culminating in the English one of 1611, was formed. The materials which he had, even when supplemented by the additional MSS. used by Stephens and others, were but few in number, and secondary in importance Not one of the four chief MSS. or Codices was then available, nor the host of other MSS. which have since been discovered. And if the materials were but scanty, the labour bestowed on the work was insufficient; and as Erasmus says of his version, "It was rather tumbled headlong into the world than edited." But the appetite of Europe, stimulated by the invention of printing, was keen for the Word of God, and could brook no delay. As to the fitness of the present time for revision, certainly no age before this has had such ample sources whence to form a text, and none other has had the like wealth of Biblical criticism, which indeed could have no existence until the number of MSS, and the variety of readings furnished material for its exercise, and until the press rendered the labours of each critic available for all engaged in the same work. Not a few of the most important MSS. have been published in their entirety, whilst a large number have been collated by Tregelles, Scrivener, Griesbach, Mill, and others. An important evidence of the need which is felt for a revised version, and which, perhaps, has been hardly sufficiently noticed, is the number of revised Greek texts, and of commentaries on the whole Bible and certain books of it, which have been published and much read of late years. Many of these latter have, as their special features, improved text or readings, or new translations. It will be sufficient to mention the works of Bengel, Steir, Delitzsch, Lachmann, Tischendorf, Alford, Wordsworth, Ellicott, Lightfoot, the Speaker's Commentary, that of "Five Clergymen," McLellan, Scrivener, Palmer, the just published text of Westcott and Hort, the result of twenty years' labour. The history of the Revision of 1881, is briefly as follows:-Convocation passed a resolution in favour of a revision of the Authorised Version of the Holy Scriptures, on May 6th, 1870, and a committee of its own members was nominated, with liberty to invite the co-operation of eminent scholars of any nation or religious body. The committee consisted of sixteen members, eight of them being Bishops. At the first meeting of the united committee, twenty-one scholars were elected as members of the New Testament Company. The Half of the added members belonging to the Church of England. In America, in the same year, a Revision Company was formed to co-operate with the English committee, and the members were selected from the larger religious bodies of that country; the New Testament Company consisting of fifteen members. Principles and Rules laid down for the guidance of the Revisionists by the Committee of Convocation, together with the mode of cooperation with the American Companies, with other information as to the Revised Version, will be found in the Revisers' Preface to that version. The original and invited members of the New Testament Company were the following:-The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol (Dr. Ellicott), Chairman. The Archbishop of Dublin (Dr. Trench); Bishops of Durham (Dr. J. B. Lightfoot); Salisbury (Dr. Moberley); St. Andrew's (Dr. Wordsworth). The Very Revs. Dr. E. Bickersteth, Dean of Lichfield, and Prolocutor of the Lower House of Convocation; Dr. Arthur P. Stanley, Dean of Westminster; Dr. J. W. Blakesley, Dean of Lincoln; Dr. C. J. Vaughan, Dean of Llandaff and Master of the Temple; Dr. R Scott, Dean of Rochester. The Rev. Canons B. H. Kennedy, Regius Professor of Greek, Cambridge; B. F. Westcott, Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge. Prebendary Humphry, St. Paul's, London. The Ven. Archdeacons W. Lee, D.D. (Dublin) and Lecturer in Divinity; E. Palmer (Oxford), Professor of Latin, Oxford. The Rev. Doctors F. H. Scrivener, Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge; F. J. A. Hort, Fellow of Emmanuel Coll., Cambridge; J. Angus, President of the Baptist College, Regent's Park, London; D. Brown, Professor of Divinity and Principal, Free Church College, Aberdeen; W. Milligan, Professor of Divinity, Aberdeen; W. F. Moulton, Professor of Classics, Wesleyan College, Richmond; S. Newth, Principal of New College, London; A. Roberts, Professor of Humanity, St. Andrews; G. Vance Smith, Joint Author of a revised translation of the Scriptures. The following were also members of the Revision Committee:The Bishop of Winchester (Dr. Wilberforce) who died 1873; The Dean of Canterbury (Dr. Alford) who died 1871; Dr. Tregelles, who never was able to take part in the revision, and died 1875; Dr. Eadie, who died 1876. The Dean of Ely (Dr. C. Merivale) resigned 1871, and Dr. J. H. Newman (afterwards Cardinal), Rector of the Roman Catholic University, Dublin, declined to act. GREEK AND OTHER MSS. OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. GREEK MANUSCRIPTS are known as Uncials (written in capital letters,) and Cursives (written more in common or running hand). The four first named are the most important MSS. and are known as follows, originally each contained the whole Bible :CODEX VATICANUS or Codex B., in the Vatican Library, at Rome, is written on parchment, in capital letters, three columns on a page. Of the New Testament, it contains the whole, except the later chapters of Hebrews, the Pastoral Epistles, Philemon, and the Apocalypse. The date assigned to it is the middle of the fourth century. CODEX SINAITICUS (Aleph) contains all the Books entire. This manuscript was discovered by the late Professor Tischendorf, in 1844, when travelling, at the Convent of St. Catherine, on Mount Sinai, where he saw some vellum leaves laid aside for lighting the stove, and these 14 leaves he published. By the favour of the Emperor of Russia, he, in 1859, had obtained possession of the remainder of the manuscript, and it was published in 1862, as a memorial of the thousandth year of the Russian Empire. Supposed date, as (B). It is at St. Petersburgh. CODEX ALEXANDRINUS, (A) so called from having been sent from Alexandria, in 1628, as a present to King Charles I., by Cyrillus Lucaris, Patriarch of Constantinople. It is in four volumes, and is in the British Museum. The Old Testament is nearly complete. In the New Testament the parts wanting are Matthew to xxv. 6; John from vi. 50 to viii. 52`; and 2 Cor. from iv. 13 to xii. 6. Supposed date, the fifth century. CODEX EPHRAEMI (C) contains about three-fifths of the whole (145 out of 238 leaves) one or more sheets having perished out of almost every quire of four sheets. Fifth century. CODEX BEZÆ (D), or Cantabrigiensis, or Britannicus. This manuscript was presented by Beza to the University of Cambridge in 1581, he stating that he discovered it about 19 years before, in the Monastery of St. Irenæus, at Lyons. See above, Beza, 1565. It contains, but not complete, in Latin and in Greek, the Gospels and the Acts. Its supposed date is the sixth century. CODEX CLAROMONTANUS, (Dr.) or Regius, 2245, is a Greek and Latin manuscript of St. Paul's Epistles, found in the Monastery of Clermont, Beauvais. It is one of the most ancient and important in existence, and is of the sixth century. It is Uncial in character, and complete, and is in the Paris Library. See above Beza, 1565. xi The following particulars are extracted from the just published vol. 2 (Introduction and Appendix) of Westcott and Hort's "New Testament in the original Greek." "The remaining Uncial MSS. (after the four first named above) are all of smaller though variable size. None of them show signs of having formed part of a complete Bible, or even of a complete New Testament. The Gospels are contained, in fair completeness, in 19 Uncials, the Acts in 9, Catholic Epistles in 7, Pauline Epistles in 9, and the Apocalypse in 5. The MSS. of the 9th and 10th centuries are about as numerous as those of all the preceding centuries together. With the exception of the Sinaitic, all the more important Uncials, some fragments excepted, have been published in continuous texts. The cursive MSS. range from the 9th to the 16th centuries. About 30 contain the whole New Testament. If each MS. is counted as one, irrespective of the books contained, the total number is between 900 and 1000. Hardly any of these have been printed in extenso, but there are complete and trustworthy collations of a select few from Tregelles, and of a large miscellaneous (English) array from Dr. Scrivener, besides collations of other miscellaneous assemblages. About 150 Cursives may be set down as practically known. A larger number are imperfectly known, and many are unknown. The second class of documents consist of Versions, that is, ancient translations of the whole or parts of the New Testament, made chiefly for the service of churches in which Greek was, at least, not habitually spoken. Besides some outlying Versions, there are three principal classes, the Latin, the Syriac, and the Egyptian, to which may be added two solitary Versions of considerable interest, the Armenian and the Gothic. The other Versions are of comparatively late date, and of little direct value for the Greek text. The third class of documentary evidence is supplied by the writings of the Fathers, which enables us, with more or less certainty, to discover the readings of the MS. or MSS. of the New Testament which they employed. For Lists of the Greek MSS. of the New Testament, with detailed description, history, facsimiles, etc., see Scrivener's Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament for the use of Biblical Students. PLAN OF THE WORK. E VERY passage of the Revised Version is represented under its principal words, and the texts are all given in the very words of the Revised Version, with the stops and capitals. The Concordance consists of two parts : I. The General Portion. II. Proper Names, i.e., of Persons, Places, and Objects personified; for the most part, all words beginning with capital letters in the Revised Version. Such of these as are not ordinarily treated as proper names, are quoted in the general portion of the work with a note of reference, c.g., Christians. see proper names." Order of Words.-The words are arranged in strict alphabetical order, and not in families or groups—as, cry, cried, cries, crying. The latter arrangement was convenient when notes and explanations referring to the whole group were given; but the present order has been adopted as being natural and better suited for easy reference. Changed Words.-The instances in which words used in the Authorised Version are replaced by others in the Revised Version, are very numerous. This occurs either when a totally different word is used, as perceived for discovered, or when one part of a verb is substituted for another, as stand for stood. A student looking for a passage under a word familiar to him in the Authorised Version, will very frequently find that the text does not now occur under that word-but that he may nevertheless be able to find the passage, the following plan has been adopted : At the foot of the texts given under any word, the Reader is referred to such other words as in the Revised Version are used for the old one-e.g., if the passage sought for is "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it," a reader looking for it under perform will not find it, but he is there referred to complete, perfect; and on turning to the texts under perfect will find the passage. At the head of the texts given under any word will be found words of the Authorised Version which have been changed for the word in question; e.g., if the word referred to is Perceived-there will be found at the head five words occurring in the Authorised Version, but which in the texts quoted are all changed in the Revised Version to the word Perceived. Such words, and the texts in which the change has been made, are correspondingly numbered. Omitted Verses and Words.-By the courtesy of the Rev. CANON KENNEDY, D.D., there is inserted, from his "Ely Lectures on the Revised Version of the New Testament" (London: Bentley), a select List of Authorised passages and words which were omitted in the Revision by preponderant authorities. Disused Words and Altered Spelling.-Words used in the Authorised Version, but now altogether displaced by others, are shewn in the body of the work thus-Perceivest A.V.—see considerest. Where the spelling of words has been altered, the old spelling is given, and the reader is referred to the new, e.g., Spunge A. V.-see sponge. Bracketed Words. To assist in fixing a passage, names of persons or places are inserted in brackets, e.g., Acts 18. 25. "[Apollos] taught carefully the things concerning Jesus." Acts 19. 28. "heard this, they [Ephesians] were filled with wrath." THE STUDENT'S CONCORDANCE ERRATA. Page 56. 84. 104. 112. 116. 143. "In or into City," Mat. 9. 1, for "Nazareth" read "Capernaum." "Entered," Acts 28. 8, for "Publius" read "father of Publius." W[Onesimus] whom I would fain have kept with me." 174. "Inquired," for Lu. 18. 26, read Lu. 18. 36. 66 244. Perceived," Acts 19. 34, for "Paul" read "Alexander." 273. "Rent," Mk. 1. 10, for "John " read "Jesus." went in to abide with them Jno. 4. 40. they besought him to a. with them [disciples 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you 10. ye shall abide in my love;-abide in his love 16. that your fruit should abide 1 Jno. 3. 36. but the wrath of God abideth on him 6. 27. for the meat which 2abideth unto eternal life 8. 35. the boud servant a. not-the son abideth for ever 1 Cor. 13. 13. now abideth faith, hope, love 2 Cor. 9. 9. His righteousness abideth for ever PLAN OF EVE VERY passage of the Revised Version is represented under its principal words, and the texts are all given in the very words of the Revised Version, with the stops and capitals. The Concordance consists of two parts : I. The General Portion. II. Proper Names, i.e., of Persons, Places, and Objects personified; for the most part, all words beginning with capital letters in the Revised Version. Such of these as are not ordinarily treated as proper names, are quoted in the general portion of the work with a note of reference, e.g., see proper names." Christians. Order of Words.-The words are arranged in strict alphabetical order, and not in families or groups-as, cry, cried, cries, crying. The latter arrangement was convenient when notes and explanations referring to the whole group were given; but the present order has been adopted as being natural and better suited for easy reference. Changed Words.-The instances in which words used in the Authorised Version are replaced by others in the Revised Version, are very numerous. This occurs either when a totally different word is used, as perceived for discovered, or when one part of a verb is substituted for another, as stand for stood. A student looking for a passage under a word familiar to him in the Authorised Version, will very frequently find that the text does not now occur under that word—but that he may nevertheless be able to find the passage, the following plan has been adopted : At the foot of the texts given under any word, the Reader is referred to such other words as in the Revised Version are used for the old one-e.g., if the passage sought for is "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it," a reader looking for it under perform will not find it, but he is there referred to complete, perfect; and on turning to the texts under perfect will find the passage. At the head of the texts given under any word will be found words of the Authorised Version which have been changed for the word in question; e.g., if the word referred to is Perceived-there will be found at the head five words occurring in the Authorised Version, but which in the texts quoted are all changed in the Revised Version to the word Perceived. Such words, and the texts in which the change has been made, are correspondingly numbered. Omitted Verses and Words.-By the courtesy of the Rev. CANON KENNEDY, D.D., there is inserted, from his "Ely Lectures on the Revised Version of the New Testament" (London: Bentley), a select List of Authorised passages and words which were omitted in the Revision by preponderant authorities. Disused Words and Altered Spelling.-Words used in the Authorised Version, but now altogether displaced by others, are shewn in the body of the work thus-Perceivest A.V.-see considerest. Where the spelling of words has been altered, the old spelling is given, and the reader is referred to the new, c.g., Spunge A. V.-see sponge. Bracketed Words.-To assist in fixing a passage, names of persons or places are inserted in brackets, e.g., Acts 18. 25. "[Apollos] taught carefully the things concerning Jesus." Acts 19. 28. "heard this, they [Ephesians] were filled with wrath." 104. 116. 143. read " Descending," Mat. 3. 16, omit "John Baptist." Capernaum." "Entered," Acts 28. 8, for "Publius" read "father of Publius." "Fain," Philem. 13, read "[Onesimus] whom I would fain have kept with me." 174. "Inquired," for Lu. 18. 26, read Lu. 18. 36. went in to abide with them Jno. 4. 40. they besought him to 1a. with them [disciples 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you 10. ye shall abide in my love;-abide in his love 16. that your fruit should abide Jno. 3. 36. but the wrath of God abideth on him 6. 27. for the meat which 2abideth unto eternal life 8. 35. the bond servant a. not-the son abideth for ever 1 Cor. 13. 13. now abideth faith, hope, love 2 Cor. 9. 9. His righteousness abideth for ever |