A Critique of the Revised Standard Version -- By: Charles Fred Lincoln

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 110:437 (Jan 1953)
Article: A Critique of the Revised Standard Version
Author: Charles Fred Lincoln


A Critique of the Revised Standard Version

C. F. Lincoln

[Editor’s note: This symposium is a brief expression of criticism of the Revised Standard Version edited by Dr. C. F. Lincoln and prepared by several members of the Faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary, with the advice and counsel of the entire Faculty.]

General Considerations
C. P. Lincoln, A.M., Th.D.

There are two very obvious but nevertheless weighty reasons for condemning this version as an unreliable and unacceptable translation for the reverent Bible-loving Christian. First the Revision Committee, which did the actual work of translation, was composed largely of scholars who hold definitely heretical views such as cannot be countenanced by true conservative Christians and students and it is evident that the personal views of these men have been introduced into the text of this new translation. Second, the sponsoring organization and copyright owner, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (which absorbed the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America) has, since 1908, proved to be unbiblical in its objectives, socialistic in its aims and destructively modernistic in its doctrine. To this organization through its Division of Christian Education is committed the propaganda for the sale and distribution of the “New Bible.” True Christians know too well the character of this sponsoring, propagandizing organization to approve it as a trustworthy guide in determining and safeguarding the text of Holy Scripture.

I. Liberal Theology of the Revision Committee

It is well established that the membership of the Revision Committee which produced this translation belongs to

the liberal school of interpretation with very few exceptions. This is acknowledged without question even by those who favor or defend the new Version. If it were necessary, this could be established by quotations from the writings and pronouncements of most (if not all) of the Committee.

It is not claimed that each member of the Committee holds to each of the errors in the following list. This may or may not be true, but it is affirmed that on the basis of their books, magazine articles and known declarations the following is a correct, composite picture of the liberal views of the Committee. They depart from the true doctrine in:

(1) The denial of the verbal, plenary inspiration of the original Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments.

(2) The denial of the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus.

(3) The refusal to concede the full deity of Jesus Christ.

(4) The questioning of the true Messianic character of ...

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