The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-01

viz: at Acts xvi 81, and might there be
better rendered set forth" Two others
are twice so rendered, and are allowed
to pass unchallenged. The remaining
two ought to have been sharply distin-
guished. One of them is the regular
word for teach, and the other means
to make disciples" and the two are
used and carefully set one against the
other at Matt. xviii: 19, 20, but are
COMPOUNDED in the Authorized Version.
The words for "unbelief' and ito be-
lieve not" are always rendered correctly
in our old Bibles, but the two closely re.
lated words for disobedience" and "to
obey not" are sometimes confounded with
them. This is the case at Eph. il: 2,
l Pet. IL 8, etc. On the other hand the
Authorized Version translates them ex-
actly at Rom. XII 80, Heb. iv: 6, and
elsewhere. The inconsistency is obvi-
ated in the New Version.
The confounding of the words " wash
and "bathe" at John xiii: 10, in King
James's Version has already been pointed
out in your columns An obsolete use of
the word "will in the Authorized Yer
sion has given rise to much confusion and
obscurity. 1t sometimes appears to be a
mere auxiliary, the sign of the future
tense, when it is inten led to represent an
important verb in the Greek sentence.
Thus John vii: II, becomes plain if we
translate, e" If any man aoi5leth or hath
the disposition to do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine" So also l Tim.
vi: 8, is cleared up by the rendering,
they that desire to be rich" Sometimes
will" had better give place to would !:
as, for example, at Matt. v 40, and Acts
xxi: %.
There are three principal words which
answer in general way to the English
word miracle. Of these the one which
corresponds etymologically with our
word miracle" and denotes marvellous
works, occurs but three times in the Cos
pels and is never applied to the works of
Christ. Another word, the one common
ly rendered miracle" or miracles" is
found seventeen times in John, thirteen
times in Matthew, eleven times in Luke,
and seven times in Mark. 1t means
signs" The remaining word is usually
well rendered mighty work" OF " mighty
works Matt. xiv: 2, and Mark vi: ii,
should be corrected in the Authorized
Version, however so as to stand, these
poaOerS aoork in him" Not unfrequently
this word is rather infelicitously rendered
" miracle" No exception, though, can
justly be taken to this translation in such
passages as Acts xix: IL, and l Cor. xii ::
20. If we are not mistaken Trench
blazed the way to this, as to most of the
similar criticisms on the verbal accuracy
of King James's Bible. AS has been
said before in these papers, etymology is
not to be followed too blindly in such
matters.
The two words meaning respectively
" demon" and "devil" have already been
largely commented on in this and other
journals. The same is true of the words
Judgment" and damnation." The
compound verb at l Cor. iv 3, 4, 5, is
supposed to denote the preliminary ex-
animation of an accused person, that the
Scotch lawyers have styled precogni-
ton" Something of this kind seems to
have taken place when Jesus was ar
raigned before Annas. Another COM
pound Of the same word should have been
rendered discern" instead of "judge, Z"
at l Cor. XII 81, as it is correctly given
at Matt. xii A. Still another compound
is rendered several times damn" where
in modern English the word should be
a." condemn"
Three words are commonly in the Au-
thorized Version rendered brightness. 4"
At Heb. /: 8, efulgence" brings out the
true force of the Greek term. At Acts
XVI 13, brightness" is right. At
2 Thess. Ii 8, manifestation, or some
such word, is required to bring out the
sense.
The Greek words are frequently con-
founded in the Authorized Version which
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