Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-25
THE REVISED BIBLE.

Abstract of Discourse Delivered
 Yesterday By Rev. Dr. Newman
 Smyth at Center Church.
 Below we give an abstract of a discourse delivered by Rev. Dr. Newman Smyth yes terday morning at Center church oh the re- vision of the Bible. His text was from II Timothy, ii, g: ''But the word of God is not bound"
 My subject for this morning is given to us by the event of the week which in after years will be regarded as an event in the history of the Christian world. The whole Bible has been published in 6 revised translation The churches of the English speaking race should recognize with devout gratitude the provi- dence of God which has brought in our day this great work to it's completion. It is fit ting that the company of revisers should re- ceive the thanks of all churches in which the scriptures are read in the English tongue Even though the new version should prove to be little better than the old, it will be henceforth great advantage for the reader who is dependent upon the English version to have his Bible in two authorized transla tions of the original. The appearance of tn c whole Bible in this new form may secure to the revised New Testament moro apprecia- tive and a more just reception that has been accorded to it in many quarters. Some of the criticisms which have been passed upon the revised New Testament will be forgotten as the general correctness of it's renderings wins scholarly appreciation, and as the popu- lar ear becomes accustomed to it's changes; and possibly some further revision of it may relieve the few imperfections of it's form, or restore words sacred from association which may seem needlessly changed. But the great merit of the revised New Testament which must secure for it increasing use is it's more accurate and more intelli- gible rendering of the thought of the sacred writers. It is easier with the revised New Testament in our hands to follow the thread of thought and to trace the line of argument, particularly through the involved construc- tions of the epistles. Whoever would avail himself of the best help in expound- ing the scriptures must use the revised Testament. There is a scholarly reverence which will be paid by scholarly minds to the authority of the re- visers. This work will at once take it's place among all true and humble-minded scholars as an authority upon disputed or doubtful renderings. Not to assume it's general cor rectness would argue presumption on the part of nasty critics of it's renderings. And the only criticism worthy of it will be the proposal of more correct idiomatic derings of particular passages. The revised Bible, as a whole, is too great work to be injured by merely negative fault finding, which is, indeed, never true criticism. Nor will it be worthy treatment of the revision if we throw 1t aside because we may find some favorlte passage, as we fancy, spoiled by the new rendering, or are vexed by some change which may seem to us needless. Even beau ty of form is not the chief excellence to be desired in translation of sacred Scrip- ture. There is no beauty in false hood. The all beautiful one is the~ truth God desireth truth in the inward parts Possibly our revisers may at times have sac rifced needlessly the charm of sacred words: but they have sought with thorough consci- entiousness to give to English readers at any cost the true word of God.
 Allow me now to call your attention to some features of the new version of the Old Testament which appear upon the first glance at it. It is plainly revision and not new translation. Verse after verse appears un- changed. The new is an endorsement of the greater part of the old. < x In many passages Commentators are compelled to conjecture that the existing text is in fragmsntary or even corrupt condition, and to adopt