Jst Conference Presentation-brian

Joseph Smith’s Modernization of the Bible: Luke as a Case Study by Bryan S. Kerr

Source s Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Mathews, eds., Joseph Smith’s New Translation: Original Manuscripts (BYU Religious Studies Center: Provo, Utah, 2004).

Thomas A. Wayment, ed., The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament: A Side-by-Side Comparison with the King James Version (Deseret Book: Salt Lake City, 2005.)

Overvie w Thesis/Purpose Categorizing the Changes “After the Manner of their Language” 1828 H. & E. Phinney Bible Minor Changes Insights Conclusion

Thesis/Purpos e Categorize all minor changes in the gospel of Luke, and show that Joseph was trying to modernize the English Bible.

Categorizing... Restoration Additional Information Editing Harmonizing with modern revelation

The New Translation is Inspired! (D&C 42:56; 45:60-61; 124:89)

An imperfect language relaying a perfect message Edward Partridge et al (March 30, 1834): You have given us to understand that there are glaring errors in the revelation, or rather, have shown us the most glaring ones which are not calculated to suit the refinement of the age in which we live, of the great men, &c. We would say, by way of excuse, that we did not think so much of orthography, or the manner, as we did of the subject matter. (EJST, 589)

1828 H & E Phinney Bible Acquired by Oliver Cowdery Differs slightly Classical derivation: Cæsarea > Cesarea (Acts 10:1); Cæsar > Cesar (Acts 11:28); Judæa > Judea (Acts 11:29) The archaic –ick, e.g.: publick > public (Matt. 1:19); musick > music (Luke 15:25); heretick > heretic (Titus 3:10)

It is interesting to note that while Joseph’s Bible contained the modernized Matt. 1:19 and Luke 15:25, the New Translation retains the archaic spelling. Scribal liberties?

Minor Changes I have divided the 438 minor revisions into 8 categories: Which changed to Who That changed Who/Which Defining the pronoun Archaic words/phrases and similar substitutes Syntax Thou, thee, ye, thy, thine, and my Prepositions and conjunctions Conjugation and S’

The Book of Luke

That ~ Who/Which*

Defining the Pronoun

Archaic Words/Phrases and Similar Substitutes

Table 5. Syntax (Twenty possible occurrences)

Luke 1:28 Blessed art thou among women/for thou art chosen and blessed among women Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days/And in those days, Mary went Luke 1:63 And they marvelled all/And they all marvelled Luke 1:64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake/ And his mouth was opened immediately, and he spake with his tongue Luke 3:16 But one mightier than I cometh/There cometh one mightier than I Luke 8:12 There cometh the devil/And the devil cometh Luke 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into/And into whatsoever house ye enter Luke 11:6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me/A friend of mine has come to me in his journey Luke 12:54 When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say/When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, ye say, straightway Luke 13:24 For many , I say unto you, will seek/For I say unto you, many shall seek

A clear attempt At Modernization!

Luke 16:8 For the children of this world are in their generation wiser/For the children of this world are wiser in their generation Luke 16:10 He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much/He who is unjust in the least is also unjust in much Luke 17:4 And seven times in a day turn again to thee/And seven times in a day turn to you again Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer/But first he must suffer Luke 18:22 Yet lackest thou one thing/Yet thou lackest one thing Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the draweth near: go ye not therefore after them/And he said, The time draweth near, and therefore take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; go ye not therefore after them Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them/For as a snare it shall come on all them

Thou, Thee, Ye, Thy, Thine, and My

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Conjugation and S’

Insights

What the New Translation is and what it is not linguistic liberty Modern language Bibles are not Evil! symbolism can be taken too far Revelation, continually revised Biblical Criticism and the New Translation Scriptures; It’s about what we become.

Conclusion