Chap. iii.
Internal
History.

The English Version influenced

the later

French one of 1588.

Wisd. viii.

Conversely the same books shew that the English version influenced the later French revision:

LYONS, 1556. continent si Dieu ne le donnoit, et que celà mesmes estoit souueraine sapience de sauoir de qui estoit ce don: ie m'en allay au seigneur et le priay et lui dis de tout mon cœur...

GENEVA, 1560. except God gave her (and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift it was) I went unto the Lord, and besought him and with my whole heart I said...

GENEVA, 1588. Dieu ne me la donnoi, et que cela mesme estoit prudence de sauoir de qui estoit ce don, ie m' en allai supplier le Seigneur et le priai disant de tout mon

cœur...

Chap. iii.
Internal
History.

thes sion of the

racteristics of the revi

Old Testament.

The examples which have been given exhibit very Summary fairly the method of revision which was adopted by the Genevan translators in the Old Testament. In all parts they took the Great Bible as their basis and corrected its text, without ever substituting for it a new translation. Even where the changes are greatest the original foundation can still be traced, and the new work fairly harmonizes with the old. One chief aim of the revisers seems to have been to make the translation as nearly verbal as possible, and consequently in a great number of passages they replace the renderings of the Zurich scholars (Coverdale) or Münster by those of Pagninus. At the same time there is abundant evidence to shew that they were perfectly competent to deal independently with points of Hebrew scholarship; and minute changes in expression shew that they were not indifferent to style.

The history of the Genevan New Testament is simpler than that of the Old. It is little more than the record of the application of Beza's translation and commentary to Tyndale's Testament in three successive stages, first in the separate New Testament of 1557 (Gt)1, next in the Bible of 1560 (G), and lastly in the New 1 See p. 232, n. 4.

The revi New Testa mainly on

sion of the

ment based

Beza.

Chap. iii.
Internal
History.

The changes in x John.

Testament of L. Tomson in 15761 (T). The revisers undoubtedly exercised an independent judgment in following his renderings. They did not adopt all the alterations which he suggested; and at times they introduced original phrases; but by far the greater part of the changes which were made in the text of Tyndale were simply due to Beza2.

An analysis of the changes in one short Epistle will render this plain. Thus, according to as accurate a calculation as I can make, more than two-thirds of the new renderings in I John introduced into the revision of 1560 are derived from Beza, and two-thirds of these then for the first time. The rest are due mainly to the revisers themselves, and of these only two are found in the revision of 1557. Tomson adds barely five or six closer approximations to Beza, of which one is important (v. 4 hath overcome'); and once he definitely goes against him (iv. 9 'Herein was that love of God 'made manifest amongst us').

The general conclusion thus indicated will be made still clearer by an examination of two short continuous passages. The differences between the first New Testament and the New Testament in the Bible (1560) will thus appear, and it will be seen that the revision in the latter extended to points of language as well as to points of interpretation*:

1 Tomson's New Testament presents the fullest form of Beza's influence. One peculiarity is characteristic of Tomson alone. In his anxiety to express the emphatic force of the Greek article he constantly renders it by 'that' or 'this,' and in many cases the effect is almost grotesque. One example will suffice: He that hath that Son hath that life: and he that hath not that Son of God hath not that life' (1 John v.12),

2 The basis of the Genevan Testament was certainly Tyndale's (the last text, i.e. Matthew) and not the Great Bible. See for instance Gal. i. 10, 14, 15, 19, 21: ii. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, &c. The corresponding coincidences of the Genevan Testa ment with the Great Bible against Tyndale are very few: Gal. i. 9, 12: ii. 4.

3 The most striking are: ii. 18, 19, 20, 29: iv. 5: v. 6.

* It is very greatly to be regretted

(TYNDALE, 1534.) 12 Remember, I say, that ye were

Chap. iii.
Internal
History.

at that time without Christ, and were reputed aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel, and were stran- Eph. ii.
gers1 from the testaments of promise, and had no
hope and were without God in this world.

13 But now in Christ Jesu ye which a while ago were
far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace which hath made of both one and hath broken down the wall that was a stop be

tween us,

15 and hath also put away through his flesh the cause of

hatred, that is to say the law of commandments
contained in the law written, for to make of twain one
new man in himself, so making peace,

16 and to reconcile both unto God in one body through
his cross, and slew hatred thereby;

17 and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh;

18 for through him we both have an open way in, in one spirit unto the Father.

12 Remember...at Gt: that ye were I say G. T.' (vos inquam...fuisse B.) (1)

reputed Gt: om. G. T. (so B.) (2)

that the New Testament of 1557 and not the New Testament of the Bible has been reprinted in Bagster's Hexapla as the Genevan version. The confusion which has resulted from this error of judgment has led to endless mistakes in discussions on the authorised version. The Testament of 1557 has had no independent influence on the A.V. as far as I can see. Compare Mr F. Fry on The English New Testament of the Genevan Version in the Journal of Sacred Literature, July 1864.

1 The Great Bible reads: being
aliens from...and strangers...
2 sometime (G.B.)

3 Even the law (G.B.)

4 The Testament of 1557 is marked by Gt and quoted from Bagster's Hexapla: G represents the first edition of the Bible 1560: T, Tomson's Testament quoted from the Bible of 1576. The rendering of Beza is marked B. G gives the following words in italics: Eph. ii. I say, were 40; 15 that is, which standeth, so; 16 his. Rev. ii. 9 I know, are 2o.

Chap. iii.
Internal
History.

12 testaments: covenants Gt G. T. (fœderibus B.) (3)
this Gt: the G. T. (in mundo B.) (4)
13 Fesu: Jesus Gt G. T.
a...ago: once Gt G. T.

nigh Gt: near G. T. (7)

(5)

(olim B.) (6)

the blood I say of Christ Gt. B. omits I say. (8) 14 broken...as: broken the stop of the partition wall Gt G. T. (intergerini parietis septum B.) (9)

15 and...away: in abrogating Gt G. T. (inimicitiis...

abolitis B.) (10)

(so B.)

(11)

(12)

cause of om. Gt G. T.
to say Gt: om. G. T. (so B.)

contained...written: which standeth in ceremonies (or-
dinances G. T.) Gt G. T. (quæ in ritibus posita
est B.) (13)

16 to: that he might Gt G. T. (ut conderet...et recon-
ciliaret B.) (14)

through: by Gt G. T. (per B.) (15)
slew: slay Gt G. T. (16)

17 nigh (and nigh Gt): near G. T. (17)

18 open way in, in (by Gt): entrance (so Great Bible) unto the Father by one Spirit G. T. (aditum per unum Spiritum ad Patrem B.) (18)

Thus it will be seen that the Testament (Gt 1557) differs from the Bible (1560) in nine places, half of the whole number (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18), and of these variations two are of considerable importance (2, 17). In one case the Bible deserts Beza where the Testament followed him (13), one change is simply linguistic (7), but in the other seven cases the Bible is supported by Beza. Of the remaining nine changes common to the Testament and Bible five are in accordance with Beza (3, 9, 11, 14, 15), one is perhaps independent of him