THE REVISION OF THE BIBLE.

Western Star, Issue 161, 7 October 1876, Page 6

THE REVISION OF THE BIBLE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I saw with immense satisfaction that my article on the above so eject lias been responded to by “ Logo” in your last issue. The fallacy of his first advance will be apparent to the most superficial reasoncr. lie says : “ The Greek dictionary interprets ‘ Gehenna’ to mean the place of punishment in the future world.” A Greek dictionary compiled 1 y English theologians of the Old School is as corrupt as the source from whence it emanated, and worthless as an instrument to use in determining the faith of the Bible. Spurious dictionaries interpret tilings to suit the creeds of their authors. In the Scpluagmt, which is the Greek version of the Bible, and also in the Now Testament, Gehenna means the same as it does in the Hebrew tongue when it is faithfully interpreted. Parkhurst, the groat lexicographer, says : “ Gehenna is used by the Septuagint for the Hebrew word Gaihenua, so Gehenna in the New Testament is in like manner a corruption of tho two Hebrew words ‘ Gai,’ a valley, and ‘ Hinnom,’ the name of a person who was once the possessor of it” (Joshua xviii. 16, Greek Lexicon). Here we see that dictionaries, like doctors, differ ; tho one is quite in contradiction to the other. He next concedes my first by saying Gehenna is in Hebrew Valley of Hinnom; on this, then, we are perfectly agreed. The next question at issue is whether the Valley of Hinnora means the Valley of Hinnom, the same as the Jordan would mean the Jordan, or whether it means the abode of demons and the souls of wicked men (a place that requires the catechism to describe it) ; or, in other words, was it spoken by Jesus literally in reference to the valley itself, or as a metaphor to set forth the horrors of that still more awful plaeo. Here we differ. “ Logo, who, in unison with most others who read the holy book through a glasfi darkened by the smoke and cobwebs of human tradition, declares in favour of the metaphorical sense. But wo who understand tho Scriptures can prove tho literal use of the word to be the correct one. This valley was in olden times the scone of judicial infliction, and will again become so on a larger scale when tho Lord returns to judge his household and punish his adversaries. This is the event referred to by Christ in every text that “ Logo” has quoted. Gehenna is tho place prepared for wicked men. Not a syllable has lie given to show the existence of tho orthodox hell, neither can he produce one. If he can show it from the Scriptures let him do so in bis reply. But this sophistical mode of reasoning and this reckless manner of raking texts together is not his only—it is always adopted by those who have error to prop up at any price. The time has come when discerning men will not be misled by this empty ring of argument. Others will continue as they are until the blind and those who lead them fall together into the the ditch. Hades, or the grave, is also rendered Hell in the English. Other hells are not to be found in the Bible as places where the wicked are to be punished. The symbolical lakes of lire named in Eev. xx. cap., will be the territory of the holy Roman Empire, the seat of Christendom* lit up by the burning anger of the Deify, where the most terrible judgments of God will be poured out during one prophetic hour upon the people, to effect the entire disruption of the Gentile kingdoms and sweep away the ecclesiastical ins f ituti®ns like chaff before the wind. If it is so evident to those who know the Greek that the Hebrew word in its Greek dress means “ the abode of demons and wicked men,” how comes it that so many of those who are now revising the Book refuse to translate it hell ? Do they not understand the Greek. If tho name “ Oreti Valley” was transferred to the French in a slightly corrupted form, how awkwai’d it would look for any one to interpret it to mean “ a frying pan,” without a show of reason for using the word metaphorically. This example would be perfectly analogous 'to the one adopted by Churchmen in general in reference to Gehenna. This valley was a place used as a receptacle for the filth of the city and dead carcases of beasts, Parkhurst remarks on Mark ix., 43, where Jesus refers to worms aud fire, “ Our Lord seems to allude to the worms which continually preyed on the dead carcases that*were cast into tho valley of Hinnom, and to the perpetual fire kept up to consume them—a place of abominable filthiness and pollution” Greek Lexicon. In. this limited sense only was the fire perpetual. When the material was consumed the fire went out and the worms died'; but it is not absurd to believe that the Deity can rekindle it. Tartarus — this place, I admit, is distinct from Gehenna ; but as it occurs but once in all the Scriptures, and is not named as a place to punish any of Adam’s race, we can afford ta dismiss it with the observation that if Gehenna is hell, aud Tartarus is also hell, and the one has nothing to do with the other (as“ Logo” affirms), then there arc two places for demons aud dead men’s ghosts. In explanation, but not as an apology, I acknowledge that I am an unlettered servant of tho Deny, indoctrinated into the deep thing of tho spirit by faithful men who have boon risen up to leach others, men who understood the Greek better than ‘’Logo” or his professors. I do not profess to know it in the least degree. My testimony on the punishment of the wicked, its nature anil duration, must be omitted from want of space. This will be given (gratis) in printed form to all who will apply to the writer. The letter of my worthy friend recommends itself to my highest opinion, as the product of a sincere educated man ; but withal, one who is labouring under a strong delusion entailed upon m, from our ancestors, and from which too writer has escaped. I should like to have an interview with him: will he give mo either a call or his address. Apologising for the lengl h of this, I am, Ac., William Rodents. South Riverton, Get. 3, 1876.