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.
and on my left, is for whom it is prepared of my father, 5/ but not mine to give. 5/ And when the ten heard this, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them & said, Ye know that the Princes of the gentiles exercise dominion over them, & they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; & whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servent; even as the Son of man, came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, & to give his life a ransom for 6/ many. 6/ And as they departed from Jerico, a great multitude followed him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David . And the multitude rebuked them, saying, they should hold their peace; but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David. And Jesus stood still, & called them, & said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion & touched their eyes; & immediately their eyes received sight, & they followed him.
Chapter XXI Christ rideth to Jerusalem on a Colt the foal of an Ass &c
1/ And when Jesus drew nigh unto Jerusalem, & they were come to Bethphage, on the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two Deciples, saying unto them, Go into the villege over against you, & straitway you shall find an Colt tied; loose it and bring it unto me; & if any shall say ought unto you, ye shall say, The lord hath need of it; & straitway he 2/ will send it. / 2/ All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, & he is meek, & he is sitting upon an ass, & a 3/ colt the foal of an ass. 3/ And the deciples went did as Jesus commanded them, & & brought the colt, & put on it their clothes; & Jesus took the colt & sat thereon; & they followed him. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees & strewed in the way. And the multitudes that went before, & also that followed after, cried, saying, Hozannah to the Son of David; Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord; 4/ Hozannah in the highest. 4/ And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the City was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is 5/ Jesus of Nazereth, the Prophet of Gallilee 5/ And Jesus went into the [p. 38 (first numbering)]
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