Contemporary Literature [pp. 175-196]

182 CONTEMIPORARY LIiTERATURE. I Jan u ary,
pertinent, intelligible and conclusive for the popular mind, that we think it
might advantageously be shaped into a tract for general circulation.
BIBLICAL LITERATURE.
The U,ords of the New Testament as Altered by Transmission and
Ascertaitned by ollo,lern Criticism. For popular use. By Rev. WILLIAM
MILLIGAN, D.D., Prof. of Divinity and Biblical Criticism, Aberdeen; and
Rev. ALEX. ROBERTS, D.D., Prof. of Humanity, St. Andrews. Edinburgh:
T. & T. Clark. pp. 262. The two authors of this useful volume are members of the British Committee on the Revision of the Scriptures. They here
show the principles of textual criticism by which such a revision must be
guided, so far as it involves changes in the received Greek text of the New
Testament. The subject is one which has received less general attention
than it demands and deserves, and a thorough understanding of it is quite
necessary to any just appreciation of the labors of the Committee. The
volume is, in short, a concise and popular account of the textual criticism of
tile Nes Testament, in view of the methods, aims and results of the best critical labors, especially of the last half century.
Both of the authors are well qualified for their work. They have a high
position as biblical scholars, and they show sound sense in their statement
and application of principles. The first part of the work, by Professor
Roberts, is on the " Facts of the Case," giving an account of the various
readings in the New Testament, of the existing manuscripts, versions and
ancient quotations, with a sketch of the history of modern biblical criticism.
The second part, by Professor Milligan, ably explains the mode of dealing
with the facts-by a popular comparison, classification and grouping of the
authorities, so as to lead to a determination of the true text. This is a very
satisfactory part of the work. In the third part, entitled the " Results,"
these principles and methods are applied in detail by Dr. Milligan to texts in
the Gospels and Acts, and by Dr. Roberts to texts in the other books of the
New Testament. Some of these results will be surprising to those who are
not familiar with the labors of the best recent critics in their endeavour to reestablish so far as is possible the apostolic text, resting chiefly on the most
ancient authorities or those directly dependent on them. For example, Mat.
xi. i9, reads, "For wisdom was justified of her works;" Mark iii. 29, "He
that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is
guilty of an eternal sin;" Luke ii. I4., "On earth peace, in men whom in his
good pleasure He hath chosen;" I Peter iii. I5, "But sanctify Christ as
Lord in your hearts" (see Isaiah viii. I3); John i. I8, "No man hath seen
God at any time; the only begotten God which is in the bosom of the Father
hath declared him." The most important changes throughout the New Tes tament are carefully noted.
The work will be found of value not only to professed scholars but to all
who may wish to learn something on this weighty subject, Which must have
increased attention. Even those who do not read Greek will be able to go
through the whole volume with interest and profit.