The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-06-13
THE OBSERVATORY.
Preachers and Preaching

Bibles we're printed in German and
English. About $50 A. D. a monk
named Jerome translated the New
Testament from the Greek into Latin,
which is called the Vulgate, which the
Romish church uses in its services.
From this and Greek manuscripts of
poor quality the first English Bibles
were translated. for there were sew
eral English Bibles before the one
we commonly use, called "King
James," published in 1911. Some
were used century and it took over
rs years after that was published be-
fore it was generally accepted as the
best English translation then made
But it had been made from a Latin
translation and from poor quality
Greek rolls or manuscripts; and as
time passed, as scholars toured the
east and found older and better Greek
manuscripts they saw the mistakes in
the common English translation.
While there are probably thousands,
if we count every mistake of letter
or mark, yet not one that affects the
real story of the gospel of salvation
by the Lord Jesus Christ. But the
best Greek roll or manuscript, the
oldest, the nearest the dav when first
written, will give the nearest to what
the Lord and his Apostles taught, and
we desire to get as near the real first
teaching as POSSIBLE. 1t is easy to tell
which are the oldest of these Greek
writings; the quality of the parchment
on which written, the form of the let
tiers or style of writing makes that
easy; and the whole Christian world
has come to accent three such rolls
or manuscripts as the oldest and best,
and the three are almost complete
and agree remarkably with each other.
One is called the Alexandrine, found
in Egypt, and is in the British Mu-
scum in London. England; another is
in the Vatican, Papal library at Rome,
and the third was found. in monas-
terry of the Greek church on Mt. Sinai
about 90 years ago. Fifty years ago
many English speaking people of
many very different UNCONVENTIONAL
churches began asking for a new
translation of the New Testament,
based on the best and latest discov-
cred Greek rolls or manuscripts, and
finally it was done and given to the
world in 1881, and the whole Bible in
1885, which is called the Revised Eng
lish Bible. Some American scholars
assisted in this work and their work
received very high praise and is now
comprised in what is called the Stand
ard Revised English Bible. l be-
lieve this edition gives us the words
and teaching of our Lord and his fol-
lowers the nearest of any we have or
can get in the English tongue. l ask
each mechanic who works for me to
use the best tools and l have poor
opinion of that one who only uses
such tools as were in use 50 years ago.
If have field of alfalfa to be cut
do not wish the workman to use a
scythe, althor~h my father was an
expert with it, but mower. So de-
sire my teacher of Christian truth to
use the best translation of the best
Greek rolls or manuscripts he can get,
and it at his hand in the Standard
Revised English Bible, but if he takes
that and tries to build an argument for
a foundation of Christian teaching on
an oriental figure of speech in a He
brew poem it will have no effect on
me beyond being sorry for the teach
er's lack of knowledge.
A copy of the five-volume edition
of the Revised Bible, such as were
presented those who helped defray
the expense of the revision bv the
committee of revision, will be on ex-
hibition at the public library.
OBSERVER.