Hugh J. Schonfield, an eminent Jewish scholar, worked for thirty years on his version of the original Greek text. He is also the translator of a later version, The Original New Testament. He was a historian, not a theologian. Thus, this is a non-ecclesiastical version. He avoids ecclesiastical terms, using such words as immersion, community, envoy, supervisor, and administrator instead of baptism, church, apostle, bishop, and deacon, respectively. In general, modern speech has been used, but with some exceptions.
The order of books does not follow that of the King James Version. Also, the chapters are divided into paragraphs, not numbered verses. Thus, at the beginning is a section entitled "Table for Comparison with the Authorized (King James) Version," which will aid the reader in locating specific passages. Also at the beginning is an extensive introduction which includes history. At the end are two indexes: one of persons and places and one of references.
Sample Verses
John 1: 1 - 3
In the beginning was the Word.
And the Word was with God.
So the Word was divine.
He was in the beginning with God.
By him everything had being.
And without him nothing had being.
Comparisons
The following comparative studies include this version:
- Authenticity of the Second Epistle of Peter
- Bishops, Overseers, Presbyters, and Elders
- Commandments or Clean Robes?
- God So Loved the World
- Let No Man Judge You
- Miracle at Cana
- Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread
- Sabbaths and Sundown
- Scripture Inspired by God
- Those Who Work Iniquity
- Words with Heathen Origins in the Scriptures
| Abbreviation: | ANT |
| Released: | 1958 |
| Contents: | New Testament |
| Source Used: | New American Library (1958) |
| Location: | Tyndale House, Cambridge, United Kingdom |