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New Testament Revision 1

Matthew, Chapter 1 Page 1 Matthew, Chapter 2 Page 2 Matthew, Chapter 3 Page 4 Matthew, Chapter 4 Page 6 Matthew, Chapter 5 Page 8 Matthew, Chapter 6 Page 12 Matthew, Chapter 7 Page 15 Matthew, Chapter 8 Page 18 Matthew, Chapter 9 Page 21 Matthew, Chapter 10 Page 24 Matthew, Chapter 11 Page 27 Matthew, Chapter 12 Page 29 Matthew, Chapter 13 Page 33 Matthew, Chapter 14 Page 36 Matthew, Chapter 15 Page 38 Matthew, Chapter 16 Page 40 Matthew, Chapter 17 Page 41 Matthew, Chapter 18 Page 43 Matthew, Chapter 19 Page 45 Matthew, Chapter 20 Page 47 Matthew, Chapter 21 Page 48 Matthew, Chapter 22 Page 52 Matthew, Chapter 23 Page 54 Matthew, Chapter 24 Page 56[a] Matthew, Chapter 25 Page 57[b] Matthew, Chapter 26 Page 59

Source Note

New Testament Revision 1, 8 Mar.–ca. June 1831; handwriting of ; 65 pages; CHL. Includes redactions.
The Bible revision manuscripts remained in JS’s possession throughout his life—except during a brief period in 1838 and another in 1839. Upon the death of JS, the manuscript was in possession of his wife for over twenty years, until 1867 when she gave it to her son so that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS church) could publish it. It was in the possession of the RLDS church (now Community of Christ) until 2024, when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired it. The manuscript is now held at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
Note: The transcript of New Testament Revision 1 presented here is used with generous permission of the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center. It was published earlier, with some differences in style, in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 153–228.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Call, “Copied from the Journal of Anson Call,” 9 and Cooper, “Spiritual Reminiscences, No. 2,” Autumn Leaves (January 1891): 18.

    Call, Anson. “Copied from the Journal of Anson Call,” 1879. CHL. MS 4783.

    Cooper, F. M. “Spiritual Reminiscences.—No. 2,” Autumn Leaves 4, no. 1 (Jan. 1891): 17–20.

  2. [2]

    Emma Smith Bidamon, Nauvoo, IL, to Joseph Smith III, Plano, IL, 10 Feb. 1867, CCLA.

    Bidamon, Emma Smith. Materials, 1842–1871. CCLA.

  3. [3]

    The Holy Scriptures: Translated and Corrected by the Spirit of Revelation ([Plano, IL]: [Reorganized] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1867).

Historical Introduction

As noted in the introduction to Old Testament Revision 1, in June 1830, JS and began recording a revelation related to Moses and other prominent Old Testament figures. (See Visions of Moses, June 1830 [Moses 1].) Eventually this work expanded into what is now designated as the Book of Moses and a complete revelatory re-reading, reviewing, and revising of the Bible, an endeavor that came to be known as JS’s “New Translation,” or Bible revision. By March 1831, JS and his scribes created a sixty-one-page manuscript containing a narrative account of the visions of Moses and a revised version of the Old Testament book of Genesis, from the beginning to chapter 24, verse 41. (See Old Testament Revision 1.)
JS set that work aside when instructed in a March 1831 revelation to instead begin work on the New Testament. (Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:60–61].) He and began the new document on 8 March 1831, titling it “A Translation of the New Testament translated by the power of God.” It is currently designated as New Testament Revision 1 and consists of sixty-five pages, all of it in Rigdon’s hand.
New Testament Revision 1, presented here, begins with Matthew 1:1 and continues through part of Matthew 26:71. It was copied almost immediately by , who had been directed by revelation to “write & keep a regulal [regular] history & assist my servant Joseph in Transcribing all things which shall be given him.” (Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–B [D&C 47:1].) Whitmer’s copy (New Testament Revision 2) became the working copy of the New Testament for the revision project, and JS’s subsequent corrections to the text were inscribed on it. Consequently, New Testament Revision 1 is largely free from later revisions and emendations. Although the exact date JS stopped work on New Testament Revision 1 is unknown, it was apparently prior to his and ’s journey to in June 1831. (JS History, vol. A-1, 126.) John Whitmer’s copying of the manuscript began in early April 1831 and continued until shortly after JS and Sidney Rigdon stopped working on New Testament Revision 1.
An analysis of both New Testament manuscripts indicates that JS made changes to about 2,100 New Testament verses (Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 5). He introduced several significant changes to the King James New Testament text in New Testament Revision 1. Among other revisions, he revised and clarified material related to Matthew 24, John the Baptist’s role, and some aspects of the Sermon on the Mount and the Beautitudes. (See, Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 157.)
Note: The transcript of New Testament Revision 1 presented here is used with generous permission of the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center. It was published earlier, with some differences in style, in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 153–228.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. New Testament Revision 1 New Testament Revision 2

Page 38

[to?] Jesus but when he saw the wind boistrous he was affraid and begining to sink he cried <​saying​> lord save me and immediately Jesus tretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him oh thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt and when they were come into the ship the wind ceased then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him saying of a truth thou art the son of God and when they were gone over the came into the land of Genesar Genesaret and when the men of that place had knowledge of him they sent out into all that country round about and brought unto him all that were diseased and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole
Matthew, Chapter 15
15th) Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharasees which were of Jerusalem saying why do thy disciples transgreess they tradition of the elders for they wash not their hands when they eat bread but he answered and said unto them why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition for God commanded saying honour thy father and mother and he that curseth father or mother let him die the death which Moses shall appoint but ye say whosoever shall say to father or mother by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me it is a gift from me and honour not his father or his mother it is well thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition o ye hypocrites well did Esias Esaias prophecy of you saying this people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honereth me with lips but their heart is far from me but in vain do they worship me teaching <​the​> doctrines and the commandments of men And he called the multitude and said unto them hear and understand not that which goeth into the mouth defileth the man but that which cometh out of the man <​mouth this​> defileth the man. Then came his disciples and said unto him knowest thou that the Pharasees were offended after they heard this saying but he answered and said every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up let them alone they be blind leaders of the blind and if they blind lead the blind both <​shall​> fall into the ditch Then answered [p. 38]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
New Testament Revision 1
ID #
7810
Total Pages
71
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Sidney Rigdon

Footnotes

  1. [16]

    TEXT: Later insertion in blue ink: “15”.

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