THE last recorded command of Christ Jesus was that his disciples should "teach all nations," — teach them to observe all things that he had commanded the disciples themselves. It doubtless occurred to some of them that this might be difficult, on account of the different languages which prevailed even at that period; but they soon learned that when "they were all of one accord in one place" (which surely means when they were all of one Mind), "the Spirit gave them utterance." On the day of Pentecost humanity took a long step out of its self-imposed limitations, the word was spoken with power, and "miracles and wonders and signs" were wrought by the apostles. It also seemed that the barrier of difference in language was swept aside, and that the "new tongue" found a fitting means of expressing the power and goodness of God, infinite Mind. Just how this was done we may not know, but we are told that the Spirit was poured out upon the sons and daughters of men, and that to them was made known "the ways of life."
This was surely the all important thing, and we may well rejoice that the records of that early day were enriched with the healing of many, and even the overcoming of death, and history shows that this continued for several hundred years. As time went on, however, the spiritual signification of the word was to a large extent obscured, and as creeds and dogmas multiplied human opinions became more widely divergent. The divine Life that inspires and illumines the Bible was unknown in its power to abolish disease and death, and at times it seemed as if sin reigned over the whole race. But the word of God is deathless, and whether it be written or spoken, or breathed in silent prayer, it is ever the mightiest force in the world. Kings and rulers may array themselves against this word of God, but they will only prove the powerlessness of evil before Truth understood.
After many years of darkness humanity began to cry out for this light, and anon for more light. In Germany. in France, in Switzerland, one after another sought eagerly for the truth which makes men free, and as at an earlier day the word had "free course" and was glorified. Whatever may be said as to mistranslations of the Bible, the fact remains that holy men were seeking for the truth as for "hid treasure," and we might wonder at the general accuracy and clearness of the translations did we not know that the hand of God rested upon the hour, and those who were hungering and thirsting after righteousness were filled, as His word had promised. Fronde, the well-known historian, says, "The peculiar genius which breathes through the English Bible, the mingled tenderness and majesty, the Saxon simplicity, the grandeur, unequaled. unapproached in the attempted improvements of modern scholars — all arc here" (in Tyndale's version). The first English authorized version of the Bible (called the "great Bible") was issued in 1539, and in January, 1604, the work of revision was undertaken by fifty-four learned men authorized by the king. These men were selected impartially, and represented the best scholarship and the greatest piety in the land. The book which resulted from their labors is still known as the King James version, and even those who are not of the same faith as the translators have admitted its "grace and dignity" and its "masterly English style;" one authority says that "if accuracy and strictest attention to the letter of the text he supposed to constitute an excellent version, this is of all versions the most excellent."
