Purpose
I have long wanted to update the language of the 1689 Confession to make it more accessible to modern readers. I'm aware of other modern versions, but I object to the cost and copyright restrictions on the Carey edition (the most widely available version), and I've found that none of them seem to be very consistent in the way they approach the update. For example, the Carey edition seems to be nothing more than a paraphrase in some places and yet quite stilted in others.I approach this whole thing with fear and trembling, and that's why I'm putting this on the web. I fear inadvertently changing the doctrine or confusing something that was clearer in the original. So I'm posting my attempts at an update so that folks can comment and make suggestions and corrections.
My goal is to maintain the structure and language to the extent that these lend themselves to clarity to the modern reader. When they don't, I will consider modern equivalent terms or rephrasing. In more difficult cases, I may rework the structure of a paragraph if it can be stated in a significantly more natural way in modern English without compromising the meaning. I don't pretend that the result will be readable on a 6th-grade level. The concepts in the confession simply don't lend themselves to such simplistic expression. Furthermore, I don't want to change well-established theological terms unless I judge that they are fairly obscure and can be greatly clarified by a modern expression.
As I wrestle through the rewording, I will be referencing and learning from the Carey edition, the Kerkham edition, the Masters edition, as well as the original, including the facsimile copy published by B&R Press. I expect my version to be sufficiently different from all the other modernized versions that there will be no violation of copyright. I've included links to electronic versions of the ones I'm consulting, except for the Masters edition, which I haven't found online.
I relish all constructive comments. I may not be able to respond to all comments or explain my reaction to them, but I will do my best to read and consider them.
Until I've finished all the edits and released a final form, I claim a copyright on the work in progress and do not grant permission to make copies. I will eventually provide permission to copy under certain conditions once I've finished it.
posted by Stan @ 7:44 PM
3 Comments:
Greetings Stan,
My name is Bart Carlson, and I am one of the pastors at Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, NJ. I really appreciate what you have labored to do in updating the language of the 1689.
Do you have a complete version (in two columns) that can be downloaded? I would be very interested in a copy.
Also, have you ever or are you aware of anyone who has endeavored to boil down the 1689 into a summary document? Along the lines of modernizing the English, a summary would be helpful in introducing people to the rich truth collated in the 1689 without overwhelming them.
Again, thanks for your labors.
In Christ,
Bart
Contact me offlist for info on sharing the confession. Go to my profile and then my web page to get my email address or contact me through our church contact form.
For the benefit of others, I'm replying online to your question about a summary statement. The Abstract of Principles was written as a summary of the 1689 Confession. It is weaker in some areas but is overall a pretty good summary. We use it in prospective member classes at our church. You can find it here:
http://www.founders.org/abstract.html.
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