Reference: New Testament
Easton
(Lu 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to the latter portion of the Bible. (See Testament.)
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And the cup in like manner, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant [sealed] with my blood, which is poured out for you.
Fausets
(See BIBLE; CANON; INSPIRATION.) hee kainee diatheekee. See Heb 9:15-17; 8:6-13. The Greek term diateeeekee combines the two ideas "covenant" and "testament," which the KJV gives separately, though the Greek is the same for both. "Covenant" expresses its obligatory character, God having bound Himself by promise (Ga 3:15-18; Heb 6:17-18). "Testament" expresses that, unlike other covenants, it is not a matter of bargaining, but all of God's grace, just as a testator has absolute power to do what he will with his own. Jesus' death brings the will of God in our favor into force. The night before His death He said "I appoint unto you by testamentary disposition (diatitheemi) a kingdom" (Lu 22:29). There was really only one Testament - latent in the Old Testament, patent in the New Testament. The disciples were witnesses of the New Testament, and the Lord's Supper was its seal. The Old and New Testament Scriptures are the written documents containing the terms of the will.
TEXT. The "Received Text" (i.e. the "Textus Receptus" or TR) is that of Robert Stephens' edition. Bentley (Letter to Wake in 1716 A.D.) said truly, "after the Complutenses and Erasmus, who had very ordinary manuscripts, the New Testament became the property of booksellers. R. Stephens' edition, regulated by himself alone, has now become as if an apostle were its compositor. I find that by taking 2,000 errors out of the Pope's Vulgate (i.e. correcting by older Latin manuscripts the edition of Jerome's Vulgate put forth by Sixtus V, A.D. 1590, with anathemas against any who should alter it 'in minima particula,' and afterwards altered by Clement VIII (1592) in 2,000 places in spite of Sixtus' anathema) and as many out of the Protestant pope Stephens' edition, I can set out an edition of each (Latin, Vulgate, and Greek text) in columns, without using any book under 900 years old, that shall so exactly agree word for word, and order for order, that no two tallies can agree better. ... These will prove each other to a demonstration, for I alter not a word of my own head."
The first printed edition of the Greek Testament was that in the Complutensian Polyglot, January, 10, 1514 A.D. Scripture was known in western Europe for many ages previously only through the Latin Vulgate of Jerome. F. Ximenes de Cisneros, of Toledo, undertook the work, to celebrate the birth of Charles V. Complutum (Alcala) gave the name. Lopez de Stunica was chief of its New Testament editors. The whole Polyglot was completed the same year that Luther affixed his 95 theses against indulgences to the door of the church at Wittenberg. Leo X lent the manuscripts used for it from the Vatican. It follows modern Greek manuscripts in all cases where these differ from the ancient manuscripts and from the oldest Greek fathers. The Old Testament Vulgate (the translation which is authorized by Rome) is in the central column, between the Greek Septuagint and the Hebrew (the original); and the editors compare the first to Christ crucified between the impenitent (the Hebrew) and the penitent (the Greek) thief!
Though there is no Greek authority for 1Jo 5:7, they supplied it and told Erasmus that the Latin Vulgate's authority outweighs the original Greek! They did not know that the oldest copies of Jerome's Vulgate omit it; the manuscript of Wizanburg of the eighth century being the oldest that contains it. Owing to the Complutensian Greek New Testament not being published, though printed, until the Polyglot was complete, Erasmus' Greek New Testament was the first published, namely, by Froben a printer of Basle, March 1516, six years before the Complutensian. The providence of God at the dawn of the Reformation thus furnished earnest students with Holy Scripture in the original language sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. Erasmus completed his edition in haste, and did not have the scruples to supply, by translating into Greek front the Vulgate, both actual hiatuses in his Greek manuscripts and what he supposed to be so, especially in the Apocalypse, for which he had only one mutilated manuscript.
To the outcry against hint for omitting the testimony of the three heavenly witnesses he replied, it is not omission but non-addition; even some Latin copies do not have it, and Cyril of Alexandria showed in his Thesaurus he did not know it; on the Codex Montfortianus (originally in possession of a Franciscan, Froy, who possibly wrote it, now in Trinity College, Dublin) being produced with it, Erasmus INSERTED it. So clumsily did the translator of the Vulgate Latin into Greek execute this manuscript that he neglects to put the necessary Greek article before "Father," "Word," and" Spirit." Erasmus' fifth edition is the basis of our "Received Text." In 1546 and 1549 R. Stephens printed two small editions at Paris, and in 1550 a folio edition, following Erasmus' fifth edition almost exclusively, and adding in the margin readings from the Complutensian edition and from 15 manuscripts collected by his son Henry, the first large collection of readings. The fourth edition at Geneva, 1551, was the first divided into modern verses. Beza next edited the Greek New Testament, generally following Stephens' text, with a few changes on manuscript authority.
He possessed the two famous manuscripts, namely, the Gospels and Acts, now by his gift in the university of Cambridge; "Codex Bezae" or "Cantabrigiensis," D; and the epistles of Paul, "Codex Clermontanus" (brought from Clermont), now in the Bibliotheque du Roi at Paris; both are in Greek and Latin. The Elzevirs, printers at Leyden, published two editions, the first in 1624, the second in 1633, on the basis of R. Stephens' third edition, with corrections from Beza's. The unknown editor, without stating his critical principles, gravely declares in the preface: "texture habes ab omnibus receptum, in quo nihil immutatum aut corruptum damus"; stranger still, the public for two centuries has accepted this so-called "Received Text" as if infallible. When textual criticism was scarcely understood, theological convenience accepted it as a compromise between the Roman Catholic Complutensian edition and the Protestant edition of Stephens and Beza. Mill (1707) has established Stephens' as the Received Text in England; on the continent the Elzevir is generally recognized.
Thus, an uncritical Greek text of publishers has been for ages submitted to by Protestants, though abjuring blind assent to tradition, and laughing at the claim to infallibility of the two popes who declared each of two diverse editions of the Vulgate to be exclusively authentic. (The council of Trent, 1545, had pronounced the Latin Vulgate to be the authentic word of God). Frequent handling and transmission soon destroyed the originals. If the autographs of the inspired writers had been preserved, textual criticism would not have been necessary. But the oldest MSS, existing, Codex Sinaiticus ('aleph) Codex Vaticanus (B), Codex Alexandrinus (A), are not older than the fourth century. Parchment was costly (2Ti 4:13). Papyrus paper which the sacred writers used (2Jo 1:12; 3Jo 1:13) was fragile. No superstitious or antiquarian interest was felt in the autographs which copies superseded. The Diocletian persecution (A.D. 303) attacked the Scriptures, and traditores (Augustine, 76, section 2) gave them up.
Constantine ordered 50 manuscripts to be written on fair skins for the use of the church. God has not seen fit (by a perpetual miracle) to preserve the text from transcriptional errors. Having by extraordinary revelation once bestowed the gift, He leaves its preservation to ordinary laws, yet by His secret providence furnishes the church, its guardian and witness, with the means to ensure its accuracy in all essentials (Ro 3:2). Criticism does not make variations, but finds them, and turns them into means of ascertaining approximately the original text. More materials exist for restoring the genuine text of New Testament than for that of any ancient work. Whitby attacked Mill for presenting in his edition 30,000 various readings found in manuscripts. Collins, the infidel, availed himself of Whitby's unsound argument that textual variations render Scripture uncertain.
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But of that day and hour no man knows, nor the angels of heaven; but my Father only.
but at midnight there was a cry, Behold the bridegroom; go out to meet him.
And very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun. And they said to themselves, Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb???4 and looking up they saw that the stone was rolled away??or it was very great.
And coming to the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe; and they were astonished.
and I appoint you, as my Father has appointed me, a kingdom,
Much in every way. For first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
O FOOLISH Galatians, who has fascinated you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been set forth among you crucified?
Brothers, I speak according to man. But no one abolishes a man's covenant when it is established, or makes additions to it. The promises were spoken to Abraham and his offspring. He said not, And to offsprings, as of many, but as of one, And to your offspring, which is Christ. read more. And this I say; that the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot abrogate the covenant previously established by God, to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by the promise. But God gave it to Abraham by the promise.
The cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring, and the books, especially the parchments.
for which cause, God wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, interposed with an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who fled to lay hold on the hope set before us,
but now he has obtained a more excellent service, by as much also as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for the second. [But it was not]. read more. For finding fault with them he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a new covenant, not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, for they continued not in my covenant, and I neglected them, says the Lord. This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws in their minds, and will write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every one his [fellow] citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their wickedness, and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more. By saying new, he made the first old; but that which is ancient and weak is about to perish.
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who with an eternal spirit offered himself without fault to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new covenant, that death having been for a redemption of transgressions [transgressors] under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. read more. For where there is a covenant, there must follow the death of the covenant-maker. For a covenant is strong for the dead, since it is never strong [unalterable] when the covenant-maker lives;
For there are three that testify; the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are one.
Having many things to write, I do not wish to write with paper and ink, but I hope to be with you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
Hastings
Morish
For the general contents of the New Testament see BIBLE. See also COVENANT. The chronology of the principal events recorded in the New Testament is given in the following tables, with approximate dates. The dates of the Epistles of Peter, James, John, and Jude are according to the A.V. For the date of the crucifixion see SEVENTY WEEKS: other dates are reckoned from that.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
B.C.
27 Augustus emperor of Rome
6 Census in Judaea. Birth of John the Baptist
5 Birth of Jesus (Four full years before A.D.) Presentation in the temple.
4 Visit of the magi. Flight into Egypt, Massacre of infants. Death of Herod;
Archelaus made ethnarch of Judaea, Samaria and Idumaea
Herod Antipas tetrarch of Peraea and Galilee. Philip tetrarch of Ituraea, Trachonitis. etc.
A.D.
6 Quirinis (Cyrenius) governor of Syria the second time
Archelaus banished, and Judaea made a province of Syria.
7 Enrolment, or taxation, under Cyrenius. Annas made high priest
8 Jesus at Jerusalem. Lu 2:42-46
Lu 2:14 Tiberias emperor of Rome: reigns alone
17 Caiaphas made high priest
26 Pontius Pilate procurator of Judaea
John commences his ministry. (See TIBERIUS.) Mr 1:1-11
Baptism of Jesus. The Temptation
Miracle of the water made wine at Cana. Joh 2:1-11
Jesus visits Capernaum
The first Passover. Jesus cleanses the temple. Joh 2:13-22
John cast into prison. Jesus preaches in Galilee Mr 1:14-15
Jesus at the synagogue at Nazareth: cast out of the city. Lu 4:16-30
Jesus visits the towns of Galilee Mr 1:38-39
Mr 1:27 Jesus visits Jerusalem (probably the second Passover). John 5. 1
The twelve Apostles chosen Mr 3:13-19
Sermon on the Mount. Matt. 5.- 7; Lu 6:17-49
Miracles in the land of the Gadarenes. Mr 5:1-20
The Jews offended at Jesus at Nazareth. Mr 6:1-5
Jesus again visits the villages around. Mr 6:6
Jesus sends forth the twelve. Mr 6:7-13
Death of John the Baptist. Mr 6:17-29
Feeding the five thousand. Mr 6:35-44
Miracles in Gennesaret. Mr 6:53-56
Mr 6:28 Approach of the third Passover Joh 6:4
Feeding the four thousand. Mr 8:1-9
The Transfiguration. Mr 9:2-10
Feast of Tabernacles. John 7.
Journey towards Jerusalem. Lu 9:51
The seventy disciples sent out. Lu 10:1-16
Feast of Dedication (winter). Joh 10:22-39
Jesus goes away beyond Jordan. Joh 10:40-42
The raising of Lazarus at Bethany. Joh 11:1-44
Jesus retires to Ephraim. Joh 11:54
Joh 11:29 Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Cleanses the temple Mr 11:1-18
The Greeks visit Jesus. Voice from heaven. Joh 12:20-36
The last (fourth) Passover. The Lord's supper Mr 14:1-2
The Crucifixion. Ascension. Pentecost
30-34 The events from Pentecost to Stephen. Acts 2
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THE beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet; Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way. read more. A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight. John baptized in the wilderness, preaching the baptism of a change of mind for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hairs and a leather girdle about his loins, and he eat locusts and wild honey, and preached, saying, After me comes one mightier than I, the strings of whose shoes I am not fit to stoop down and untie; I have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit. In those days came Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized in the Jordan by John; and going up immediately out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit descend like a dove upon him; and there was a voice from heaven, You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
And after John was delivered up Jesus came into Galilee preaching the good news of God, saying, The time is completed, and the kingdom of God is at hand; change your minds and believe in the good news.
And all were astonished, so that they inquired among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching with authority, and does he command the impure spirits and they obey him?
And he said to them, Let us go elsewhere to the adjoining villages to preach there; because for this purpose have I come. And he preached in their synagogues in all Galilee, and cast out demons.
AND he went up on the mountain, and called whom he would; and they went to him. And he appointed twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, read more. and have power to cast out demons. And he gave to Simon the name of Peter. [He appointed him], and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James??nd he gave them the names of Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder??18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Zealot,
and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And they came into a house,
AND they came across the lake to the country of the Gerasenes. And as he went out of the ship, a man with an impure spirit immediately met him from the tombs, read more. who lived in the tombs, and none could bind him with a chain; for he was often bound with fetters and chains, and his chains were broken by him, and his fetters crushed, and no one could subdue him. And he was always night and day in the tombs, and in the mountains, crying, and cutting himself with stones. And seeing Jesus at a distance, he ran and worshipped him, and crying with a loud voice, said, What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the most high God? I adjure you, by God, not to torment me. For he said to him, Impure spirit, come out of the man. And he asked him, What is your name? And he said to him, My name is Legion, for we are many. And they besought him much that he would not send them out of the country. And there was there on the mountain a great herd of swine feeding. And they besought him, saying, Send us to the swine, that we may go into them. And Jesus immediately permitted them. And the impure spirits going out entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down a precipice into the lake, about two thousand, and were drowned in the lake. And those who fed them fled and told it in the city and in the country; and they came out to see what was done. And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac who had the legion, sitting down, clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who saw related to them how it had been with the demoniac, and concerning the swine. And they besought him to depart from their bounds. And entering into the ship, the man that had been a demoniac besought him that he might go with him; and he permitted him not, but said to him, Go to your home, to your friends, and relate to them what the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you. And he went away and proclaimed in the Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and all wondered.
AND he departed thence, and came into his own country. And his disciples followed him. And when it was the sabbath, he taught in the synagogue; and many heard him and were astonished, and said, Whence has this man these things? and what is the wisdom given to him? And [what are] these mighty works done by his hands? read more. Is not this the carpenter? the son of Mary? and a brother of James, and Joset, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended with him. And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and with his relations, and in his own house. And he could not do any mighty work there, except that he laid hands on a few sick persons, and cured them. And he wondered at their unbelief. And he went about the villages in order, teaching. And he called the twelve, and sent them out two and two, and gave them power over impure spirits; and charged them to take nothing for the way, except a staff only; not bread, nor a provision sack, nor copper in the girdle, but to wear sandals, and not to put on two coats. And he said to them, Where you enter into a house, there remain till you go out thence. And whatever place will not receive you, nor hear you, when you go out thence shake off the dust which is under your feet for a testimony to them. And going out, they preached that [men] should change their minds, and cast out many demons, and anointed many sick persons with oil, and cured them.
For Herod had sent and taken John, and, put him bound in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. read more. And Herodias was displeased with him, and wished to kill him, but was not able. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he preserved him, and hearing him, did many things, and heard him gladly. And on a convenient day, when Herod made a supper in honor of his birthday, for his great men, and the chiliarchs, and the first men of Galilee, the daughter of this Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod, and those that reclined with him. And the king said to the girl, Ask me what you will and I will give it to you; and he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask of me I will give you, to half of my kingdom. And she went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And coming in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I wish you to give me immediately on a plate the head of John the Baptist. And the king was extremely sorry, but on account of the oaths, and those reclining with him, he was not willing to refuse her. And the king immediately sending an executioner, commanded him to bring his head. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
and brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. And his disciples hearing of it, came and took up his body, and laid it in a tomb.
And when much time had already passed, his disciples came to him and said, This is a solitary place, and much time has already passed; dismiss them, that they may go to the farms and villages around, and buy them something to eat. read more. And he answered and said to them, Give them something to eat. And they said to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii [$28] worth of bread, and give them to eat? And he said to them, How many loaves have you? go and see. And knowing, they said, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to cause all to recline in companies on the green grass. And they sat down in squares, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them. And he divided the two fishes to all. And they all eat, and were filled; and they took up of fragments twelve traveling-baskets full, and of the fishes. And they that eat the bread were five thousand men.
And crossing over they came to the land of Gennesaret, and came to anchor. And going out of the ship, they immediately knew him, read more. and ran about through that whole country, and brought those that were sick on beds where they heard that he was. And wherever he went, in villages, or cities, or country places, they placed the sick in the markets, and besought him that they might touch the fringe of his garment, and as many as touched him were cured.
IN those days, again a very great multitude being [around him], and not having any thing to eat, calling his disciples, he said to them, I have compassion on the multitude, because already they have continued with me three days, and have nothing to eat; read more. and if I send them fasting to their homes, they will faint by the way, for some of them are from afar. And his disciples answered him, Whence will one be able to satisfy these with bread here in a wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have you? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, and giving thanks, he broke and gave them to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes; and having blessed them, he commanded to present them also. And they eat and were filled; and they took up of the fragments that remained over, seven store-baskets; and they were about four thousand. And he dismissed them.
AND after six days Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves alone, and was transfigured before them; and his garments became shining, extremely white, so that no fuller on the earth could whiten them. read more. And Elijah appeared to them; with Moses, and they conversed with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and we will make three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah; for he knew not what he answered, for they were afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, This is my beloved Son; hear him. And looking round immediately they no longer saw any one but Jesus alone with them. And coming down from the mountain he charged them to tell no man what they had seen, till the Son of man should have risen from the dead. And they kept the word, inquiring with themselves what the rising from the dead meant.
AND when they came near to Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, Go into the village opposite to you, and as you enter it you will immediately find a colt tied, on which no man ever sat; untie him and bring him. read more. And if any one says to you, Why do you do this? say, The Lord has need of him, and he will immediately send him. And they went and found a colt tied at the door without, at the crossing of the streets, and they untied him. And some of those standing there said to them, Why do you untie the colt? And they said as Jesus directed, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and put on it their clothes, and he sat on it. And many spread their clothes in the way; and others cutting branches from the trees spread them in the way; and those who went before, and those who followed, cried, Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David, which is coming! Hosanna in the highest [heavens]! And Jesus went into Jerusalem, and into the temple, and looking round on all things when it was now evening he went out to Bethany with the twelve. And on the next day as they returned from Bethany he was hungry; and seeing a fig tree at a distance having leaves, he went to see if he could find any thing on it. And having come to it, he found nothing except leaves, for it was not time for figs. And he spoke and said to it, Let no one eat fruit of you forever! And his disciples heard him. And they came to Jerusalem, and going into the temple he cast out those that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the brokers, and the seats of those that sold doves, and permitted no one to carry a vessel through the temple. And he taught them, saying, It is written, my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations; but you have made it a den of robbers. And the scribes and chief priests came and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his teaching.
AND after two days was the passover and the unleavened bread. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might take him by deception, and kill him. But they said, Not at the feast, lest there be a tumult of the people.
Glory to God in the highest [heavens], on earth peace, and among men good will!
And when he was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. And having completed the days, on their return, the child Jesus remained behind at Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. read more. But supposing that he was in the company went a day's journey and sought him among their relations and acquaintances. And not finding him they returned to Jerusalem to seek him. And after three days they found him sitting in the temple in the midst of the teachers, both hearing and questioning them.
And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up, and entered, according to his custom on the sabbath day, into the synagogue, and stood up to read. And the book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. And unrolling the book he found the place where it was written, read more. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim a release to the captives, and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the oppressed away free, to proclaim an acceptable year of the Lord. And folding up the book, he gave it to the minister, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were steadfastly fixed upon him. And he said to them, To-day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And they all bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from his mouth, and said, Is not this the son of Joseph? And he said to them, You will undoubtedly tell me this proverb; Physician, cure yourself; things which we heard were done in Capernaum, do also here in your own country. And he said, I tell you truly, that no prophet is acceptable in his own country. I also tell you of a truth, that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, so that there was a great famine over all the land; and to none of them was Elijah sent, but to Sarepta, of Sidon, to a widow woman. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. And all in the synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath; and they arose and cast him out of the city, and led him even to the brow of the mountain on which the city was built, to precipitate him down. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
he went down with them and stood on a plain; and a multitude of his disciples, and a great multitude of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be cured of their diseases; and those troubled with impure spirits were cured. read more. And all the multitude sought to touch him, for a power went out from him and cured all. And he lifted up his eyes upon his disciples and said, Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude you from their company, and reproach and cast out your names as evil, on account of the Son of man. Rejoice in that day, and be exceedingly glad; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in this manner did their fathers to the prophets. But woe to you rich! for you have your consolation. Woe to you full! for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep. Woe, when all men speak well of you! for in this manner did their fathers of the false prophets. But I tell you that hear, Love your enemies; do good to those that hate you; bless those that curse you; pray for those that injure you; to him that strikes you on the cheek, present also the other; and forbid not him who takes away your cloak to take your coat also. Give to every one that asks; and from him who takes that which is yours, ask it not back. And as you wish men to do to you, do you also in like manner to them. And if you love those that love you, what thanks have you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks have you? for sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks have you? sinners also lend to sinners, to receive back as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be children of the Most High; for he is good to the unthankful and evil. Be merciful, as your father is merciful; and judge not, and you shall not be judged; and condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; release, and you shall be released; give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure you measure it shall be measured back to you. And he spoke also a parable to them; Can the blind lead the blind? Will not both fall into the pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every perfect one will be as his teacher. And why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, and observe not the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me cast out the speck in your eye, and you yourself see not the beam in your own eye? Hypocrite, cast out first the beam from your eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother's eye. For there is no good tree which bears bad fruit, nor, again, a bad tree which bears good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from brambles. The good man out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good, and the evil man out of the evil brings forth evil; for out of the abundance of the heart its mouth speaks. And why do you call me Lord! Lord! and do not what I say? Every one that comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will show you whom he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid the foundation on the rock; and when there was a flood, the stream beat against that house and could not shake it, because it was built on a rock. But he that hears and does not, is like a man building a house on the earth, without a foundation, against which the stream beat, and it fell immediately; and the ruin of that house was great.
AND when the days were completed for his being taken up, he set his face firmly to go to Jerusalem.
And after these things the Lord designated seventy others also, and sent them out, two by two, before his face, into every city and place where he was about to come. And he said to them, The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers few; pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to thrust out laborers into his harvest. read more. Go; behold I send you as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry neither a purse, nor provision sack, nor sandals; and salute no one by the way. And into whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house! And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking the things with them; for the laborer is worthy of his reward. Go not about from house to house. And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and cure the sick in it, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come nigh to you. And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you not, going out into its streets, say, Even the dust of your city which adheres to our feet we wipe off for you; but know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that city. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which have been done in you, they would long ago have changed their minds, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, even to heaven will you be exalted? even to hades shall you be cast down. He that hears you, hears me; and he that rejects you, rejects me; and he that rejects me, rejects him that sent me.
AND on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the wedding. read more. And the wine falling short the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. Jesus said to her, What have you to do with me, woman? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you. And there were six stone water jars there, placed for the purification of the Jews, containing two or three metretes [16.75 or 25.125 gallons] each. Jesus said to them, Fill the water jars with water; and they filled them to the top. And he said to them, Now draw out and bear to the master of the feast; and they bore it. And when the master of the feast tasted of the water made wine, and knew not whence it was,??ut the servants knew who had drawn the water,??he master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, Every man first presents the good wine, and when they have drunk freely, the poorer; but you have kept the good wine till now. This first miracle did Jesus perform at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
And the passover of the Jews was nigh; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold cattle, and sheep, and doves, and the brokers sitting; read more. and making a whip of cords he drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and cattle, and poured out the money of the brokers, and overturned the tables, and said to those that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thy house consumes me. Then the Jews answered and said to him, What sign do you show us, that you do these things? Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it. Then the Jews said to him, Forty-six years was this temple being built, and will you raise it in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. When, therefore, he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus spoke.
And the passover was nigh, the feast of the Jews.
IT was the dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter; and Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. read more. Then the Jews came around him and said to him, How long do you hold our minds [in doubt]? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I have told you and you believe not; the works which I perform in my Father's name, these testify of me; but you believe not, because you are not of my sheep. As I said to you, My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish nor shall any one pluck them out of my hand. My Father who gave [them] to me is greater than all, and no one can pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shown you from the Father; for which of these works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, We do not stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said you are gods? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken, do you tell him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not my Father's works, believe me not; but if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father. Then they sought again to take him by force; and he escaped out of their hand. And he went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and continued there. And many came to him and said, John performed no miracle, but all things which John said of this man were true. And many believed on him there.
A CERTAIN man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and Martha her sister. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hairs, whose brother Lazarus was sick. read more. Then the sisters sent to him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick. But Jesus hearing it said, This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it. And Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When, therefore, he heard that he was sick, he continued in the place where he was two days. Then after that he said to the disciples, Let us go again into Judea. The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews lately sought to stone you, and do you go there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours of the day? and if one walks in the day he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world; but if he walks in the night he stumbles, because the light is not in it. He said these things, and after this he said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go that I may awake him. Then they said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep he will recover. But Jesus spoke of his death; but they thought that he spoke of the rest of sleep. Then Jesus, therefore, said to them plainly, Lazarus has died; and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe; but let us go to him. Then Thomas, who is called The twin, said to the fellow disciples, Let us go also, that we may die with him. Then Jesus coming found that he had been four days in the tomb. And Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadiums [1 3-4 miles] distant. And many of the Jews came to those with Martha and Mary, to console them for their brother. Then when Martha heard that Jesus had come, she went out to meet him; but Mary sat in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died; but now also I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he will rise at the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in me, even if he has died, shall live, and no one who lives and believes in me shall ever die; do you believe this? She said to him, Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world. And having said this she went away and called Mary her sister, privately, saying, The teacher has come and calls for you. When she heard, she arose quickly and came to him;
When she heard, she arose quickly and came to him; but Jesus had not yet entered into the village, but was at the place where Martha met him. read more. Then the Jews who were with her in the house and consoling her, seeing Mary that she arose and went out quickly, followed her, saying, She goes to the tomb to weep there. Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. Then when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he was greatly agitated in spirit and affected, and said, Where have you laid him? They said to him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, Behold, how he loved him. And some of them said, Could not this man who opens the eyes of the blind, cause that even he should not have died? Then Jesus again being agitated within himself came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead, said to him, Lord, by this time he smells; for he has been dead four days. Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you that if you will believe you shall see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted his eyes above, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me; and I knew that thou hearest me always; but for the sake of the multitude who stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And having said these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And the dead came forth, bound as to his feet and hands with bandages, and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus said to them, Unbind him, and let him go.
Then Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews, but went thence to a region near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he staid with his disciples.
And there were some Greeks of those who went up to Jerusalem to worship at the feast; these, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. read more. Philip went and told Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. I tell you most truly, that unless the kernel of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it continues alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall preserve it to eternal life. If any man serves me let him follow me; and where I am there also shall my servant be. If anyone serves me, him will the Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I to this hour; Father, glorify thy name. Then came a voice from heaven, I have both glorified and will glorify it again. Then the multitude standing and hearing, said, It was thunder; others said, An angel spoke to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice was not on my account, but for you. There is now a judgment of this world; the ruler of this world shall now be cast out; and if I am raised on high from the earth I will draw all men to me. But this he said, signifying by what death he was about to die. Then the multitude answered him, We have heard from the law that the Christ continues forever; and how say you, The Son of man must be raised on high? Who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while is the light with you; walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; for he that walks in darkness knows not where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be children of light. Jesus said these things, and went away and concealed himself from them.
and casting him out of the city, stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul, and they stoned Stephen, calling and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. read more. And kneeling down he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this he fell asleep.
And Saul consented to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And pious men buried Stephen and made a great lamentation for him. read more. But Saul persecuted the church, and going from house to house, seizing men and women, committed them to prison. Being scattered abroad, therefore, they went everywhere preaching the good news of the word;
And as they went on the way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, Behold water; what hinders me from being baptized?
And going to Jerusalem he endeavored to join the disciples; and they all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple.
And going to Jerusalem he endeavored to join the disciples; and they all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them, entering in and going out at Jerusalem,
And he was with them, entering in and going out at Jerusalem, and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord; and he spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; and they undertook to kill him; read more. but the brothers knowing it led him away to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
And Peter putting them all out knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter sat up.
But some of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.
and found and brought him to Antioch. And he was with them, and they met a whole year with the church and taught a great multitude; and the disciples first took the name of Christians at Antioch.
which they also did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also,??nd it was during the days of unleavened bread,??4 and having seized he put him in prison, committing him to four companies of four soldiers each to guard him, wishing after the passover to bring him before the people.
Peter therefore was kept by the guard; but prayer was made incessantly by the church to God for him. And when Herod was about to bring him forward, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards kept watch before the door. read more. And behold, an angel of the Lord came, and a light shone in the building; and striking Peter on the side he awoke him saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Put your cloak about you, and follow me. And going out he followed him, and knew not that it was real which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first guard, and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself, and going out they went forward one street, and immediately the angel left him. And Peter coming to himself said, Now I know that the Lord has really sent his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the Jews. And considering within himself he came to the house of Mary the mother of John called Mark, where a great number were assembled together and praying. And knocking at the door of the gate, a female servant, called Rhoda, came to listen, and knowing the voice of Peter she did not open the gate from joy, but ran in and told that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, You are mad. But she asserted strongly that it was so. And they said, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking; and having opened they saw him, and were astonished. And making signs to them with his hand to be silent, he related how the Lord had conducted him out of the prison, and said, Tell these things to James and the brothers. And going out he departed to another place. And when it was day there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. And Herod seeking and not finding him, examined the guards, and commanded them to be put to death, and going down from Judea to Caesarea remained [there].
And an angel of the Lord instantly smote him because he gave not glory to God, and being eaten with worms he expired.
And they remained there not a little time with the disciples.
There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question.
And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written,
And he remained there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
and coming down to Caesarea, and going up and saluting the church, he went down to Antioch;
And going into the synagogue he spoke boldly, for three months, reasoning and persuading in favor of the kingdom of God.
And this was done for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
And there was at that time no small tumult about the way [of the Lord].
And going through those parts, and exhorting them with many words, he went into Greece;
And we sailed from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to those at Troas in five days, where we staid seven days. And on the first day of the week, we being assembled to break bread, Paul preached to them, being about to depart on the next day, and continued his discourse till midnight;
and sailing thence, on the next day we came opposite to Chios, and in another day we touched at Samos, and stopping at Trogylium, on the day following we came to Miletus.
And from Miletus sending to Ephesus he called for the elders of the church.
And finding the disciples we continued there seven days; and they told Paul, by the Spirit, not to go on to Jerusalem.
And departing on the next day we came to Caesarea, and going to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we staid with him.
And when we arrived at Jerusalem the brothers received us gladly.
AND when the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from Asia seeing him in the temple excited all the multitude, and laid hands on him,
And calling two of the centurions he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred light armed troops, after the third hour of the night.
But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to gratify the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
And staying with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day, sitting on the tribunal, commanded Paul to be brought.
If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.
On the next day, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with great pomp, and entering into the place of hearing with chiliarchs and men of distinction in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought.
AND when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion by the name of Julius, of the cohort of Augustus.
AND when we came to Rome the centurion committed the prisoners to the prefect of the camp, and Paul was allowed to remain by himself, with a soldier to guard him. And after three days he called the chief men of the Jews together; and when they had convened, said to them, Men and brothers, having done nothing contrary to the people or to the customs of the fathers, I was delivered up from Jerusalem a prisoner into the hands of the Romans,
I had no rest in my spirit from not finding Titus my brother; but leaving them I went to Macedonia.
But when God who gave me being and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the gentiles, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, read more. neither did I go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and staid with him fifteen days;
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and staid with him fifteen days;
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and staid with him fifteen days;
As I requested you to remain at Ephesus, when going into Macedonia, that you might charge some not to preach another doctrine,
For this cause I left you in Crete, that you might regulate things which are deficient, and appoint elders in every city, as I charged you,
on account of love I rather request; being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus,
Smith
New Testament.
It is proposed in this article to consider the text of the New Testament. The subject naturally divides itself into-- I. The history of the written text; II. The history of the printed text. I. THE HISTORY OF THE WRITTEN TEXT.--
1. The early history of the apostolic writings externally, as far as it can be traced, is the same as that of other contemporary books. St. Paul, like Cicero or Pliny often employed the services of an amanuensis, to whom he dictated his letters, affixing the salutation "with his own hand."
The original copies seem to have soon perished.
2. In the natural course of things the apostolic autographs would be likely to perish soon. The material which was commonly used for letters the papyrus paper, to which St. John incidentally alludes.
comp. 3Joh 1:13 was singularly fragile, and even the stouter kinds, likely to be used for the historical books, were not fitted to bear constant use. The papyrus fragments which have come down to the present time have been preserved under peculiar circumstances as at Herculaneum or in the Egyptian tombs.
3. In the time of the Diocletian persecution, A.D. 303, copies of the Christian Scriptures were sufficiently numerous to furnish a special object for persecutors. Partly, perhaps, owing to the destruction thus caused, but still more from the natural effects of time. no MS. of the New Testament of the first three centuries remains but though no fragment of the New Testament of the first century still remains, the Italian and Egyptian papyri, which are of that date give a clear notion of the caligraphy of the period. In these the text is written in columns, rudely divided, in somewhat awkward capital letters (uncials), without any punctuation or division of words; and there is no trace of accents or breathings.
4. In addition to the later MSS. the earliest versions and patristic quotations give very important testimony to the character and history of the ante-Nicene text; but till the last quarter of the second century this source of information fails us. Only are the remains of Christian literature up to that time extremely scanty, but the practice of verbal quotation from the New Testament was not yet prevalent. As soon as definite controversies arose among Christians, the text of the New Testament assumed its true importance.
5. Several very important conclusions follow from this earliest appearance of textual criticism. It is in the first place evident that various readings existed in the books of the New Testament at a time prior to all extant authorities. History affords a trace of the pure apostolic originals. Again, from the preservation of the first variations noticed, which are often extremely minute, in one or more of the primary documents still left, we may be certain that no important changes have been made in the sacred text which we cannot now detect.
6. Passing from these isolated quotations, we find the first great witnesses to the apostolic text in the early Syriac and Latin versions and in the rich quotations of Clement of Alexandria (cir. A.D. 220) and Origen (A.D. 1842~4). From the extant works of Origen alone no inconsiderable portion of the whole New Testament might be transcribed; and his writings are an almost inexhaustible store house for the history of the text. There can be no doubt that in Origen's time the variations in the New Testament MSS. were beginning to lead to the formation of specific groups of copies.
7. The most ancient MSS. and versions now extant exhibit the characteristic differences which have been found to exist in different parts of the works of Origen. These cannot have had their source later than the beginning of the third century, and probably were much earlier. Bengel was the first (1734) who pointed out the affinity of certain groups of MSS., which as he remarks, must have arisen before the first versions were made. The honor of carefully determining the relations of critical authorities for the New Testament text belongs to Griesbach. According to him two distinct recensions of the Gospels existed at the beginning of the third century-the Alexandrine and the Western.
8. From the consideration of the earliest history of the New Testament text we now pass to the era of MSS. The quotations of Dionsius Alex. (A.D. 264), Petrus Alex. (cir. A.D. 312), Methodius (A.D. 311) and Eusebius (A.D. 340) confirm the prevalence of the ancient type of tent; but the public establishment of Christianity in the Roman empire necessarily led to important changes. The nominal or real adherence of the higher ranks to the Christian faith must have largely increased the demand for costly MSS. As a natural consequence the rude Hellenistic forms gave way before the current Greek, and at the same time it is reasonable to believe that smoother and fuller constructions were substituted for the rougher turns of the apostolic language. In this way the foundation of the Byzantine text was laid. Meanwhile the multiplication of copies in Africa and Syria was checked by Mohammedan conquests.
9. The appearance of the oldest MSS. have been already described. The MSS. of the fourth century, of which Codex Vaticanus may be taken as a type present a close resemblance to these. The writing is in elegant continuous uncials (capitals), in three columns, without initial letters or iota subscript or adscript. A small interval serves as a simple punctuation; and there are no accents or breathings by the hand of the first writer, though these have been added subsequently. Uncial writing continued in general use till the middle of the tenth century. From the eleventh century downward cursive writing prevailed. The earliest cursive biblical MS, is dated 964 A.D. The MSS. of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries abound in the contractions which afterward passed into the early printed books. The oldest MSS. are written on the thinnest and finest vellum; in later copies the parchment is thick and coarse. Papprus was very rarely used after the ninth century. In the tenth century cotton paper was generally employed in Europe; and one example at least occurs of its use in the ninth century. In the twelfth century the common linen or rag paper came into use. One other kind of material requires notice --re-dressed parchment, called palimpsests. Even at a very early period the original text of a parchment MS. was often erased, that the material might be used afresh. In lapse of time the original writing frequently reappeared in faint lines below the later text, and in this way many precious fragments of biblical MSS. which had been once obliterated for the transcription of other works, have been recovered.
10. The division of the Gospels into "chapters" must have come into general use some time before the fifth century. The division of the Acts and Epistles into chapters came into use at a later time. It is commonly referred to Euthalius, who, however, says that he borrowed the divisions of the Pauline Epistles from an earlier father and there is reason to believe that the division of the Acts and Catholic Epistles which he published was originally the work of Pamphilus the martyr. The Apocalypse was divided into sections by Andreas of Caesarea about A.D. 500. The titles of the sacred books are from their nature additions to the original text. The distinct names of the Gospels imply a collection, and the titles of the Epistles are notes by the possessors, and not addresses by the writers.
11. Very few MSS. certain the whole New Testament --twenty-seven in all out of the vast mass of extant documents. Besides the MSS. of the New Testament, or of parts of it, there are also lectionaries, which contain extracts arranged for the church services.
12. The number of uncial MSS. remaining. though great when compared with the ancient MSS. extent of other writings, is inconsiderable. Tischendorf reckons forty in the Gospels. In these must be added Cod. Sinait., which is entire; a new MS. of Tischendorf, which is nearly entire; and Cod. Zacynth., Which contains considerable fragments of St. Luke. In the Acts there are nine: in the Catholic Epistles five; in th
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But this kind goes not out, except by prayer and fasting.
And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but prayer.
AND having arisen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary the Magdalene from whom he had cast out seven demons.
The salutation with my hand, Paul's. Remember my bonds. The grace be with you.
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who with an eternal spirit offered himself without fault to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Having many things to write, I do not wish to write with paper and ink, but I hope to be with you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
I had many things to write, but wish not to write to you with ink and pen;