A Plea for a New Translation of the Scriptures: With a Translation of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans

A Plea For A New Translation Of The Scriptures: With A Translation Of St. Paul’s Epistle To The Romans by Alfred Dewes presents a polemical call for revising English Bible translations. The author argues that the Authorized Version is inaccurate, obscure, and frequently fails to convey the original meaning, especially in St. Paul’s epistles. He lays out four criteria for a good translation: accuracy, clear conveyance of the original meaning, freedom from serious mistakes, and abstaining from introducing ideas not present in the text. The work surveys numerous passages—notably from Romans, Galatians, and 1 Corinthians—to illustrate mistranslations and proposed alternatives. It also critiques the use of terms like “damnation” and “hell,” advocating translations that reflect linguistic and cultural context rather than traditional ecclesiastical wording. The author contends that a readable yet faithful translation is possible and necessary to illuminate Scripture for the unlearned reader and to restore vitality to biblical study. The tract dates from 1866 and reflects a clerical, scholarly plea for reform in Bible translation.