LECTURES ON BIBLE REVISION.
LECTURES
ON
BIBLE REVISION.
With an Appendix
CONTAINING THE PREFACES TO THE CHIEF HISTORICAL
EDITIONS OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
BY
SAMUEL NEWTH, M.A., D.D.,
PRINCIPAL, AND LEE PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY, NEW COLLEGE, LONDON;
MEMBER OF THE NEW TESTAMENT COMPANY OF REVISERS.
LONDON:
HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27, PATERNOSTER ROW.
MDCCCLXXXI.
[All rights reserved.]
PREFACE.
The following work is especially intended for Sunday-school andBible-class teachers, and for such others as from any cause may be unableto consult many books or to read lengthened treatises. It has seemed to meto be of great importance that those who are engaged in the responsibleservice of teaching the young, and to whom the Bible is the constantsource of appeal, should be able both to take up an intelligent positionin regard to the new revision of the English Scriptures, and to meet thevarious enquiries that will be made respecting it by those about them. Ihave therefore endeavoured to provide for their use, in a compendiousform, a survey of the general argument for revision, and of the factswhich exhibit the present duty of Christian men in relation thereto. Inthe execution of this purpose it has been necessary to direct attention tothe chief stages in the growth of the English Bible, but this has beendone only so far as seemed to be requisite for the illustration of themain argument. Those who may desire to study this part of the subject moreat length are referred to the full and interesting volumes of Dr. Eadie,or to the convenient manuals published by Dr. Moulton and by Dr.Stoughton. Such as may wish to investigate more minutely the internalhistory of the Authorized Version will find Dr.[Pg iv] Westcott’s General Viewof the History of the English Bible a most trustworthy and invaluableguide.
In the Appendix I have brought together the prologues or prefaces to thechief historical editions of the English Bible. Some of these are not ofeasy access to ordinary readers, while all are of deep and lastinginterest. They will abundantly repay a careful perusal. The reader willthereby, more readily than in any other way, come into personal contactwith the noble men to whose self-denying labours our country and the worldare so deeply indebted; will learn what was the spirit which animatedthem, and what were the aims and methods of their toil; and, in additionto much wise instruction respecting the study of the word of God, willlearn how the deepest love and reverence for the Bible are not onlytolerant of changes in its outward form, but will indeed imperativelydemand them whenever needed for the more faithful exhibition of the truthit enshrines.
It has formed no part of my purpose either to exhibit or to justify thechanges which have been made in the revision in which I have had thehonour and the responsibility of sharing. The former will best be learntfrom the perusal of the Revised Version itself; the latter it would beunbecoming in me to undertake. The ultimate decision respecting them mustrest upon the concurrent judgment of the wise