Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

PREFACE.

THE HE edition of the New Testament, now presented to the reader, is the fruit of much thought on the part of the Editor. The project of issuing such an edition had its origin in a conviction that something could be done to make our invaluable English Version more intelligible to devout students of the Word of God, by some little helps in arrangement and printing. The divisions into chapters and verses (being entirely of human origin) have, in this edition, been retained solely for the purpose of reference,-custom having sanctioned their use; but they have been made subordinate to another arrangement into Paragraphs and Sections, according to the subject matter; and these sections have, by means of figures placed over each, been put into chronological order. An Index is supplied at the end shewing where any section is to be found. Quotations from the Old Testament have been distinguished by being printed in capitals, and speeches have been denoted by inverted commas.

A brief Introduction is prefixed to each Book, and a running analysis of the argument

in the Epistles has been attempted.

Lastly, Parallel Passages, illustrative of the text in different ways-confirmatory, elucidatory, suggesting a contrast, carrying out the same thought, bringing in juxta-position some other Scripture truth, or hinting some unnoticed coincidence—have been carefully noted. These will, it is hoped, be considered a valuable aid presented to the diligent student, and as in some measure meeting the object so forcibly described in the words of Bishop Horsley :

Particular diligence

"It is incredible,"

"It were to be wished, that no Bibles were printed without references. should be used in comparing the parallel texts of the Old and New Testament." he adds, "to any one who has not made the experiment, what a proficiency may be made in that 'knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation,' by studying the Scriptures in this manner, without any other commentary or exposition than what the different parts of the Sacred Volume mutually furnish for each other. Let the most illiterate Christian study them in this manner, and let him never cease to pray for the illumination of that Spirit by which these books were dictated, and the whole compass of abstruse philosophy, and recondite history, shall furnish no argument with which the perverse will of man shall be able to shake this learned Christian's faith."

The Editor commends the Chronological New Testament to all lovers of the Word of God, in the sincere belief and earnest hope that they will find it fitted to make that Word speak more clearly to the people. In its compilation he has been much indebted to Townsend's Harmony, to Trollope and to Humphrey on the Acts, and to Kitto's Biblical Cyclopædia, and the Pictorial Bible of the same author, two works which ought to find a place in every theological library. For the parallel passages he has obtained the greatest assistance from Bagster's Bibles, incomparably the best of all reference Bibles, and from Dr. Burton's Greek Testament: for the paragraphs and sections Dr. Burton has been his chief guide.

Should future editions be called for, it will be his endeavour to render it increasingly perfect. For this purpose, he respectfully invites the co-operation of those who are conversant with Biblical studies. He hopes to be able shortly to publish the Old Testament on the same plan.

The following letters, chiefly taken from the writings of Archbishop Secker, have been placed over the Sections, to assist the devotional reading of the Scriptures :

What Acknowledgment to God does this declaration require from me?

BIs my character and Behaviour suitable to this command or exhortation, this description or good example?

What Consolation does this passage administer?

What Duty does this precept or pattern point out?

What Encouragement to a cheerful compliance with the clearly expressed wishes of God, or with the general dealings of His providence, does this passage give?

What Fear for myself does this threatening call for?

Have I acquired that sense of my own sinfulness, and of God's Holiness and justice, which the whole tenor of Scripture inculcates?

Am I duly sensible of the tender regard of God to the human family? Am I reciprocating that Love, and am I imitating it in Loving my brother?

Have I acquired a sense of my own Need of the merits of Christ, and the aid of the Divine Spirit?

Do I see myself under another name Reproved, condemned, stigmatized?

Of what Sin does this passage, this narrative, or this admonition, convince me?

Do I behold with reverence and admiration the truthfulness of God in the predictions of Scripture, or in delineations of character, and am I loving Truth?

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW.

ST. MATTHEW, who was also called Levi, was one of the five disciples whose call is particularly mentioned, Matt. ix. 9. Mark ii. 14. Luke v. 27. His name occurs but once in the Acts, and not at all in the Epistles. He is said to have preached in Ethiopia, but this is uncertain.

There is much probability in the opinion that he wrote his Gospel at first in the Palestine dialect, about A.D. 45, and afterwards the Greek Gospel which we now possess. The first however is totally lost. That St. Matthew's Gospel was not written before 62 is conjectured by Bishop Marsh, from the silence of St. Luke, who accompanied Paul to Rome in that year, and whose notice it would hardly have escaped. Eusebius places it somewhere about the year 43, and this is probably very near the truth. That St. Matthew wrote principally for the Jews has been inferred from his not explaining Jewish rites and expressions and from his apparent wish to set forth Jesus as the promised Messiah of the old covenant. None of the evangelists quote the Old Testament so often as Matthew, and his quotations are, for the most part, in accordance with the Hebrew. In his genealogy of Jesus there are discrepancies which have never been satisfactorily explained, but he no doubt made it in a manner intelligible to the Jews of his time.

It may be divided into three Parts.

a JesusChrist our

made of the seed

ing to the flesh. Rom. 1, 3.

b By myself have I sworn, saith

the Lord-in thy seed shall all the earth be blessed.

nations of the

Gen. 22, 16-18.

[ocr errors]

ren;

I.

The Preparation of Jesus, II. The Public Ministry,

[blocks in formation]

Legal genealogy of Jesus Christ.

7

9

[ocr errors]

HE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David,a Lord, who was the son of Abraham. Abraham beof David accord-gat gat Isaac'; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his breth3 and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram and Áram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse ; 6 and Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; and Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 and Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 and Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 and after they were brought the mighty men to Babylon, Jechonias begat Sala10,000 captives: thiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; none remained 13 and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and sort of the peo-Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim ple of the land. 2 Kin. 24, 14. begat Azor; 14 and Azor begat Sa

a Some read, Josias begat Jakim,

and Jakim begut e And Nebuchadnezzar king of away all Jerusa

Jechonias.

Babylon carried

lem, and all the princes, and all

of valour, even

save the poorest

8

Chap. I.-IV. 16.

Chap. IV. 17.-XVI. 20. Chap. XVI. 21.-XXVIII.

doc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and BEFORE A.D. 5. Achim begat Eliud; 15 and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

The fifth year before the common era, called A.D. 7
NAZARETH. An angel appears to Joseph.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the "Holy Ghost. Lu. 1, 35. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make e Deu. 24, 1. her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the 8 Gr. begotten. Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his Y people from their sins."

Saviour. Heb. Ac. 4, 12. Lu. 1,31

22 Now all and 2, 21.

Sor, his name shall be called. Is. 7, 14

[ocr errors]

BEFORE A.D. 5. this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23" BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL,' which being interpreted is, God with 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son : and he called his name JESUS.

Lu. 2, 1-7.

us.

2

Before A.D. 4. BETHLEHEM.

[blocks in formation]

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying,

66

Arise, and take the young child
and his mother, and flee into Egypt,
and be thou there until I bring thee
word: for Herod will seek the young
14 When he
child to destroy him."
arose he took the young child and his
mother by night, and departed into
death of Herod: that it might be
Egypt: 15 and was there until the
fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet, saying, "OUT OF

EGYPT HAVE I CALLED MY SON."

Herod's Cruelty.

5 15

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was

[ocr errors]

The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba & Seba shall offer gifts. Ps. 72, 10. Is. 60. 6.

h Hos. 11, 1.

The Magi enquire for the Christ. A 13 2 NOW OW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem on Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, "In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, AND THOU, BETH-exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and LEHEM, in THE LAND OF JUDA, ART slew all the children that were in NOT THE LEAST AMONG THE PRINCES Bethlehem, and in all the coasts OF JUDA: FOR OUT OF THEE SHALL thereof, from two years old and under, Or, feed. Mic. 5,2 COME A GOVERNOR, THAT SHALL RULE according to the time which he had MY PEOPLE ISRAEL." Then Herod diligently inquired of the wise men. when he had privily called the wise 17 Then was fulfilled that which was men, inquired of them diligently what spoken by Jeremy the prophet, say-i Jer. 31, 15. time the star appeared. And he ing, 18 " IN RAMA WAS THERE A VOICE sent them to Bethlehem, and said, HEARD, LAMENTATION AND WEEPING, "Go and search diligently for the AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPyoung child; and when ye have ING for HER CHILDREN, AND WOULD found him, bring me word again, that NOT BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY I may come and worship him also." ARE NOT." 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when

Juo. 7, 42.

Before A.D. 3.—The return from Egypt. 16 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the

« AnteriorContinuar »