OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 284, 28 August 1944, Page 4

OBITUARY

Rev. Dr. James Moffatt

The Rev. Dr. James Moffatt, eminent Scottish theologian, has died iu the United States, according to private advice received in Auckland from New York. Dr. Moffatt was widely known for his translation of the Bible into modern English. Since 1927. he had been Washburn professor of church history at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, the largest theological college in the world. Dr. Moffatt was born in Glasgow in IS7O, and was educated at Glasgow Academy and University and the Free Church College. Ordained in 1896, he was soon recognized as one of the most brilliant of the younger Scottish theologians. In 1911, when minister of the leading United Free Church at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, he was appointed Yates professor of Greek and the New Testiment at Mansfield College. Oxford. Two years later Dr. Moffatt published his translation of the New Testament. His aim was to render the original text into colloquial English. The task filled his spare time for some years, during which he wrote the New Testament six times before he was satisfied with his work. In 1913 he became professor of church history at the United Free Church College. Glasgow. Working meanwhile nt a translation of the Old Testament similar to that of the New. he published the first volume in 1924, and subsequently completed it. He visited New Zealand in 1934., The honorary decree of doctor of divinity was conferred on Dr. Moffatt by both Oxford and St. Andrews Universities.