Wa lter L. W ilson, M.D.
truth has b e e n preserved, even though the manner of its presenta tion has differed in many instances. Our hearts rejoice as we note in each of these wonderful editions that the story of God’s love is unchanged, and the assurance of His provision for us in Christ remains the same. T he B lessing of K nowledge As we present the Word of God to those who seek Him, our mes sages will be greatly enriched by a full knowledge of how the early writers and translators presented the truth as they saw it in the original manuscripts. Of course, unsaved men, having not the Spirit of God, have endeavored to translate the original messages, but have given us interpretations instead of transla tions. We believe that God’s message to man as given in the original manuscripts was God-breatHed and God-inspired as to word, thought, and arrangement. We cannot expect to receive spiritual enlightenment from those who have no light and who handle holy things with an un holy mind. May the Lord enable us to enjoy to the full His precious truth! Many millions of copies of the King James Version are distributed throughout the world each year. Most of the translations into foreign languages have been made from this version. The public has become ac customed to its language. Nearly all Bible quotations made by public speakers or printed in newspapers and magazines are taken from the King James Version. The literary construction is of such a nature that it not only touches the heart, but the mind can easily understand it. The revisions, as a rule, are stiff, unwieldy, and do not adapt them selves to popular thinking. Even PAGE THIRTY-ONE strange to us, and do not sound “like the Bible.” I t I s the U niversal V ersion
August 3. 1947 THE FIRST EDITIONS OF THE SCRIPTURE N eh . 8:1-8; L uke 4:16-21
SPHERE is a real need for knowing •*- something about the origin of the precious Word of God, although such knowledge is not necessary for sal vation. We do not read anywhere in Scripture that D a v i d , the great singer, or Paul, the great preacher, or Moses, the great leader, ever said anything about the origin of their messages. In this day of investiga tion, when men question everything that pertains to God and godliness, it is needful for us to be informed as to the source of our information concerning eternal things. Fortunate ly, this data is available. Many books have been written on the sub ject and may be obtained through e v ang e l i c a l book stores which handle orthodox literature. Every Christian should read at least one good book on how we obtained our Bible. How W e M ay K now It is worth our time to spend many hours reading what has been writ ten by those who have investigated the origin of the Scriptures. Good books are available on the origin of the Bible, how we got our Bible, where we got our Bible, the Bible from the beginning, et cetera. A good librarian can furnish a complete bibliography on this subject. It is to the advantage of each Christian to know the circumstances under which the Word of God was written, and how it has been preserved for us. The origin of some books is not clear, but the value of these books is clearly evident. Of forty-four of the books of the Bible the authors are known, but twenty-two are anony mous. It is not necessary to know where the wheat was raised; it is enough to know the bread is good. W hat W e S hould K now It is helpful to know the following things about the books of the Bible: the author, the circumstances under JULY, 1947
which he wrote, the people to whom he wrote, the subject contained in his message. Some of this informa tion can be secured from the book itself. Other material may be ob tained from historical references. The messages Paul wrote from prison were not the same as those he wrote when he was out in the harvest field with freedom to speak and serve. The writer’s surroundings strongly affect the character of his message. W hy W e S hould K now It will be most profitable to obtain various early editions of the Scrip tures and note the manner and method by which the truths of God are presented. The quaint expres sions of some of the early writers make lasting impressions upon our mind. Although ten different writers from Wycliffe to Authorized, or King James translation, present the pre cious truth in their own original way, yet the thought scarcely varies at all. God has seen to it that His T T is evident to those who are en- gaged in soul winning that the Authorized, or King James Version, has the special benediction of God upon it. It is the version that has been used in all the great revivals of our day. Spurgeon loved it; Moody used it; Billy Sunday exalted it, and many great Bible teachers have em ployed no other translation. The simplicity of its language and the sweetness of its expression appeal to every heart. The public in general is accustomed to it. The great pas sages which have been memorized, such as John 14, Psalm 23 and Isaiah 53, have been memorized from the King James Version. We are familiar with this version and all other versions seem a little
August 10. 1947 WHY THE KING JAMES VERSION APPEALS
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