Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-07-02


the revision but rather the facts il
has recognized, and when all doubt
is removed by a simple statement
of the means by which we obtain
the original text of the New Testa-
ment.
8 have now, in an imperfect way,
indicated what l conceive to be the
proper attitude towards the Revis-
ed New Testament. l have called
attention to the fact that only the
original Greek was inspired, and
that no translation can claim inspi-
ration or infallibility, and that con-
sequently no objection can be made
to revision as an abstract question.
| pointed out that there is need of a
revision of some kind in that the
present translation was made from
an imperfect text, was not always
faithful in its renderings, and con-
tains terms and phrases liable to be
misunderstood. / then took up the
objections which'are made against
the revision proposed for our accep-
tance, in so far as these objections
tend to dissuade us from a candid
Judgment of the question on its
merits. My effort was to show that
no valid objection can be drawn
from the nationality or church rela-
tions of therevisers none from the
purely literary point of view; none
from the omission and changes, un-
til the evidence for these is tested
none from the fact that no doctrine
of duty is affected by the changes as
a whole and none from the fact
that doubts are created in some
minds by the revision. To prove
that these doubts are without proper
foundation, / gave a brief sketch of
the materials accessible to us, by
which we reach what is. to all in
tents and purposes the text of the
inspired writers.
"What then is the ecorrectattitude?
In my Judgment it is that of pa
tient comparison of the two ver-
sions in these points-accuracy of
text on which the translation is bas-
ed, fidelity in rendering the orig
inal, simplicity of language and
style. | grant that this will require
much time and toll from those who
are qualified to prosecute such an
investigation; grant that the vast
majority of Christians can not en-
ploy all these bases of comparison
but still all can study the two vers-
ions and compare them as to lang
uage and style, and clearness of ex-
preston. Meanwhile, there is no
need of "a hasty Judgment. The old
Bible, admitting that it has its de-
fects is one of the most perfect trans
Iations ever made, and no man who
reads it carefully and compares its
teachings throughout will be apt TO
make any mistake, 1t has a histo-
ry which exalts it on a pedestal
from which it can never be moved,
and l could quote eulogies pro-
nounced upon it by friends and foes
of its doctrines. In his recent His
tory of the English People, Mr..
Green has with truth ascribed to its
influence the religious, literary, So
cial and political change which
came over England in the Seven
teenth century, introduced the Puri
tan ascendency, and paved the way
for the greatness of Modern Brit
ain. We are compelled, however, to
expose the sophistry of attributing
to the translation as such effects
which are due to the Word of God,
and which will just as readily be
produced by revised version.
"What the verdict of English
will be l shall not at
tempt to prophecy; and | beg il to
be observed that / have not ranged
myself on the side of the advocates
Of the revision. l have not institu-
ted such a careful comparison as to
Justify me in reaching conclusion.
Hasty adoption and hasty rejection
ire alike Inappropriate. l believe
hat our thanks are due the band of
genuine and laborious scholars who
nave toiled earnestly for ten years
-the English with very little COM
and the Americans with
none at ALTO give US in an English
lress the very, Oracles of God. An
lonest examination of their work is
he least return we can make, and
$ all that they ask.
"But whatever the ultimate de-
,ision be, we must bear in mind
hat the existence of the Scriptures
s not in question the word of the
Lord endureth forever. This word
las survived all opposition and is
low having free course and being
,lorifled in almost every country of
he globe; it has been translated in
0 nearly all the languages of earth
nd though these translations shall
,erish, it shall endure; yea, all
hese versions shall wax old like IA
.arment as veSture they shall be
hanged but the word of the Lord
: the same, and its years shall
ave no end"
"Reminiscences.
The mention of few incidents of