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.
be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed; and all his disciples rejoiced for all the glorious things which were done 5 by him. 5 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and where unto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed agreat tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches 6 of it. 6/ And again he said, where unto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three mea7sures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 7 And he went through the cities and Villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem 8 And there said one unto him, Lord, are there few only that be saved? And he answered him and said, strive to enter in at the straight gate; for I say unto you, many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able; for the Lord shall not allways strive with man. Therefore, When once the Lord of the kingdom is risen up, and hath shut the door of the kingdom, then ye shall stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, But the Lord shall answer and say unto you; I will not receive you, for ye know not from whence ye are. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drank in thy preasence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, ye know not from whence ye are; depart from me, all workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth among you, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you are thrust out And verily I say unto you, They shall come from the east, and the west & from the north and the south, and shall sit down t in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which 9 shall be last, and shall be saved therein. 9 And as he was thus teaching there came to him certain of the Pharasees, saying unto him, Get thee out and depart hence; for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye and tell Herod, Behold, I cast out Devils, and do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the third day; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. This he spake [p. 80 (second numbering)]
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