The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-22
ReUisedVer ofNewTest Faces ROsyFutureS S0ySD Dr. Walker
Direct, Simple, Sincere Style Ot Issue Wins pFOloslaRis' FaVoP


 in the New Testament because of this added knowledge, The light Of new knowledge falls on the old book and modern scholars would be false to their trust if they did not try to make that light available for the people of the churches.
 Year In Preparation
 You would have supposed that this New Revision will have taken many years in the preparation and you will be right in your supposi- ton, A great many men have been involved in one way and another, In this new land and in this day and age we cannot make a bid for royal favor nor do we wish the gov- crnment to authorize our work. AS far back as 1928 the International Council of Religious Education, a body representing forty of the lead- ing denominations of the United States and Canada took over the copyright of the American Standard Version CThe American revision of ip0D, 1t was soon decided to orgaf1- lae a committee for the work of a new revision. There was some delay due to the depression and the lack of sufficient funds but In 1887 the work began in earnest. A committee Of nine men, representing seven denominations, went to work on the New Testament, and e much larger committee was given the task of re- vising the old Testament. The list of scholarly involved is very impress sive. The committee on the New Testament was chaired by Dr. Lu- ther A. Weigle, Yale University Di- vinity school. Among the members are Dr. Walter Russell Bowie. formerly the rector of Grace Church, Protestant Episcopal. New York City. now of Union Theological Seminary: pr. Clarence T. Craig of Oberlin Graduate School of Theol- ogy. It is also of note that two of the prominent members of the commit tee were Dr. Goodspee6 and the late Dr, Moffatt, both of whom issued translations in their own names many years. ago. The work of this committee is now available as of this month in this Revised Standard Version of the New Testament which can be purchased in the bookstores. The old Testament, aS might be expected, will take at least another four years in the process and may be expected to be available in 1850 or shortly thereafter.
 Here then is the book. The people of the churches will cast their vote for or against ShiS new translation through the coming years. Of course l have no reference to former bal lot I mean simply that We will either learn to use and love this new edition of the Scriptures or let it fall gradually into comparative ob- livion. My own feeling Is that this New Testament bids fair to become years hence, the most widely used and loved edition of the New Testa- ment in English.
 Style simple, Sincere
 say this because the style of the new edition is direct, simple, sincere. Unless am greatly mistaken this latest revision uses fewer words than any previous authorized edi- ton and probably fewer than most of the individual translations. This edition is vastly more accurate than the King James Version but very wisely, as feel, the translators this time made a strong effort to retain the form and cadence which helped to win for the King James Version such an honored place in the affec- tions of Protestant people. This latest version of the Bible is modern and functional. but not aggressively so. All this has happened, not by good fortune, but because of the plain intent of those responsible for the work. The authorization requir- ed that the present revision was to be designed for use in public and in private worship, and to be in the direction of the simple, classic Eng fish style of the King James Yer sion