=28. Early Versions of the Bible.=--Many versions of the Old Testament
and of the combined Testaments have appeared at different times. The
Hebrew text with the Samaritan duplication of the Pentateuch, and the
Greek translation, or the Septuagint (LXX), have been already noted.
Revisions and modified translations competed for favor with the
Septuagint during the early ages of the Christian era; Theodotian,
Aquila, and Symmachus each issued a new version. One of the first
translations into Latin was the _Italic version_, probably prepared in
the second century; this was later improved and amended, and then
became known as the _Vulgate_; and this is still held by the church of
Rome to be the authentic version. This version included both Old and
New Testaments.
=29. Many Modern Versions in English=, some fragmentary, others
complete, have appeared since the beginning of the thirteenth century.
About 1380 A. D., Wycliffe presented an English translation of the New
Testament, made from the Vulgate; the Old Testament was afterward
added. About 1525 A. D., Tyndale's translation of the New Testament
appeared; this was included in Coverdale's Bible, printed in 1535,
which constituted the first version of the complete Bible. Matthew's
Bible dates from 1537; Taverner's Bible from 1539, and Cranmer's Great
Bible from the same year. In 1560 the Geneva Bible appeared; in 1568
the Bishops' Bible, the first English version having chapter and verse
divisions; and in 1611 the so-called Authorized English Version, or
King James' translation, this being a new translation of Old and New
Testaments from the Hebrew and Greek, made by forty-seven scholars at
the command of King James I. This has superseded all earlier versions,
and is the form now in current use among Protestants. But even this
latest and supposedly best version was found to contain many and
serious errors; and in 1885 a revised version was issued, which,
however, has not yet been accorded general acceptance.
=30. Genuineness and Authenticity of the Bible.=--However interesting
and instructive these historical and literary data of the Jewish
scriptures may be, the consideration of such is subordinate to that of
the authenticity of the books; for as we, in common with the rest of
the Christian world, have accepted them as the word of God, it is
eminently proper that we should inquire into the genuineness of the
records upon which our faith is so largely founded. All evidences
furnished by the Bible itself, such as its language, historical
details, and the consistency of its contents, unite in supporting its
claim to genuineness as the actual works of the authors to whom the
separate parts are ascribed. In a multitude of instances, comparisons
are easy between the biblical record and contemporary history not
scriptural, particularly in regard to biography and genealogy, and, in
all such cases, striking agreement has been found.[759] Further
argument exists in the individuality maintained by each writer,
resulting in a marked diversity of style; while the wondrous unity
pervading the whole declares the operation of some single guiding
influence throughout the ages of the record's growth; and this can be
nothing less than the power of inspiration which operated upon all who
were accepted as instruments in the Divine Hand to prepare this book
of books. Tradition, contemporary history, literary analysis, and
above and beyond all these, the test of prayerful research and
truth-seeking investigation, unite to prove the authenticity of this
wondrous volume, and to point the way, defined within its covers,
leading men back to the Eternal Presence.
[759] See Note 7.
=31. Book of Mormon Testimony regarding the Bible.=--As declared in
the eighth of the Articles of Faith now under consideration, the
Latter-day Saints accept the Book of Mormon as a volume of sacred
scripture, which, like the Bible, embodies the word of God. In the
next lecture the Book of Mormon will receive our special attention;
but it may be profitable to refer here to the collateral evidence
furnished by that work regarding the authenticity of the Jewish
scriptures, and of the general integrity of these latter in their
present form. According to the Book of Mormon record, the Prophet
Lehi, with his family and some others, left Jerusalem by the command
of God, about 600 B. C., during the first year of King Zedekiah's
reign. Before finally forsaking the land of their nativity, the
travelers secured certain records, which were engraved on plates of
brass. Among these writings were a history of the Jews and some of the
scriptures then accepted as authentic.
=32.= Lehi examined the brazen record--"And he beheld that they did
contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation
of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
and also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the
commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah; and also the
prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the
commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which
have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah."[760] This direct reference
to the Pentateuch and to certain of the Jewish prophets is valuable
external evidence concerning the authenticity of those parts of the
biblical record.
[760] I Nephi v, 10-13.
=33.= In a vision, Nephi, the son of Lehi, learned of the future of
God's plan regarding the human family; and saw that a book of great
worth, containing the word of God and the covenants of the Lord with
Israel, would go forth from the Jews to the Gentiles.[761] It is
further stated that Lehi's company, who, as we shall see, were led
across the waters to the western continent, whereon they established
themselves and afterward grew to be a numerous and powerful people,
were accustomed to study the scriptures engraved on the plates of
brass; and, moreover, their scribes embodied long quotations therefrom
in their own growing record.[762] So much for Book of Mormon
recognition of the Old Testament, or at least of such parts of the
Jewish canon as had been completed when Lehi's migrating colony left
Jerusalem, during the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah.
[761] See I Nephi xiii, 21-23.
[762] I Nephi xx-xxi; II Nephi vii-viii; xii-xxiv.
=34.= But further, concerning the New Testament scriptures this voice
from the western world is not silent. In prophetic vision, many of the
Nephite teachers saw and fore-told the ministry of Christ in the
meridian of time, and recorded predictions concerning the principal
events of the Savior's life and death, with striking fidelity and
detail. This testimony is recorded of Nephi,[763] Benjamin,[764] who
was both prophet and king, Abinadi,[765] Samuel the converted
Lamanite,[766] and others. In addition to these and many other
prophecies regarding the mission of Christ, all of which agree with
the New Testament record of their fulfillment, we find in the Book of
Mormon an account of the risen Lord's ministrations among the Nephite
people, during which He established His Church with them, after the
pattern recorded in the New Testament; and, moreover, He gave them
many instructions in words almost identical with those of His
teachings among the Jews in the east.[767]
[763] I Nephi x, 4-5; xi-xiii; xiv; II Nephi ix, 5; x, 3; xxv, 26;
xxvi, 24.
[764] Mosiah iii; iv, 3.
[765] Mosiah xiii-xvi.
[766] Helaman xiv, 12.
[767] III Nephi ix-xxvi; compare for New Testament references with
Matthew v-vii etc.; and for Old Testament mention with Isaiah liv;
Malachi iii-lv.