Victorian King James Version: "Selection" for Philippians, with Source Information and One Illustrative Example, Explained (3:21)

Scottish Bible translator James Moffatt (1870-1944) 
Read the Introduction for an explanation of this New Testament "selection" (rather than translation).


The Letter of Paul to the
PHILIPPIANS


Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ; to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. 2 Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I give thanks to my God in every remembrance of you, 4 always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy; 5 for what you have contributed to the gospel from the very first day down to this moment; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he, who has begun a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is only natural for me to be thinking of you all in this way, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my grace. 8 God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding; 10 that you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 12 Now I would have you know, brethren, that what I have gone through has turned out to the advancement of the gospel.CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you it is necessary. 2 Beware of these dogs, these wicked workmen, the incision-party! 3 For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in the spirit; and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more, 5 Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; according to the law, a Pharisee: 6 Concerning zeal, a persecutor of the church, blameless by the standard of legal righteousness. CHAPTER 4
So then, my dear brethren, whom I am longing to see—you who are my joy and my crown, stand fast in union with the Lord, dear friends. 2 I beg of Euodia, and I beseech Syntyche, to be of one mind in the Lord. 3 And I entreat you also, my sincere companion, help those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known to everyone; the Lord is at hand. 6 Never be anxious, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Again, I kept track of which versions I utilized (whole verses or most of a verse):

Rheims NT: 34 verses (33% of 104 verses)
King James (AV): 33 (32%)
Moffatt 15 (14%)
Weymouth: 12 (11%)
20th Century NT 8 (8%)
Young's Literal Translation 2 (2%)

Thus, 65% (or almost two-thirds) of the work for this letter remains King James / Rheims (in roughly equal parts), with the remaining 35% is early 20th century revision of Elizabethan language in some fashion ("Victorian" language).

For Mark, chapters 1-4, the "Elizabethan" percentage was a little lower (53%) and the Weymouth / 20th Century percentage considerably higher (31% compared to 19%). So there will be some variability, but the general proportion seems clear: half or more Elizabethan, which is what I'm striving for (maintenance of the grandeur of the Olde English). Here is the grand total of all eight chapters:

King James (AV): 74 verses (29.25% of 253 verses)
Rheims NT: 73 verses (28.85%)
Weymouth: 37 (15%)
20th Century NT 29 (11.46%)
Moffatt 28 (11.07%)
Young's Literal Translation 12 (5%)

This adds up to a 58% Elizabethan proportion, and 42% Victorian. It looks, then, like it will be around 40% substantial revision of passages for the entire New Testament. That's roughly how much of the old language (in my judgment) needed to be updated, for the sake of clarity and understanding.

Now, to give readers an idea of how I'm going about this, there was one passage (Philippians 3:21) where I combined three different translations. I think, in this example, my reasoning or selection process will be pretty clear and straightforward, in accordance with my stated goals. I generally select one version for one verse. Frequently, a few words are used from a different version, for clarity's sake. Sometimes it is roughly half one version and half another. But in this (rare) case, three versions were used:

KJV: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Rheims: Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

Young's Literal Translation: who shall transform the body of our humiliation to its becoming conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working of his power, even to subject to himself the all things.

Victorian King James Version: Who shall transform the body of our lowness, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the operation of his power, whereby he is able to subject all things unto himself. 

The "base" (as usual in this work) is KJV (sort of like the primer paint, to which colors are then added). From Rheims (a quite similar rendering, as usual, because it often drew from KJV in the 18th century Challoner revision) came the more descriptive word, "operation" (rather than "working"), "lowness" (rather than "vile"), and the omission of the semi-archaic / not strictly necessary "even" near the end. And from Young's Literal Translation came the key descriptive words, "transform" (rather than "change" or "reform") and "his power" and "subject" (rather than "subdue"). 
The final selection also took account of the RSV and NASB versions (I mentioned in the Introduction that I would consult them). NASB contained "transform," "power," and "subject." RSV has "lowly," "power," and "subject."

This provides a clear and straightforward illustration of the "selection philosophy" I am utilizing. Front and center are beauty and tradition in linguistic expression, while maintaining literal translation and accuracy to the ears of the modern reader.

I believe I've succeeded in my task; thanks be to God, and that this New Testament offers something fresh and different: enough so to justify its creation.
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