study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Study of the King James Bible
Scripture； because it is a fictitious style for the presenting of truth。 It
inevitably suggests superficiality。 Things actually do not happen in life as
they do in drama。
One of our latest biographers says that a scientific historian is always
suspicious of dramatic events。＇1＇ They may be true； but they are more
liable to be afterthoughts； like the bright answers we could have made to
our opponents if we had only thought of them at the time。 You never lose
the sense of unreality in the very construction of a drama。 Life cannot be
crowded into two or three hours； and justice does not come out as the
drama makes it do。 So that at most important points of the Scripture
dramatic writing does not appear。 The account of the carrying away into
captivity of the children of Israel is at no point dramatic； though you can
see instantly what a great opportunity there was for it。 It is simply
narrative。 It is noticeable that none of the accounts of the crucifixion is at
all dramatic。 They are all simply narrative。 The imagination does not
immediately conjure up the scene。 There may be two reasons for that。 One
is that there are involved several hours in which there is no action
recorded。 The other is that by the time the accounts were written the actual
events were submerged in importance by their unworded meaning。 The
account of the conversion of Paul； on the other hand； brief as it is； has at
least minor dramatic elements in it。 On the whole； the Old Testament is far
more dramatic than the New。
＇1＇ McGiffert； Life of Martin Luther。
There is even less of the oratorical element in the Scripture。 There is；
to be sure； a considerable amount of quotation； and men do speak at some
length； but seldom oratorically。 The prophetical writings are generally too
fragmentary to suggest oratory； and the quotations in the New Testament；
especially from the preaching of our Lord； are evidently for the most part
excerpts from longer addresses than are given。 There are few of the
statements of Paul； as in the 26th chapter of Acts； which could be
delivered oratorically； but here again the Old Testament is more marked
than the New。 The earliest specimen of oratory is also one of the finest
specimens。 It is in the 44th chapter of Genesis； and is the account of
Judah's reply to his unrecognized brother Joseph：
70
… Page 71…
Study of the King James Bible
〃Then Judah came near unto him； and said； O my lord； let thy servant；
I pray thee； speak a word in my lord's ears； and let not thine anger burn
against thy servant： for thou art even as Pharoah。 My lord asked his
servants； saying； Have ye a father； or a brother？ And we said unto my lord；
We have a father； an old man； and a child of his old age； a little one； and
his brother is dead； and he alone is left of his mother； and his father loveth
him。 And thou saidst unto thy servants； Bring him down unto me； that I
may set mine eyes upon him。 And we said unto my lord； The lad cannot
leave his father： for if he should leave his father； his father would die。 And
thou saidst unto thy servant； Except your youngest brother come down
with you； ye shall see my face no more。 And it came to pass when we
came up unto thy servant my father； we told him the words of my lord。
And our father said； Go again and buy us a little food。 And we said； We
cannot go down； if our youngest brother be with us； then we will go down：
for we may not see the man's face； except our youngest brother be with us。
And thy servant my father said unto us； Ye know that my wife bare me
two sons： and the one went out from me； and I said； Surely he is torn in
pieces； and I saw him not since： and if ye take this also from me； and
mischief befall him； ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the
grave。 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father； and the lad be
not with us； seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life； it shall come to
pass； when he seeth that the lad is not with us； that he will die： and thy
servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with
sorrow to the grave。 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my
father； saying； If I bring him not unto thee； then I shall bear the blame to
my father for ever。 Now therefore； I pray thee； let thy servant abide instead
of the lad a bondman to my lord； and let the lad go up with his brethren。
For how shall I go up to my father； and the lad be not with me？ lest
peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father。〃
That is pure oratory； and it is greatly helped by the English
expression of it。 Here our King James version is finer than either of the
other later versions； as indeed it is in almost all these sections where the
phraseology is important for the ear。
We need not go farther。 Part of these outstanding characteristics come
71
… Page 72…
Study of the King James Bible
to our version from the original； and might appear in any version of the
Bible。 Yet nowhere do even these original characteristics come to such
prominence as in the King James translation； and it adds to them those that
are peculiar to itself。
72
… Page 73…
Study of the King James Bible
LECTURE IV
THE INFLUENCE OF THE KING JAMES VERSION ON
ENGLISH LITERATURE
THE Bible is a book…making book。 It is literature which provokes
literature。
It would be a pleasure to survey the whole field of literature in the
broadest sense and to note the creative power of the King James version；
but that is manifestly impossible here。 Certain limitations must be frankly
made。 Leave on one side； therefore； the immense body of purely religious
literature； sermons； expositions； commentaries； which； of course； are the
direct product of the Bible。 No book ever caused so much discussion about
itself and its teaching。 That is because it deals with the fundamental
human interest； religion。 It still remains true that the largest single
department of substantial books from our English presses is in the realm of
religion； and after the purely recreative literature they are probably most
widely read。 Yet； they are not what we mean at this time by the literary
result of the English Bible。
Leave on one side also the very large body of political and historical
writing。 Much of it shows Bible influence。 In the nature of the case； any
historian of the past three hundred years must often refer to and quote
from the English Bible； and must note its influence。 An entire study could
be devoted to the influence of the English Bible on Green or Bancroft or
Freeman or Prescottits influence on their matter and their manner。
Another could be given to its influence on political writing and speaking。
No great orator of the day would fail us of material； and the great political
pap
