian
Church, Allegheny TO day, on the revision Of the
new testament. After referring to the Bible as q
great institution the reverend gentleman touched
briefly on the various translations. He spoke Of
many excelences Of the King James translation,
bnt said for the past fifty years there had been
growing demand for a new translation. The
reasons for snCh a revision are especially two
First, the changes in the language, and second
progress In biblical scholarship. Every living
language changes from time to time. The Ian.
guage Of Bebe changed to that Of Wyclif, that Of
WycliR to that of Tyndsl, that Of Tyndal to that
of the time Of King James, and there have been
many changes since then, Certain words have
changed their mt aning to the direct opposite Of
that formerly expressed by them. The speaker
cited verses in which "prevent" is used In the
sense of "precede," "let" for hinder" "car.
rages" for baggage" "by and by" for "iorth.
with, ;" and others of like nature,
The second and more important reason, how
ever Is the growth Of every branch Of knowledge
The forty.seven men who made King James's
translation, had none OF them been In Palestine
and knew little Of biblical GEOGRAPHY. They
were thus liable TO make mistakes, and did make
many. Since then Egypt has given up her
treasures, Sinai has been explored Palestine ira.
Vtrsed, Babylon and NneVeh have risen from
their graves to testify to the truth OF the Bible
and lend their manuscripts and inscriptions to
the explanation Of some Of It's passages This
gain In knowledge should be used to make
good translation better, to bring the English Bible
up to The standard OF English knowledge. To
substitute ineligible modern English words for
obsoute ones, and sbOve all to translate from
purer, older Greek and Hebrew text written
nearer the Apostolic age.
The King James version was translation from
manuscripts which we're copies OF older manu-
with frequent copying Older manuscripts, since
discovered, have been used In the present re-.
vision, and many actual errors rectihed "Strain
at a gnat" has been changed 70 strain out
gnat" and great many such typographical er-
[oIs corrected. @ 1--we WORDS 5 IN t9e original were
"Hades' meaning the abode Of the soul after
death, and "Gehenna" meaning the abode of the
damned. In the revision this has been corrected
So Rleo has the distinction between devil" and
"demon" been brought out.
The division into chapters Of "Gista," made by
the Roman Catholic Cardinal In the Thirteenth
century, and that into verses first made by
Paris publishing house in the sixteenth century,
have been done away with and the text divided
according to sense Italcised passages when
they were unnecessary and weakening TO the true
Sense, have been discarded. Yet all these
changes, this bringing OF the English text close.
to the true re0ding OF the original, has not In any
wise interiered with the sacTedness OF the book.
The Committees work is done, and 1t now rests
with the Christian people 10 say whether the re.
vision shall take the place Of The old version or
be used with 1t, or as a commentary,