A THE critical labours of Griesbach, in examining the age and value of the manuscripts, and in settling the Greek text of the New Testament, are too well known to need any remark. His text, in the edition dated Leipsic, 1805, is the standard to which most scholars appeal. In rendering this into English, the translator has made use of such commentaries and helps as were within his reach, and he lays no claim to any thing new or peculiar. He has made no change for changing's sake, being well aware of how much every new word grates upon the ear that is accustomed to the beautiful simplicity of the Authorised Version. His aim has been to give the meaning and idiom of the corrected Greek text as far as possible in the well-known words; and to lay before the English reader those fruits of the labours of our numerous biblical critics, which are already well known to the learned. The Philology of the critics, writes Matthew Henry in his Commentary, hath been of much more advantage to religion, and lent more light to sacred truth than the philosophy of the school divines. Some readers may perhaps wish that the changes had been fewer; but no translation while new, however few and necessary the changes, even if far more free from fault than the present, could ever make its way into general use, or get read by any but students; and the translator hopes that by such readers the loss of the old words will be forgiven for the chance of gaining a more faithful knowledge of the original. 8th March, 1840. |