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.
that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he, even the unclean spirits, & they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the regions round 12/ about Gallilee. 12/ And forthwith when they were come out of the Synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon & Andrew, with James & John. And Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever; & anon they besought him for her. And he came & took her by the hand, & lifted her up; & immediately the fever left her, & she came 13/ & minnistered unto them. 13/ And at evening, after sun set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, & them that were possessed with devils, & all the City was gethered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of diverse diseases, & cast out many Devils; & suffered not the devils to speak, 14/ because they knew him. 14/ And in the morninig, rising up a great while before day, he went out & departed into a solitary place, & there prayed. And Simon, & they that were with him, followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for therefore came I forth. & And he Preached in their synagogues throughout all Gallilee, 15/ & cast out Devils. 15/ And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, & kneeling down to him, & said, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand & touched him, & saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprousey departed from him, & he was cleansed. & And he straitly charged him, & forthwith sent him away; & said unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the Priests, & offer for thy cleansing, those things which moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, & began to publish it much, & to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the City, but was without in Solatary places; & they came to him from every quarter.
Chapter 2nd
1/ And again, he entered into capurnium after many days; and it was noised abroad that he was in the house. And straitway many [p. 10 (second numbering)]
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