Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

evident except sectarian ones and our objection is that the society should
stringently forbid a legitimate translation and require a transfer.
“The officials of the Bible society are guilty of real sectarianism. It is vain to
deny that the only objection they have to Judson’s translation is that it may
have a certain effect in certain controversies. But what has the Bible society to
do with sectarian controversies? If a certain translation is incorrect, let them
condemn it. But what have they to do with the question how will it effect this
or that dispute. f1063 If a certain translation seems to be scholarly, they should
publish it, no matter what effect it may have on ecclesiastical conflicts. The
officials of the society abandon the majestic neutrality of scholarship and the
love of truth which asks merely whether a given version is correct. They stoop
to inquire how it will affect the interests of contending sects. Gentlemen of
the big brick house, it is not a right thing to do. The only question you have a
right to ask is whether the translation of Dr. Judson is faithful to the Greek. If
it is not, condemn it; if it is, then publish it, no matter what parties of
controversialists be helped or hindered thereby. You were not appointed,
gentlemen, to watch the interests of contending sects; but to circulate correct
translations of the Scriptures; and for you to refuse to circulate a given
version, NOT BECAUSE IT IS INCORRECT; but because it may have a certain
effect on certain controversies is a violation of the solemn trusts committed to
your charge.”
Baptizo, in all the Chinese versions published by Baptist missionaries, is
translated by Tsiny, to immerse, to dip, to put into water. This term gives no
uncertain sound. Says M.T. Yates,
“When I had completed the translation of two of the gospels into the Shanghai
vernacular, I asked the agent of the American Bible Society in China for
means to publish them. He replied: ‘I will publish all your translations if you
will not translate baptizo.’ I asked by what authority he could demand of me
to have any portion of God’s word untranslated? He replied: ‘Such are my
instructions.’ But the answer of the American Bible Society’s agent will seem
very extraordinary when it is known that no word can be transferred into the
Chinese, and all words must be translated, and that baptizo is actually
translated by the word see-lee, the washing ceremony, in all the versions in
Chinese, which have been published by the American Bible Society, and the
British and Foreign Society. As the term see-lee never means to sprinkle or
pour — other and entirely different words being used to express these ideas
— it conveys no definite idea to a Chinese mind. A Chinese wishing baptism
once with only this word to guide him, and seeing that Christ was baptized in
a river, went into a river and gave the region around his heart a good
scrubbing; and not being satisfied with this and sup-posing that perhaps he
ought to receive the washing from heaven, stood out in a heavy rain till
washed from head to foot. These great Bible societies are determined, if
possible, to hide the true reading of God’s word, in regard to this ordinance,
from the heathen.”