Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-06-29

Chaldee, Greek, and Latin, as the for
mer. OF the Greek the first is the
Alexandrine or Septuagent, Chaldaic
or Targum, Syriac (Samaritan), and
the Latin Vulgate. Among the
modern may be mentioned Spanish
versioh in the 18th century, the Eng
lish by Wickliff during the same
epoch, and the Bohemian by John
Huss.
Luther's translation of the Bible is
regarded by the most erudite German
scholars as n masterpiece of etymo-
logical work, it being styled "a rewrit-
ing rather than mere Interpretation
into new language" The English
versions following that of Wickliff
were: one by Tyndale, the noble
martyr, who vowed that 'if God
would spare his life, he would make
the pillow boy to know more Scripture
than all the priests put together"
OF the character of this work, it is
only necessary TO state the fact, tiat
a large portion of the New Testament
is takes verbatim from Tyndal's Testa-
ments, in our present version. The
first English verson of the entire Bible
published was the edition of Coverdale,
u friend of Tyndale. 1t is dated 1886,
and dedicated to Henry VIII. Cover
dal's Bible was succeeded by that of
Matthews, which was simply Tyndale's
version revised. In 1889 appeared
the Great Bible" or Cranmers, he
having written prologue to it, and it
became of general use in the churches
ut this time. The Geneva Bible,n so
named because it was translated there
by English divines who fled from the
prosecutions of bloody Mary. This
was the first edition printed in Roman
type and divided into short paragraphs
or seperate verses, and accompanied
with notes, which were replete with
the views of Calvin. Consequently, it
was preferred by the English Puritans
and Scotch Presbyterians. The Gen
eva Bible is, perhaps, better known as
the 'Breeches Bible" because of the
rendition of Gen. III. Z: "s and
they sewed fig tree leaves together and
made themselves breechos." The
Bishops Bible" was published i'm
mediately subsequent to the Breeches
version, 80 called because it was COM
piled under the direct supervision of
the Archbishop of Canterbury 1868.
Numerous other English versions ap-
peared from time to time, until 1904,
when we come to the version that has
been in general use since, known as
King James's Bible This Bible which
has now been in use, by Protestants,
for nearly 300 years, soon superseded
all others; and the superiority Of this
version has proven itself by remaining
ever since as the authorized version of
the English Bible. This translation
was executed by 81 scholars 4S only serv-
ing), the work being divided between
them. One third met at Westminster,
one third at Cambridge, and the re-
naming third at Oxford. The entire
Bible, Apocrypha included, was trans
lated by the commission. They then
met together, and one read the trans
lation, the rest making notes as the
reading progressed. The final revision
was conducted in London by com.
mite OF l2 delegates from the original
body, these scholars meeting daily.
The time consumed in the translation
and revision was years, the work OF
revision alone occupying nine months.
The first and paramount duty con-
fronting us on this question, is to
avoid both of the extreme and untena-
BILE positions regarding it: lst, that
the Hebrew text of the Old Testament
has been handed down to us in a per-
fectly faultless condition, by miracu-
lous preservation, and end, that it has
been willfully and maliciously falsi-
fled by the Jews. That there are
errors both of omission and commission
nobody but fanatic doubts, and no
body bigot denies.
The object TO attained is best met by
looking at the subject in simple and
natural manner, divested of all pre-
conceived notions, and in condition
of clear intellection. The various
causes giving rise to errors may b,
stated: VIII. errors from bad visioI
or inattention; rs the substitution
transposition or omission of letters
; words, or clauses. 9, Errors from bad
hearing; as where the text is called
off. 8. Errors from bad memory; a
, when the scribe wrote from fancieC
, knowledge. 4. Errors from bal
!, Judgment; as when words are mis-
; spelled, wrongly divided, or incorrect
ly Abbreviated; also from putting int
the text marginal notes or interlinea
, tions. 5. Errors arising from desir
q on the part of the transcriber 10 ex
plainan obscure passage, either real o
. fancied, with orther corruptions o
language. 1t Is well known that tn
q earliest printed editions of the Hebrew
4 Bible bear q close resemblance to tn
/, text Of the manuscript. The Saying
a of the Fathers Traditions are in
: capable of either demonstration o
refutation. However theologians O
4 the same or of different sects may difft
:. interse, all known codices confirm th
q Masoretic text of the Old Testamen
;. as being substantially correct.
e NEW TESTAMENT.
: More conformity exists in the orig
d nal writings comprising the Ne'
d Testament than of the Old. Thes
W manuscript had been gathered by th
Church Fathers into two great entire
n ties-the Latin and Greek. These fu
ID nished the basis from which Beza lai
ie the foundation of the present receive
r. text (textus receptus), first printed
y | Lne OeueNb TtCbublOu' nlio uiOueh
to research has pointed out no less tha
IL $4,000 variations in the existing Ne
IL Testament manuscript, yet, the fact
d apparent, that, with very few exec
y tions, no material difference is fouu
in in these writings. Upward of 14,0
Q. of these manuscripts are known, and !
10 essential discrepancy has been deteC
Id ed.
4 The recent translations Of the Scri
ks lures into languages beyond the po
,g OF Christendom. is not considered
be within the scope of this article.
ty While, the result of the finding
ne the Briggs case looks like the membe
ne of the late General Assembly feare
he that the Bible could not stand Il
K criticism of school boys essay, al
u that the errors which have crept
ch through human imperfectitud
o. should not be pointed out, lest &
,s- whole doctrine of Salvation be su
as verted, yet such is not the case. L
/ ~. u n. A.