I
ca
Old and New Testament Commentaries;
The Jefferson Bible; Test of Translator
further in the development of
flying, Dr. Adler believed, if he
had the funds. According to
Adler, Jacob Schiff offered
Langley money to continue his
experiments, but Langley re-
fused to take it. He thought the
government should finance the
experiments.
"Adler had some hesitancy in
taking the job at the Smithson-
ian. He told Langley about his
doubts: 'I am a Sabbath ob-
server.' But Langley said, 'I
want you. Work whenever you
want to.'
"It was during the time
Adler was connected with the
Smithsonian that he discovered
the long lost 'Jefferson Bible.'
Thomas Jefferson once took the
New Testament and deleted it
of all the miracles, retaining
only the ethical elements. For
almost a century the manuscript
was lost. Adler found it and
the Smithsonian published a
small edition. So many requests
for copies came in that a larger
edition was published, and I be-
lieve it is still sold today, the
profits going for .the upkeep of
Monticello, the Jefferson es-
tate."
A noted Christian Bible munity"; the effects of Isaiah's country. Dr. Adler's father was
scholar, Dr. John Mauchline, ministry; the denunciation of once stabbed by a man because
4.1
professor of Old Testament lan- wanton women; the combination he refused to take a drink. Dur-
guage and literature in the Uni- of prophecy and prayer; indeed, ing the Civil War, the Adlers
versity of Glasgow and princi- also the historical record of the spent a good deal of time in
the cellar of their home, on
pal of Trinity College, is the time of Isaiah.
author of the newest of the
Torch Bible Commentaries of account of the bombardment of
Torch Bible Commentaries, the Macmillan Co.. include Old the town by Union forces.
"Dr. Adler was drafted for
"Isaiah 1-39," published by and New Testament books, in-
Macmillan.
cluding a new edition, just is- the job of librarian of Smith-
Dr. Mauchline refrains from sued, of the Epistles of John, sonian Institution by the famous
discussing "the unit of the Book with commentary and an intro- Dr. Langley, the predecessor of
Wright brothers in flying.
of Isaiah as a whole" because duction by Neil Alexander as the
In
fact,
it is said that Langley
part
of
the
New
Testament
he deals with the early chap-
ters and not with Chapters 40- series. Additional Old Testa- did succeed in keeping an air-
66 which some scholars view as ment commentaries are due plane up in the air for 13 sec-
onds. He might have gone much
belonging to a period "much soon.
* * *
later than that the lifetime of
"The New Testament in Mod- Belinsky Thumbs Down
the prophet Isaiah."
By HAROLD RIBALOW
At the very outset, in his pre- ern English," by J. B. Phillips,
ra face, Prof Mauchline makes this is now available as a paper-
Belinsky, the fellow who no
back, published by Macmillan. longer wins baseball games but
interesting observation:
Dr. Phillips offers interest- certainly does make the front
"It is often said in commen-
pages of the newspapers man-
taries that any utterance in ing views on the essential prin- aged
talk himself out of
Isa. 1-39 which is universalist ciples of translation in his fore- being to
traded
to Kansas City.
word
as
the
translator.
He
sug-
in theological outlook, or ex-
Belinsky doesn't want to be
pects a return to their native gests three necessary steps in known
as Jewish, or so I've
land of the Jews of the Di- "any work of transference from been told
by a sports writer in
aspora, or looks forward to one language to another."
First of all, he states, "it must his home town (who checked
the new age of prosperity and
his family before talking
peace, is much too developed not sound like a translation at with
to
me).
So I'm afraid that while
all.
If
it
is
skillfully
done,
and
in standpoint for the proph-
Bo
will
get plenty of space on
et's own day and must be re- we are not previously informed, the sports pages, he won't get
ferred to a later time, exilic we should be quite unaware much
from me.
or post-exilic. But out of his that it is a translation, even
own experience, Hosea, a though the work we are reading Panamanian Jewry
prophet of the same period as is far distant from us in both
The Jewish community of
Isaiah, came to have hope for time and place."
Panama, which dates back to
his people; the fact that that
His second test is: "that a the middle of the 19th century,
MANUFACTURED BY
hope is expressed in chs. 1-3
translator does his work with now numbers some 2,000 per-
SOBERMAN & MILGROM CO.
and 14, and little if at all in
the least possible obtrusion sons, about half of whom live
4-13, does not make us deny
of his own personality."
7741 LYNDON AVENUE
in Panama City. A sizable Jew-
it to Hosea. Rather do we say
His third and final test is ish community also exists in
DETROIT 38, MICHIGAN
that his message developed "that of being able to produce Colon, Panama's second city.
with his experience ... There in the hearts and minds of his
is ample evidence that the readers an effect equivalent to
remarkable deliverance of that produced by the authors
Jerusalem from grave danger upon his original readers."
in 701 BCE, when the might
Stating that "no translator
of the greatest power of that living would claim that his work
time was arrayed against it, successfully achieved these
was interpreted as an act of three ideals," Dr. Phillips adds
God and had a tremendous that "he must bear them in
effect on Isaiah's preaching. mind constantly as principles
For this reason I have argued for his guidance."
for the authenticity of any
"A translator is not a com-
passages which are often re- mentator," Dr. Phillips adds,
garded as in origin later than and he adds these interesting
the time of Isaiah; that means views:
that this has been done .. .
"I have been rather reluctant
by letting the evidence be to accept the suggestion that
heard by and giving it due my translation is 'interpreta-
weight."
tion!' If the word interpretation
Factors of importance in the is used in a bad sense, is it
historical setting relating to Is- meant that a work is tendenti-
rael and the theological value ous, or that there has been
of Isaiah's call; the prophet's manipulation of the words of
indictment of the people; Is- New Testament Scripture to fit
rael's involvement in two na- some private point of view,
tional crises, with Assyria and then I would still strongly re-
Egypt; the effects of Jerusa- pudiate the charge! But 'inter-
lem's deliverance and other fac- pretation' can also mean trans-
tors are thoroughly explored.
mitting meaning from one lan-
Psalms and prophecies of de- guage to another, and skilled
liverance and thanksgiving are interpreters in world affairs do
evaluated, and the prophecies not intentionally inject any
relating to the ingathering of meaning of their own. In this
Israel are reviewed in relation sense I gladly accept the word
to the time element as well as interpretation to describe my
the root of Jesse. Also under work."
discussion are the enthronement
Students of Bible translations
of righteousness—"just rulers therefore are studying the Phil-
in a just and honorable corn- lips approach in relation to the
new trends to simplify both
translations and interpretations
of Scriptures.
* * *
Fawcett Publications have
just issued as a paperback "The
Jefferson Bible." It is subtitled:
Nobody
"Being the Life and Morals of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Ex-
UNDERSELLS
tracted Textually from the Gos-
pels of Matthew, Mark, Luke
GREAT LAKES
and John."
In this connection it is inter-
FENCE CO,
esting to make note of a recent
JTA - copyrighted article by
David Schwartz about the late
DON'T EVER
because it's Homeless,. an electric dryer is
Dr. Cyrus Adler. Schwartz wrote:
"Dr. Cyrus Adler was born in
FORGET IT!!
Van Buren, Ark. He touched
easy to bay-special "Plug In" Price saves you money! The price includes adding a
almost every aspect of Jewish
230-volt dryer electrical circuit in any residence, up to and including a 4-family flat, in the Detroit
life. He was head of Dropsie
Edison service area.
ASK FOR
College in Philadelphia, later
president of the Jewish Theo-
easy to use-clothes dry quickly, gently, safely ... the electric way!
"Morrie Sherman"
logical
Seminary.
In
earlier
Sales Manager
free service too-Edison repairs or replaces electrical parts of electric dryers—
years, he was librarian of the
Smithsonian Institution.
charge for parts or labor. It's an electric dryer exclusive!
doesn't
16540 GREENFIELD
"Adler's parents came to Ar-
kansas shortly before the Civil
see your dealer or
VE 6-6080
War. They traded with the In-
dians there and in nearby Okla-
homa. Arkansas was- very rough
country then, hard drinking
—
O
.
222222 ANNUAL SALE 229 .229
ELECTRIC DRYERS
BUY 1TOW & SAVE
.
-
FENCE
GREAT LAKES FENCE
DETnorr
EDISON