The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-16

the Revisers, eff any man destroyeth the
temple of God, him will God destroy"
thus bringing out the idea of equality OF
punishment and crime.
But no attempt was made by the COM
mission to modernize the Authorized Yer
sion. So all "innocent' archaisms have
been allowed to stand, shedding around
the sacred volume the reverence of age,
< and removing from it the yulgarities
and even familiarities of men.
But it is manifest that when an archaism
has ceased to be innocent, but misleading,
it should be removed. Thus, Slet, mean
ING permit, but used at Rom. IL 3 with the
meaning of hinder, and prevent meaning
hinder, but used at Matt. 1925 for antici-
pate, should be EXCHANGED for words giving
the correct meaning Words thus wrongly
used are often liable to produce erroneous
views, as seen in the word "debate, used
at Rom. I:29, in the sense of strife, where
it is SO liable to be misunderstood that a
''worthy member of a Scotch church court, "
we are told, eonce warned its members not
to call their deliberations debate, for de-
bate was one of the rank sins condemned
by one of the inspired Apostles. >
: But the Revisers were not content to
deal merely with the larger and more i'm
portant part of this work. Like the old
cathedral builders, who did not neglect the
obscure hooks and corners, where no NOR
tai eye could ever see, but who built and
carved for the scrutiny of more searching
eve, so this band of Christian scholars have
been busy upon these corners and obscure
words, which can only be seen or appreci-
ated by the professional student. All this
they did out Of their deep reverence for
even the smallest word of God
Tha Revisers have given us the benefit
of the worlds best scholarship. Revision
was necessary. We want a book speaking
to the living to-day as plainly as the nes-
sage came to those long since gone home.
And while this result may not have been
fully attained, still no one will deny that
there has been vast gain, and that we
now have a clearer message than before.
If you read carefully the first six chapters
of Johns Gospel, you will be struck with
the freshness and vividness of the Revision.
And when you turn to the Epistles, where
greater changes are made, it is like passing
into purer atmosphere-to clearer Wis
ion. Take, for example, the Ii CORN
thians with its marks of haste and intense
feelings, "a labyrinth of conflicting emo
tions, as Dean Stanley calls it; hard
piece of Greek, its translation in the Au-
thorized Version, is in many places very
obscure; but Notwithstanding all this we
read this valuable epistle in its new form
with feeling of relief and delight.
The Revision has many points of excel
lence. We have translation based on 6
vastly improved text, purified of hundreds
Of errors, and bringing to light elements
of beauty, force and suggestiveness, which
have hitherto been hidden from all but
scholars. Such results as these may wei
be set off against little pedantries and some
translations which may be considered less
felicitous than others.
There have been many changes, but the
Bible is left substantially as it was before
No vital doctrine or rule of faith has beer
injured: some false supports of important
doctrines have been removed and true de
fences of them supplied-that is all. The
old structure abides in its integrity. DeeE
in the eternal counsels of God its founda
tions lie bedded, never to be shaken by al
the accumulated wisdom of man. Unbe
left can only clear away obscurities and re
veal more clearly the strength and beaut.,
of the Crock of Ages" For ''the wore
of the Lord endureth forever"