Living Oracles

Living Oracles
Full name	The Living Oracles
NT published	1826
Copyright	Public Domain
John 3:16 ...for God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him, may not perish, but obtain eternal life.

The Living Oracles is a translation of the New Testament compiled and edited by the early Restoration Movement leader Alexander Campbell.^{[1][2]: 87–88} Published in 1826, it was based on an 1818 combined edition of translations by George Campbell, James MacKnight and Philip Doddridge, and included edits and extensive notes by Campbell.^{[1][2]: 87–88 [3]: 122}

Characteristics

Alexander Campbell

Campbell was motivated by a belief that changes in the English language and the availability of improved critical editions of the Greek New Testament had made the Authorized King James Version obsolete.^[1][2]: 88 In developing the translation, Campbell relied on the critical Greek text published by Johann Jakob Griesbach.^[1] One notable feature of the translation is the replacement of traditional ecclesiastical terms such as "church" and "baptise" with alternative translations such as "congregation" and "immerse".^[1][2]: 88 The Living Oracles has been described as a forerunner of modern language translations in its updating of the traditional King James language and use of the work of textual critics such as Griesbach.^[1][2]: 88

Reception

The translation was widely used within the Restoration Movement, but was criticized by others for its translation of βαπτίζω (baptizô) as "immerse" rather than "baptize".^[1][2]: 88 Because of the way this word was translated, the Living Oracles was most often used by those who believed in immersion baptism and most vigorously criticized by groups practicing infant baptism by sprinkling.^[1][2]: 88

References

1. Gary Holloway, "Alexander Campbell as a Publisher", Archived 2006-09-03 at the Wayback Machine Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 37 No. 1 (1995)
2. Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Bible, Versions and Translations of
3. Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Campbell, Alexander

External links

• Second Edition issued in 1828
• 1827 Edition of the unrevised text by G. Campbell, Macknight and Doddridge used by Alexander Campbell
• Fourth Edition published in 1835 (html)