The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-12-06
THE BAPTIST
IMPROVED" BIBLE
Immersion" Replaces Baptism" /"
and There Are Other Interest
ing Changes.
(Springfield Republican,

The following interesting review o1
the Baptist Bible" appears in tn,
current issue of Zion's Herald, the
we'll known Methodist Episcopal pub
lication:
The Baptist Bible. This name, nc
doubt, will be that by which the book
will commonly, and properly, be
known, since it is issued by the Amer.
lean Baptist publication society, au-
thorized to undertake the work by the
Saratoga Baptist convention of 1888
1t is the product of Baptist scholars
and has for its chief distinguishing
feature the translation of the Greek
word baptism" by Immersion" in
all cases. On the title page, how
ever, it is called can improved edi-
tion" of the Holy Bible, Chased in
part on the Bible union version" This
version, prepared mainly by Prof. T.
). Conant, included only the New Tes-
lament, although Prof. Conant, be-
fore his death, had made beginning
at the Old, finishing four books. The
American Bible union was formed bv
Baptist seceders from the American
Bible society, and issued this New
Testament in 1862, with second re-
vlsed edition in 1865. Our copv.
which we have often consulted with
profit, is marked 10th thousand. It
was fine piece of work, anticipating
many of the best things in the re-
vlsed version of 1881, but immersion
always appeared instead of baptism.
and we read about John the Imerser
instead of John the Baptist.
The present undertakging was set
on foot in 1889, the different sections
being assigned to Baptist scholars,
and third edition of the Bible un-
ION New Testament was issued in
1891. The New Testament in the vol
ume now just completed is the fourth
edition of that work first put out so
years ago. One of the main differ
ences is-perhaps it may be regard
ed In the nature of a compromise
That now the ordinary transliterated
form of the Greek words, "baptize"
baptism" etc., appears first in the
verses, followed Immediately, in pa
renthesis, by the translations "im-
merse," Immersion" etc. with q
notesaying: "Both forms are to be re-
garded as part of the text of this
version, and either or both NAV he
used" 1t will be matter of no lit
Tie interest to ascertain, as time goes
on, which rendering will be preferred
IN most Baptist pulpits, and what
amount OF popularity this improved
line, viii aay ~ secure i is scarcely ipl
day toward church federation and the
things which make Christian union.
It will help to build the barriers in
stead of reducing them, and postpone |
the time when there can be hearty |
cooperation among all the forces of
Protestant Christendom. We shall
have three Bibles, the Roman Catho-
lie, the Protestant and the Baptist,
which seems pity.
However, apart from this intrusion
of seetarion contention-with
which, of course, we cannot sympa-
thize-scarce anything but praise can
be spoken of the volume. 1t has many
admirable features any many superior
renderings. The most prominent of
the former is it's careful avoidance of
the so-called sacred style", as shown
in the archaic and obsolete ending,
"eth." We have, for example, in all
cases Glove" and "ead" in place of
"loveth" and "leadeth," which brings
the word of life, it seems to us, more
closely home to the heart and mind
of the reader, giving increased reality
and vigor. An effort has been made
in other directions to modernize the
style, bringing it little nearer the
twentieth Century New Testament,
which, we believe, is gain. We have,
for instance, the letters, Of Paul al
ways in place of "epistles," retained
even by the American revised version.
Another improvement over the Amer
lean revised version is the putting of
large portions of the prophetical
books wherever the utterances are
poetry into the poetical form of
print.
There are no marginal references,
SO that the page appears more like
that of other books. There are many
notes at the bottom, chiefly textual.
But there is decidedly new depar-
ture in the insertion of many notes,
some of them considerably extended,
which offer explanations, little in
the commentary method. They are a