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.
saith unto them; come and see. And they came and saw where he dwelt, 9 and abode with him that day; for it was about the tenth hour. 9 One of the two who heard John and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peters brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and said unto him, we have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephes, which is by interpretation, a seer, or a Stone. And they were fishermen. And 10 they straightway left all, and followed Jesus. 10 The day following Jesus would go forth into Gallilee, and findeth Phillip, and said unto him, follow me. Now Philip was at Bethsaida, the City of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathaniel, and said unto him, we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazereth, the son of Joseph. And Nathaniel said unto him, can there any good thing come out of Nazereth? Philip said unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathaniel coming unto him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathaniel said unto him, whence knowest thou me? Jesus answering said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the son of God; thou art the king of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these, And he said unto him verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and decending upon the son of man.
Chapter (2nd)
And on the third day of the week, there was a marriage in Cana of Gallilee, and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, his mother said unto him, they have no wine. Jesus said unto her, woman, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? That will I do, for mine hour is not yet come. His Mother said unto the servents whatsoever he 2 saith unto you, see that ye do it. 2 There were set there Six watter pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins a peice. Jesus said unto them, fill the watter pots with watter. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said, Draw out now, and bear unto the governer of the feast. And they bear unto him. When the governer of the feast had tasted the watter which was [p. 107 (second numbering)]
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