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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 61

he said unto him thou hast said truely for thou art the man and as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and break it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat eat of it it and a commandment I give unto you and this is the commandment which I give unto you that as you see me do you shall do likewise in rememberence of my body and he took the cup and gave thanks and blessed the cup and gave to them saying drink of it all of you for this you shall do in remembrance of my blood— this is the new testimony which you shall unto all meny of my blood which is shed for <​as​> many as shall beleive on my name for the remission of their sins but I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine untill that day when I shall come and drink drink it new with you in my fathers Kingdom and when they had sung a hym a hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives then saith Jesus unto them all you shall be offended because of me this night for it is written I will smite the Shepperd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad but after I am risen again I will go before you into Gallilee but but Peter answered and said unto him though all my breatheren should be offended because of thee I will never be offended Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee that this night before the Cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice Peter said unto him though I should die with thee yet I will not deny thee likewise also said all the disciples then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsamane and saith unto the disciples sit you here while I go yonder and pray and he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowfull and very heavy then saith he unto them my soul is exceeding sorrowfull even unto death tarry you here and watch with me and he went a little farther and fell on his face saying and prayed saying o my father if it be possable that <​let​> this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt and he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto Peter what could you not watch with me one hour watch and pray that you enter not into temptation they <​he​> said unto him <​them​> the spiri spirit indeed is willing but is the flesh is weak he went away again the second time and prayed and said <​saying​> o my father if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it thy will be done and he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and he left them and went away again <​and​> prayed the third time saying the same words then cometh he to his disciples and saith unto them sleep on now and take rest rest and they did so and when they awoke Jesus saith unto them behold the hour is at hand and the son of [p. 61]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
New Testament Revision 1
ID #
7810
Total Pages
71
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Sidney Rigdon

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