Twentieth Century New Testament
Encyclopedia
The Twentieth Century New Testament (“TCNT”) is an English translation of the New Testament
. Originally published in three parts between 1898 and 1901, it is considered the first translation of the Bible into modern English. After further revisions based on suggestions from readers, the final version was published in 1904.
The Twentieth Century New Testament was produced in Britain over a period of 15 years by a group of approximately 20 people. Although they were all fluent in the "koine" Greek of the New Testament, the translators were not professional scholars but a varied cross section of society -- ministers, housewives, school teachers, railroad workers, and businessmen. However they shared the desire (as the Preface to their work puts it), "to do for the English nation what has been done already for the people of almost all other countries -- to enable Englishmen to read the most important part of their Bible in that form of their own language which they themselves use."
As the project progressed J. Rendel Harris
and Richard Francis Weymouth
, two well known scholars of the time, voluntarily advised the group, helping to ensure scholarly integrity. Also, translation was done using the then-cutting edge Westcott and Hort
text of the Greek New Testament, further adding to the accuracy of their rendering.
In a break with most translations, the TCNT arranges the New Testament books in the order scholars believe they were written -- Mark
comes before Matthew
, for instance. They also include brief introductions before each book. Because of the translators' meticulous attention to the best scholarship of their day, Bruce Metzger
concluded that their version still holds up remarkably well today, despite the lapse of over 100 years.
A Creative Commons Attribution licensed modern revision of the TCNT is being prepared called the Open English Bible
.
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Originally published in three parts between 1898 and 1901, it is considered the first translation of the Bible into modern English. After further revisions based on suggestions from readers, the final version was published in 1904.
The Twentieth Century New Testament was produced in Britain over a period of 15 years by a group of approximately 20 people. Although they were all fluent in the "koine" Greek of the New Testament, the translators were not professional scholars but a varied cross section of society -- ministers, housewives, school teachers, railroad workers, and businessmen. However they shared the desire (as the Preface to their work puts it), "to do for the English nation what has been done already for the people of almost all other countries -- to enable Englishmen to read the most important part of their Bible in that form of their own language which they themselves use."
As the project progressed J. Rendel Harris
J. Rendel Harris
James Rendel Harris was an English biblical scholar and curator of manuscripts, who was instrumental in bringing back to light many Syriac Scriptures and other early documents...
and Richard Francis Weymouth
Richard Francis Weymouth
Richard Francis Weymouth was an English lay Baptist bible scholar.Born in 1822 near Devonport, Devon, which is about 2 miles north northwest of Plymouth, England. He was a Baptist layman educated at the University College London. His works include The New Testament in Modern Speech, which is also...
, two well known scholars of the time, voluntarily advised the group, helping to ensure scholarly integrity. Also, translation was done using the then-cutting edge Westcott and Hort
The New Testament in the Original Greek
The New Testament in the Original Greek is the name of a Greek language version of the New Testament published in 1881. It is also known as the Westcott and Hort text, after its editors Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort...
text of the Greek New Testament, further adding to the accuracy of their rendering.
In a break with most translations, the TCNT arranges the New Testament books in the order scholars believe they were written -- Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
comes before Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
, for instance. They also include brief introductions before each book. Because of the translators' meticulous attention to the best scholarship of their day, Bruce Metzger
Bruce Metzger
Bruce Manning Metzger was a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and Bible editor who served on the board of the American Bible Society. He was a scholar of Greek, New Testament and Old Testament, and wrote prolifically on these subjects.- Biography :Metzger was born in Middletown,...
concluded that their version still holds up remarkably well today, despite the lapse of over 100 years.
A Creative Commons Attribution licensed modern revision of the TCNT is being prepared called the Open English Bible
Open English Bible
The Open English Bible is a freely redistributable, modern translation based on the Twentieth Century New Testament translation. A work in progress, with its first publication in August 2010, the OEB is edited and distributed by Russell Allen....
.