Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 230

1850.

Term for Elohim and Theos.

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spirit to be translated in the Bible! For instance, without shin, or a word of its precise meaning, how is it possible to translate (not paraphrase) I Cor. ii. 10, to the end of the chapter, and many other similar passages?

Another difficulty is to render many passages of Scripture intelligi- ble if shin be employed for God. Though it is admitted that there are difficulties in the application of tí, yet they certainly appear to cluster insurmountably around shin. The translation of the first verse of Genesis would present a perfect enigma to a Chinese. "In the be- ginning, shin created," &c., is an astounding annunciation. The great mass of the Chinese, and all readers know that the host of their shin had no existence at the k'ai peh t'ien ti," the 開闢天地,“the opening of heaven and earth.” We have no singular form, no article, nor other apparatus in the Chinese language, so available in other lan- guages to define and limit, when stating general propositions; while shin used in the concrete is necessarily a plural, and embraces the whole family so designated. Moreover, the common and beautifully expressive phrases of Scripture, as "

my God," "

your," or "our God," the God of Abraham,' ""of Israel," &c., can not be translated intel- ligibly by shin. How pitiable would it be to have Chinese scholars commenting on the phrase, “I'am Jehovah your God," as I, Jehovah am your soul, spirit, or ghost. Use shin for God in the soul-agonizing cry of our Savior on the cross, and what idea does it convey? The sub- stitution of shin for shángti was attempted by a brother missionary in this passage. He writes as follows : Wishing to ascertain how the use of Shin in the place of Shángti would strike my teacher, I requested him to read the 1st verse of the 22d Psulm, and substitute shin for shangti. He did so; and when called upon to give the sense in the colloquial, he burst into a long and loud roar of laughter, exclaiming, 'It will never do! it will never do! If you substitute shin here, it will not be understood as referring to God, but to one's own spirit. The verse will mean, My spirit, My spirit, why are you leaving me?' An intelligent Chinese friend who was present, also joined in the laughter, and remarked, 'That the passage with shin instead of shángtí presented to his mind the idea of a person sensible of the approach of insanity, and lamenting over his departing senses; My senses, My senses, why are you forsaking me?' This remark he made of his own accord. I did not call upon him to give his opinion.”

The method proposed in the Essay (page 72) to obviate this acknow- ledged difficulty does not untie, but simply cuts the knot. Does the "God of Abraham," &c, mean simply the God who protected him, or

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