THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE IN MODERN AMERICAN FORM WITH NOTES AND INTRODUCTION BY FRANK SCHELL BALLENTINE NEW YORK THOMAS WHITTAKER 2 AND 3 BIBLE HOUSE 1901 INTRODUCTION. In his preface to "The Epistles of Paul in Modern English," Professor Stevens, of Yale University says he has "sought to reproduce the thought of Paul's epistles, and the kindred letter to the Hebrews, in the language of to-day. The terms of our English versions have purposely been avoided, so far as practicable, because their very familiarity is often a hindrance to the apprehension of the meaning. I have hoped to awaken a fresh interest in the Apostle's thoughts by breaking up the form in which he expressed them, and by setting forth his ideas in a free modern rendering. The reading of a 'literal,' or verbal, translation of Paul's letters is attended by many difficulties. The Apostle's carelessness of form, his vehemence in utterance, his use of complex figures, and his involved and elliptical style, are among the peculiarities which often render his meaning obscure. Now a translation can only represent in English words the form of the original. It is de |