Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-18

Ami ike the ever-caangng skies
ltaiways lives. Love never dies
And thai Is love!
New Testament Changes.
FAMILIAR PASSAGES AZ THEY READ II TIE
REVISED EDTTIoS-THE LORD PRAYER
CHAXGED-'HADEs" Used FOR HELL -
PAUI's MADNESS FROM MUCH LEARNING
THE WORN THAT pIETH Nor-''wHAT
SHALL IT PROFIT MANI?
From the New YORK Times.l
The revision Of the New Testament,
which was begun under the direction of
the convention of Canterbury 10 years
ago. WAS completed last October. and the
new version is now in print, although 1t
has not vet been given to the public.
The work is the result of the dellbera-
tons of two committees, one of 30 learn
ed biblical scholars in England and one
Of 30 in this country The two commit
tees did not meet together and take joint
action, but corresponded with each other
and compared notes. and, as general
thing. were able to agree upon the.proper
reading Of the texts. In cases of disa-
crcement, the text of the British com
mittee is used, but the reading of the
American committee Is given III an ap-
pandix, SO that the reader or student has
before him both traEslations. The only
copies Of the book in this country are
those which have been sent to members
of the American committee, Of which the
Rev DR. Philip Schatf is the president,
and they are pledged not TO show them TO
any person, or give any information as to
the changes made in the text OF the hing
James version, until the new version Is
formally approved and adopted by the
convection Of Canterbury DIR. Schafi
said Yesterday that the cony ocatlon
would meet carly in February, and AS
soon as it approved the version the re-
yised New Testament would be gwen to
the world. The American committee has
taken out no copyright on the book, and
the intention is to give 1t to the public
free. as the old Bible has been given.
In a very few days at furthest, II the con-
vocation approves of the revision, the
book Will he published, and everybody
will then be at liberty TO compare 1t with
the old version.
Notwithstanding the precautions taken
bvthe two committees TO prevent any por-
tions Of the revision from being brought
before the public before its formal adop-
ton by the conyocation, the main features
Of the work are known 10 the religion
world. Copies of the book were sent to-
chsrch Of England papers to be used III
preparing reviews, strict injunction be-
ing laid upon the editors against printing
any portion Of the text or any review OF
the book before the action of the convo-
cation. The London Record dlsre9arded
this injunction, and published review
on fine 7th inst, quoting Literally from
the work to show where and IN what
manner the text had been changed. The
following week the RecOrd apologlZed
for this publication, saying 1t was the re
suit Of mistake but the apology could
not recall the passages which had been
made public, so that the main features Of
the revised New Testament are almost as
well known TO church men III Europe to-
dav rs they will be after the book is pub
Hshed. Those who imagined that any Of
the accepted fundamental doctrines Of
Christianity were to he overturned by the
work of the committee will find them
selves greatly mistaken. In very few
instances has any text been changed so rs
to alter the meaning which attached to 1t
IN the King James version, and IN still
fewer Instances is the change material
u
General fling the changes consist Of the
substitution of the present for the past
tense in the verbs, the use of the indcfi-
mite article in place Of the definite, and
the changing OF propositions. In several
instances verses have been omitted alto
eether. but as a general thing the omis-
sion detracts nothing from the sense Of
the lesson. As an example to tins Mark
90 . la nj In, gf
version the verses read as follows
~. And if thy hand offend thee, cut
it OF; ii Is better for thee to enter into
life MANNED than having two hands TO 60
into hell, into the fire that never shall bc
quenched
~. Where the worm dietl moi and
the fire is not qTenched.
-. And if thy foot offend thee, cut
Il oil: it is better for thee to enter halt
INTO life, than having two feet 10 be cast
into hell. into the fire that shall never hc
quenched.
80 Where the worm ,ii,th not, and the
fire is not quencbed.
Verses ii and 46 in the above are en-
tirely omitted from the new version, but
yerse IS OF the same chapter, which Is IN
precisely the same words, Is allowed Ia
stand The work il arranged III para
snI tho chapters and verses arr
rIi,tad Al the margins. The 1hmilni
headlines 10 the chapters which serve -
well as a means Of reference are eXpung-
ed. This will make the book seem
strange to the ordinary Bible reader.
The text Of each gospel is thus made
continuous IN the body Of the book from
the beginning to the end, and in order Ia
find the subdivisions with which one has
been familiar, the margins must he con
suited The work Of translation has been
very faithfully performed, and the com
mittees have adhered scrupulUualy 10 the
idioms of the original Language, instead
of adopting the English idiom. as the
public was led to believe that they would
do. The result is that the work IS very
scholarly, but the text IA not 50 plan
as it might have been made by ireei
translation The changes ON the whole
are not Of character 10 create amy alarm
in the mind Of Christians. Not flnplt
accepted truth has been eliminated, an,
no special doctrine Of the church Is as
sailed.
Among the more striking changes may
be noted an alteration in the Lords Pray
er. as rendered IN Mathew, VI, 9-l3. II
the new version the doxology is entirely
omitted. and the prayer reads thus
'Our Father which art IN heaven, hal
lowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done, as in heaven, 80 oI
earth. Give us this day oar daily bread
and forgive us our debts as We also hav'
forgiven our debtors. And lead us no
into temptation, but deliver MS from th
evil one" The prayer as recorded II
Luke, VII, ., :, 1, reads as follows III TN
revised book Father, hallowed he th.
name. Thy kingdom come. Give usda,
by day our daily bread. Aud forgive u
oar sins, for We ourselves also forgly,
every one that is indebted to us. An'
lead US not into temptation" Ia Mat
thew, iv., .. where the temptation o
Christ is related, the old version says
''Then the devil talcth Him up into th
holy city and settcth Him on pinnacl
Of the temple In this verse "a plnnn
Gle is made to read ''the pinnacle, am
the change Is manifestly proper, sine
there was only one pinnacle to the temple
Very many Of the alterations are Of pre-
ciseiv such nature as this, the letinit
al. Los