The duty of circulating the Scriptures in all languages, and the principles upon which this duty should be fulfilled.

The Duty of Circulating the Scriptures

The duty of circulating the Scriptures throughout the world seems clear from the following considerations:

The Holy Spirit accounts him blessed, whose ‘delight is in the law of the LORD’ and who meditates day and night therein (Psalm 1.2). Now, if he is to meditate in it, he must possess it, and we should put it within his reach.

The Scriptures are called the ‘sword of the Spirit’ (Ephesians 6.17), and if it is well that every man should fight with it, he must possess it, and we should facilitate its possession. If we speak, we are to ‘speak as the oracles of God’ (1 Peter 4.11). Now, if when we speak we are to speak as the oracles of God, surely it becomes us to let those oracles speak for themselves when we cannot personally speak. The Scriptures testify of Christ, and the Scriptures are intended for all.

God’s Word is a lamp to the feet and a light to the path (cf. Psalm 119.105), and it is only common humanity to put people into the way of possessing it. All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable, (cf. 2 Timothy 3.16) and therefore may be safely circulated in its entirety. They were written for all ages and all men. ‘For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning’ (Romans 15.4).

God’s Word gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119.130), converts the soul (Psalm 19.7), contributes to holiness (Ephesians 5.26), and promotes growth in grace (1 Peter 2.2). If therefore we have the world’s welfare at heart, we should send the Scriptures as well as the missionary, and even where and when we cannot send the missionary.

Removing Error

Many ‘err, not knowing the Scriptures’ (Matthew 22.29); therefore we should circulate the Scriptures for the removal of error. The circulation of the Scriptures might be most useful as a pioneer of the missionary. The search of the Scriptures led the Bereans to receive Paul’s preaching (Acts 17.11); and we are not to expect that man’s teaching is to be taken for granted as true. All teaching is to be tested by God’s Word, and every true man will appeal to the Scriptures for proof of the truth of his doctrine.

‘To the law and to the testimony’ (Isaiah 8.20). ‘… those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law’ (Deuteronomy 29. 29).

What God has revealed, belongs to man wherever found; it is, therefore, only kind in us who possess God’s Word to send it to all whom it concerns.

The Parable of the Sower seems to teach that the seed of the Kingdom, which is the Word of God, should be sown broadcast; even though much of it falls on the wayside, amongst thorns, and on stony ground. If this be so, we cannot circulate the Scriptures too widely.

The Duty

Considering the duty of circulating the Scriptures unquestioned, and concluding that we desire to fulfil this duty, we must of course circulate them in the tongue understood of the people, and now that printing, and the acquirement of languages, have made such progress as to afford us facilities scarcely equalled by the miraculous gifts possessed by the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, we should be guilty indeed if we did not seize the opportunity and make known among men, in their own tongue, the wonderful works of God.

We have thus arrived at the conclusion that it is our duty as churches and as individuals to do our part in circulating the Scriptures among all the inhabitants of the globe, as far as possible in all the languages of the globe.

The Principles of Circulating the Scriptures

Now comes the second part of our subject; namely: the principles upon which this duty should be fulfilled. If the Scriptures in the original, biblical languages—if the very words of inspired men, conveying nothing but the mind of God, were thoroughly and universally understood, we should multiply copies and circulate these, and these alone. And under such circumstances if any men were bold enough to send forth translations of acknowledged inaccuracy, such an act would meet with speedy condemnation from every honest Christian man. And why? Because, if possible, the Scriptures should be conveyed to others as received from God. But suppose there were a prejudice against the true copies, and a preference for the inaccurate translations, so great that the people would have the latter or none, should such prejudices prevail, on the principle of expediency? Never.

The reply from the custodians of the inspired Scriptures would be ‘We can sanction no writings as the Scriptures but what we know to be such.’ But suppose, further, that where these translations had been circulated the good seed that was in them brought forth much fruit among the people, could any still withhold their sanction? The answer still would be, ‘To us have been committed the oracles of God, and God has said we must not add to them, or take from them. Such is God’s will, and we must not dictate to Him.’ I think I carry the meeting with me thus far that, supposing the original languages to be universally and thoroughly understood, it would be wrong and sinful in us to sanction the circulation of translations which contained extensive and important errors, upon any plea, and under any circumstances whatever.

But we have to deal with a different case. The original languages are not universally understood, and we must resort to translations. But surely the principle of action need not be different.

We should be equally jealous for God’s Word, and God’s honour, and God’s will, and God’s truth, and this jealousy should lead us to select for our purpose the most, perfect, and honest translations, not for a moment entertaining the thought of sending forth as God’s Word books that contain serious and extensive errors, upon any plea, or under any circumstances.

Now to advance to facts. There are translations in major world languages which contain serious and extensive errors. For instance, there are errors affecting the doctrine of atonement.

I maintain that the only right principle of action in circulating the Scriptures throughout the world is that of faithfulness to the Divine original. And in proof of this principle being the right one, I might refer to many passages of Scripture which show that it is the only one commended of God himself. For example,

• Jeremiah 23.28: ‘he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully’.
• Jeremiah 23.31: ‘I am against the prophets … that use their· tongues, and say, He saith’.
• Deuteronomy 4.2: ‘Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it’.
• See also Deuteronomy 12.32; Proverbs 30.5,6; Revelation 22.6,18,19; Galatians 1.8; Psalm 12.6; Jeremiah 10.31; Psalm 119.140.

I leave the question with you, sincerely hoping that these observations, made under a sense of duty, may tend to God’s glory, in leading you to scrutinize the principle and practice of any Bible Society supported by your contributions, so as to satisfy yourselves that scrupulous care is taken that none but fair and faithful translations of the original Scriptures are circulated at home or abroad.

This article is based on a paper read at a meeting of the rural deaneries of Oswestry and Llangollen, on 19 June 1872, by the Rev. J. S. Rogers, Rector of Selattyn, Shropshire. Last updated 24 September 2024. 

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