Suggestive Readings from the Syriac New Testament [pp. 650-660]

SUGGESTIVE READINGS FROM THE
Heb. ii. 9 furnishes a reading (in the Nestorian copies) which
must have played an important part in the original Nestorian
controversy, or which may have been one of its fruits, and which
is now insisted on with emphasis by Nestorian preachers. We
have it in our version, "We see Jesus, who was made a little
lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death
for every man." The Syriac reads as follows: "But Him that
stooped a little from the angels (or humbled Himself), we see that
it was Jesus on account of the suffering of his death, and glory and
honor put upon his head; for he, apart from God (that is in his
humanity to which he stooped), in the stead of all men tasted
death."
In Heb. vii. 25, " Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him," the Syriac reads, "He is
able to cive lifeJorever to those who approach by his hand (or
through him) to God;" corresponding thus with the marginal
reading, ant. following out much more directly and faithfully
the thought of the context. He himself abides forever and has
an unchangeable office. Therefore he is able to give life forever.
1. Pet. ii. 7-8 read thus, "To you therefore is given this honor,
to those who believe, but to those who are disobedient, a stone
(he) is of stumbling, and a rock of offence (or rejection)." Here,
aside from the remarkable omission in v. 7 (" the stone-corner"),
the rendering partially agrees with the marginal reading; and
while it cannot but be felt by many to be a serious loss, to be
compelled to relinquish the cherished expression of the text of
our version, "Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious,"
yet the Syriac seems more in accordance with the thought of the
writer. Looking back no farther than v. 5, it is surely an honor
to be built upon the living rock, Christ Jesus, as lively stones, into
a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. This honor is
given to you who believe.
The 24th v. of the same chapter is much more explicit in its
declaration of the vicarious nature, the substitutionary character
and atoning efficacy of the sufferings of Christ, than is our English
version, or even the Greek text. It reads as follows: "And took
our sins all of them, and lifted them up in his body to the cross,
that while we are dead to sin, we might by the righteousness that is
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