The Urantia Book – New Enhanced Edition

The Urantia Book

The Urantia Book | Index | Definition of Terms | Pronunciation Guide | Adopted Corrections

Foreword | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

Adopted Corrections to the 1955 Text

Part IV Reference Consideration Decision Part IV (1321) 1955 text: twelve Urantia Midwayers acting under the supervision of a Melchizedek Revelatory Director. The basis of this narrative was supplied by a secondary Midwayer

Review: twelve Urantia midwayers acting under the supervision of a Melchizedek revelatory director. The basis of this narrative was supplied by a secondary midwayer Adopted: Capitalization removed. All three of these corrections reflect the adoption of the style for the descriptive information on the title page for Part IV. 121:7.3 (1340.1) 1955 text: one who did not hestitate to clash with dogmas

Review: one who did not hesitate to clash with dogmas Adopted: Simple typesetting spelling error. 123:2.3 (1357.7) 1955 text: one month before his fifth birthday anniversay

Review: one month before his fifth birthday anniversary Adopted: Simple typesetting spelling error. 124:1.12 (1368.1) 1955 text: on pleasure or business to nearby Cana, Endor, and Nain

Review: on pleasure or business to near-by Cana, Endor, and Nain Adopted: All other instances of near-by as an adjective are hyphenated; consistent adjective usage supports this correction. 125:1.5 (1379.1) 1955 text: around to view the “gate beautiful,” the artistic gate

Review: around to view the “Gate Beautiful,” the artistic gate Adopted: Gate Beautiful is clearly one name for this gate; therefore capitalization is appropriate. 126:1.2 (1387.2) 1955 text: Not far away he could look upon Tannach, where

Review: Not far away he could look upon Taanach, where Adopted: Taanach is the correct spelling and standard transliteration of the name. 126:1.5 (1387.5) 1955 text: some superhuman or miraculous peformance

Review: some superhuman or miraculous performance Adopted: Simple typesetting spelling error. 130:6.3 (1437.3) 1955 text: its abject fear-slave and the bond-servant of depression

Review: its abject fear-slave and the bond servant of depression Adopted: Bond servant is found in three different forms in the first printing. The only form found in Webster’s is the open form (bond servant). Therefore, the decision was made to standardize on that form. 133:1.5 (1470.1) 1955 text: and even if any one should be so unthinking

Review: and even if anyone should be so unthinking Adopted: Anyone is correct if anybody could be substituted. 133:7.9 (1480.1) 1955 text: Without the effective functioning of a consciousness sorter and associater there would

Review: Without the effective functioning of a consciousness sorter and associator there would Adopted: The common form, associator, is the consistent usage elsewhere in the text. 134:3.3 (1485.5) 1955 text: discussions in this school of religion began at 10:00 o’clock

Review: discussions in this school of religion began at ten o’clock

—also—

1955 text: sessions started at 3:00 o’clock

Review: sessions started at three o’clock

—also—

1955 text: debates opened at 8:00 o’clock

Review: debates opened at eight o’clock Adopted: The spelled-out form for time is clearly supported in CMOS. 134:7.5 (1492.5) 1955 text: Sychar, Schecham

Review: Sychar, Shechem

—also—

1955 text: Caesarea Philippi

Review: Caesarea-Philippi Adopted: Shechem is the standard transliteration of the name.

—also—

Adopted: Though the open form is in more common use, the hyphenated form has been found in texts pre-dating The Urantia Book and is found today in various references. Given the almost universal consistency of usage in the text, the hyphenated form must have been the author’s choice. 134:8.1 (1492.8) 1955 text: Caesarea Philippi

Review: Caesarea-Philippi Adopted: Correction to hyphenated form. 134:8.9 (1494.2) 1955 text: the so-called “great temptation” of Jesus took place some time before his baptism

Review: the so-called “great temptation” of Jesus took place sometime before his baptism Adopted: The closed form sometime is correct as the reference is to an indefinite point in time rather than to an indefinite period of time. 135:8.1 (1503.4) 1955 text: brought back to Jesus fresh, first-hand reports

Review: brought back to Jesus fresh, firsthand reports Adopted: Of the five occurrences of firsthand and first-hand, only this one is hyphenated; no differentiation in usage exists. 135:11.2 (1507.1) 1955 text: friend of the bridegroom who stands near-by and hears him

Review: friend of the bridegroom who stands near by and hears him Adopted: Consistent adverb usage supports this correction to the open form. 136:3.5 (1513.2) 1955 text: The sovereignty of Michael No. 611,121

Review: The sovereignty of Michael number 611,121 Adopted: The spelled-out version, number, is appropriate in this context. 136:8.3 (1520.4) 1955 text: Throughout all this momentous dialog of Jesus’

Review: Throughout all this momentous dialogue of Jesus’ Adopted: Though this is arguably a more modern and American English form, it is the only instance of the shorter form. Multiple instances of dialogue are found elsewhere. 138:7.4 (1544.3) 1955 text: this was their first clearcut and positive intimation

Review: this was their first clear-cut and positive intimation Adopted: This word is found eight additional times; all are hyphenated. 139:12.1 (1565.9) 1955 text: Judas’ parents were Sadducees

Review: Judas’s parents were Sadducees Adopted: The correct form is Judas’s. 140:8.30 (1583.4) 1955 text: He was liberal, bighearted, learned, and tolerant

Review: He was liberal, big-hearted, learned, and tolerant Adopted: The only other occurrence of this word is hyphenated, so it was decided to standardize on this version. 142:8.4 (1606.1) 1955 text: The Sabbath week ends they usually spent with Lazarus

Review: The Sabbath weekends they usually spent with Lazarus Adopted: The closed form has become the standard usage, and has been adopted. 143:5.3 (1613.1) 1955 text: Give me this water that I thirst not neither come all the way

Review: Give me this water that I thirst not, neither come all the way Adopted: The comma properly separates the phrases, making this sentence easier to read. 146:4.1 (1643.2) 1955 text: teach and preach at the week-day evening assemblies

Review: teach and preach at the weekday evening assemblies Adopted: The closed form has become the standard usage and has been adopted. 147:4.2 (1650.3) 1955 text: for the encouragement of evil doing

Review: for the encouragement of evil-doing Adopted: There has been a clear preference for the hyphenated form since the 17th century. 147:5.1 (1651.5) 1955 text: He was a half-hearted believer

Review: He was a halfhearted believer Adopted: The closed form is the consistent usage elsewhere in the text. Therefore, the decision was made to standardize on that form. 149:4.1 (1673.1) 1955 text: and the Master among other things said, in reply

Review: and the Master, among other things, said in reply Adopted: This sentence required two corrections to make it flow correctly: a comma was inserted after the Master, and a pre-existing comma that originally followed said was moved in front of said—to follow things. 149:7.1 (1677.2) 1955 text: and return to Bethsaida some time on Thursday

Review: and return to Bethsaida sometime on Thursday Adopted: The reference is to an indefinite point in time, rather than an indefinite period of time; therefore sometime is correct. 151:6.2 (1695.5) 1955 text: with fetters and chains and confined in one of the grottos

Review: with fetters and chains and confined in one of the grottoes Adopted: Though both forms are correct, this word is found elsewhere in the text as grottoes. Therefore, the text was standardized on that form. 152:3.2 (1702.3) 1955 text: but you are short-sighted and material-minded

Review: but you are shortsighted and material-minded Adopted: The closed form is the consistent usage elsewhere. 153:1.7 (1709.1) 1955 text: Jairus’ only reply to all this pleading was

Review: Jairus’s only reply to all this pleading was Adopted: The correct form is Jairus’s. 153:3.5 (1712.5) 1955 text: He said: “But hearken to me all of you

Review: He said: “But hearken to me, all of you Adopted: The comma properly separates the phrases, making this sentence easier to read. 157:1.3 (1744.1) 1955 text: The collector accepted the tax, foregoing the penalty for

Review: The collector accepted the tax, forgoing the penalty for Adopted: The corrected spelling of forgoing is etymologically preferable. 158:4.6 (1756.3) 1955 text: Come out of him you unclean spirit

Review: Come out of him, you unclean spirit Adopted: The comma properly separates the phrases, making this sentence easier to read. 158:7.1 (1759.3) 1955 text: The apostles had slept very little that night;

Review: The apostles had slept very little that night, Adopted: The semi-colon is too strong a separator. A comma is more appropriate. 159:3.9 (1766.5) 1955 text: there is deliberate evildoing and sinful rebellion

Review: there is deliberate evil-doing and sinful rebellion Adopted: There has been a clear preference for the hyphenated form since the 17th century and it is the form approved by both the OED and Webster’s. 160:3.2 (1777.3) 1955 text: they are at once restful and time-saving

Review: they are at once restful and timesaving Adopted: Though the original is clear, the closed form is the common one and was approved in Webster’s 1934. 161:2.9 (1786.4) 1955 text: He says that any one who has seen him has seen the Father

Review: He says that anyone who has seen him has seen the Father Adopted: The closed form is correct. 162:2.4 (1791.2) 1955 text: more wonderful than this Jesus of Nazareth has already done?”

Review: more wonderful than this Jesus of Nazareth has already done.” Adopted: This is an indirect question contained within a declarative sentence, so the period is correct. 162:4.3 (1794.2) 1955 text: And then the faithful marched on toward the beautiful gate

Review: And then the faithful marched on toward the Beautiful Gate Adopted: Beautiful Gate is clearly one name for this gate; therefore capitalization is appropriate. 162:7.2 (1796.4) 1955 text: who commits sin is the bond-servant of sin

Review: who commits sin is the bond servant of sin

—also—

1955 text: And you know that the bondservant is not likely

Review: And you know that the bond servant is not likely Adopted: The only form found in Webster’s is the open form. 165:0.3 (1817.3) 1955 text: from these regions during the times of Judas Maccabeus

Review: from these regions during the times of Judas Maccabee Adopted: Although Maccabeus is a more accurate transliteration of the Greek, Maccabee is common in English works and is used in all other occurrences in The Urantia Book. 165:4.8 (1822.3) 1955 text: but their hearts are set upon their own selfish gain’.”

Review: but their hearts are set upon their own selfish gain.’" Adopted: Quotation marks—single or double—should always enclose a comma or period. This is a rule without exception. 166:3.4 (1829.1) 1955 text: Lord open to us; we would also be great

Review: Lord, open to us; we would also be great Adopted: In the original format, Lord was the last word in the line, making a dropped comma likely. 167:2.2 (1835.2) 1955 text: I have just bought a farm, and I must needs to go prove it;

Review: I have just bought a farm, and I must needs go to prove it; Adopted: The original to go is a transposition resulting in a grammatically incorrect formulation. 167:4.3 (1837.2) 1955 text: so that on the second, or even the third, day such a one would

Review: so that on the second or even the third day, such a one would Adopted: The form with only a comma following day, is the most readable punctuation of any known alternative, pacing the reader smoothly through the sentence and conveying its meaning clearly. 167:5.3 (1838.4) 1955 text: he had become enamoured of a better-looking woman

Review: he had become enamored of a better-looking woman Adopted: This word is also found at 121:5.6; there, the American spelling, enamored, is used. Both forms are acceptable so in the interests of text standardization the American form was adopted. 168:5.1 (1849.5) 1955 text: until the day of the crucifixion of Jesus

Review: until the days of the crucifixion of Jesus Adopted: The correction from day to days here is required because the former is inconsistent with the ensuing narrative. 169:3.2 (1854.6) 1955 text: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who laid at

Review: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at Adopted: The authors of Part IV of The Urantia Book generally follow the text of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, with certain modernizations and corrections as needed. 172:3.4 (1881.2) 1955 Text:contradictory so-called Messianic prophesies

Review:contradictory so-called Messianic prophecies Adopted: Prophesy is the spelling that should be used for the verb (he was prophesying a bumper harvest), whereas prophecy is the correct spelling for the noun (a bleak prophecy of war and ruin). 172:3.6 (1881.4) 1955 text: If any one asks you why you do this, merely say

Review: If anyone asks you why you do this, merely say Adopted: Anyone is correct if anybody could be substituted. 172:5.2 (1884.1) 1955 text: Andrew was busy watching some of his associates whom he feared might be led

Review: Andrew was busy watching some of his associates who he feared might be led

—also—

1955 text: He was concerned about the attitude of some of the twelve whom he knew were

Review: He was concerned about the attitude of some of the twelve who he knew were Adopted: The pronoun is the subject of the verb phrase might be led away, not the object of feared; therefore who is the correct form.

—also—

Adopted: The pronoun is the subject of the verb were armed, not the object of knew nor of were armed; therefore who is the correct form. 173:1.3 (1889.1) 1955 text: a coin about the size of a ten cent piece but twice as thick

Review: a coin about the size of a ten-cent piece but twice as thick Adopted: The hyphenated word ten-cent is the standard form and is specified by CMOS. 176:3.4 (1916.4) 1955 text: make gains for their master except he who received but one talent

Review: make gains for their master except him who received but one talent Adopted: The pronoun is the object of the preposition except; therefore him is correct. 177:3.7 (1924.3) 1955 text: why he would be willing to forego the great advantage

Review: why he would be willing to forgo the great advantage Adopted: The corrected spelling of forgo is etymologically preferable. 177:4.1 (1924.5) 1955 text: appointed for shortly after 10 o’clock that morning

Review: appointed for shortly after ten o’clock that morning Adopted: The spelled-out form for time is clearly supported in CMOS. 177:5.2 (1927.3) 1955 text: still others whom you think love the truth will be

Review: still others who you think love the truth will be Adopted: The pronoun is the subject of love, not the object of think; therefore who is the correct form. 179:5.9 (1943.2) 1955 text: he said to the twelve: “And as often as you do this

Review: he said to the eleven: “And as often as you do this

—also—

1955 text: and then, by faith, discern that you shall all some time sup with me

Review: and then, by faith, discern that you shall all sometime sup with me Adopted: There were only eleven apostles with Jesus at this point in the narrative.

—also—

Adopted: The closed form is correct as the reference is to an indefinite point in time rather than to an indefinite period of time. 180:3.1 (1946.6) 1955 text: Be not downcast even when faint-hearted believers turn

Review: Be not downcast even when fainthearted believers turn Adopted: This adverbial variant is particularly strange in hyphenated form, so the closed form was decided upon. 180:3.4 (1947.3) 1955 text: stations in the Father’s heaven to which you shall some time ascend

Review: stations in the Father’s heaven to which you shall sometime ascend Adopted: The closed form is correct as the reference is to an indefinite point in time rather than to an indefinite period of time. 184:3.1 (1982.2) 1955 text: on informal charges of law-breaking

Review: on informal charges of lawbreaking Adopted: Of the five occurrences of lawbreaker and lawbreaking in the text, three are closed and two are hyphenated. There is no differential in meaning indicated by the two forms, so text standardization in the closed form was decided upon. 184:3.15 (1983.7) 1955 text: be done with this law-breaker

Review: be done with this lawbreaker Adopted: Of the five occurrences of lawbreaker and lawbreaking in the text, three are closed and two are hyphenated. There is no differential in meaning indicated by the two forms, so text standardization in the closed form was decided upon. 186:3.2 (2000.5) 1955 text: Philadelphia, Sidon, Schechem, Hebron

Review: Philadelphia, Sidon, Shechem, Hebron Adopted: Shechem is the standard transliteration of the name. 186:5.5 (2002.6) 1955 text: relations between man and his Maker on this world

Review: relations between man and his Maker, on this world Adopted: The addition of the comma after Maker properly sets off the parenthetical phrase that follows. 187:5.1 (2010.2) 1955 text: sandstorms from the Arabian desert.

Review: sandstorms from the Arabian Desert. Adopted: The formatting of geographic names is covered by CMOS; the correct form is Arabian Desert. 188:4.3 (2016.8) 1955 text: because of the evildoing of his ancestors

Review: because of the evil-doing of his ancestors Adopted: There has been a clear preference for the hyphenated form since the 17th century and it is the form approved by the OED and Webster’s. 188:4.5 (2016.10) 1955 text: the tendency toward evildoing

Review: the tendency toward evil-doing Adopted: There has been a clear preference for the hyphenated form since the 17th century and it is the form approved by the OED and Webster’s. 190:3.3 (2033.3) 1955 text: It was even suggested that any one claiming to have seen him

Review: It was even suggested that anyone claiming to have seen him Adopted: Anyone is correct if anybody could be substituted. 191:5.3 (2043.1) 1955 text: the far-away ascetics teach reverence

Review: the faraway ascetics teach reverence Adopted: Except for this single instance, The Urantia Book uses the closed form. 194:4.6 (2067.1) 1955 text: and determined all their new concept of God and everything else

Review: and determined all their new concepts of God and everything else Adopted: Though one can determine their new concept or determine their new concepts, the inclusion of all here requires the plural concepts. 195:3.10 (2074.5) 1955 text: Poutaenus taught Clement and then went on to follow

Review: Pantaenus taught Clement and then went on to follow Adopted: Pantaenus is the correct spelling. 196:3.35 (2097.3) 1955 text: And the spirit of the Father is in his Son’s sons—mortal men

Review: And the spirit of the Father is in his Sons’ sons—mortal men Adopted: Sons’ appears to be correct in light of the prior sentence which provides the context ...this life of the Father is in his Sons.