Knox on Translation: Hebraisms in English Translation

"We are sensible of these Hebraisms, and most of us would like to see the last of them. But there are hundred and hundreds of other Hebraisms which we do not notice, because we have allowed ourselves to grow accustomed to them.  We should have thought it odd if we had read in The Times, 'General Montgomery's right hand has smitten Rommel in the hinder parts'; but if we get that sort of thing in the Bible we take it, unlike Rommel, sitting down. 'Mr. Churchill then opened his mouth and spoke' is that English? No, it is Hebrew idiom clothed in English words." -On Englishing the Bible (p.4-5)

Hello Msgr. Knox!

I love the Knox Bible. That is, of course, no surprise to any of you who have read this blog for any length of time.  It is my primary, daily reading Bible.  My Baronius Press edition was rebound back in goatskin back in 2013 by our good friends at Leonard's, because I knew that it would be used and loved for many years to come.  Since then, I have come into possession of a few vintage Knox Bible editions, most notably the three-volume Sheed & Ward edition and the 1946 Chanticleer NT version.  Yet, one edition has always escaped me.  I consider it the "Holy Grail" of Knox Bible editions.  When it has come on the market, I've seen it go for up to $300, which is something this high school teacher cannot afford.  The edition I am speaking of is the "printed for private circulation only"  1944 Burns, Oates, & Washbourne Knox New Testament.  This was a sort of trial, pre-publication copy that was offered to the public via a few Catholic periodicals, but not available in stores.  They idea was to see what the public thought of the translation, since it was such a departure from the Douay-Rheims (Challoner) edition that most were familiar with.  Many reviewed and commented on Knox's new New Testament, with some of the suggestions being incorporated into the final published edition a year later.  I have seen different estimates, but as far as I know there were no more than 1500 copies printed.  As you can imagine, very few have survived. 

So, I was excited to see this exact edition up on EBay last month.  It wasn't in perfect condition, but was much more affordable than what I had previously seen.  So I purchased it.  Oh, one other thing, it had Knox's signature in the opening pages.  Needless to say, I was a bit anxious as I waited for it to arrive.  The seller seemed reliable and the book looked authentic, but, as many of you know, what you order doesn't always end up being what arrives on your door step.  So when it did arrive, I was happy to see that it was exactly what it claimed to be.  I was surprised at the size, which is comparable to the RSV-2CE NT and Psalms from Ignatius Press.  For some reason, I thought it would be bigger.  Not that I will be carrying it around with me, but it would make a wonderfully portable yet readable New Testament.  

The signature from Knox makes it an incredibly special book to me personally.  I greatly admire Msgr. Knox, not only for his translation of the Bible but also his pastoral and apologetic works.   I find him to be a man who was both a first rate intellect and thinker, while also being a truly humble pastor.  Almost anything I read of his leaves me either moved or in a state of reflection.  He is one of my two favorite authors of the twentieth century.  I feel blessed to have this volume, and I am grateful to have been alerted to it when it was posted for sale.  I hope you enjoy the photos below.  It is really a pleasure to share them with you.

New Online Vulgate-Douay-Knox Resource

This link will take you to a new site which has the Clementine Vulgate, Douay-Rheims, and Knox in parallel columns with possible search functions.  Looks like a great resource, which includes both the Douay and Knox notes.  I wonder if Baronius is involved in this?

UPDATE:
Yes, it appears that this page, which has the look of something Baronius would do, is indeed from them.  Copyright listed as: 2015 © CatholicBible.online, Baronius Press

Catholic Bible Online

Thanks to Charles for sharing this info with me!

Knox on the Old Testament

"We mustn't think of the Old Testament as an awkward fact which we've got to get over somehow, hush it up if possible because it is so difficult to make propaganda out of it.  It's the lock into which the key of the Incarnation fits, and if you begin the Bible with St. Matthew, it makes a mutilated story." -The Hidden Stream

All Souls

"And now, recalling his men from the pursuit, he made his way to the city of Adollam; the week had gone round, and here, duly cleansed from defilement, they kept the sabbath.  Next day, with Judas at their head, they went back to recover the bodies of the slain, for burial among their own folk in their fathers’ graves;  and what found they? Each of the fallen was wearing, under his shirt, some token carried away from the false gods of Jamnia. Here was defiance of the Jewish law, and none doubted it was the cause of their undoing;  none but praised the Lord for his just retribution, that had brought hidden things to light;  and so they fell to prayer, pleading that the sin might go unremembered. Judas himself, their gallant commander, gave public warning to his men, of fault they should evermore keep clear, with the fate of these transgressors under their eyes.  Then he would have contribution made; a sum of twelve thousand silver pieces he levied, and sent it to Jerusalem, to have sacrifice made there for the guilt of their dead companions. Was not this well done and piously? Here was a man kept the resurrection ever in mind;  he had done fondly and foolishly indeed, to pray for the dead, if these might rise no more, that once were fallen!  And these had made a godly end; could he doubt, a rich recompense awaited them?  A holy and wholesome thought it is to pray for the dead, for their guilt’s undoing."   -2 Maccabees 12:38-46 (Knox)

Knox on a New Apologetics

I was reading through the recently released book The Lost Works of Ronald Knox by Catholic Answers last night.  The last section in the book is an unfinished work by Knox on apologetics.  He died before he could finish it.  In this work, which consists of three chapters, Knox realized that a new way of doing apologetics would be needed for the post-World War II world, particularly in the West.  I found this insightful quote, which I will share below, that I think is as important now as it was when he wrote it in the mid-50's.  Something to think about in the year 2015.

"I think that our Catholic apologetics, nearly all of it, strike the modern reader as inhuman.  Just because it is worked out with such mathematical precision, just because a suitable answer comes pat to every question......it afflicts our contemporaries with a sense of malaise.  Our answers seem too glib, too 'slick'; there is something machine-made about them. They are clothed with the appearance of truth, but they do not smell of reality." -Ronald Knox in "Proving God"