Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 39:156 (Oct 1882)
Article: The Epistle To The Romans In The Revised Version
Author: R. D. C. Robbins

BSac 39:156 (Oct 1882) p. 722

The Epistle To The Romans In The Revised Version

Rev. R. D. C. Robbins

The objection that has been oftenest made and dwelt upon by those who have criticised the Revised Version of the New Testament — the numerous changes, many of them small and unimportant, if not absolutely inferior to the readings of the Authorized Version — applies in full force, perhaps, to the Epistle to the Romans. We had supposed that the main variations from the Authorized Version were to be in those passages where the labors of the biblical scholars in the collocation of the best mss. in the hands of king James’s translators with those since discovered have established an improved text, and where these translators had failed in giving the full and accurate meaning of the Greek original, and where words were used that have become obsolete, or are offensive to the culture of the present age.

We think we were warranted in this supposition by the language of the Convocation of Canterbury, who first originated the idea of a revision, used on the third and fifth days of May 1870. They say, “We do not contemplate any new translation of the Bible, or any alteration of the language, except where in the judgment of the most competent scholars such change is necessary” In “the Principles and Rules agreed to by the Committee of Convocation “on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, the first rule is, “To introduce as few alterations as possible into the text of the Authorized Version consistently with faithfulness”1 Have these rules been faithfully adhered to? The following brief discussion of some words and passages may serve as a partial answer

BSac 39:156 (Oct 1882) p. 723

to this question, as far as the Epistle to the Romans is concerned.

It cannot be denied, however, that the Revised is, in a large number of passages, a great improvement upon the Old Version; and the bringing into notice some of these excellencies has been the pleasantest part of the labor in the preparation of the present Article.

The Definite Article

The revisers of the New Testament have doubtless done a good work in a careful rendering of the Greek article; but it can scarcely be denied that a too rigid adherence to literalism has sometimes led them into a defective or erroneous translation. So in 2:12–14, “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law; for not the hearers of a law are just before God, but the doers of a law shall be justified: for when Gentiles which...