Evening star., 1931-12-06
GROWTHOF MODERN
BIBLE IS TRACED
Observance of ScripturaI
Sunday Recalls Various
Versions From Origin.

In churches throughout the United
States this is Bible Sunday. set apart
to commemorate the holy word and de-
signed to stimulate the popular study
of the sacred text.
Authorities such as John Frederick
Stenning and Cuthbert Hamilton Tur-
ner of oxford University. John Martin
Greed. Herbert George Wood and
Francis Crawford Burkitt of Cam
bridge. and the Right Rev. Herbert
HenSley Henson, Lord Bishop OF Dur
ham, are agreed that the story of how
the Bible was compiled and translated
Is Of Importance as a background for
the proper understanding Of the Books
significance. Scholars for generations
have been engaged in research enter
priSeS calculated to trace the Words
descent from its original authors.
Their findings are of interest in rela-
ton to todays observance.
Tradition tells that in Alexandria
Egypt, there met in 270 BIC, a group
of 70 wise men, representing the IL
tribes of Israel. They assembled at the
command of the Pharaoh Ptolemy
Philadelphus, and at his request ap-
piled themselves for 70 days to the
task of collating and translating into
Greek the standard texts of the prophets
and Chroniclers. The result was
the so-called Septuagint, still used in
the Greek church. 1t is from the
Septuagint that the Old Testament as
we know it descends.
New TransIations Made.
In the second century A. D. three
new translations of the Old Testa-
ment were made by Aquila, Symmachus
and Theodotion. About the same time
the books of the New Testament were
collected and translated, with those of
the Old Testament, into Latin. But the
Latin version was less widely used then
than the Greek. Most of the first
Christians commonly spoke Greek.
The Latin version was drastically re-
vised about 405 AID. by st. Jerome.
He worked at Bethlehem, almost within
sight of the birthplace Of the Savior,
and his Iabors had the approval of Pope
Damascus BY the seventh century
Jerome's text was standard throughout
the Latin branch of the church, and
the modern Vulgate traces back to his
scholarly endeaVOrs.
In the eighth, ninth and tenth CEN
turies translationS were made by Bede,
Alfred and Aelfric that the scriptures
might be more readily available in
Northern Europe. PetruS Waldus super
vised a translation made about ITO.
Louis the PiouS ordered a translation
in 1927. and Charles the Wise followed
his example in 1880. A Spanish version
was made during the reign of Alphonso
V. The first English translation was
the work of the reformer, John WyCliffe.
Produced about 1884, the Wycliffe
version was condemned by the Pope,
and the translators remains were
exhumed and burned years after their
original interment.
Luther Version Important
The translation made by Martin
Luther was an important incident OF
the German reformation.
The version printed by William
/ Tyndale was the first regularly pub
lished In the English tongue, 1t was
begun in 1925 the work being done on
the Continent Tyndale paid with his
life for his devotion to his task. He
was executed as a hereto, october 6,
1886. Meanwhile, complete English
Bible was being prepared by Miles
I Coverdale. The latter was published
the year before Tyndale's martyrdOm
Richard Grafton and Edward Whit
church brought out translation sup
posed to have been the work of John
Rogers. a friend and fellow-laborer Of
Tyndale, in 1887. The so-called Great
Bible appeared in 1899. The authorized
version, inspired by King James 1, was
printed in 1911. The standard revised
version was produced between 1870
and 1895.
The Douay Bible, used by Roman
Catholics, was brought out in 1910.
The Old Testament, according to
John w. Wright, contains 80 books,
929 chapters, 23,214 verses, 592,-
439 words and 2738,10O letters. The
New Testament has 81 books, 270
chapters, 1867 verses, 1928 words
and 933 $50 letters The totals for both
| Testaments are: Sc books, 1,199 chap
| ters. 3l.18l verses, 724,692 words and
| 3,67l ,480 letters
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