The American Bible Union Version
From Textus Receptus
“Prefatory Note” to the New Testament, 1912
The New Testament in this volume is the Bible Union version, fourth edition.
The American Bible Union published a Revised version of the New Testament, in three small volumes, in 1862, 1863, and 1864 respectively, and the whole in one volume in the last named year. Some questions having been left unsettled, a second revision, so denominated on the title-page, was issued in 1865. This is the well-known, widely used, and highly commended "Bible Union New Testament." Both editions were prepared by a final committee, consisting of those able and devout scholars, Thomas. J. Conant, D. D., Horatio B. Hackett, D. D., and Asahel C. Kendrick, D. D. Probably the greater part of the actual work was done by Doctor Conant, but in consultation with his associates. This version had a world-wide influence in promoting and enriching other revisions, especially the Anglo-American or Canterbury. After some years, a third revision was projected, with a view of attaining as nearly as possible to perfection, especially in the matter of English expression; but this project was not carried out, owing to unfavorable circumstances, until after the Saratoga Bible Convention of 1883. The American Baptist Publication Society then proceeded to arrange for the prosecution of the work on the Old Testament; and appointed Alvah Hovey, D. D., John A. Broadus, D. D., and Henry G. Weston, D. D., to prepare an improved edition of the Revised New Testament. This was issued in 1891, and has been pronounced by competent judges the best version of the New Testament existent in our language. And now that the work on the Old Testament has been completed, and the Society is about to publish the whole Bible, it has been thought desirable again to review the New Testament, in order to secure uniformity and consistency of rendering more completely and to make some further improvements, largely of a minor description, so that without changing its character a very excellent version may be made at least a little better. This work has been done with great pains and minute care. The publishers appreciatively acknowledge in connection therewith the services of Rev. J. W. Willmarth, D. D., who likewise aided in reading and correcting the proof.
It is no part of a translation pure and simple, to supply a commentary; but some notes are indispensable. Such as appear are, for the most part, explanatory of the text and are not expository. To meet different views as to the transference or translation of "baptizein" the "Improved Edition" was issued in two forms, one using the word "immerse," and the other "baptize." It has been deemed inexpedient to follow this plan in publishing the whole Bible in two forms. Therefore, wherever these words occur, as descriptive of baptism, the commonly used Anglicized form "baptize," etc., is given, followed by the exact translation in parentheses ("immerse"). Both forms are to be regarded as parts of the text of this version, and either or both may be used.
The sacred writers used the current style of the languages in which they wrote. A version filled with archaic forms and obsolete or obsolescent words, may be deemed to exhibit a "sacred style," but it misrepresents the manner of the inspired penmen. King James's version, with all its great excellencies, is in its style in marked contrast with present usage. It is the aim of the Improved Edition, while seeking to avoid undignified or newly coined words and phrases, to give the word of God in intelligible and current English. It is believed that, on account of this feature, the word of life in this version will come home to the heart and mind of the reader with increased force and a more impressive reality.
And now this version of the New Testament is commended to the favor of God and of his people, in the hope that it will enable the English reader, more accurately than in any other, to read "in his own tongue wherein he was born, the wonderful works of God."
Philadelphia, May, 1912.
