Scottish Paraphrases – The Second Collection (1775-1781)
In 1775, the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr informed the General Assembly that there were several ministers and congregations who wanted to use the collection of forty-five Paraphrases that had been compiled in 1745 and the Synod requested that they be allowed to use them. A committee was formed to consider the matter. In 1778 the committee informed the Assembly that a large collection of Paraphrases had been compiled. Although the Assembly gave the committee permission to print the collection and send it for review to Presbyteries, the committee did not do so and continued to work on their assignment. Eventually in 1781, the committee completed its labours.
The Assembly passed an Act in connection with this collection of sixty-seven Paraphrases and five hymns. Among its concerns were the following: [Having received the Report of the Committee,] ‘Which being considered by the General Assembly and they having deliberated thereupon, the Assembly appoints these Translations and Paraphrases to be transmitted to the several Presbyteries of the Church, in order that they may report their opinion concerning them to the ensuing General Assembly; and in the meantime, allows this Collection of sacred Poems to be used in Public Worship in congregations where the minister finds it for edification. The General Assembly renews the appointment of their Committee, with powers to judge of any corrections or alterations of these Poems that may be suggested, previous to the transmission of the same, and with directions to cause a proper number of copies, with such corrections as they approve, to be printed for the consideration of Presbyteries and for public use.’
This is the only legislation of Paraphrases ever passed for allowing their use in public worship. It allowed their use for a period defined as ‘in the meantime’ which was to last until the next General Assembly when the re-appointed Committee would report on action taken on any comments received from Presbyteries. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, given the disinterest shown previously by Presbyteries in introducing the Paraphrases into public worship, the committee never gave in another report.
The outcome is that the use of Paraphrases after ‘the meantime’ was over has not been legislated for by a General Assembly. Nevertheless, Paraphrases continued to be used in public worship in some congregations.
As far as I can see with regard to the Scottish paraphrases, there are three areas that need clarification. One is their legitimacy according to church law, which basically comes down to the simple question, Do we have authority to sing them? That question is not a statement of approval or disapproval of paraphrases. It is based on the necessity of having Assembly approval for the elements we use in worship, and I don’t think such approval exists with regard to paraphrases. If someone can show me that such approval exists, then that question is answered.
Second, we do not have a definition of a paraphrase. Most would say it is a metrical version of a Bible passage. Yet there are many songs in the current paraphrases which do not meet that description (for example, what passage is ‘O God of Bethel’ based on? I think I know the incident that may have suggested it). So what kind of song do people have in mind when asking for paraphrases?
Third, what authority do we have for turning prose passages into paraphrases? I can understand the argument that we should sing other Bible songs in public worship as well as psalms (although I don’t agree with it). But I am not aware of any indication that we should turn prose into paraphrases.
