Daniel Mace (biblical scholar)

Daniel Mace (c. 1690 – 1753) was a French Protestant minister and biblical scholar, best known for his controversial edition of the New Testament in English, published in 1729.

Mace, likely of Huguenot descent, ministered to French congregations in England, notably at Greenwich. His New Testament aimed to present the text in a more accessible and idiomatic style, reflecting contemporary English usage. He employed a paraphrase-like translation approach, prioritizing clarity and flow over strict adherence to the Greek original.

Mace's work was innovative in several respects. He divided the text into paragraphs, employed headings to indicate the content of sections, and utilized italics to highlight words or phrases not explicitly present in the Greek but deemed necessary for understanding in English. He also provided a preface outlining his principles of translation and textual criticism.

However, Mace's New Testament was met with considerable criticism. Detractors accused him of excessively paraphrasing the text, introducing unorthodox interpretations, and distorting the meaning of scripture. Orthodox theologians particularly objected to his Socinian leanings, believing that his translation reflected a Unitarian theological perspective. His rendering of key passages relating to the Trinity and the divinity of Christ were scrutinized and condemned.

Despite the controversy, Mace's New Testament exerted a significant influence on subsequent biblical scholarship. His emphasis on clarity, readability, and paragraphing influenced later translations, including those of William Whiston and Edward Harwood. Furthermore, his work highlights the ongoing debates surrounding translation theory and the challenges of rendering ancient texts into modern languages. He is remembered as a figure whose work, though controversial, contributed to the evolution of English Bible translation.