P058 A Short History of the English Bible.
P058 A Short History of the English Bible.
Probably the most accurate edition, in all respects, of the Authorized Version ever published is the one issued at Cambridge in 1873, under the careful editorship of the Rev. F. H. Scrivener, LL.D. Its Introduction is especially valuable for the information it gives on various important points concerning the early editions of this version.
-------------------------------------------
XV. THE PROPOSED REVISION.
Schemes for revisions and for new translations have been presented from time to time since our Authorized Version appeared, but we have not space even to mention them here.(1)
They have been of all degrees of merit, from the scholarly suggestions of eminent linguists to the farcical attempts of such men as Harwood, who in his "Liberal Translation of the New Testament," London, 1768, begins the parable of the prodigal son with, "A gentleman of splendid family and opulent fortune had two sons." Liberal, indeed! Imagine the entire Testament in such stilted style.
During the last twenty-five years the attention of biblical scholars has been more than ever called to the importance of a revision of the Authorized Version. In 1856 the subject was brought before the Lower House of Convocation of the Province of Canterbury by Prof. Selwyn, but with no result. An effort was also made to have a Royal Commission appointed by the House of Commons, but this likewise failed. In February, 1870, both Houses of Convocation of Canterbury unanimously passed a resolution appointing a committee to confer with a similar committee to be appointed by the Convocation of York to report on the desirableness of a revision of the Authorized Version of the Bible. The Northern Province declining to co-operate, the Committee appointed by the Convocation of Canterbury acted by themselves, and in May presented a report recommending a revision on the principle of departing as little as possible from the general style and language of the existing version. Acting on this report the Convocation appointed a committee of eight members of each house to undertake the work of revision, with the privilege of inviting "the co-operation of any eminent for scholarship, to whatever nation or religious body they belong."
------------
(FN1)Professor Plumptre has an account of them in his article on the Authorized Version, in Smith’s "Dictionary of the Bible," vol. iii, pp. 1678-1680.
------------