 |  |
Further examples selected from the Student's Concordance to the New Testament
(Revised Version, London, 1884), will repay investigation. Some of them we give here.
Instead of "spirit" in Matt. 14: 26 and Mark 6: 49, the R.V. gives "apparition";
which leaves the word "spirit" as the correct translation of pneuma. Instead of "hidden"
in Luke 9: 45 the R.V. gives "concealed"; this is an attempt to recognize the
preposition para that is used in combination with the verb "to hide". The translation of
hieros by "sacred" in I Cor. 9: 13 and II Tim. 3: 15 is an advantage, as it leaves the
word "holy" to translate hagios. The added force of the translation "shudder" in
James 2: 19 is suggestive. "Stupor" is found in Rom. 11: 8; "to train" in Titus 2: 4;
"without self-control" in II Tim. 3: 3:--
"There is again a most significant progress in man's opposition to the truth, which is
greatly obscured in the Authorized Version. First comes the simple absence of belief (ou
pisteuein); this is followed by disbelief (apistein); and at last unbelief issues practically
in disobedience (apeithein). Thus we are able to follow a natural moral movement when
we read in the record of the appearances of the risen Lord, that the disciples `disbelieved'
the great tidings of Mary Magdalene, and `believed not' the later statements which came
to them (Mark 16: 11, 13). So also `disbelief' and not absence of belief is the ground of
man's condemnation (Mark 16: 16; comp. Acts 28: 24); and the English reader can
enter now more fully than before into the meaning of St. John's words when he reads,
He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not (not believeth not)
the son shall not see life. John 3: 26" (Dr. Westcott).
Further examples of this important rectification will be found in Acts 19: 9
("hardened and disobedient"); Rom. 15: 31; Rom. 11: 30-32; Heb. 3: 18; 4: 6-11 and
11: 31. The alterations in Hebrews are vital. It would take an article to point out the
extreme value of the R.V. in this epistle. Perhaps enough for the time will be said if we
draw attention to the stress on "obedience" and "obey" in Heb. 5: 8, 9.
We trust that these studies will lead many readers who have hitherto neglected the
Revised Version, to consult it before coming to conclusions arrived at apart from the
original itself.