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by Benjamin G. Wilkinson
Extract from Publisher's Comments
The material received by Leaves-Of-Autumn Book, Inc was a 3rd or 4th generation of copies and extremely difficult to read. Some words were missing, or only portions of the letters visible. In most cases it was possible to decipher what the wording had been... but in some instances of foreign names or unfamiliar expressions the original wording could only be guessed. If a Latin or Greek word is misspelled it is probably because of the poor quality of copies to work from.
P R E F A C E
Back in 1930 B.G. Wilkinson published 'Our Authorized Bible Vindicated'. Some of his college colleagues took exception to his book and criticized it publicly. Since Wilkinson, who was a professor in one of our colleges, was having his scholarship questioned, it was mandatory that he reply.
This book is his reply to their "review" and criticism. It literally "downs" them on every argument. Since feelings and rivalry were running high, the General Conference of those days requested Wilkinson to not publish this work. He agreed.
Since the individuals concerned are no longer on the scene, and since the issue of modern versions is now a very important topic, we feel that this work should be available to students.
Many in our denomination are "pushing" the use of the New International Version and repressing the use of the King James Version from the pulpits. Since our doctrines, particularly the Investigative Judgment and 2300-Day Prophecy cannot be taught from the NIV, our people should be made aware of the dangers of this Romanized Bible being foisted upon them.
It is time our members studied for themselves the history of the English Bible, and its many modern versions. If we are to adopt the NIV as a standard for use in the pulpit and in our schools, then we might as well give up being Seventh-day Adventists and join the ecumenical movement back to Rome. This is not an idle statement. Just a real, honest bit of study will soon reveal how the enemy has crept within our ranks.
At the time OUR AUTHORIZED BIBLE VINDICATED was published, the NIV had not come on the scene (yet). Wilkinson's main concern was with the Revised Version and the American Revision, both springing from the works of Westcott and Hort (on the RV), All modern versions also have taken their basis from the Westcott-Hort Greek Text. It is time we re-examined their sources and reasoning. Our very denomination is at stake!
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