One “more exact” Translation of the holy Scriptures

“There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your MAJESTY; but none is more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of the accomplishing and publishing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto your Majesty. For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended, how convenient it was, that out of the Original sacred tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own and other foreign Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the English tongue; your MAJESTY did never desist to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.” (The Epistle Dedicatory of the 1611 Bible translation authorized by King James I, with modern English spelling)

Some comments by Bryan Ross:

“In 1604, the same year work commenced on the production of the AV, Robert Cawdrey published A Table Alphabetical of Hard Usual English Words. Cawdrey’s Table possesses the following entry for the English word ‘exact,’ ‘perfectly done, or to require with extremitie.’”

“A few years prior, in 1596, Edmund Coote published The English School-master that contained a similar definition for “exact” to the one published by Cawdrey in 1604, i.e., ‘perfect or require with extremitie.’ (Lexicons of Early Modern English) Interested parties are encouraged to visit the “Lexicons of Early Modern English” and run a search for themselves.”

“Meanwhile, the Oxford English Dictionary presents the following meaning for the adjective form of ‘exact,’ ‘Perfected, consummate, finished.’”

Additionally, in the video “The AV 1611: Assessing The Preliminary Material, Part 3” (start about 1 minute 40 seconds in), Bryan Ross mentions that he submitted the paragraph including the words “one more exact translation” to all the English teachers in his English Department. They all consistently stated (in their own words) that “one more exact translation” means an additional one (translation) that has the quality of being more exact than the ones (translations) that came before it. It makes no sense that either King James or the translators wanted just one more Bible that was the same kind as all those that had gone before. They intended to improve and create a final product that is the apex of all the former translations, that there might be one Bible for the “whole Church to be bound unto it, and none other.”

The wiles of the devil

“That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. He will attack you sometimes by force and sometimes by fraud. By might or by sleight he will seek to overcome you, and no unarmed man can stand against him. Never go out without all your armor on, for you can never tell where you may meet the devil. He is not omnipresent, but nobody can tell where he is not, for he and his troops of devils appear to be found everywhere on this earth.”

Charles H. Spurgeon, Shoes for Pilgrims and Warriors

Unto thy death baptised

James George Deck wrote “Lord Jesus, we remember.” It is Hymn No. 149 in A Few Hymns and Some Spiritual Songs, Selected 1856, for the Little Flock (Revised 1881, London: G. Morrish, 1881).

Deck was born November 1, 1807 in Suffolk, England, the son of John and Mary Deck. He received military training, after which he served in the British East India Company. Back in England, he attended an Anglican theological college, and in 1829 married Alicia Field. She was the daughter of Samuel Field, his tutor. He left the Anglicans and joined the Plymouth Brethren, becoming a preacher and evangelist among them. After the Plymouth Brethren split of the “Exclusive Brethren” and the “Open Brethren,” Deck left England and moved to New Zealand. His wife died shortly after they settled in Wellington. In 1855, Deck remarried to Lewanna Atkinson. Deck apparently tried to avoid bringing the English schism in New Zealand, but eventually visits of his son to England, and English ministers to New Zealand made this attempt unsuccessful. He died August 14, 1884. Alicia, Lewanna, and James are buried at Pioneer Park Cemetery in Motueka, Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand.

Deck produced a number of good hymns. They remain popular in Brethren circles, but are not well known outside of them. “Lord Jesus, we remember” is a baptismal hymn. In it, Deck alludes to Jesus’s baptism of suffering and death, and his resurrection from the dead – which are foundational to the third stanza about water baptism. The 1978 Brethren songbook Spiritual Songs sets it to the tune St. Christopher by Frederick C. Maker.

1. Lord Jesus! we remember
The travail of thy soul,
When, through thy love’s deep pity,
The waves did o’er thee roll;
Baptised in death’s dark waters,
For us thy blood was shed;
For us thou (Lord of glory)
Wast numbered with the dead.

2. O Lord! Thou now art risen,
Thy travail all is o’er;
For sin thou once hast suffered—
Thou liv’st to die no more;
Sin, death and hell are vanquished
By thee, the church’s head;
And lo! we share thy triumphs,
Thou First-born from the dead.

3. Unto thy death baptisèd,
We own with thee we died:
With thee, our Life, we’re risen,
And shall be glorified.
From sin, the world, and Satan,
We’re ransomed by thy blood,
And here would walk as strangers,
Alive with thee to God.

George Vicesimus Wigram (1805-1879), with the help of others such as William Kelly, compiled A Few Hymns and Some Spiritual Songs in 1856. To some degree it was a revision of a book he published in 1838, Hymns for the Poor of the Flock. J. N. Darby (1800-1882) revised this 1856 book in 1881.

In other words, Dear Jane and John

• ajangle, adjective. Jangling (harsh, discordant, usually metallic sound).
• busker, noun. Someone who performs on the street or in a public place, especially for money.
• captious, adjective. (of a person) Tending to find fault or raise petty objections.
• Cathorfeit, noun. A counterfeit Catholic; one who identifies as Catholic but opposes the doctrines of that church, such as Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi (a portmanteau of Catholic + counterfeit).
• Dear Jane, noun (also Dear Jane letter). A letter from a man to a woman ending a romantic relationship. Cf. Dear John.
• Dear John, noun (also Dear John letter). A letter from a woman to a man ending a romantic relationship (originally with reference to such letters received by servicemen during World War II). Cf. Dear Jane.
• detectorist, noun. A person involved in metal detecting, for fun or profit.
• ferret, verb. To hunt with ferrets; to search about.
• innit (UK slang). Short form of “isn’t it.”
• legerdemain, noun. Sleight of hand; trickery; deception; any artful trick.
• mews, noun. A yard or street lined by buildings originally used as stables but now often converted into dwellings.
• misogamous, adjective. Hostile towards or hating marriage.
• misogynous, adjective. Hating the female sex; woman-hating.
• monogamous, adjective. Practicing or advocating monogamy, that is, marriage with only one person.
• oik, noun. (UK slang) A rude and unpleasant man from a low social class.
• peckish, adjective. Slightly hungry.
• regatta, noun. A sports event consisting of boat races.
• religicide, noun. The systematic effort to exterminate a specific religion (or religions) and the people who practice it (or them).
• send-forth, noun. A celebration or event to mark a person’s departure; a send-off. Frequently as a modifier, as send-forth ceremony, send-forth party, etc.
• shufti, noun. A brief glance or quick look.
• skyrgalliard, noun. A wild or dissipated person.
• squee, verb. To squeal with excitement or delight.

Satan’s translators

“Satan has as many translators as there are frivolous and impudent minds that handle the Scriptures.”

Without wading into the Calvin/Castellio controversy, this statement is nevertheless somewhat apropos to the topic of Bible translations. This following quote is Theodore Beza. It is supposed to be taken from the French Bible translation by Beza. The English translation below is from The Right to Heresy: Castellio Against Calvin, by Stefan Zweig.

“Satan, our old opponent, having recognized that he cannot, as of yore, arrest the progress of God’s word, uses even more dangerous methods. For a long time there was no French translation of the Bible, or at least no translation worthy of the name. Now Satan has found as many translators as there are frivolous and impudent minds; and he will probably find even more, unless God give them pause before it is too late. If the reader asks me for an example, let me refer to Sebastian Castellio’s translation of the Bible into Latin and French—Castellio being a man whose name is well known to our Church because of his ingratitude and impudence, and also because so much trouble has been taken in the vain endeavour to keep him on the right path. We therefore regard it as a conscientious duty to break the silence we have hitherto kept, and to warn all Christians against this man, the chosen of Satan.” (The Right to Heresy: Castellio Against Calvin, by Stefan Zweig, Eden and Paul Cedar, translators. Boston, MA: The Beacon Press, 1951, p. 203)

Westminster Abbey Gravesites, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• Westminster Abbey Gravesites -- “Who can be buried at Westminster Abbey?...most of those who are buried at Westminister Abbey have lived remarkable lives – scientists, inventors, writers, poets, musicians, composers, and 30 of England’s kings and queens.”
• The Sodder Children Case and a Fresh Look by the Experts -- “Despite the investigator’s finding of an electrical problem being the source of the fire, the home’s lights continued to burn well after the fire was detected.”
• The Regulative Principle Among Baptists -- “Baptists believed that the application of the sign of the new covenant was ‘necessarily contained’ in the Scripture in both the command and the practice of believers’ baptism.”
• The Prefatory Materials of the King James Bible -- “As the King James Bible went to the press in 1611, a dedication was written by Thomas Bilson, and an admonition to the reader was written by Miles Smith. These two works in combination show the intention of the translators in their work, and explain various principles in their labouring to present of the Word of God.”
• The Power of Example -- “Israel’s failure in this modelling ministry to others is one of God’s chief charges against the nation in the Old Testament.”
• The Earliest Known Draft of the King James Bible -- “MS Ward B sheds new light on how the work of an individual and the teams of translators was patched together prior to printing.”
• Stable Futures -- “The Mustang Heritage Foundation, based in Round Rock, has partnered with the Bureau of Land Management since 2006 to train and home thousands of these animals. The nonprofit works with horse trainers like Coles in 40 states.”
• Should True Churches Ascribe Perfection to the Apographa of Scripture? -- “Who does not believe that God kept pure what He inspired? Modern textual critics. Multiple versionists. Peter Ruckman. Ruckmanites. Bart Ehrman. Daniel Wallace. ”
• Opinion: Gov. Katie Hobbs claims to be a ‘governor for everyone.’ Except when it comes to abortion or school choice. -- “Maggie’s Place doesn’t refer women for abortions, so Gov. Katie Hobbs wants to defund it, sending expectant mothers back to the streets. No abortions, no funding.”
• Notebook of Samuel Ward (1572-1643) (MS Ward B) -- “The manuscript catalogued today as MS Ward B, held in the archives of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, contains the earliest known draft of any part of the King James translation. It also represents the only extant draft of the work in a hand definitively belonging to one of the King James translators themselves.”
• Is ‘tip fatigue’ a sign it’s time to end tipping in the U.S.? -- “The popularity of digital point-of-sale systems has also meant consumers are being asked to tip more frequently — often for services they’d never considered tipping for in the past.”
• Houghton: GA 239 & 304 Do Not Attest the Short Ending of Mark -- “Houghton makes the case that neither provide evidence for the short ending since there are good reasons to conclude that both manuscripts originally had the longer ending.”
• Every Word Preservation -- “I don’t need to clarify the difficulties to believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, and I don’t think I need to explain every difficulty to hold to an every word preservation.”
• Erasmus and the Comma Johanneum -- “Erasmus believed that the Ecumenical Council of Ferrera and Florence (1438-45), whose chief object had been the reunion of the Latin and Greek churches, had decided in favour of adapting the Greek manuscripts to the Vulgate.”
• Baptists, Slavery, and the Road to Civil War -- “...the Baptist denomination often appeared like a kaleidoscopic reflection of the nation itself...The road to Civil War was not of two solid parallel lines, but of lines that sometimes blurred, crossed, and even overlapped before diverging with time and context.”
• Afterlife Sentence -- “John Wesley Hardin remains behind bars even in an El Paso cemetery.”
• A Tale of Two Baptist Preachers: W.C. Buck, J.M. Pendleton and Slavery in Antebellum Kentucky -- “It’s difficult to think of two Baptist preachers with more in common than W.C. Buck and J.M. Pendleton...Yet for all their many similarities, there was one staunch disagreement between the two men.”
• 19th Century American Baptist Response to Slavery -- “In his letter, Fuller referenced the outspoken anti-slavery northern Baptist, Francis Wayland (1796–1865), who, upon reading Fuller’s letter, felt compelled to respond.”

Authorized by a King

Two contrary ideas.

Ecclesiastes 8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power…

An odd argument between some KJV defenders and some KJV detractors – either the King James Bible was or was not authorized by the King of England. Who knew this was important?

On the “pro” side, there are some KJV defenders who incorporate “authorized by a king” as part of their proof that the King James translation is the one true (authorized) Bible.

I am not sure when or where this argument originated, but Peter Ruckman used it in 1983 in Why I Believe The King James Bible Is The Word Of God. He writes:

“I believe the King James Bible is the word of God because it has no copyright on it. It may have the Crown Copyright, but you don’t have to ask the Crown for the right to print it. In Ecclesiastes 8:4 it says, ‘Where the word of a king is, there is power.’ If it had a Crown copyright, it was copyrighted under a king. If it was copyrighted under a king, it has the right copyright.”

The KJV Bible Truth web site states it this way:

“Another proof is that the King James Bible is the only Bible authorized by a king. The Bible says, Where the word of a king is, there is power. The king’s heart is in the Lord’s hand.”

Perhaps annoyed by such assertions, some KJV detractors strike back. The translation of 1611 was never authorized by James I King of England, say they. Hear Larry Wilson:

“For what it’s worth, the so-called ‘authorized’ version (KJV) was not authorized by King James or his government. King James gave translators permission to proceed with an English translation of the Bible, but he did not put ‘stamp of approval’ on their work.”

I do not know anything about Larry Wilson. However, it is not just little-known web contributors who assert this. Ryan Reeves, former professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, holding a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, writes at the popular Gospel Coalition web site that “The Bible Was Authorized by the King” is a myth.

“The Bible Was Authorized by the King

“This myth was created due largely to the title used today for the KJV. The King James Bible (in America) or the Authorized Bible (in Britain). Either name is not bad, but it often convinces people that the Bible was somehow the product of the king’s command.

“In fact, the king never formally authorized or endorsed the Bible directly. The last Bible in English to receive royal sanction was the Great Bible during the reign of Henry VIII.”

In King James, His Bible, and Its Translators (p. 233), Laurence M. Vance pointed out that such an assertion is at least as early as Brooke Foss Westcott in A General View of the History of the English Bible.

“…no evidence has yet been produced to shew, that the version was ever publicly sanctioned by Convocation or by Parliament, or by the Privy Council, or by the king.”[i] 

Two strikes and two outs.

The first assertion is poor biblical interpretation.[ii]  The second assertion is poor historical interpretation.

If the latter is a poor historical interpretation, what evidence is there that King James authorized the translation first published in 1611, which we know as the Authorized Version or King James Bible? I submit the following.

1. The authorization by King James I at the Hampton Court Conference.

“Whereupon his Highnesse wished, that some special paines should be taken in that behalf  for one uniform translation (professing that he could never, yet, see a Bible well translated in English, but the worst of all his Majesty thought the Geneva to be) and this to be done by the best learned in both the Universities, after them to be reviewed by the Bishops, and the chief learned of the Church; from them to be presented to the Privy Councel; and lastly, to be ratified by his Royal Authority. And so this whole Church to be bound unto it, and none other.”

In The Summe and Substance of the Conference…at Hampton Court, Jan. 14. 1603 (Clerkenwell, UK: Bye and Law, Printers, 1804, p. 35), William Barlow reported that Puritan John Rainolds (Reinolds/Reynolds) asked that the new translation of the Bible be made. James seized on the idea and set forth a plan to accomplish it. In 1603 English rule was under a monarchy. The King’s wish was a command, not a mere suggestion that it might be nice if they were to do what he said.

2. The title of this Bible.

“The Holy Bible: Conteyning the Old Testament and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall tongues: & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised, by his Maiesties speciall Commandment. Appointed to be read in the Churches. Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie. Anno Dom. 1611.”

The title page of the Bible reflects that this translation was produced “by his Maiesties speciall Commandment,” as well as being one “Appointed to be read in the Churches.” “His Majesty’s special commandment” likely refers directly to the King’s decree or command at the Hampton Court Conference. And surely the King’s Printer would not have dared adding “Appointed to be read in the Churches” upon his own authority.

3. The Epistle Dedicatory.

“To the Most High and Mightie Prince Iames…There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and Religious affection in your MAIESTIE; but none is more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplishing and publishing of this Worke, which now with all humilitie we present unto your MAIESTIE. For when your Highnesse had once out of deepe judgment apprehended how convenient it was, That out of the Originall sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our owne, and other foreigne Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the English Tongue; our MAIESTIE did never desist, to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the worke might be hastened, and that the businesse might be expedited in so decent a maner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.”

The dedication of the work to King James (probably written by Thomas Bilson) indicates that the translators set about the work of creating a new and more exact translation according to the king’s desire, judgment, and urging.

4. The Translators to the Reader preface.

“Therefore let no mans eye be evill, because his Maiesties is good...And what can the King command to bee done, that will bring him more true honour then this? and wherein could they that have beene set a worke, approve their duetie to the King, yea their obedience to God, and love to his Saints more, then by yeelding their service, and all that is within them, for the furnishing of the worke?

“…hereupon did his Maiestie beginne to bethinke himselfe of the good that might ensue by a new translation, and presently after gave order for this Translation which is now presented unto thee.”

The preface to the new translation (probably written by Miles Smith) recognizes that the work originated from the king’s “command” and the king’s “order.”

5. The Royal Coat of Arms page.

Between “The names and order of all the Bookes of the Olde and New Testaments” and “The Genealogies of Holy Scripture,” a page reproduces the the Royal Coat of Arms over the words “Cum Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis.”[iii]  The Latin “Cum Priuilegio” means “With Privilege” and is used especially in a book to indicate that its issue is duly licensed or authorized. The full “Cum Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis” reveals by whom it is authorized – “With the Privilege of His Royal Majesty.”[iv] 

6. The Report to the Synod of Dort.

“Theologi Magnae Britanniae, quibus non est visum tantae quaestioni subitam et inopinatam responsionem adhibere, officii sui esse judicarunt, praematura deliberatione habita, quando quidem facta esset honorifica accuratissimae translationis Anglicanae mentio, à Serenissimo Rege Iacobo, magna cum cura, magnisque sumptibus nuper editae, notum facere huic celeberrimae Synodo, quo consilio, quaque ratione sacrum hoc negotium a Serenissima ejus Majestate praestitum fuerit.”

“The theologians of Great Britain, unwilling to make a sudden and hasty answer to so great a question, judged it their duty to hold a consultation, since there had been an honorable mention of the most accurate English translation, lately published by the Most Serene King James, with great care and at great expense, to make known to this most illustrious Synod, by what counsel and means, by which his Most Serene Majesty bestowed this sacred business.”

At the seventh session of the Synod of Dort, on November 20, 1618 a report on the new Bible of 1611 (now commonly known as the Authorised or King James Version) Samuel Ward, a King James translator in the Second Cambridge Company, gave the Synod a report about that translation. The report was written in Latin. It is reproduced above, which an attempted English translation. Ward credits authority of King James behind producing the translation.

Concluding thoughts.

The preponderance of evidence is clearly on the side of the 1611 translation being authorized by King James I of England. It bore his authority from beginning to end – from his authorization at the Hampton Court Conference to his stamp of approval on the printed product. Those requiring undiscovered official government documents or documents that were destroyed by a fire in 1619 likely have a polemic agenda well beyond an interest in the history of the authorization of the “King James’s” Bible.

I use the book inspired and authorized by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That he used the King of England in the process of giving it to me in English is just fine by me! Who may say unto the King of kings and Lord of lords, What doest thou?

---

[i] Vance points out the lack of evidence of an official Council document most likely is “that all the Council records for the years 1600-1613 were destroyed by a fire at Whitehall in January of 1619.” King James, His Bible, and Its Translators, Third Edition, Orlando, FL: Vance Publications, 2022, p. 233.
[ii] In addition to the exegetical problem, this view of proving the King James Bible has an historical problem as well. King Henry VIII authorized The Great Bible in 1539, making it an English Bible authorized by a king – and the first one to be authorized, at that.
[iii] It is possible some printings do not reproduce this page, or some online reproductions did not bother to scan it. The facsimile of the 1st Edition, 1st Printing produced by The Bible Museum has it.
[iv] “Cum Priuilegio” also appears at the bottom of the New Testament title page. “Cum Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis” is Latin. The coat of arms itself has two statements in French – Honi Soit Qvi Mal Y Pense (Shame be on him who thinks evil of it) and Diev Et Mon Droit (God and my right). It is well to note, however, that “Cum Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis” also appeared in the Bishops Bible, as well as at least some editions of the Geneva Bible printed by Barker. Therefore, this is not exclusive to the King James Bible. In FTGF Lesson 192 | The AV 1611: Assessing The Preliminary Material, Part 3, Bryan Ross discusses the coat of arms related to the introductory material in the 1611 Bible. His thoughts on the coat of arms starts at around 40:40 minutes.

About an author

 

Katharine Adams, author, 1922

Katharine Adams wrote several books for young people, but it appears that biographical information about her is not readily available. My daughter asked me if I could find out who she was. I found her, and am posting about her to make the information available to others.

Katharine Adams was born in Elmira, Chemung County, New York, January 18, 1885. She was the daughter of Edward Legrand Adams and Kate Lynn Atwater. Katharine was raised abroad for several years, and she incorporates these places in her novels. Mr. Edward Adams served as American Consul in Stockholm, Sweden (circa 1902-1909), Dublin, Ireland (circa 1909-1915), and Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (circa 1921-1923).[i]

On June 1, 1926, at Strathmont, the home of Mrs. Jacob Sloat Fassett in Elmira, New York, Katharine Adams married Percy Alexander Walker of Dublin, Ireland.[ii] She died October 17, 1969 in London, England. Her obituary lists one daughter, Sally Caroline Walker. Katharine and Percy are buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, Chemung County, New York. So are her parents and her daughter.

Some people have confused the author Katharine Adams (1885-1969) of New York, USA with Katharine Adams (1862-1952) the famous British bookbinder. They are not the same person.

One newspaper reported that “Miss Adams has a remarkable faculty for getting atmosphere into her stories” and has “won the esteem of distinguished critics in the handling of the plot in the mystery pervading the old Swedish castle.”[iii] According to The MacMillan Company, her publisher, by 1926 she had garnered “a large audience” of readers.[iv]

Elmira Star-Gazette, Thursday, May 27, 1926, p. 13

Books by Katharine Adams (Published mostly, if not all, by the Macmillan Company, New York/London) include:

• Mehitable, 1920
• Mid-Summer: a Story for Boys and Girls, 1921
• Wisp: a Girl of Dublin, 1922
• Red Caps and Lilies, 1924
• The Silver Tarn, 1924
• Toto and the Gift, 1926
• Mid-Winter, 1927
• Thistle Inn, 1930
• Blackthorn, 1931

[In some cases the date given may be a second or third publishing. This needs to checked more closely.]

---

[i] Elmira Star-Gazette, Monday, June 11, 1923, p. 13; 1921 Census of Canada; Ireland Census, 1911; Katharine Adams Passport Application, July 8, 1922.
[ii] Elmira Star-Gazette, Tuesday, June 1, 1926, p. 5; New York marriage records on Ancestry.com.
[iii] Brooklyn Life, Saturday, May 17, 1924, p. 27.
[iv] Elmira Star-Gazette, Thursday, May 27, 1926, p. 13.

Bookmarks

Placing these here as a sort of bookmarking, help to locate sort of post.

Bibles, Bible-related

• Bible Gateway
• Digital Blackletter King James Bible
• Early Christian Writings
• Greek / English Old Testament (LXX)
• Greek NT, Greek Orthodox 1904
• Greek NT, UBS
• King James Bible Online™
• Manuscript Search
• Septuagint.Bible: LXX
• Strong’s KJV Bible Concordance
• Type Greek

Books

• Book Traces, 19th- and early 20th-century books
• Book Weight Calculator
• Books, Google Books
• Books, HathiTrust Digital Library
• Books, Internet Archive
• Instant Publisher
• Library Thing
• University of Michigan Digital Content and Collections
• WorldCat® library catalog

Dictionary, Encyclopedia

• Dictionary.com
• Webster's Dictionary 1828

Genealogy, History, Newspapers

• GenealogyBank Newspapers, Chronicling America
• Newspapers, Newspapers.com
• The Gateway to Oklahoma History
• The Portal to Texas History

Miscellaneous Resources

• Google Translate
• Maps, Google Maps
• Quote Investigator®
• Percentage Calculator
• Perpetual Calendar
• RhymeZone
• Spanish-English Translation
• Time Zone Converter
• Unicode 15.0 Character Code Charts
• University of Richmond History Engine
• Word Unscrambler, Text Twist

Music

• Gadsby’s Hymns
• Hymn Tune Index database
• Michigan State University Shaping the Values of Youth project
• Southern Gospel History
• Timeless Truths online music library

Two-fer

Two Monday Morning Quotes for the price of one!

“Nor can it be said that these corruptions [of the text] are only in smaller things which do not affect the foundation of faith. For if once authenticity (authentia) of the Scriptures is taken away (which would result even from the incurable corruption of one passage), how could our faith rest on what remains? And if corruption is admitted in those of lesser importance, why not in others of greater?”

Francis Turretin, Institutes, Volume 1, p. 71.

“The canon of the Bible must be found in that logical deduction which the child of faith must draw from II Tim. 3:14-17, that if the sacred writings were given by our sovereign God that His chosen people, called to be saints, might profit from them, surely He has brought His church to receive those writings as of authority among them.”

E. W. Johnson, Questions Concerning the Bible, Pine Bluff, AR: Sovereign Grace Publishers, 1984, p. 33

Christ our Strength and Righteousness

Isaac Watts wrote “Christ our Strength and Righteousness,” which appeared in The Psalms of David: imitated in the language of the New Testament and applied to the Christian state and worship. It is written in Common Meter, with seven stanzas, the second part of the hymn on Psalm 71, associated with verses 15, 14, 16, 23, 22, 24. It is by the righteousness of Jesus Christ we are freed from sin. He is our strength and song. When we begin, there is no end to counting “the numbers of his grace.”

1. My Saviour, my almighty friend,

When I begin thy praise,

Where will the growing numbers end,

The numbers of thy grace?

2. Thou art my everlasting trust;

Thy goodness I adore!

And since I know thy graces first,

I speak thy glories more.

3. My feet shall travel all the length

Of the celestial road;

And march with courage in thy strength,

To see my Father God.

4. When I am fill’d with sore distress 

For some surprising sin, 

I’ll plead thy perfect righteousness, 

And mention none but thine.

5. How will my lips rejoice to tell

The victories of my King!

My soul, redeemed from sin and hell,

Shall thy salvation sing.

6. My tongue shall all the day proclaim

My Saviour and my God;

His death has brought my foes to shame,

And drown’d them in his blood.

7. Awake, awake my tuneful powers;

With this delightful song,

I’ll entertain the darkest hours,

Nor think the season long.

In other words, alpha to zilch

• alpha, noun. The 1st letter of the Greek alphabet; something that is first (e.g., the first version of a product); a socially dominant person or animal.
• barnstorm, verb. (Originally) To travel rapidly around within an area, often as part of a travelling company, giving performances, esp. in rural or makeshift venues; (also) to make a rapid tour of an area as part of a political campaign.
• bivalent, adjective. (Biology) Associated in pairs.
• catena, noun. A chain or connected series, especially of extracts from the writings of the fathers of the Christian church.
• collabo, verb. (intransitive) Especially of musicians: to collaborate; to work together with another or others, or on a project. (formed within English, by shortening).
• fellowship, noun. The condition or relation of being a fellow; friendly relationship; companionship; communion.
• followship, noun. The practice of doing what other people suggest, rather than taking the lead.
• gin up, verb. (phrasal verb of gin) To arouse or intensify strong feelings in someone; generate or increase something, especially by dubious or dishonest means.
• grist, noun. Grain that is ground to make flour; useful material, especially to back up an argument.
• leadership, noun. The position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group; ability to lead; the leaders of a group.
• lip-sync, verb. To mouth or mime the words of (a song, a piece of dialogue, etc.) along with an accompanying soundtrack or other recording such that the two are exactly matched.
• lubricate, verb. To apply a lubricant to or to make slippery; to facilitate or make easier.
• lucubrate, verb. To work, write, or study laboriously, especially at night.
• mondialization, noun. Globalization; the increase of contact between countries, cultures, etc.
• neurodivergent, adjective. Differing in mental or neurological function from what is considered typical or normal; not neurotypical (q.v.).
• neurotypical, adjective. Not displaying or characterized by autistic or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior. Cf. neurodivergent.
• patina, noun. A film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value; a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.
• pettifog, verb. To bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters.
• risible, adjective. Relating to laughter or used in eliciting laughter; eliciting laughter; ludicrous.
• warren, noun. An area where rabbits live in burrows; a colony of rabbits.
• zilch, verb. To defeat an opponent (in a game or match) such that their final score is zero.

Let’s Get Biblical, and other book notices & reviews

The posting of book, film, or other reviews does not constitute endorsement of the products, reviews, or sites that are linked.

• A Review of Rabbi Tovia Singer’s Let’s Get Biblical -- “Singer uses two strategies in order to undermine Christian claims that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament historical messianic prophecies.”
• Book Review: Greek for Life -- “What makes the book so helpful and engaging is the conversational style of the writing and how the authors demonstrate that they understand the real reasons why people fail to keep their Greek.”
• Book Review: Men and Women in the Church -- “Now, despite these concerns, I think DeYoung has offered a fine primer on the topic from a complementarian perspective.”
• Book Review: On Worship, by H. B. Charles -- “Charles excels when emphasizing how worship exists for God. ‘The legitimacy of worship is based on the worthiness of the object,’ he argues.”
• The Book of Acts in its First Century Setting. Volume 2. Graeco-Roman Setting -- “This collection of essays makes accessible to scholars and students a wealth of background information to the book of Acts, some of which has only become available in recent years.”
• The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, Volume VII -- “There was no way to put three notebooks’ worth of material into Volume VII (even if it is massive) without a major departure from the format of the first six volumes...Notebooks 7-9, which make up Volume VII, contain 467 handwritten pages.”
• The Problem With New Age Bible Versions -- “New Age Bible Versions is extensively documented, but the documentation is extremely unreliable. A great many references that I attempted to check were not accurate.”

A Novel Argument, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• A Novel Argument Against Multi-Site and Multi-Service Church Models -- “multi-church instances aren’t actually the same church...the church can’t actually be the church without meeting at the same time in the same place regularly.”
• Arkansas Baptist Association Records -- “About 70 associational records, mostly missionary Baptist, but at least one each General Baptist, Primitive Baptist, and Regular Baptist.”
• Baptist, Linguist, and Faithful Pastor: Introducing Henry Jessey -- “Even while Separatists and Baptists faced persecution and opposition in England, Jessey worked to obtain aid and support for displaced Jewish refugees residing in the Holy Land.”
• Church History: When Did Churches Stop Baptizing by Immersion? -- “‘When did churches leave behind the New Testament practice of immersion?’ The answer is, ‘Far later than you probably think.’”
• Concord Baptist Association -- “Minutes of the Concord Baptist Association, Sebastian County, Arkansas, 1871-1920.”
• Expositional Imposters (Expanded) -- “Too much preaching promotes pride in the congregation by throwing bricks over the wall toward other people’s greenhouses.”
• Hanging Lyres and Planting Gardens: Evaluation of Approaches to Culture -- “How do we live faithfully in our world while avoiding religious syncretism and the idolatry of the pagan nations in which we live?”
• John Owen and the Traditional Protestant View of the Hebrew Old Testament -- “These three issues were essential for the Protestant view of Scripture in the 17th century. They should be essential for the Protestant view of Scripture today.”
• Morning Star of the Reformation: the Life and Times of John de Wycliffe -- “His life and labours are inseparably associated with all the political and religious progress of the last five centuries.”
• The American Bible Society and the Baptists; or, The question discussed, Shall the whole word of God be given to the heathen? William Henry Wyckoff, New York, NY: J. Barker, 1841 -- “Baptist side of the discussion of a controversy over publishing a Bible in Bengalese, translating baptizo, baptisma, etc., as immerse, immersion, etc.”
• The John Gill Project -- “What is the John Gill Project? The London Lyceum, The Andrew Fuller Center, and H & E Publishing have partnered together with the mission to republicize the work of John Gill for a new generation.”
• The Oxford Debate on the Textual Criticism of the New Testament Held at New College on May 6, 1897 -- “The speeches made in the debate have been referred both in manuscript and in type to the several speakers for their approval and corrections.”
• They Shall Take Up Serpents; The Snake Handling Churches of the South -- “It is estimated that anywhere from one thousand to five thousand people are followers of the five signs. Its popularity seems to ebb and flow.”
• Westminster Abbey Gravesites -- “Who can be buried at Westminster Abbey?...most of those who are buried at Westminister Abbey have lived remarkable lives – scientists, inventors, writers, poets, musicians, composers, and 30 of England’s kings and queens.”

That tongue in which they know best Christ’s sentence

Unauthorized and opposed by the Church and State in England, John Wycliffe and friends, buoyed by a firm belief in the scriptures, forged ahead to give the English a complete Bible in their language.

“Not only did [John Wycliffe] maintain that [the scriptures] were a sufficient rule of life without any human additions, but he asserted the right of every man, cleric or lay, to study them for himself, even though he might be deficient in learning. ‘No man,’ he insisted, ‘was so rude a scholar but that he might learn the words of the Gospel according to his simplicity.’”

Supporting the idea of translation in the face of opposition, Wycliffe wrote, “it helpeth Christian men to study the Gospel in that tongue in which they know best Christ’s sentence.”

From The Bible in Its Ancient and English Versions, Henry Wheeler Robinson, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940, pp. 137-138.

Related, John Wycliffe and the Lollards

Read The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards.

“The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards are preserved in their original English form (other Latin summaries survive) in Roger Dymok’s ‘Against the Twelve Heresies’ of the Lollards, an elaborate refutation of each of the heresies, written in 1396-97 for Richard II. The original conclusions were presented to Parliament (which took no action) and posted at St. Paul’s Cross.

“The text that follows is literally translated from the Middle English, at the cost of some archaisms and obscurities, a few of which are explained in italicized glosses.”

The implications of universal statements

The implications of universal superlative statements.

When I was a young preacher, I heard James A. Kirkland analyze the statement, “The American Baptist Association is the best/greatest association in the world.” (At the time, Brother Kirkland was a well-known leader in that association. That is the gist of how he said it, but over 40 years later, it may not be exact.)

Brother Kirkland said that making such a statement such as this implies three things, that the speaker:

• (1) knows every association in the world
• (2) has studied every association in the world
• (3) is qualified to determine which association is the best in the world

This principle applies beyond the illustration he gave. I have kept this in mind as a good way to analyze our thoughts and statements. When I or someone else says something like this, how much validity does it hold? Little, I’m afraid. This came to mind again a few weeks ago when I heard a sycophant of certain popular internet personality say that person has taught more people about the words in the King James Bible than anyone else ever did. I “suppose” he did not know everyone who has ever lived (since 1611), has not studied them all, and most likely would not be qualified to make that assessment if he had.

Let’s all be careful of ginning up too much excitement on magnificent matters of which we know much less than what we present it to be.

A Re’em Resource

The Hebrew word re’em (רְאֵם) is used nine times (in slightly different forms: kir·’êm, 1; rə·’êm, 3; rə·’ê·mîm, 2; rêm, 2; rê·mîm, 1) in the Hebrew Old Testament: Numbers 23:22, 24:8; Deuteronomy 33:17; Job 39:9–10; Psalm 22:21, 29:6 and 92:10; Isaiah 34:7. The re’em is an animal, whose proper identification and translation is sometimes disputed. Below I have collected the verses in 5 translations. The first line is an excerpt of the Hebrew showing the word re’em, based on the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. The second is the Greek Septuagint translation (LXX) from the Septuagint Bible placed online by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The third (VUL) is based on the Clementine Vulgate at Bible Gateway.. The fourth (LTR) is based on 1545 Luther German Bible at Bible Gateway. at Bible Gateway. The fifth line (KJV) is the King James English translation. The sixth (YLT) is based on the 1898 Robert Young Literal Translation at Bible Gateway.

The version choices may be somewhat obvious – the Septuagint and Vulgate for their longstanding influence (for good or ill) on Bible translation. The Luther Bible is the first important Reformation-era Bible translated from the Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) rather than from the LXX or Vulgate. The King James Version has held sway among English speakers for 400 years. The Young’s Literal Translation, though perhaps not so important in the grand scheme of things, nevertheless demonstrates a choice to bring over the word re’em from the Hebrew rather than translate it to an English word. The majority of modern translations show a preference for “wild ox.”

The words in brackets [] in the Latin translation of Psalm 22:21 and Psalm 92:10 are from Jerome’s “iuxta Hebraeos” translation of the Psalms. It is my understanding that this translation is supposed to be a close translation of the Hebrew, and that the Old Testament book of Psalms generally found in the Vulgate is based on the Greek LXX. Also note that the Psalm number and verse number can vary in the LXX and Vulgate from what we are used to with the King James numbering. The number in parentheses () is the number they use.

The Hebrew word and the word translated from re’em is bolded. In the LXX and Luther’s Bible, re’em is not translated as a noun in Job 39:10, but a pronoun is substituted. The LXX does not translate re’em as “monoceros” in Isaiah 34:7. Young does not translate re’em in Psalm 22:21. The Vulgate uses both “rhinoceros” and “unicorn.” The KJV translates re’em as unicorn in all nine verses.

Numbers 23:22

מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם לֽוֹ׃

LXX: Θεὸς ὁ ἐξαγαγὼν αὐτοὺς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου· ὡς δόξα μονοκέρωτος αὐτῷ.

VUL: Deus eduxit illum de AEgypto, cujus fortitudo similis est rhinocerotis.

LTR: Gott hat sie aus Ägypten geführt; seine Freudigkeit ist wie eines Einhorns.

KJV: God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

YLT: God is bringing them out from Egypt, As the swiftness of a Reem is to him;

Numbers 24:8

מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם ל֑וֹ יֹאכַ֞ל

LXX: Θεὸς ὡδήγησεν αὐτὸν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, ὡς δόξα μονοκέρωτος αὐτῷ· ἔδεται ἔθνη ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ πάχη αὐτῶν ἐκμυελιεῖ καὶ ταῖς βολίσιν αὐτοῦ κατατοξεύσει ἐχθρόν·

VUL: Deus eduxit illum de AEgypto, cujus fortitudo similis est rhinocerotis. Devorabunt gentes hostes illius, ossaque eorum confringent, et perforabunt sagittis.

LTR: Gott hat ihn aus Ägypten geführt; seine Freudigkeit ist wie eines Einhorns. Er wird die Heiden, seine Verfolger, fressen und ihre Gebeine zermalmen und mit seinen Pfeilen zerschmettern.

KJV: God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

YLT: God is bringing him out of Egypt; As the swiftness of a Reem is to him, He eateth up nations his adversaries, And their bones he breaketh, And [with] his arrows he smiteth,

Deuteronomy 33:17

ל֗וֹ וְקַרְנֵ֤י רְאֵם֙ קַרְנָ֔יו בָּהֶ֗ם

LXX: πρωτότοκος ταύρου τὸ κάλλος αὐτοῦ, κέρατα μονοκέρωτος τὰ κέρατα αὐτοῦ· ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔθνη κερατιεῖ ἅμα ἕως ἀπ᾿ ἄκρου γῆς. αὗται μυριάδες ᾿Εφραΐμ, καὶ αὗται χιλιάδες Μανασσῆ.

VUL: Quasi primogeniti tauri pulchritudo ejus, cornua rhinocerotis cornua illius: in ipsis ventilabit gentes usque ad terminos terrae. Hae sunt multitudines Ephraim: et haec millia Manasse.

LTR: Seine Herrlichkeit ist wie eines erstgeborenen Stieres, und seine Hörner sind wie Einhornshörner; mit denselben wird er die Völker stoßen zuhauf bis an des Landes Enden. Das sind die Zehntausende Ephraims und die Tausende Manasses.

KJV: His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

YLT: His honour [is] a firstling of his ox, And his horns [are] horns of a reem; By them peoples he doth push together To the ends of earth; And they [are] the myriads of Ephraim, And they [are] the thousands of Manasseh.

Job 39:9

הֲיֹ֣אבֶה רֵּ֣ים עָבְדֶ֑ךָ אִם־

LXX: βουλήσεται δέ σοι μονόκερως δουλεῦσαι ἢ κοιμηθῆναι ἐπὶ φάτνης σου;

VUL: Numquid volet rhinoceros servire tibi, aut morabitur ad praesepe tuum?

LTR: Meinst du das Einhorn werde dir dienen und werde bleiben an deiner Krippe?

KJV: Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

YLT: Is a Reem willing to serve thee? Doth he lodge by thy crib?

Job 39:10

הֲ‍ֽתִקְשָׁר־ רֵ֭ים בְּתֶ֣לֶם עֲבֹת֑וֹ

LXX: δήσεις δὲ ἐν ἱμᾶσι ζυγὸν αὐτοῦ ἢ ἑλκύσει σου αὔλακας ἐν πεδίῳ;

VUL: Numquid alligabis rhinocerota ad arandum loro tuo, aut confringet glebas vallium post te?

LTR: Kannst du ihm dein Seil anknüpfen, die Furchen zu machen, daß es hinter dir brache in Tälern?

KJV: Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

YLT: Dost thou bind a Reem in a furrow [with] his thick band? Doth he harrow valleys after thee?

Psalm 22:21

אַרְיֵ֑ה וּמִקַּרְנֵ֖י רֵמִ֣ים עֲנִיתָֽנִי׃

LXX: (21:22) σῶσόν με ἐκ στόματος λέοντος καὶ ἀπὸ κεράτων μονοκερώτων τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου.

VUL: (21:22) Salva me ex ore leonis, et a cornibus unicornium humilitatem meam.

LTR: Hilf mir aus dem Rachen des Löwen und errette mich von den Einhörnern!

KJV: Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

YLT: Save me from the mouth of a lion: -- And -- from the horns of the high places Thou hast answered me!

Psalm 29:6

כְּמ֣וֹ בֶן־ רְאֵמִֽים׃

LXX: (28:6) καὶ λεπτυνεῖ αὐτὰς ὡς τὸν μόσχον τὸν Λίβανον, καὶ ὁ ἠγαπημένος ὡς υἱὸς μονοκερώτων.

VUL: (28:6) et comminuet eas, tamquam vitulum Libani, et dilectus quemadmodum filius unicornium [rinocerotis].

LTR: Und macht sie hüpfen wie ein Kalb, den Libanon und Sirjon wie ein junges Einhorn.

KJV: He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

YLT: And He causeth them to skip as a calf, Lebanon and Sirion as a son of Reems,

Psalm 92:10

וַתָּ֣רֶם כִּרְאֵ֣ים קַרְנִ֑י בַּ֝לֹּתִ֗י

LXX: (91:11) καὶ ὑψωθήσεται ὡς μονοκέρωτος τὸ κέρας μου καὶ τὸ γῆράς μου ἐν ἐλαίῳ πίονι·

VUL: (91:11) Et exaltabitur sicut unicornis [monocerotis] cornu meum, et senectus mea in misericordia uberi.

LTR: Und macht sie hüpfen wie ein Kalb, den Libanon und Sirjon wie ein junges Einhorn.

KJV: But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

YLT: And Thou exaltest as a reem my horn, I have been anointed with fresh oil.

Isaiah 34:7

וְיָרְד֤וּ רְאֵמִים֙ עִמָּ֔ם וּפָרִ֖ים

LXX: καὶ συμπεσοῦνται οἱ ἁδροὶ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ κριοὶ καὶ οἱ ταῦροι, καὶ μεθυσθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ στέατος αὐτῶν ἐμπλησθήσεται.

VUL: Et descendent unicornes cum eis, et tauri cum potentibus; inebriabitur terra eorum sanguine, et humus eorum adipe pinguium.

LTR: Da werden die Einhörner samt ihnen herunter müssen und die Farren samt den gemästeten Ochsen. Denn ihr Land wird trunken werden von Blut und ihre Erde dick werden von Fett.

KJV: And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

YLT: And come down have reems with them, And bullocks with bulls, And soaked hath been their land from blood, And their dust from fatness is made fat.

In addition to these verses (above), the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate use “monoceros/unicorn” to translate the Hebrew word rā·mîm. Luther, King James, and Young’s do not follow.

Psalm 78:69

רָ֭מִים rā·mîm (heights?, high, uplifted)

LXX: (77:69) καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ὡς μονοκέρωτος τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐθεμελίωσεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

VUL: (77:69) Et aedificavit sicut unicornium [monoceroton] sanctificium suum, in terra quam fundavit in saecula.

LTR: Und baute sein Heiligtum hoch, wie die Erde, die ewiglich fest stehen soll.

KJV: And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

YLT: And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age.