Trinitarian Bible Society
Founded in 1831 for the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God
Officers of the Society
General Committee: General Secretary: Mr. D. P. Rowland Chairman: The Rev. M. H. Watts Assistant General Secretary: Vice-Chairman: Mr. D. Larlham Mr. G. D. Buss, B.Ed. Finance Director: Vice-Presidents: Mr. D. J. Broome, C.P.F.A. The Rev. B. G. Felce, M.A. Editorial Administration Manager: The Rev. G. Hamstra, B.A., M.Div. Mr. P. J. D. Hopkins, M.A. Oxf. Mr. D. Oldham Office Manager: Treasurer: Mr. J. M. Wilson Pastor R. A. Clarke, B.Sc., F.C.A. Warehouse Manager: Mr. G. Bidston Mr. I. A. Docksey Mr. G. R. Burrows, M.A. Editorial Consultants: The Rev. R. G. Ferguson, B.A. Mr. L. Brigden, B.Sc.(Hons.), M.Sc., B.A.(Hons.) Pastor M. J. Harley Mr. G. W. Anderson, B.A. Mr. A. K. Jones, LLB. (Hons.) Solicitor D. E. Anderson, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. The Rev. E. T. Kirkland, B.A., Dipl.Th. Mr. A. Hembd, M.A.C.S. The Rev. J. MacLeod, M.A. J. Cammenga, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. The Rev. D. Silversides G. Fox, B.A. (Hons.), D.D., Ph.D. The Rev. J. P. Thackway The Rev. W. M. Patterson Jnr., B.A., D.D. Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011
Issue Number: 595 © Trinitarian Bible Society 2011 All rights reserved. The Trinitarian Bible Society permits April to June 2011 reprinting of articles found in our printed and online Quarterly Record provided that prior permission is obtained and proper acknowledgement is made.
Contents
Annual General Meeting advance notice 2 Open Day notice 2 2011 Commemorative Meetings 3 From the Desk of the General Secretary 6 A Tribute to Mr C. A. Wood 8 The Three Crosses 10 2011 Timeline 12 Spanish Revision Update 14 Editorial Report 18 The Treasury 20 The Authorised Version Translators: Daniel Featley 21 The Word of God among all Nations 28
Quarterly Record Production Team Editorial Administration Manager: P. J. D. Hopkins Production Editor: Dr. D. E. Anderson Assistants to the Editor: C. P. Hallihan, D. R. Field, K. J. Pulman Graphic Designer: P. Hughes, S. Talas, Circulation: J. M. Wilson
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The 180th Annual General Meeting The Business Meeting will be held, God willing, commencing at 11.00 a.m. on Saturday, 24th September 2011 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London SE1 6SD. After the Business Meeting, at 2.00 p.m. Pooyan Mehrshahi pastor of Providence Baptist Chapel, Cheltenham, is expected to speak on The Authorised Version: Its Relevance Among the Young in a Multicultural Society. Lunch will be served between the meetings. All are invited to attend.
Open Day
he next Open Day is to be held, if the Lord will, at the TSociety’s international headquarters in London, on Saturday 11th June 2011, from noon until 5.00 p.m. We anticipate a full afternoon of displays, guided tours and talks, including the latest on our Nepali project, along with opportunities for fellowship, as we once again present the work of Bible translation, publication and distribution. Please mark your calendars and make plans to join us.
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Commemorative Meetings od willing, we will be continuing to mark the four hundredth anniversary of the Authorised Version with a series of meetings and lectures in the UK on various aspects of this excellent version’s supremacy. The latest information on these meetings follows. Please note that meeting arrangements may be subject to change. We will post changes and updates on our website and in future editions of the Quarterly Record, and would recommend that you contact the Society’s head office to confirm details of time and location closer to the date. The following meetings will be held, God willing:
Burntisland Parish Church, Fife KY3 9DX Magdalen College, Oxford OX1 4AU The Authorised Version: The Authorised Version: The Bible of the Martyrs and The Impact of Tyndale’s Missionaries of the Scottish Translation Church Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Moore Speaker: The Rev. David Silversides (Member of the Society’s General Committee)
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New Life Bible Presbyterian Church, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Salusbury Road, West Kilburn, (venue to be confirmed) London, NW6 6NN The Authorised Version: The Authorised Version: The Climax of The Treasure of English Translations the Church & the Nation Speaker: The Rev. Malcolm Watts Speaker: Mr. Roland Burrows (Chairman of the Society’s (Member of the Society’s General Committee) General Committee)
Emmanuel Church, Salisbury SP2 7EE The Thistle Hotel, Inverness IV2 3TR The Authorised Version: The Authorised Version: The Piety and Learning of The Climax of English the Translators Translations Speaker: Mr. Duncan Boyd Speaker: The Rev. Malcolm Watts (Chairman of the Society’s General Committee) Melbourne Hall, Leicester LE2 1DB The Authorised Version: Its Relevance in a Ebenezer Strict Baptist Chapel, Station Multicultural Society Road, Old Hill, Cradley Heath, B64 7HZ Speaker: Pastor Pooyan Mehrshahi The Authorised Version: The Safeguard of the Christian Gospel Speaker: The Rev. Dafydd Morris St. Jude’s Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Glasgow G3 6LE The Authorised Version: The Enduring Legacy Speaker: The Rev. Hugh Cartwright
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Annual General Meeting of the Society Metropolitan Tabernacle, London SE1 6SD The Authorised Version: Its Relevance Among the Young in a Multicultural Society Speaker: Pastor Pooyan Mehrshahi
Exeter Independent Evangelical Church, meeting at Trefoil Lodge, Buddle Lane, Exeter EX4 1JP The Authorised Version: Walsham-Le-Willows Evangelical Not Archaic, but an Accurate Congregational Church, Suffolk IP31 3AZ and Timeless Translation The Authorised Version: Speaker: The Rev. John P. Thackway A Critical Assessment of (Member of the Society’s General Committee) Three Modern Versions Speaker: Mr. Roland Burrows (Member of the Society’s General Committee) Emmanuel College, Cambridge CB2 3AP The Authorised Version: The Noblest Monument of Hebron Hall, Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan CF64 4YB English Prose and Christian Devotion The Authorised Version: A New Hearing For Speaker: Pastor Michael Harley (Member of the Society’s the Authorised Version General Committee) Speaker: The Rev. Neil Pfeiffer
5 – Quarterly Record From the Desk of the General Secretary
welve months ago, in the April small, but nevertheless remarkable ways, to June 2010 edition (no. 591) of the Lord has been pleased to give guidance Tthe Quarterly Record, reference and direction, and we acknowledge with was made to the necessary changes the humble gratitude the help that has been Society was making to adapt its role to thus granted us from God. We take this the changing situation in which it found opportunity of thanking most heartily all itself. Subsequent information issued by our many friends in the United Kingdom, the Society advised our supporters and in the USA, in Canada, in Australia, in New friends of the severe difficulties being faced Zealand, in Brazil, and throughout the following further significant reductions in world, for their prayerful and practical its sales and charitable income from within support during this difficult period. the United Kingdom. Acknowledging our Regrettably, compared to previous years, utter dependence upon the Lord, and and largely due to the continued world realising the solemnity of the times in which economic downturn affecting us all and our lot is cast and the need the Society which is unsurprisingly also severely had for particular guidance at this time, we affecting so many Christian bookshops, asked for the prayers of the Lord’s people, churches and missionary organisations, that He might have been pleased to grant the demand for the sales of the Society’s wisdom and direction to us in seeking the Scriptures in the United Kingdom is still very way forward, and that He would continue low. As far as we can discern—admittedly, graciously to provide for our every need. with our very limited ability to comprehend In the Lord’s goodness, writing now some the unfolding of the Lord’s eternal purposes months later, we are able to report that the of grace—there does not appear to be an Society has been wonderfully provided for, early resolution to this state of affairs in and that, with His indispensible blessing, sight. We continue to pray that the Lord may the work in which we are engaged has be pleased to revive mightily His Work in continued. (See ‘The Treasury’ by the our day among the nations of the world, a Finance Director on page 22.) In many divine activity that we can be assured will,
6 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011 when it comes, result in a very significant pleased to arrange for such a varied and demand for copies of the Holy Scriptures. extensive programme of new publications May the Lord hasten such a day! to be before us. We desire all our friends Nevertheless, the work of the Society and supporters to join with us in rendering in other areas of its operation has been praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for exceedingly busy and encouraging. Indeed, His goodness in enabling these projects— not for a very long time—if ever—has some of which have been in the course there been such considerable activity in the of preparation for many years—to draw realm of the number and importance of the near to the point where preparation can be publications that are coming through for made for their production, publication and production by the Society in the coming distribution. months, as there is just at the moment. The Some of these translation projects represent list of projects includes several items in the the work of many years’ labour; indeed, a English language such as the Westminster few are the life work of those who toiled on Reference Bible, an addition to our range them in comparative obscurity, not seeking of Bibles of major significance, the details the reward or admiration of man, but of which will be given in the next edition of seeking the commendation and blessing the Quarterly Record, God willing, as well of their Divine Master on their labours. as Bibles, New Testaments and Gospels in It is only right that we acknowledge the several other languages. devotion, the diligence and the faithfulness In the course of the coming months, the of the many individuals, teams and Society hopes to publish: committees who have worked on these translations and revisions. The Commemorative 2011 Windsor Text Bible (English) We ask for your earnest prayer that the Lord may be pleased graciously to prepare the The Westminster Reference Bible hearts of the many individuals in different (English) parts of the world into whose hands these The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scriptures will ultimately come. May the Bible (English) good and precious seed of the Kingdom The (Eastern) Armenian Bible of God be sown in the hearts of young and old, and be used of God to bring forth much The Farsi Bible fruit, to the eternal good of many, and to the The Maori Bible Lord’s everlasting glory! The Ndebele Bible In the meantime, whilst it is true (and The Nepali Bible disappointing) that we are unable as in former years to print the hundreds of The Portuguese Bible (2011 Revised thousands of Bibles for distribution in Edition) different parts of the world among those The (Eastern) Armenian New Testament who are so greatly in need of them, we are The Gospel according to John in Hebrew encouraged to see the many new projects mentioned above coming forward. We are The Gospel according to John in Spanish also thankful to see the Lord enabling us at It is, perhaps, very significant and most this time to concentrate on preparing other remarkable that it has been at this very projects for completion, among them, the time of difficulty that the Lord has been following major projects: 7 – Quarterly Record
* The Chinese Bible Gospel according to John (published last * The French Bible November) and the Spanish translation project. In the coming editions of the * The Romanian Bible Quarterly Record brief details will be given * The Spanish Bible of the background to some of the other * The Hebrew New Testament projects mentioned above, and also to some of the changes being made in the Society’s * And, of course, our work on The management structure as we prepare and Translators’ Manual plan for the future, God willing. In this edition of the Quarterly Record, Brethren, pray for us! reference is made to the Mongolian
Clement Arthur Wood
An appreciation by Mr G. D. Buss, Vice-Chairman of the General Committee
he Trinitarian Bible Society suffered a great loss when, on Tuesday, 30 November 2010, one of its loyal supporters and a Vice-President Tof the Society, Mr Clement Wood, was called home to his eternal rest. Mr Wood served on the General Committee from 1962 to 1989, when, in acknowledgement of his service to the Society, he was made a Vice- President. However, his first public association with the Society had commenced many years earlier, in 1947, when he became the Secretary of the Tunbridge Wells Auxiliary. Throughout his long ministry, Mr Wood maintained a close link between the Society and the many supporters with whom he had contact by taking deputation meetings, particularly amongst the Gospel Standard Churches, in which he sought with great diligence to maintain an active interest in the Society. Born in Tunbridge Wells on 27 June 1920, and brought up in a godly home, his own father also being a minister of the gospel, it was in his early years that he was called by grace. A hymn sung at the school assembly was used of God to open his eyes to his need of the Saviour.
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‘Then, O my LORD, prepare My soul for that great day; O wash me in Thy precious Blood, And take my sins away.’1
After military service during the Second World War, he became exercised about the ministry and was eventually sent out to preach in 1958. Whilst pastor at the Gospel Standard Chapel at Tamworth Road, Croydon, for forty-five years, and despite exercising an extensive ministry up and down the country in his own denomination, he always gave the Trinitarian Bible Society full support and attention. He will be lovingly remembered above all for his gracious spirit in handling matters on the Committee and amongst our supporters. Unfailingly courteous, unflinching in his support for the principles of the Trinitarian Bible Society, and always encouraging those involved in the work, his presence as an ambassador of Christ in this field will be greatly missed. His grace and prudence were especially valued at times of difficulty in the Society. Men of such calibre, who by God’s grace are enabled to combine grace and truth to the extent that our late friend did, are rare. His prayers and example will be greatly missed. He has now received that welcoming word: ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord’ (Matthew 25.21). Mr Wood would doubtless reply, however, When did we these things? (cf. Matthew 25.37–39), and hear his Lord’s reply ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me’ (v. 40). May we be ‘followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises’ (Hebrews 6.12).
Endnote: 1. Horatius Bonar, ‘A few more years shall roll’ in Hymns Ancient & Modern (London: William Clowes and sons Ltd, 1924), no. 288.
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And when they were come The to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Luke 23:33
by the Rev. G. Hamstra remarkable are these communications! a Vice-President of the Society The first one to speak was the impenitent thief. He used only eight words (in our n the Friday of the Passover English translation), in which he joined week Pilate delivered Jesus to be the mocking bystanders in reviling Jesus. Ocrucified. According to the custom The next utterance came from the lips of those days, four soldiers, under the of the penitent thief. His first thirty-two command of a centurion, were in charge words were in response to the mocking of a crucifixion. At nine o’clock in the malefactor. His last nine words formed morning they reached Calvary. There Jesus his heart-felt plea directed towards the was nailed to His cross. Two malefactors Saviour. Divine mercy was the content of were crucified with Him. The cross of the fourteen words spoken by Jesus. Jesus was placed between those of the two thieves. Thus three crosses were erected at Matthew and Mark tell us that at first Calvary. both thieves joined the taunting elders and scribes in mocking Jesus. From Luke’s At the centre cross we witness the most narrative it is quite evident that the one important wonder ever revealed: the thief underwent an amazing change. How eternal love of God for sinners. The love was he relieved from his fearful enmity? of God nowhere shines brighter than Divine deliverance broke the bondage at the cross of Christ. The other two of his hardened heart, and how well it crosses also teach instructive messages. was broken! There is good evidence that From the penitent thief we may learn this repentance was genuine. First of all, valuable lessons on repentance, from he was troubled about his companion’s the other thief, the grave danger of final enmity towards Christ. With tender impenitence. concern, he rebuked him, ‘Dost not thou Considering these messages, let us first fear God, seeing thou art in the same turn to the cross of the penitent thief. Here condemnation?’ (v. 40). we see the most blessed fruit of the Cross His following words so clearly of Christ: the redemption accomplished acknowledge that he fully by Christ applied to a sinner’s heart deserved his punishment. ‘And we by the grace of the Holy Spirit. indeed justly; for we receive the Of the four evangelists, only Luke due reward of our deeds’. Such recorded the conversations of the an acknowledgement is three crucified at Calvary. How always a fruit of the
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Holy Spirit’s grace. Moreover, he publicly The Holy Spirit’s grace was the secret of the defended Christ by confessing His penitent thief. The Holy Spirit is the only innocence. Courageously he witnessed, Guide to Christ. No one ought to neglect ‘but this man hath done nothing amiss’. the urgent need of that special, personal With his last nine words, he turned from grace, by which the redemption in Christ his companion to Christ. The humble is applied to the heart. petition reveals that he possessed more At the cross of Jesus we behold the wonder light than the Saviour’s mourning of all wonders, the unsurpassed love of followers. He perceived the crucified Jesus Christ. If love is to be measured by the to be King. By the eye of faith he beheld sacrifice it makes, then Christ’s love has the King in His beauty. Amazing grace! never been equalled. He gave Himself; He ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest laid down His life. ‘Greater love hath no into thy kingdom’ (v. 42). He recognised man than this, that a man lay down his life the crucified Jesus as the Fountain of for his friends’ (John 15.13). Considering infinite mercy and compassion. He the uniqueness of His person, in view knew Jesus to be King, Victor over man’s of His two natures, His love may be greatest enemies: sin, death and hell. To be compared to the bottomless and shoreless remembered by the love of this precious ocean. We can never measure its depth or King meant more to the penitent thief its breadth. than deliverance from physical pain and When we think of the purpose of His anguish. The Saviour’s gracious reply brought healing to his wounded heart. death and for whom He died, we are ‘To day shalt thou be with me in paradise’ even more amazed. ‘While we were yet (v. 43). How unspeakably rich are these sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5.8). treasures of grace, when Christ reveals He prayed for His enemies; He took their His love to the heart of a helpless, self- place and made them free. He did so condemned sinner. This love unites to voluntarily. Being sinless, He procured Him for ever. their pardon by bearing their sin. Being wounded for their transgressions, He Two thieves were crucified; only one became the Balm for brokenhearted received grace. He became a humble, penitent sinner. In Christ he found sinners. He suffered their pain and salvation. The other was physically just as anguish, that He might be the Fountain close to Christ. However, he never showed of their joy and peace. He bore the wrath so much as an inkling of an interest in and curse of God on their behalf, so that pardon. He was so near to the Fountain they might share in the love of God and of salvation, yet he never cried for mercy. be divinely blessed. He died their death, so Even with an immediate death in sight, that they may live a life with God’s favour, he had no sense of his deep need. He now and for evermore. expressed no desire for the loving grace of The penitent thief experienced an the Redeemer’s heart. inexpressibly deep comfort. He found We may call grace a mystery, a wonder of salvation in the Fountain opened for sin sovereign love, never to be comprehended. and uncleanness. This precious Fountain Yet impenitence is no less mysterious. It is is the only hope for vile and needy sinners; a fearful, dangerous mystery. Impenitence here they may find the riches of divine is so awesome. Words can never fully pardon. The blood of Jesus Christ the Son explain it. Nothing is more to be feared. of God cleanses from all sin (1 John 1.7)! 11 – Quarterlyy Record
Authorised Version Timeline
s part of our commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Authorised A(King James) Version, the Society commissioned freelance Christian artist Martha MPhon to produce a timeline of the English Bible. The timeline tracks the development and progress of the English Scriptures over nearly two thousand years. The timeline, in three distinct phases, begins with an overview of the 1st century to 1400 in hundred year increments focusing on early English Scriptures, and includes events of history that impacted on and led to the Reformation. Despite—and sometimes because of—Roman persecution, the Gospel was spread abroad, reaching Britain and gaining a foothold here in the 2nd century. Copying and translating of the Scriptures began almost as soon as the books were written, and by AD 500 portions were available in some five hundred languages. Aldhelm, Caedman, Bede and even Alfred the Great translated into their forms of At 1400, the timeline expands to ten-year English. Despite William the Conqueror in increments to show major events leading 1066 making French the major language up to the Reformation and the publication of England, true English continued in use of the English Authorised Version in 1611. and in the late 14th century John Wycliffe From Gutenberg to Erasmus, Luther to produced the first full Bible in English. Tyndale, the Great Bible to the Geneva 12 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011
formation of the Society, as well as other events—good and bad—leading to the 400th anniversary of the AV. The original timeline’s four panels are now displayed across the walls of the Committee Room of our London Headquarters. This attractive timeline is also available to purchase in two sizes on good quality, heavy paper. For more on Miss MPhon’s work, please see her website at www.thepaintingmohon.net.
To order, please quote the product code. Product code TL2011L large size: height 420mm (16¾”), length 2376mm (93¾”) £8.99 (In three equal sections 420mm x 792mm [16¾” x 31¼”])
TL2011S small size: height 297mm (11¾”), length 1680mm (66”) £6.99 (in two equal sections 297mm x 840mm and Bishops’: these predecessors to the [11¾” x 33”]) Authorised Version are displayed in lively scenes and vivid colours. For availability and prices in other currencies, please contact your local After 1611 the timeline reverts to one branch. hundred-year increments, and follows the four official revisions of the AV and the 13 – Quarterly Record Spanish Revision Update
by William Greendyk making steady progress on the revision General Secretary, TBS (USA) of the Society’s version of the Spanish Reina-Valera Bible. Casiodoro de Reina, a s our work progresses on the Spanish Reformer, finished his translation Arevision of the Spanish Bible, we are of the Bible into Spanish in 1569. Later, at reminded daily of the complexity Reina’s request, Cipriano de Valera carried of the project and the vast amount of out an extensive and thorough review of work such a revision entails. Much more his work, ensuring that the Spanish Bible was as faithful to the Biblical language texts as possible. Valera’s twenty years of work culminated in what is known as the 1602 Valera Bible, or simply the ‘Reina-Valera’ edition.
Throughout subsequent centuries a considerable number of revisions were carried out on the Reina-Valera Bible by various individuals and Bible societies. Whilst some of these later revisions produced changes for the better, all too Members of the Spanish often the Spanish text was revision team working importantly, changed in a manner that did not bring it with the General however, we are closer to the Biblical texts; on the contrary, Secretary frequently given by the latter part of the 20th century reasons to reflect virtually all Spanish Bible versions in use by upon the solemnity of the task at hand— Christians throughout the world contained that of working with God’s Holy and a substantial number of incorrect readings. inspired Word. As we prayerfully handle Scores of Critical Text readings had these sacred things, we are often made managed to make their way into what keenly aware of how utterly dependent had, until then, been the respected and we are upon the Lord as we endeavour to faithful Reina-Valera Bible, thus corrupting prepare a faithful Spanish version of His this classic, Reformation-era translation of Word. God’s Word. A bit of history The Society’s Spanish work For the past several years, we have been In 2001 the Society carried out its own
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‘orthographic revision’ of the Reina-Valera carrying out a revision of the Spanish Bible, Bible, in which spelling and morphological should we not be consulting the highly- (word forms) changes were made in an respected 1602 Reina-Valera Bible first and effort to ensure that the language used foremost as our foundational resource! in the Reina-Valera Bible represented the spelling and linguistic norms of the The revision teams and their Spanish language in use today. However, work this revision was not sufficiently extensive The Spanish Bible revision team consists and comprehensive in its scope, and primarily of five men appointed by the it soon came to the Society’s attention Society—each from a different area of that there were still many instances in its the Spanish-speaking world, and each Spanish Bible that needed correcting, both with his own God-given talents and areas textually and linguistically. For this reason, of expertise. This team is referred to as in 2005 the Society withdrew its Spanish the revision’s ‘Executive Committee’. The Bible from circulation and prayerfully primary revision work being carried out began the enormous task of undertaking a by the five-member Executive Committee thorough and painstaking revision of it. involves a multifaceted process that is extremely detailed. Every verse of each The Spanish revision team is using as its chapter from the Society’s 2001 edition is primary source text the Society’s 2001 compared with the 1602 Reina-Valera Bible revision (which was itself a revision of as well as the different New Testament what was formerly known as the RV1909). Greek texts that would have been at the However, one of the principal goals of disposal of Reina and Valera when they the revision is to return the Spanish Bible carried out their work more than four to the accuracy and elegance found in hundred years ago. When discrepancies or the original 1602 Reina-Valera Bible. It is even relatively minor differences appear, worthy of note that in the Translators to the work is further examined against the the Reader, the original preface to the reputable and faithful Greek texts extant at Authorised (King James) Version of the the time of the original Spanish translation, Bible, the translators of this esteemed as well as with the accurate and time- English Bible mentioned that they had honoured Reformation-era translations in consulted, amongst others, the Spanish other languages, such as the Portuguese Bible translation when doing their work. Almeida Bible, the Italian Diodati Bible, the 18th century Martin revision of the French Interestingly, the Society’s office in the USA Olivetan Bible, the English Authorised often receives requests for a ‘King James’ (King James) Version, and the Dutch Spanish Bible. We are quick to point out Statenvertaling Bible. that the original Spanish Bible predates the Authorised (King James) Version by more Furthermore, those responsible for the than forty years, and that the translators linguistic aspects of the Spanish revision appointed by King James made use of carefully review the Spanish word usage, the Spanish Bible when carrying out their syntax (the order of words in a sentence) work. How much more so, then, when and other issues that specifically relate to
15 – Quarterly Record the Spanish language employed. Finally, constructions that have become obsolete when a particularly difficult passage or over the centuries are being conformed decision concerning word choice arises and rearranged to adhere to the current that has to do with the original Hebrew, norms of the Spanish language; in these Greek or Aramaic texts, the revision team instances, no change at all is made to the periodically seeks the advice of one or word itself or its meaning, but simply its more of the Society’s consultants, several morphology (the manner in which the of whom are not only very knowledgeable parts of the word are joined together) is concerning the Biblical languages, but also being corrected. For example, a pronoun have a working knowledge of Spanish. that may formerly have been placed at the However, there are actually many more end of a verb may now be placed before brethren involved in the project than those the verb and separated from it. on the Executive Committee. After the primary revision team completes a chapter For each and every change that has been or a book of the Bible, its work is sent to suggested by any team member or that carefully-selected ‘reading committees’ in has been subsequently decided upon in various parts of the Spanish world. These group meetings, copious notes have been reading committees—each consisting of written to justify and document the change up to six men—provide valuable feedback in the most detailed manner possible, to the work, and are particularly helpful giving the reason for the change and listing when considering the linguistic nuances the Greek or Hebrew text(s) and Bibles of the beautiful Spanish language. Thus, in other languages that were consulted by the time a book of the Bible has been in making the change. In cases where completed and is ready for submission to changes are made on a purely linguistic the Society’s Editorial staff in London, the basis, detailed notes are kept stating the work has been reviewed by no less than specific rules of Spanish grammar that have thirty men, the majority of whom are either been taken into account when considering trained pastors or seminary instructors in the change. In this way, even the removal their respective countries. of what would seem to be an ‘insignificant’ comma is never carried out without The Spanish employed first documenting and fully justifying As has been stated before, the beautiful the change, as well as ensuring that the and eloquently reverent Castilian Spanish change does not affect the meaning of the of the 1602 Reina-Valera Bible is being text at all. retained throughout the vast majority of the text. Only those words which have As the reader will appreciate, the process taken on a different meaning in the briefly summarised above is lengthy and Spanish used today—particularly words tedious. As an example, we currently which now have a markedly different or have nearly two hundred pages of single- even vulgar or negative connotation—are spaced notes in a very small (8 point) font being carefully replaced with words of accompanying our revision of the Gospel equal eloquence chosen from the rich according to John—comprising nearly ten Spanish vocabulary. Additionally, word pages of extraordinarily-detailed notes
16 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011 for each chapter of that book! However, Testament by the end of this year. Various we firmly believe that this constant portions of the Old Testament have also checking for accuracy, as well as our undergone a first-phase revision already, detailed justification and documentation and it is hoped that the entire Spanish of changes, is of utmost importance Bible will be fully revised and available and indispensable in a Bible revision of once again in the not-too-distant future. this nature, and we are thankful that the Society’s high standards require such As was stated at the beginning of this attention to detail. Most importantly, in brief report, we recognise that we are striving to produce a Spanish Bible revision fully dependent upon the Lord for daily that most closely translates the inspired guidance, light and wisdom for this all- Words of Almighty God, we can never be important task. As is the case with most overly careful! Bible translation or revision projects, many unexpected obstacles can appear Current progress (to which we have also been witnesses), We are thankful to be able to report that and the enemy of God’s Word has many the pace of the Spanish revision work has devices which he uses to try to slow us increased significantly in recent months, down or stop the work altogether. To that mainly because, through the Lord’s end, we earnestly covet your prayers that provision, the revision team has taken on a the Lord may continue to provide all that new member: a pastor from Spain who is is necessary for each aspect of the Spanish exceptionally qualified in Biblical Greek. At Bible revision project, and that before long the time of writing this, the entire Spanish the Society may be enabled to offer this revision Executive Committee is scheduled accurate and faithful version of the Spanish to meet for two weeks in Spain, the Lord Bible to the Spanish-speaking world. willing, for an intensive work session to put the final touches to several of the Gospels. It is our prayerful hope that, after a final review of our work by the Society’s Editorial staff, the Gospel according to John will be printed in subsequent weeks.
Much of the preliminary work has There are an estimated been carried out on a substantial part 450 million Spanish of the New Testament, and in light speakers worldwide, of the new momentum that the Lord has almost 7% of the world’s provided in the revision process, we hope population to have completed the revision of the New
17 – Quarterly Record Editorial Report by Philip J. D. Hopkins Editorial Administration Manager
he Society is pleased to announce the publication of a new addition to our foreign language Scriptures: the TGospel according to John in Mongolian, published jointly with FirstBible International in November 2010. Mongolia, bounded by Russia on the north and China on the south, is the eighteenth largest country on the globe,1 covering an area roughly equivalent to France, Spain, Germany and England combined. For such a large country, it has a comparatively small population owing to its arid climate and barren soil. Latest figures, for 2009, suggest a population of around 2.6 million. More than 90% of the residents of Mongolia speak the Mongolian language,2 and our Gospel according to John, in Cyrillic script, is published in the Khalkha dialect of Mongolian, the predominant form of the language spoken in the country. The history of the Scriptures in Mongolia goes back to the early 19th century when the Russian Bible Society commissioned a German Moravian scholar, Isaac Schmidt, to translate the Bible into the Kalmyk and Mongolian languages.3 Although this may not have been the first attempt to translate the Scriptures into Mongolian, it is the first translation concerning which reliable information is available. His translation of the Gospels according to Matthew and John was published in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1819. The initial translation work started by Schmidt was continued by Edward Stallybrass and WilliamWilliam Swan, missionaries from England and Scotland respectively. Their translationtran of the Old Testament was published in 1840, followed by thethe New Testament in 1846. The translation of Stallybrass and Swan waswa revised in the mid 20th century, mainly because its original high- literarylite style was not understood by less-educated readers—the languagelan was therefore revised and simplified, and certain words were replacedreplp before the Bible was reprinted in Inner Mongolia in 1952.
18 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011
This 1952 edition of the Mongolian Scriptures was published more recently in two parts: the New Testament in 2002 and the Old Testament in 2003. However, recognising that there were some deficiencies in these and other available editions, FirstBible International, in partnership with the Society, have subsequently embarked on a revision of the Mongolian Scriptures, seeking to improve their faithfulness and accuracy to the best underlying texts of Scripture, namely the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Received Text. Work on revising the Gospel according to John commenced in 2008 with the revision team led by Dr Bill Patterson based in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. We are thankful to God that the firstfruits of their labours have now been published with an initial print run of five thousand copies of the Gospel produced in Mongolia. God willing, we anticipate further quantities being printed in the near future. Work is now proceeding on the revision of the whole New Testament and, if the Lord will, over the coming years it is desired to publish not only a revised New Testament, but also an entire revised Bible in Mongolian. Please join with us in praying that the Lord will bless the distribution of the published Gospel according to John and greatly assist those labouring to produce an accurate and trustworthy Mongolian Bible. Above all, may the Lord use this work and the circulation of His Word for His own glory and for the increase of His kingdom. ‘For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea’ (Habakkuk 2.14 ). end notes: 1. Matt Rosenberg, ‘Biggest Countries’, About.com, geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/a/ bigcountries.htm. 2. ‘Mongolian Language’, Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_language. 3. I am indebted to Dr Bill Patterson for much of the information concerning the history of the Scriptures in Mongolian.
Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s capital city
19 – Quarterly Record The Treasury by D. J. Broome Finance Director
s another year has passed away into eternity and I come once again to write for the QR, I am reminded of the words of James, ‘For what is your life? It is even a vapour, Athat appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away’ (James 4.14). Nevertheless, 2010 was a year in which the Society once again proved the great faithfulness of our covenant-keeping God. Our regular readers will know that 2010 was a challenging year for the Society, but not without spiritual profit as we were brought to depend more fully upon the Lord. Indeed, we look back to the time in the summer of last year when we feared a very substantial UK operating loss in the region of £575,000 for 2010, but through the good hand of our God we are now expecting a significantly reduced operating deficit for the year, in the order of £350,000: a cause for great thankfulness. The provisional 2010 figures for the UK show that sales ended the year around 15% down on 2009, but remarkably, through the Lord’s mercy and the generosity of our many supporters (particularly following our letter seeking prayer), income from donations, subscriptions and collections ended at similar levels to 2009. We are deeply grateful for this, and also to our overseas supporters, who have contributed very generously to the Society and to our many projects through their local branches. However, 2011 looks likely to be another challenging year financially for the Society. The budget that has been set for 2011 is stretching for us to attain and has required some uncomfortable measures. By the time you read this, we hope to have completed a wide- ranging review of all UK staff in the light of current activity levels, particularly in relation to sales and grants. This process is expected to result in a small number of redundancies and/or retirements. Notwithstanding these measures, we feel our great need of the same provision that Elijah knew at the brook Cherith, when he was supplied morning and evening (1 Kings 17.6). As many of our supporters are also inevitably feeling the financial hardship that arises from the current global economic situation, we feel that it might be an opportune moment to remind UK tax payers of Gift Aid. By signing the Gift Aid declaration, you donate as little or as much as you choose and then allow the Society to claim back from the government tax at a rate of 20/80ths (or 25%) of the amount that you have donated. Thus, if you donate £10, we can claim £2.50, making your gift worth £12.50—and that at no additional cost to you. Gift Aid forms are available on request from Tyndale House and online on our website. Similar tax schemes operate in other countries, should our overseas supporters be interested. We remain deeply thankful to our members, supporters and friends for their partnership with us in this work, and pray that we may be good stewards, under God, of the funds you have so generously given. We appreciate your support, as well as gratefully acknowledging receipt of anonymous gifts totalling £71,389.77 for the period October to December 2010.
20 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011 WHO WERE THE LEARNED of the MEN 1604–11 TRANSLATION COMMITTEES? Part II by C. P. Hallihan he introduction to the article about John Bois in Quarterly Record 594, TJanuary-March 2011, page 23, declared: To any unprejudiced student, the scholarship of the ‘Learned Men’ is beyond question; but what kind of men were they? Lists of dates, degrees, academic honours, and so on, do not bring these men to our understanding, interest or affections. To look more closely at just one of these men…may be of more help. Here then is a second sketch of such a learned translator, Daniel Featley;1 in scholarship and Protestant commitment comparable to Bois, and yet even in those very things, and some others, strikingly different. In our modern jargon he was ‘further to the right’. Being younger,2 he reminds us that these men were not only the children of the Reformation, but also in some cases contemporaries of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the slightly later Puritan Exodus (which included John Cotton and Roger Williams), and the Westminster Divines.
Daniel Featley (1582–1645) and imprisonment at the end of his life. Member of the First Oxford Translation He appears in various sources and lists 3 Committee [Isaiah to Malachi] 1607–11 of the translators as Daniel Fairclough or Richard Fairclowe, and it took quite aniel Featley was an English some time for me to be confident that minister, theologian and these three were one and the same man, Dcontroversialist. A leading and and a protégé of the Puritan leader John aggressive Calvinist disputant of the 1620s, Rainolds! As Featley, I had been aware his staunch opinions on bishops were of him historically not only as a very unpopular with the Presbyterian faction enthusiastic and polemical Calvinist in the 1640s, leading to harsh treatment and Episcopalian, but also as a violent
21 – Quarterly Record opponent of the 17th-century English the translators, Particular Baptists, disputing with William so early in the Kiffin, and publishing, in 1645, The work,5 had lost a Dippers Dipt—or the Anabaptists Duck’d very valuable, if and Plung’d over Head and ears, at a uncomfortable, Disputation in Southwark.4 member. Who better to carry the Beginnings Puritan flag than Daniel, who would be the first of his the twenty-five- family to adopt the ‘Featley’ version of year-old Daniel the surname, was born at Charlton- Featley? If his age upon-Otmoor, Oxfordshire, in March and education told 1582, second son of John Fairclough. against him (he John Rainolds memorial at Corpus His early education was as a chorister was only just M.A., Christi College, Oxford of Magdalen College, Oxford. Featley’s and not yet begun godfather and benefactor, John Rainolds, B.D.), his growing reputation in dispute a leading Puritan spokesman (especially and ministry, coupled with the reputation at the Hampton Court Conference), was of Rainolds, was for him. also President of Corpus Christi College, Throughout his life, Daniel Featley’s loyalty Oxford. No surprise then that at age twelve, to the cause of ‘King and Bishops’ seemed having impressed teachers with his elegant to grow. His championship and strong Latin and Greek verses, Daniel became affirmation of John Calvin’s teachings a scholar of Corpus Christi College in made him acceptable to the Puritans. Even December 1594. Some of his early writings that, though, failed him at the end. as he followed the path to M.A. survive in manuscript at the Bodleian Library. Among The Translators He accomplished his M.A. in April In the First Oxford Committee, 1606, and his first published working on the Prophets—Isaiah work, an abridgement of the to Malachi—Featley joined their Life of Bishop Jewel, appeared in leader, John Harding. At the 1609. time of his own appointment Featley became widely noted Harding had been Royal as a preacher and very Professor of Hebrew in the willing disputant in matters University for thirteen years, touching Protestantism, was President of Magdalen Calvinism, and College and rector of Halsey, Anglicanism. In in Oxfordshire. Beyond 1607 he delivered these unmistakable a very highly evidences of his rated sermon scholarship, not at the funeral much is known of Rainolds; about Harding that same other than death, his death though, in 1610. meant There was that Daniel Featley, 1582-1645 a son, John 22 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011
Harding, about whom it is easier to find experience, more so in view of the information; and there are references to procedure recorded by John Selden John Foxe6 studying under a John Harding [1584–1654] in his Table-Talk. ‘The at Brasenose, Oxford, around 1540. English Translation of the Bible is the best That is far too soon to be John Harding, Translation in the World…’, says Selden, 1611 Bible translator; scarcely any of the and goes on: ‘The Translation in King translators for whom we have reliable James’s time took an excellent way. information were even born before 1540.7 That Part of the Bible was given to Perhaps it is more significant that one of him who was most excellent in such a Daniel’s fellow members at Oxford was Tongue…and then they met together, and one read the Translation Miles Smith. Smith, alongside Thomas , the rest Bilson, was to be the chief ‘finisher and holding in their Hands some Bible, polisher’ of the whole text of the 1611 either of the learned Tongues, Bible. Miles wrote the ‘Translators or French, Spanish, Italian, to the Reader’, whereas Bilson wrote etc. If they found any Fault, 9 the fulsome ‘Epistle Dedicatory’ to they spoke, if not he read on’. King James.8 This reading aloud as part of the checking, revising and correcting To have worked on the Hebrew says much for the translators’ Prophets alongside Harding’s Hebrew views of the purpose of the accomplishments and Miles Smith’s translation. It was to be read, feel for the English tongue read aloud, and in company, must have been a rich which helps us
Pelican Sundial at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, erected in 1581
23 – Quarterly Record understand the benchmark standards of of some of these Paris disputes was lively and rhythmic readability attained by later published—The Grand Sacrilege the Authorised Version. of the Church of Rome, in 1630, and Head of the Second Oxford Committee— Transubstantiation Exploded, in1638. not the same group, granted, but in the In 1613 Daniel Featley returned to Oxford, same building in the same small town— taking up studies for the degree of B.D. was George Abbott (1562–1633). By the He was a much sought-after preacher, end of his translation work, covering especially at university and ecclesiastical Gospels-Acts-Revelation, Abbot had events, rarely failing to give offence in his progressed from Bishop of Coventry and plain speaking, even on the most solemn Lichfield (1608) to Bishop of London occasions. Subsequently he went to the (1610) then Archbishop of Canterbury parish of Northill, Cornwall, but was not in 1611. He was a vehement supporter of content, begging the Bishop of Salisbury ‘to the Puritans, and an early opponent of remove me out of this barren and thirsty the Arminian and Romanising William soyle and settle me near the wellsprings of Laud,10 as was Miles Smith. Featley knowledge, that I may quench my thirst of and Abbot shared that uncomfortable controversy-learning’.13 Fair warning there dual commitment to Anglicanism and then! Calvinism, and were involved with each At last, Archbishop Abbot appointed him other for the rest of their lives: Featley as one of his household chaplains, with the always the junior in status as well as in age. living of All Saints, Lambeth, next door to the Archbishop’s residence. At Abbot’s After the Translation Work request, Featley read for the degree of D.D. From 1610–12 Daniel Featley was chaplain under John Prideaux;14 Featley provoked to the English ambassador in Paris, Sir Prideaux to wrath, and Abbot had some Thomas Edmondes. Lodging in the difficulty in reconciling the two. In 1622 ambassador’s house, his attacks on Roman Featley married Mrs. Joyce Halloway Catholic doctrine and disputations with (Holloway), twice a widow, and they lived Jesuits attracted much attention. He held at her house in Kennington Lane. The many lively and controversial disputes with next year there was a notable conference. the doctors of the Sorbonne,11 earning the Featley and the dean of Carlisle, Francis soubriquet of ‘keen and cutting Featley’; White, were on one side; Jesuits John they found him their match—‘For he Piercy (or Fisher) and John Sweet on the a rope of sand could twist, as tough as other: an account appeared, with the title, learned Sorbonnist’.12 The substancein best Featley style The Fisher catched in his owne Net. King James was so impressed by
London as seen before the Great Fire of 1666
24 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011
Featley’s skill in disputation that sometime Chelsea College. before the king’s death in 1625 he asked for In 1626 Daniel Featley had published a bout himself! a devotional manual, Ancilla Pietatis, or, The Handmaid to Private Devotion, In King Charles’s which proved very popular; it appeared ‘golden days…’ in translation in French and Dutch, On the death of England’s establishing Featley’s international James I, his second son, reputation, being preferred in Holland Charles, became king,15 even above Perkins’s works. It became a March 27, 1625. That very great favourite with Charles I. Featley same year Daniel was convinced that the sincere Christian Featley ceased to be should be more devout in private than in chaplain to Abbot. He had been Charles I public: public prayer making more noise— refused admission to Lambeth Palace, private having a deeper channel. supposedly suffering the plague, though Archbishop Abbot died in 1633 and it was only a sharp attack of ague; so, his successor, William Laud, was never persistently prickly, he resigned abruptly. on good terms with Featley, who was Abbott subsequently (1629) appointed resolutely opposed to the merest hint of Featley rector of All Hallows, Bread Arminanism, viewing it as a broad road to Street, London, and then to Acton in various shades of Pelagianism, with Rome Middlesex. as the dire destination. Bearing in mind that controversy was Featley’s forte, these few years seem to Westminster be the nearest to a tranquil patch in his Daniel Featley was nominated by the life. He had married Joyce Halloway, House of Lords to be on the subcommittee considerably older than himself; a good ‘to settle religion’, meeting in 1641 at the Puritan wife, she had ‘read the whole New Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster, under Testament twelve times over; and that the presidency of the dean of Westminster, not slightly and superficially, but so as to John Williams. There was talk of his being observe somewhat that might be useful to offered the Chair of Divinity at Leyden, her, either out of or upon every Chapter but he declined because of his age. He she read’, according to Thomas Gataker, did however begin to make marginal preaching at her funeral in 1637.16 King annotations on the Pauline Epistles, which Charles appointed Featley a chaplain were printed in the Annotations to be to his household, and provost of issued by the Westminster Assembly in 1645.
25 – Quarterly Record
Featley himself was appointed a member of that noted company in June 1645. The Westminster Assembly of Divines, appointed by the Long Parliament to restructure the Church of England, met for six years (1643–1649) and was never formally dissolved! During that time the documents which were to be the major Confessional Standards of the Presbyterian faith were produced: the The Westminster Assembly not winifidih many friends in the Westminster Confession of Assembly, and his absence aroused Faith, the Westminster Larger Catechism, suspicion. Some of his wholly innocent18 the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and correspondence with Archbishop the Directory of Public Worship. Ussher, then at Oxford with the king, was There were clear representative groups intercepted (he was actually betrayed), within the Assembly. Featley spoke and for this was accused of being a spy, out for episcopacy, and denounced the cast into prison despite his manifest ill appropriation of church property and health, and his livings taken from him. toleration of sects. He also refused to assent During the imprisonment he had returned to all of the Solemn League and Covenant. to controversy, still hoping to establish Men of the Episcopalian part did not often himself in the esteem of the Assembly. He attend Assembly sessions, as they had not wrote another treatise against the Roman been Royally authorised (this is in the Catholics, whilst allowed three books at a midst of England’s Civil War, remember). time from his library. The notable figure of the ‘Bishops and But then, in January 1644, he published King’ party was James Ussher, Archbishop his Gentle Lash, a challenge to the Puritan of Armagh.17 To be even-handed, note divines of the day, offering to vindicate that the eminent Presbyterians were the articles, discipline, and liturgy of the George Gillespie and Samuel Rutherford; church of England. Featley also entered Independents (nascent Congregationalists) into fierce controversy with a fellow had Thomas Goodwin, with Cromwell’s prisoner, a Baptist minister, Henry Denne. support; there were also Erastians, such as Possibly he thought that this might recover John Lightfoot, who esteemed the priority some of the ground lost by the Gentle of state authority above church authority. Lash. Denne had taken strong exception Featley himself withdrew from the to Featley’s account of his dispute with Assembly, reportedly following a message William Kiffin in The Dippers Dipt,and from King Charles, to whom he was still begged to dispute the matter face-to- chaplain. face in prison. By April 1645 Featley was already dying and, after eighteen months Disaster and Death in prison, he was allowed out ‘on parole’ to Poor Daniel, his production of ‘Sixteen Chelsea College for a change of air, where reasons for Episcopal government’ did he died of asthma and dropsy on 17 April
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1645. Daniel Featley, whose last recorded contribution to the perceived need for the words were ‘The poor Church of God is 1644 First London Baptist Confession of torn in pieces’, was buried in the chancel of Faith. ( . Lambeth church on 21 April. ‘katabaptistai kataptustoi’ appeared at the head of Featley’s title page, a slightly less politee Epilogue title: ‘dippers spat-at’.) 5. At least ten died between 1604/11. Dr. William Leo’s funeral address for Featley remarked on his small stature, 6. Renowned author of the Acts and and the fullness of learning compacted in Monuments…, more often referred to as the Book of Martyrs, published in Latin 1563, that stature. The life, times and works of English 1570. Daniel Featley are indeed passed away; ‘the word of God…liveth and abideth for 7. Adrian Saravia, seventy-three in 1604, was born in 1531. ever’. Daniel Featley, faithful, fearless and fallible, contributed to the provision of that 8. Please see the Society’s book The Authorisedd enduring Word to millions: not only those Version: A Wonderful and Unfinished History, for more about Smith. of English mother tongue, but also those who acquire English as a second language 9. The Table-Talk Of John Selden (London: by the reading of the Authorised Version, John Russell Smith, 1856), p. 3 (first appeared in 1689). Emphasis added. or who specifically learn English in order to have access to the Authorised Version. 10. Laud was to succeed Abbot as Archbishop in 1633, until his beheading in 1645. Last Thoughts 11. Sorbonne: the Paris University. Consider our glimpses here and in 12. I’m not sure that I would take that as a Quarterly Record 594 of just two compliment! translators, Bois and Featley; if either one 13. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, of them had been the sole labourer in the 22 vols. (Oxford: University of Oxford, 2004) 1611 Bible, it could not have been the Bible 19:220. that we now know. Let us give thanks that 14. Rector of Exeter College, Oxford, Regius it ever pleased Almighty God to move Professor of Divinity: later, Bishop of King James to authorise that excellent Worcester. work, the translation of the Bible, and to 15. The first son, Henry, had died in 1612. gather that Committee of men matched to There was one other son, and five daughters, the hour. from James’s marriage with Anne of Norway. 16. Dictionary, 19.222. Gataker, 1574–1654, a Cambridge Puritan divine and critic, and Endnotes: later a very active member of the Westminster 1. Also known as Daniel Fairclough or Assembly, was another one of mixed Richard Fairclowe. churchmanship, favouring a blend of Prelacy and Presbytery. 2. In QR 594 I said that ‘Samuel Ward would be the “baby” of the committees’. This would 17. Whose ‘Chronology’ supplied the dates only have been true from 1604–7, as Daniel at the head of pages in many editions of the Featley was five years younger. AV over the next three hundred and seventy years. 3. Featley is supposedly a corrupt pronunciation of the name Fairclough. 18. I say innocent, because any Episcopalian scruples that he may have shared with 4. This Disputation and later Book were Ussher were public knowledge anyway. It was a sore provocation to that generation of ‘King’ and ‘Oxford’ that caused alarm at this Baptists, and must be recognised as some juncture.
27 – Quarterly Record
The Word of God Among All Nations
Although certain phrases and expressions used in these letters may not be doctrinally accurate or in correct English, we reproduce the letters essentially as received, knowing that the Lord is using His Word to the glory of His Name and the furtherance of His Kingdom as the Scriptures are distributed among the nations of the world.
Europe the Royal Irish Regiment] said, “We are preparing to go to Afghanistan and we have finished our training. We appreciate From The Revivalist, October- the thoughts and prayers of everyone, and November 2010: camouflage Bibles can be a comfort to the ‘Woolsey Gets the Word to Heroes’: soldiers in such a dangerous situation”.’ ‘Alderman and church elder Woolsey Smith has taken delivery of hundreds of FromF Watford, England: “camouflage” Bibles which he is sending TheT Poster Campaign on Watford out to the Royal Irish Regiment in HarlequinHa Railway Station has now Afghanistan. finished with a total of 65 Bible requests made so far. The Lord has been very ‘As elder at Bethany Free Presbyterian gracious. We pray now that His Word may Church in Portadown, Alderman Smith have free course and be glorified. ordered the Bibles from the London- based Trinitarian Bible Society as part of a “comforts box” project he organises with the children’s club at Bethany… ‘They perfectly match the uniforms of the troops, and are “invisible” should the soldiers want to read a portion of Scripture out in the fields of war… ‘“We know that, on top of home comforts [soap, facecloths, deodorant, sweets, sun shield, toothpaste, brushes, cup-a-soup, crisps, Vaseline, shampoo, shower gel], the Word of God is a real comfort for those men who put their lives on the line. We know that He cares for them”… ‘Lt-Col Weir [the Commanding Officer of TBS poster at Watford Harlequin Station
28 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011 From Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, From Szechenyi, Hungary: England: We visited all of the mission I want to ask again if the TBS would be stations in Croatia, in Hungary willing to supply me with another 100 and in Serbia before Christmas. We handed Farsi Gospels of John? There are various out 150 boxes of gifts to the Serbian and people waiting for more Gospels and I Croatian gipsy children. These were made thought I had some more left but noticed by the church members from Tolna. We that the box of Gospels is completely also gave 45 gift boxes to the Hungarian empty. I very much appreciate this grant of Gospels, and I know the many who have received them have appreciated it too. Just to give you one example, last Monday I received an email from a man in Iran who had requested our John’s Gospel and other literature about a year ago—and he wanted to let us know that the Lord had saved him and his family through reading that and listening to our radio programmes. We are very thankful to God for such news; it encourages us to press on and that every effort is of great value.
Hungarian Words of Life calendars From Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, gipsy children which England: were also made by the church members Thank God for the recent declaration from Tolna and gave out 600 new year’s by the government of Albania that calendars with Bible verses which we got Evangelical Christians are now officially from the Trinitarian Bible Society from a religious community with the same London. standing as Muslims, Orthodox and FromF Krasnodar, Russia: Roman Catholics. While there has been no persecution or restriction placed on OnO January 31st, first thing in Christians in Albania since 1991, it is ththe morning I went to the post reassuring to have this recognition and office. It was my birthday and on arrival opens the way for evangelical churches to I was told there was a parcel for me from have a voice in the nation. Britain. What a coincidence! As if you knew it was my birthday. I glorified the Lord right Please pray for the involvement of there. Dear brethren, we give you a hug missionaries in the ‘Shoe Box’ distribution. and pray that the Lord gives you whatever The kindness of folk in the West who you need to carry the light of the Gospel assemble gifts for distribution to to places where they know Him not. We children provides the churches with thank you wholeheartedly for your love the opportunity to contact youngsters to our small church, which is a gathering and their families under promising of elderly believers. Unfortunately we circumstances and gives access to schools. do not have our own building so we Pray for the distribution of Scripture meet in houses. Throughout the years of Calendars donated by the Trinitarian Bible persecution in Soviet times, almost all of us Society. had been in bonds. I personally served two
29 – QuarterlyQy Record prison sentences, yet the Lord kept us to proclaim the truth of the Gospel. We thank you for all your labours and your active love. Please pray for us in these difficult circumstances as we live in the latter days. FromF Pelhrimov, Czech Republic:R WeW are grateful for your ministry. The Bibles in the Biblical languages are a wonderful help to our students and to us. We believe that the focus on the Biblical Albanian calendars distributed in Greece languages is crucial. FromF Athens, Greece: FromF Kirovsk, Russia: TheT group in the photo are holding AsA a missionary in a distant Russian AlbanianAl Calendars—these people province,pro I visit old people’s homes, meet for a Bible study each Thursday night orphanages, schools, and faraway villages led by a man in his eighties. where people have never heard the Good News. I desperately need around 100 Bibles of all sizes and about 100 calendars. AfricaA Praise be to God for this precious ministry of yours. FromF N’Djamena, Chad: FromF Ukraine: ThankT you for sending us your DearD brothers and sisters, Heartfelt calendarca request form. We had an gratitudegra for your parcel of Bibles. We accident when our vehicle hit a camel use your Bibles to spread the Good News in and I have been some months recovering. prisons, secondary schools, and universities, Thus, I am very far behind on some and on the streets of our cities. We ask you things. If it is still possible to receive some to continue sending Bibles on a permanent calendars for 2011, I would like to order 40 basis. You are in our daily prayers. As co- French and 40 Arabic. If this is no longer labourers in His harvest fields, we also need possible, please do send us a request form you to pray for us. for 2012. Thank you for this ministry of encouragement to many. FromF a ministry to prisoners in Gomel, Belarus: FromF Nigeria: A prisonerp continues reading his Bible I am glad to send these pictures to in dire circumstances, and sharing his faith you.yo They were taken while handing with other prisoners. Some of them have the Bibles to the recipients. It is always a a spiritual need and ask for Bibles. We do great blessing and privilege for us to serve not have the means to provide them with the people on your behalf and of course Scripture, and ask the Society to send some on behalf of the Gospel. We do appreciate Bibles for our church’s prison ministry. I your good gesture by spreading the Good would also ask for a Bible. News of the Gospel contained in the authentic King James Bible.
30 Issue Number: 595 – April to June 2011
When I went to claim the parcels from the post office, they were demanding the sum of 1,000 naira. I told them that the Bibles were sent for free distribution. They insisted that some pastors sell them! I opened one of the parcels and distributed free Bibles to them. They confessed that they were surprised, and promised that they would never demand illegal taxation from me again.
Nigerian children receive the Scriptures From Port Harcourt,,g Nigeria: It is three weeks From Aba, Abia State, Nigeria: now since the firee Greetings in Jesus’ Name. It is a thing of burnt down our joy to tell you what God is doing in my church building. Itt life. It was in August that I prayed and has been kind of asked God to provide me with a Bible as I you in showing a am unable to buy one. I have been going kindred spirit withh to church without a Bible to read. Last us in this incident.t. week I decided to attend Siloam Church in Your emails The remnants of the Port Harcourt firefire Mgbuko Ofakobe Village. After the service have brought the Pastor told us that he would give out much comfort to us. One widow sustained Bibles to those who do not have a Bible. burns as she awoke and took her children Seeing that I do not have a Bible, I rushed to safety and then came back to her room to the Pastor, and he gave me a beautiful to take whatever she was able, but the Bible. I want to tell you that I have now fire enveloped her and she ran for her life. opportunity to read God’s Word. I can Caring for this lady and others has sent out have morning devotions in my room. I a clear Christian testimony in our area. The am a changed person as I can search the ‘witch prophetess’ has become friendly scriptures myself and see the will of God. and greets me now without cursing. On This is the greatest gift we have received the date of the incident she opened her from anybody in the world. gate and gave water from her bore hole to quench the From Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria: Replacing the Bibles destroyed in the fifirere I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is to inform you that the parcels you sent were successfully received. The quantity you sent was very encouraging. It has broadened the scope of our vision. We are now into prison and hospital ministry. We prayerfully give out Bibles only to those who need them. Some people are given Pocket New Testaments and Psalms with the promise that when they have read it from cover to cover, they will be qualified to own a complete Bible.
31 – Quarterly Record fire. We gave the victims new Bibles from People received them with gladness and the TBS from our stock, since they had lost thankfulness. They were looking forward all their Bibles. to having the calendars. I am in the process of distributing the Bibles to converts. They are so eager to have them. When I was a North America convert your literature did help me. May the Lord bless you. FromF Tucson, Arizona, USA: TheT Spanish Words of Life Calendars arear distributed weekly during the Asia first six months of the year to our active 1900 inmate-students in 69 different FromF a church in Bocaue prisons. The students love them. Many write to us at the end of the year asking for BBulacan, Philippines: the new one as soon as possible. We also In behalf of my brethren here, we are supply some chaplains with some. very thankful unto Almighty God for the spiritual and material blessings through the generosity of your congregation in Central & Latin sharing us Bibles. I do believed in Romans 8.28; our prayers are with you and your America ministries. Please find attached pic, in which those elder people of the church have FromF Pichincha, Ecuador: been recipients of Large Print Bibles. Grace and peace from our Almighty God be with I want to give thanks to God for you and to all the members of Trinitarian theth lives of all you who work in the ministry of distributing the Word of God. For many years (over 40 years!) I have had the blessing of receiving your literature and hundreds of people have been converted to Christ through your ministry—certainly many of them are those who use the calendars as a guide to daily reading. FromF Bartica, GGuyana:
ManyMa thanks for the Large print Bibles distributed in the Golden Thoughts Calendars and the Bibles Philippines Bible Society. I which you have kindly sent. I received want to express my deep gratitude for your them safely and in excellent condition. kindness in sharing with us the Holy Bible in I have given all the calendars out to large print. interior villages, churches and converts.
32 Trinitarian Bible Society
International Headquarters International Branches Tyndale House, Australian Branch Dorset Road, President: Mr. M. F. Stuart National Secretary: Mr. G. Kidd London, Trinitarian Bible Society (Australia), G.P.O.Box 777 SW19 3NN, Sydney 2001, Australia England Tel.: 1300 303 827 Fax: 1300 783 827 e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (020) 8543 7857 Brazilian Branch Facsimile: (020) 8543 6370 President: The Rev. Dr. T. L. Gilmer General Secretary: Mr. H. Gilmer e-mail: [email protected] Sociedade Bíblica Trinitariana do Brasil, website: www.tbsbibles.org Rua Julio de Castilhos, 108/120 Belenzinho Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm 03059-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil Tel.: (11) 2693-5663 Fax: (11) 2695-3635 English Charity Number: 233082 e-mail: [email protected] Scottish Charity Number: SC038379 Canadian Branch V.A.T. Registration Number: GB 215 9219 67 General Secretary: Mr. A. Stoutjesdyk, B.Ed., M.Ed. Office Manager: Mr. J. van Huigenbos Auditors: Trinitarian Bible Society (Canada) Jacob Cavenagh & Skeet 9128 Young Road, 5 Robin Hood Lane, Chilliwack, B.C., V2P 4R4, Canada Sutton, Tel.: (604) 793-2232 Fax: (604) 793-2262 Surrey, e-mail: [email protected] SM1 2SW New Zealand Branch Solicitors: Secretary: Mr. U. Haringa Bates, Wells & Braithwaite Trinitarian Bible Society (New Zealand), 2-6 Cannon Street, 17 Heatherlea Street, London, P.O. Box 740, Gisborne, New Zealand EC4M 6YA Tel. & Fax: 06-863-3700 e-mail: [email protected] Bankers: Arbuthnot Latham & Co. Ltd. U.S.A. Branch Arbuthnot House, General Secretary: Mr. W. Greendyk, B.A. 20 Ropemaker Street, Trinitarian Bible Society (U.S.A.) London, EC2Y 9AR 927 Alpine Commerce Park, Sterling Account No.: 71529601 Sort Code: 30-13-93 Suite 100, Grand Rapids, Swift ID Code: ARBUGB2L Michigan 49544, U.S.A. Euro Account No.: 31529601 Tel.: (616) 735-3695 Fax: (616) 785-7237 IBAN Euro Account No.: GB19 ARBU 3003 0831 5296 01 e-mail: [email protected] To publish and distribute the Holy Scriptures throughout the world in many languages.
To promote Bible translations which are accurate and trustworthy, conforming to the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, and the Greek Textus Receptus of the New Testament, upon which texts the English Authorised Version is based.
To be instrumental in bringing light and life, through the Gospel of Christ, to those who are lost in sin and in the darkness of false religion and unbelief.
To uphold the doctrines of reformed Christianity, bearing witness to the equal and eternal deity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, One God in three Persons.
To uphold the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God.
For the Glory of God and the Increase of His Kingdom through the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God.
For introductory literature and catalogue please write to the Society at the address given ISSN 0049-47 12 Tyndale House, Dorset Road, London, SW19 3NN, England 9 770049 471000 e-mail: [email protected] www.tbsbibles.org