A Basic Religious Reference Library
The English Revised Version
The American Standard Version of the Bible which was published in 1901 by Thomas Nelson and Sons was very popular with gospel preachers and members of the church of Christ because of its accuracy and clearness. Thousands of people have been studying it and memorizing passages from it for over fifty years. Now these people have a problem. The quality of paper and binding for this book is not comparable to the quality of paper and workmanship found in other Versions. One would scarcely "get used to" the book before it was coming apart. Some have gone back to the King James Version; others have reluctantly begun using some of the later versions. Others don't know "which way to turn."
With a view to helping solve the problem, the Gospel Guardian has checked on the possibility of getting good copies of the English Revised Version of 1881 - 1884. The Cambridge University Press has agreed to import some good numbers of the English Revised Version. The three numbers which are available are OBG4YG — $14.50; OVR4YG — $15.00; OVR4Y76 — $17.50. OBG4YG is about 3/4-inch thick, page size 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches. The other two are about 1 x 8 x5. The OVR4Y76 has Persian Morocco covers.
The differences in translation in this Version and the American Standard Version (1901) are so slight as to present very little if any problem to one who is accustomed to the American Standard Version.
This English Revised Version is the text which is given in paralleled column in The People's New Testament with Notes by Johnson. The author writes in the preface, "The two Versions of Scripture accepted among all English speaking people are placed side by side; the common Version so dear by the associations of ages, in large type for daily reading; and the Revised Version, embracing the latest result of the critical examination of manuscripts, in smaller type for comparison. Often a passage that is obscure in the Common Version will have new light thrown upon it by reading it in the Revision".
In his New Commentary on Acts of Apostles, J. W. McGarvey writes in the preface, "The Revised Version has also come to my relief, saving me the necessity of correcting my own revision of the Authorized Version which was the basis of my former work."
The English Revised Version may well be the answer as to "which way to turn" for a good Version printed on good paper and durably bound.
Life Histories
"Lives of all great men remind us, we can make our lives sublime." (Longfellow). Longfellow was correct, the examples of successful people do have a profound effect upon others. This is not limited to the examples of the socially and economically successful but is equally true with reference to the effect of the example of sober, righteous and godly lives. The Bible points us to the example of Jesus and calls upon us to imitate his example. (Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 2:21, etc.) We are also called upon to observe the examples in the lives of the apostles and to imitate the approved examples in their conduct (I Cor. 4:16; I Cor. 11:1; etc.) Furthermore, the apostle calls upon Christians to mark (look at, watch) those who walk as the apostles walked. "Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an example." (Phil. 3:17). It is highly profitable, and certainly scriptural for Christians to observe the lives of godly men, men who walked as the apostles walked, for the benefits of the example which they set.
Some of the great men in the kingdom of God have left autobiographies, e.g. J. W. McGarvey. Biographies have also been written about a number of other faithful men of God. Books of this kind are rewarding in the encouragement which they provide for the reader. The subjects of these books had experiences of sorrow and joy which are common to us. They like we had to realize the need "to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God."
Your money will be well invested in any of the following good books.
J. D. TANT — TEXAS PREACHER — Yater Tant ....$4.00 BIOGRAPHIES AND SERMONS — Srygley 4.50
LIFE, LETTERS AND SERMONS OF T. B. LARIMORE — (Mrs. Larimore) $3.50 LARIMORE AND HIS BOYS--Srygley $3.00
LIFE OF ELDER JOHN SMITH — Williams $3.00 LIFE OF ELDER BENJAMIN FRANKLIN — Franklin and Headington 4.00
A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Underwood.. 3.00 BIOGRAPHY OF SAM P PITTMAN — Cuff 2.00
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF J. W. McGARVEY- (Paper Bound) 1.50 LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID LIPSCOMB — West 4.00
LIFE OF ELDER WALTER SCOTT — Baxter 3.50
Search For The Ancient Order
Vol. 1 and 2 8.00 THE FOOL OF GOD — Cochran (Novel based on life of Alexander Campbell) 4.95
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF GOSPEL PREACHERS — Boles 3.00 BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN T. JOHNSON — Rogers 3.50
Autobiography Of G. C. Brewer 3.00
SEVENTY YEARS IN DIXIE — Srygley 3.50 Any or all of these books may be ordered from the Gospel Guardian, Box 980, Lufkin, Texas.
Lufkin, Texas