New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-16
THE REVISED BIBLE.
COMPLETING THE WORK OF YEARS.
CHARACTER OF THE CHANGEs-ERRoRs OF TRANS.
LATION CORRECTED.

| LATT0N CORRECTED.
| LONDON, May 16.-Copies of the Revised Yer
sion Of the Old Testament were given to the news-
papers at midnight last night. All the papers this
morning contain coplous extracts from the work.
In the following paragraphs is presented the sub
stance of semi-ohicial article prepared for The
London Tines in which somo 'ccount of the work
of revision, with partculal t.ierence to the Amer-
can part of it, Is gwen:
Finally an International work Of fourteen years has
| come to close. The Revised Version Of the New
| Testament issued in May, 1881, and the Re-
vsed Old Testament will soon be published III all parts
OF the Engshspeaking world This revision is the most
important event in the history Of the English Bible since
the publication Of King James's translation, in 1911
The OF the Old Testament may be great
| that Of the New Of which more than q million copies
were sold the day Of publication and moro than
three millions of copies before the close Of the year
But it will probably be favoraby received and
less severely criticised For IL involves changes Of
the Hebrew text-no older manuscripts than the Msso
retc having been dscovered-and the idiom OF the
thorzed version is most carefully preserved out Of
gard for the conservative feeling of the church in Its
| attachment for the language Of the old version.
ALI Of the translation however, have been
moved and the revision will be pronounced by every
competent Bible reader TO be very great Improvement
It presents the results Of the combined labor of largo
number OF the best Hebrasts and biblical scholars Of
England and the United States, most OF them profess
of Hebrew in universities and semnaries II has,
moreover the advantage Of the advances Of the last
fifty years in Oriental phloogy, biblical geography.
history and antiquities, all Of which but mperfect
y understood by the fortyseven translaors OF King
James although it is freely admitted that they did tho
very best in their day. The version is not good
version in the place Of bad one but great improve
\ ment OF good version.
The movement for the present revision was inaugu-
rated by the Convocaton OF Canterbury, the mother
Church Of Anglosaxon Christendom May "a, 1870, by
| the adoption of the following resolutions:
l. That 1t is desirable that a revision OF tho author
g That the revision be conducted to comprise
both marginal rendering and such emendations it mag
be found necessary TO insert In the text OF the author
3 That in the above resolutions we do rot conten-
plate any translation of the Bible, altera-
tiOn OF the language except where In the Judgment OK
L. That in such necessary changes the style OF the fan
guage employed in the existing version be closely fol-
s. That 1t is desirable that convocation should nomi
nate body Of its own members TO undertake the work
operation OF any eminent for scholarship to whatever
nation or religious body they may belong
| SECURING THE AID OF AMERICAN SCHOLARS.
Steps toward the formation of American COMMITTEES
Of Revision taken almost immediately after tho
organization Of the English companies. The frs: meet
ing of the New Testament Companyin England was held
June o. 1870 On the 7th Of July following the two
| Houses OF Convocation voted "to invite the CO.
| operation OF some American dyines" and to Bishop
| Wberforce and Dean Stanley assigned
| soon afterward the duty Of securing this result
They authorized DR.. Angus, who was contemplating
visit America to open correspondence with the Rev.
Dr. Schaff and other American scholars while in the
United States regard this work In August 1870 DE-
Angus sent letters to various American
| scholars in which he explained the plan
| Of the English work and suggested the
formation Of an American committee of twelve or egh-
which the work Of the English reyisers could ho
submitted for criticism and suggestions He gave
hints to how the expenses Of such committee could be
met, and invited correspondence the subject DR..
| Angus also had personal communication with Dr..
schaf The result the selection Of certain gentle
| men who fitted for the work, and wero
| likely to be regarded authorities in bbu-
| cal learning by the American public, and the
| submission of their to Bishop Ellicott
| and Dean Stanley representing the English body.
A. mnoths later Dean Stanley made the first formal
commu icatioD by letter in discharge Of the duty
signed to him the of convocaton in July, 1870
On the 18th of January 1871 he wrote to Dr. schaG -
| follows:
| DEANERY, WESTMINSTER ABBET,t
| LONDON, Jan. 13, 1871. :
Ny Dear Sir: have been in communication with Dr.
Angus the subject OF the revision Of the Authorized
Version OF the Bible, set foot by companies
OF English Scottish and Irish scholars appointed under
the authority OF the Committee OF the COnyocation Of
pursuance of vote Of the Lower House OF Convocatou
the Bishop of Winchester aud myself were requested to
ask the friendly cooperation Of some dSines from tho
United states OF America in work that i was felt
|
| of the world as nearly as ourselves. ind that tho
Bishop OF Winchester has already communicated on tho
the assistance of such scholars the Protestant Epio
pal Church of America may furnish; and therefore
| having been tho centre. understand OF the com
muncatons of the non -Epscopalian churches with Dr.
Angus during his recent visit May ask you, in con-
sderation Of the distance Of space and the length Ok
ence with each member to enter into such negotiations
may deem advisable with the scholars OF these
churches
II WILL Of course. be readily understood that the ob
ect OF the Committee of ConvOcaon and OF the revising
Companies procure the assistance OF which speak
purely on the ground scholastic and biblical qualBcA
tons, the assistance as the vote OF conyoeaton ex-
nation or religious body they may belong" with this
view have consulted with Dr. Angus and others; and
venture submit list of such eminent persons as have
occurred to us as falling within the above description
and also, Of you think dp with Bishop fot'ers
representing the Protestant Episcopal church; and 10
whom have not written the Bishop will understand.
only because he has already received communication
from my superior In rank the Bishop OF Winchester
suggest themselves on them present enter
but will conclude with the hope that the joint and cor
another link TO the friendly and communion
English and that Ssva.S and
the Atlantic. Yours very faithfully, A. STANLEY
Bishop wilberforce had somewhat earlier written 10
Bishop Potter OF NewYork, asking the cooperation Of
the dvines OF the Episcopal Church in this country.
But as tho General Convention Of the Church did noe
meet until the following autumn the subject could not
be formally brought before the House Of Bishops beore
that time Under date OF August z, 1871, Bishop VII
berforce again addressed Bishop Potter in letter which
was submitted TO House Of Bishops for their deci-
sion The House OF Bishops decided TO taks
no official part in the work, but left individual
members free to act as they might, but
so much time elapsed in preliminary communications
between America and England that the final arrange
mens for the American Committee not made untl
the summer Of 1872. These arrangements were con-
cluded by Dr. scha, who visited England that summer
for the purpose. On his return in the autumn the conf
mittee began its work. Though nearly Two years later
than the English companies in beginning the work. they
pressed forward with such activity that they were en-
nlod 20 cnrnnefn with their Eng