New Testament Revision 2
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Source Note
New Testament Revision 2, ca. 4 Apr. 1831–24 Mar. 1832 and 20–31 July 1832; handwriting of , , , and an unidentified scribe; 206 pages; CCLA.The Bible revision manuscripts remained in JS’s possession throughout his life—except during a brief period in 1838 and another in 1839. Upon the death of JS, the manuscript was in possession of his wife for over twenty years, until 1867 when she gave it to her son in order for the RLDS Church to publish The Holy Scriptures.Note: The transcript of New Testament Revision 2 presented here is used with generous permission of the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center. It was published earlier, with some differences in style, in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 229–581.
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Historical Introduction
As noted in the introduction to Old Testament Revision 1, in June 1830, JS and began recording a revelation related to Moses and other prominent Old Testament figures. (See Visions of Moses, June 1830 [Moses 1].) Eventually this work expanded into what is now designated as the Book of Moses and a complete revelatory re-reading, reviewing, and revising of the Bible, an endeavor that came to be known as JS’s “New Translation,” or Bible revision. By March 1831, JS and his scribes created a sixty-one-page manuscript containing a narrative account of the visions of Moses and a revised version of the Old Testament book of Genesis, from the beginning to chapter 24, verse 41. (See Old Testament Revision 1.)JS set that work aside when instructed in a March 1831 revelation to instead begin work on the New Testament. (Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:60–61].) He and began the new document on 8 March 1831, titling it “A Translation of the New Testament translated by the power of God.” It is currently designated as New Testament Revision 1. , who had been directed by revelation to “write & keep a regulal [regular] history & assist my servant Joseph in Transcribing all things which shall be given him,” (Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–B [D&C 47:1]) began in early April 1831 to copy New Testament Revision 1 through Matthew 26:1, stopping a little short of where JS and Sidney Rigdon left off before they traveled to in June 1831. (JS History, vol. A-1, 126.)When JS resumed the revision of the New Testament, he did so using ’s copy, currently designated New Testament Revision 2. He began with Matthew 26:1, though he had previously translated through Matthew 26:71 in New Testament Revision 1. Work continued on the rest of the New Testament through late July 1832. In addition to , JS was assisted by John Whitmer, , and .New Testament Revision 2, presented here, consists of 203 pages. Work on this manuscript was completed in and , Ohio. During the revision project, JS adopted an abbreviated format for annotating the changes to be made to the New Testament. Previously, JS dictated the entire Bible text to his scribe, revising verses as he read from the Bible. But beginning after John 5, JS marked his copy of the Bible as he read in it, indicating where a change should be made. In the manuscript, the scribes wrote the scripture reference and the specifics of the revisions. Thus, the Bible and manuscript together now constituted the text of the revision project.In total, JS made changes to about 2,100 New Testament verses (Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 5). He introduced a number of significant changes to the King James New Testament text in New Testament Revision 2. Among the more prominent clarifications and corrections were those in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 related to Jesus’s discourse on the Mount of Olives, as well as those in the beginning verses of the Gospel of John. (See, Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 234, 303, and 424–425.)Note: The transcript of New Testament Revision 2 presented here is used with generous permission of the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center. It was published earlier, with some differences in style, in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 229–581.
in this place that no man know it. But they, when they were 10/ departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 10/ And as they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a Devil; And when the Devil was cast out, the dumb man spake. & And the multitude marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharicees said, He casteth out the Devels, through the Prince of the Devels. And Jeses went about all the Cities, & Vileges, teaching in their Synegogues, & preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, & 11/ healing every sickness & every disease among the people. 11/ But when he saw the multitude, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, & were Scatered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his Diciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Chapter X Christ calleth the twelve, & giveth them power over unclean spirits, & sendeth them forth & telleth them what to do &c.
1/ And when he had called unto him his twelve Deciples, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, & to heal all man 2/ ner of sickness, & all manner of diseases. 2/ Now the names of the twelve Apostles, are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, & Andrew his brother; James the Son of Zebedee, & John his brother; Philip, & Bartholomew; Thomas, & Mathew the Publican; James the Son of Alpheus, & Lebeus, whose sir name was Thadius; Simon the Canaan 3/ ite, & Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 3/ These twelve Jesus sent forth, & commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, & enter ye not into any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preah, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out Devils; freely ye 4/ have received, freely give. 4/ Provide neither gold, nor Silver, nor brass in your purses; nor Scrip for your Journey, neither two Coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy of his meat. & And into whatsoever Town or City ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy, & there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house, or City, shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them. & And verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom & [p. 18 (first numbering)]
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