TRANSLATIONS OF SCRIPTURE SIR,—Your correspondent in the issue of 19th
March and under the title A Third Jubilee, says that he has " heard rumours that a group of translators are working on a modern Eng- lish version (of the Bible), and that it will on completion be accepted as official.' " The rumours are substantially correct. Six years ago, largely on the grounds which your corre- spondent brings forward, the major Churches of this country, with the exception of the Roman Church, set up a Joint Committee on New Translation of the Bible. This Com- mittee appointed panels of scholars who do the work of translation, and the project goes steadily forward. The latest Press release was made on 16th December, 1953, and state/ that " the style aimed at is ' timeless' Ear lish, avoiding both archaisms and transient modernisms." It further states that some books have passed through all stages of Pry paration, and that many others are in tit course of preparation. It is hoped that th New Testament will be ready for printing the beginning of 1958, and the Old Testame several years later. It is not expected t the new translation will displace the Autho ized Version, but that authority may be giv to use it as an alternative version. 1 ho your correspondent and all others interest will bear this notable project in mind.—Yo faithfully, 44 Headingley Mount, Leeds JOHN K. S. BE
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