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.
Joseph, her husband, being a Just man, & not willing to make her 3 a publick example, was minded to put her away privily; 2 3 But while he thought on these things, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a vision, Saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that 4 which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. 4 and she shall bring forth a son, & thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he 5/ shall save his people from their sins. 5/ Now this took place, that all things might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord, by 6 the Prophets, saying, 6 Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, & shall bring forth a Son, & they shall call his name Eman7/ uel, (which being interpereted is, God with us.) 7/ Then Joseph, awaking out of his vision, did as the Angel of the Lord had 8 biden him, And took unto him his wife; 8 and knew her not untill she had brought forth her first born son; and they called his name Jesus.
Chapter III Joseph being warned in a dream to flee to Egypt. Johns mission, he baptized Jesus &c
1/ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, Behold, there came wise men from 2 the East to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is the the child that is born the Massiah of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and have 3/ come to worship him. 3 When Herod the King had heard of the 4 Child, he was troubled, & all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gethered all the chief Priests & Scribes of the People together, he demanded of them, saying * is For he greatly feared, yet he believed 5/ not the Prophets. 5/ And they said unto him, It is written by the Prophets, that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea; for thus 6 have they said, 6 The word of the Lord came unto us, saying, And thou Bethlehem, which layeth in the land of Judea, in thee shall be born a Prince, which art not the least among the Princes of Judea; for out of thee shall come the Massiah, who shall 7/ save my people Israel. 7/ Then Herod, when he had called the wise men prively, enquired of them dilligently 8 what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go & search dilligently for the young child; And when ye have found the Child, bring me word again, that I may come [p. 2 (first numbering)]
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