The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-04-22

lAsIQR -RgssILg) in part
Those who wrote
the Bible did their duty well. The Old
Testament, covering the history Of over
four thousand years, tells us that all
mankind at death go to Sheol-the
tomb. The New Testament. written In
Greek, tells the same story, using the
word Hades as the translation of the
! Hebrew Sheol 1t Is In modern trans
latlons Of the Bible that difficulty is en-
countered, particularly in the English.
Nearly all these TRANSACTIONS have been
made within the last five hundred
years. For 1900 years before the BIZ
BILE had been little known, because not
translated into the languages of the
people, and because few could have
read 1t If 1t had been translated.
! In the second century the theory pre-
vailed that the bishops were as much
they were called Apostolic bishops
Bible study was considered unneces-
sary because these Apostolic bishops
were on the spot to give up-to-date in
God. Then followed thirteen centuries
of no Bible study, during which time,
as the Apostles had forewarned, griev-
Gus wolves came into the flock, max
ing merchandise of the sheep for their
own profit. (Acts 20:26-31) Gradually
the doctrines became so mingled with
errors that the false teachers enslaved
the people with fear, and then extorted
money for the relief Of the fears
When Bible study revived in the Fiji
teenth Century, the errors were SO in
trenched in mems minds that their
thoughts were colored respecting every
feature Of faith. Those who translated
the Bible doubtless did their best to set
forth its meaning, but upconsciously
gave little twists, in their endeavor to
have the Bible say what they thought
1t meant. AS an illustration. note John
500. There the translators have given
us the expression, resurrection Of
damnation," when nothing In the Greek
justified the word damnation. The
Revised Version renders It properly,
resurrection Of judgment
When the Hebrew word Sheol was
being translated, He'll was the nearest
word to fit their ideas. Hence they
translated it Hell as many times as
possible; and only when this was i'm
naSufItn hau fxiu
preaching the proper translation-the |
grave. There Is another word for
grave-Qeber, sepulchre, mound, a
monument. But do their best to make
He'll out Of Sheol, they could only so
translate 1t less than one-half the whole
number Of occurrences. The Revised
translation retains the Hebrew Sheol
and the Greek Hades, saying, Let the
reader find out what 1t means, doubt
less he will think that Sheol is the hot
place; and so the common people will
not know what an egregious blunder
was made by the theologians
Good men, who know better, permit
their congregations to think that they
believe In a burning Hell OF torture,
when privately they confess to the
But they say, Let us not do
good. lest evil folow-let rs not tell
the people, lest fewer would then
come to church, and the power Of SUI
perstition, which holds so many, be
broken. Poor men! They seem blind
10 the fact that these deyilish doc
.rines are driving intelligent people
lway from God, from the Bible, and
rom the churches.
Two Escape From He'll.
The Bible tells Of several who were
eleased from Sheol, but OF two the
'ery word is used. The Prophet Jonah.
by the great fish, was in Its
,eIly parts Of three days He calls 1t
lis tomb-belly. sheol-belly While
here entombed, he cried unto the Lord
n prayer. and the Lord delivered him.
esus tells us that Jonah's experiences
ypified His own-that as Jonah was !
'uried In the sheol-belly Of the fish, {
esus would be buried In the Sheol Of !
arth. As Jonah came forth on the .
bird day, so Jesus came forth. st.
'eter points out that this was prophe- !
led Of Jesus. saying. Thou wilt not
ave My soul In Isheol, orl Hades'- I
he tomb. He says that God fulfilled I
his by raising Jesus from the dead !
cts 2:27.
Whoever gets the proper focus will
ee that all, good and bad. go down to a
ne tomb--to Sheol. Hades. called In $
ur Bibles He'll. The Scriptures very b
istinctiy tell US that "the dead know n
OF anything: that their sons come Z
, honor. and they know II not; and TO