The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-12
IT rs NOT A NEW BIBLE
Revision Of the Bible Does Not Mean
That There Has Been New
Bible Adopted by
Hsptisss.

has prepared the following article on
The Baptist Bible . 1t benz Intended
as an explanation:
The daily papers throughout the
country have been publishing scare
articles on the recent issue by the
American Baptist Publication society
OF what they are pleased to call the
Baptist Bible As there seems to
be d good deal of misunderstanding
about this whole matter, even on the
part of intelligent members Of eur
own denomination. brief statement
Of the facts in the case appears to be
necessary. These facts are Bubstan-
tally as follows.
The American Bible union under
took the revision of the Bible more
than sixty years ago. The revisers of
the union, under the leadership of Or.
Thomas J. conant, completed the
translation or revision of the New
Testament first published In its en-
tirety in 1861 and issued transla-
tons of the Old Testament books of
Genesis, JOB. Psalms and Proverbs.
In 1883. after years of discussion and
difficulty, the Bible convention AT Sar-
atoga, N z, called for the purpose
OF settling the controversy and max
ing plans for the future Bible work
or the denomination, transferred that
work, so far as this country was con-
cerned, to the American Baptist pub
lication society. One OF the conditions
OF this transfer was that the publica-
ton society should complete the re-
vision of the entire Bible, provided
special funds were given for that pur-
pose. such funds were given and the
publication society began its work in
1884. The New Testament was placed
in the hands of Drs Weston, Sroadis
and Hovey for the further revision
and was reissued in 1881. In 1889 ar
rangements were made for the reTis-
ion OF the Old Testament. To DR.. b.
g. Taylor. of Grocer seminary, was
given the revision of the portions OF
the Old Testament issued BY the Bible
union. and the translation OF Exodus.
Judges, Ruth and First and Second
Samuel To Prof j. r. Sampey, OF
the Southern Baptist Theological sem
mary, was given the translation Of the
remainder of the historical books, and
Ecclesiastes, Song OF Solomon and
Lamentations. President William r..
Harper, of the University of Chicago,
undertook the translation OF Isaiah
and the minor prophets, and Prof Ira
nf
sumed the task Of translating Jere-
miah and Ezekiel
The work thus begun in 1883 was
carried forward with the utmost care.
and years were given By the revisers
10 make their translations as perfect
as possible. DR.. Weston also CON
tinued his revision Of the New Tesla
ment until death closed his labors.
Finally the entire Bible Aus trans.
lated and revised was placed In the
hands OF the printers, and after years
II careful proof-reading has at last
been given to the world.
The particular merits OF this new
translation or revision can best be
seen by careful examination and by
comparison with other TRANSACTIONS or
revisions. It is faithful rendering
OF the original Hebrew and Greek into
idionatic English. The poetic por-
tons of the prophets as well as the
Psalms are given in poetic form and
as in the American standard revised
version. the text is printed In para
graphs, and not in detached verses.
The utmost pains have been taken to
give a most accurate and clear trans
lation of the exact words OF the sacred
rsterE
OF course. the improved edition, as
We venture to call 1t, is not a Baptist
BiDle any more than the standard re-
vision is & Baptist Bible 1t is true
that wherever the words .paptizev or
baptism are used the words "fm-
merse'' or immersion" follow I'm
mediatelg In brackets, but this Is in
the nature OF an explanatory note
and could hardly be omitted byAeaith-
sful translators Of the original Greek.
Il is true also that the translation or
revision has been done by Baptist
scholars, and Issued by Baptist pub
lishing house, but this In no way az
fects the rendering OF the original
text. Baptists have reason for graft
tade and pride that they have among
them men competent to give the world
a complete and faithful rendering of
the entire Bible and the means Of
issuing IL In printed form, but they
can lay no claim To have done any
thing more In this work than to trans
fer from one language to another the
Yerttable word OF God.
We sincerely trust that the version
thus offered orr own denomination
snd the world win have a vide circu-
iatEon and use. The book ia printed