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(Lu 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded.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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as also the cup after supper, saying, This cup represents the new covenant in my blood, which is shed 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 knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only:
and in the middle of the night there was a cry, The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him.
and very early in the morning of the first day of the week they come to the sepulchre at sun-rising. And they said to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the sepulchre? read more. (but when they looked up, they saw that the stone was rolled away,) for it was a very great one. And they went into the sepulchre and saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white robe; and they were affrighted:
and I appoint you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me:
Much, every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God.
O senseless Galatians, who hath so bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth? you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth as crucified.
Brethren, (I speak after the manner of men,) no one cancelleth or addeth to a covenant which hath been ratified, though it be but the covenant of a man. Now the promises were made to Abraham, and to his seed. He doth not say, "and to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "and to thy seed," which is Christ. read more. This then I say, that the law, which was given four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the covenant, which was so long before confirmed by God unto Christ, to make void the promise. For if the inheritance be from the law, it is no more from the promise: whereas God gave it to Abraham by promise.
When thou comest, bring with thee the cloke, that I left at Troas with Carpus; and the books, but especially the parchments.
Wherefore God being willing more abundantly to manifest unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it with an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to fail, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us;
But now He hath obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which is established upon better promises. For if the first covenant had been unexceptionable, there had been no room for a second: read more. as we see there was, for after complaining of them, He adds, "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and I will inscribe them on 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 neighbour, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the lest even to the greatest of them. For I will forgive their crimes, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more." Now by saying, a new covenant, He hath antiquated the first: and what is antiquated, and groweth old, is near it's exit.
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works, that ye may serve the living God? And on this account He is the mediator of a new covenant, that undergoing death for the redemption of transgressions against the first covenant, they that are called might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. read more. For where a testament is, there is a necessity of proving the death of the testator. For a testament is valid after men are dead, but is of no force while the testator is living.
Yea there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood:
Having many things to write unto you, I would not with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, 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 gospel of JESUS CHRIST the Son of GOD. As it is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee:" read more. and again, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:" accordingly John came baptizing in the wilderness, and preaching the baptism of repentance in order to the remission of sins; and all the country of Judea, and those of Jerusalem, went out to him, and were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camels hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and he lived upon locusts and wild honey: and he preached, saying, There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the holy Spirit. And in those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan: and as soon as He came up from the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. And there was a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Now after John was cast into prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.
And they were all amazed, so that they inquired of each other, saying, What is this, what new kind of doctrine is this? for He commands with authority even the impure spirits, and they obey Him.
And He saith unto them, Let us go into the neighbouring towns, that I may preach there also; for this was the end of my coming. And He went preaching in their synagogues, through all Galilee, and casting out devils.
Then going up into a mountain, He calleth for such as He saw fit, and they came to Him: and He appointed twelve to be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach the gospel, read more. and to have power to heal diseases, and to cast out demons; even Simon, whom He surnamed Peter, and James the Son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, (and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is to say, Sons of thunder,) and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, even him who betrayed Him.
And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him from the tombs, read more. a man with an impure spirit, who kept among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains: for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been pulled asunder by him, and the fetters broken; and no man could tame him: and he was always night and day upon the hills and among the sepulchres bawling, and gashing himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, and crying out with a loud voice said, Jesus thou Son of the most high God, what have I to do with thee? I adjure thee by God, that thou wouldst not torment me: (for He said to him, Thou impure spirit, come out of the man.) And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he earnestly intreated Him, that He would not send them out of that country. Now there was a great herd of swine feeding upon the mountains: and all the demons intreated Him, saying, Send us to the swine, that we may enter into them. And immediately Jesus permitted them: and the impure spirits went out of the man, and entered into the swine; and the herd (which were about two thousand,) ran violently down a precipice into the sea, and were suffocated. And they that were feeding the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what was done: and they come to Jesus, and see the demoniac, who had been possessed by the legion, sitting and clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And when those that saw it told them what had happened to the demoniac, and concerning the swine, they intreated Him to depart from their borders. And as He went into the ship, the demoniac intreated Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus did not permit him; but saith to him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee: and he departed, and published in Decapolis, how great things Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
And He went out from thence, and came into his own country, and his disciples attended Him: and when the sabbath was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many that heard Him were astonished, and said, From whence hath He these things? and what is this wisdom which is given unto Him, that even such mighty things are done by his hands? read more. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here among us? and they were prejudiced against Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is nowhere less honoured, than in his own country, and among his relations, and his own family. And He could do no miracle there, only laying his hands on a few sick people He healed them; and He was amazed at their unbelief. But he went about all the villages round, teaching. And He calleth unto Him the twelve, and sent them forth two and two, and gave them power over impure spirits; and ordered them to take nothing for their journey, but a staff only; no bag, nor bread, nor money in their purse: but to tie on their sandals, and not to put on two coats. And He said unto them, wheresoever ye enter into a house, there stay till ye leave that place. And whosoever will not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom or Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for that city. And they went forth, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her: For John had said to Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. read more. Wherefore Herodias persecuted him, and would have taken away his life: but could not; for Herod revered John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and protected him: and when he heard him he did many things according to John's instructions, and heard him willingly. But a convenient day happening, when Herod on his birth-night gave a supper to his lords, and chief officers, and persons of distinction in Galilee; and the daughter of Herodias coming in, and dancing, and having pleased Herod and his guests, the king said to the young princess, Ask of me whatever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he gave her his oath too, whatever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom. And she withdrew and consulted her mother, what to ask: and she said, The head of John the baptist. And immediately she came in again with eagerness to the king, and said, I desire that thou wouldst give me directly the head of John the baptist in a dish. And the king was exceedingly grieved, but on account of his oath, and those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her: but immediately sent one of his guard, and ordered his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel carried it to her mother.
and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel carried it to her mother. And his disciples hearing of it, came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a sepulchre.
And when it was now late in the day, his disciples came to Him, and said, this is a desert place, and it is now late: dismiss them, that they may go into the country-places and villages round about, and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat. read more. But He answered them, Do ye give them something to eat. And they say to Him, shall we go and buy two hundred penny-worth of bread, and give them to eat? But He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they had examined, they said, Five, and two fishes. And He ordered them to cause all the people to sit down by companies upon the grass: and they sat down in an oblong square, an hundred by fifty. And when He had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes, He looked up to heaven, and gave thanks; then He brake the loaves and gave them to his disciples, to set before them; the two fishes likewise He divided among them all. And they did all eat and were fully satisfied. And they took up of the fragments of the bread, and of the fishes, twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men.
And they passed over and came to the country of Gennesaret, and put to shore: and when they came out of the ship, immediately the people knew Him, and ran through all the country, read more. and carried about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was. And wherever He came into their towns, or cities, or villages, they laid the sick in the streets, and intreated Him that they might but touch the border of his garment, and as many as touched it were healed.
In those days, there being again a very great multitude, and they having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to Him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, for they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: read more. and if I send them away fasting to their own home, they will faint by the way; for some of them are come from far. And his disciples answered Him, From whence can one satisfy these people with bread here in a desert? And He asked them, How many loaves have ye? and they said, Seven. And He ordered the people to sit down upon the ground: and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and brake them, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the multitude. And they had a few small fishes: and He blessed them, and bid them set them also before the people. And they did eat and were satisfied: and they took up what were left, to wit of fragments seven baskets: and they that had eaten were about four thousand. And then He dismissed them.
And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up by themselves to a high mountain apart; and was transfigured before them: and his raiment shone, being exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can whiten. read more. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then said Peter to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: for he knew not what to say, for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him. And immediately looking round about, they saw no more of any one, but Jesus alone with them. And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them to tell no one what they had seen, till after the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they laid hold on that expression, querying among themselves, what means the rising from the dead?
And when they came near to Jerusalem, even to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth two of his disciples, and saith to them, Go into the village over against you, and as soon as ye enter into it, ye will find a colt tied, on which no man hath yet sat; loose him, and bring him to me. read more. And if any one say to you, Why do ye so? tell him, that the Lord hath need of it, and he will immediately send it hither. And they went and found the colt tied at a door abroad, where two ways met, and they untied it. And some of the people that stood there, said to them, What do ye mean by untying the colt? And they answered them as Jesus had ordered, and they permitted them. So they brought the colt to Jesus, and laid their garments on it, and He sat upon it. And many spread their clothes in the way; and others cut off branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried out, saying, Hosanna, blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord: blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that is coming in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus went into Jerusalem, and into the temple; and when He had looked round upon every thing, it being now late in the day, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, as they came from Bethany, He was hungry: and seeing a fig-tree at a distance, with leaves, He went to see if He might find any thing upon it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; (for the time of gathering figs was not yet come:) And Jesus spake and said unto it, Let no one ever eat fruit of thee hereafter. And his disciples heard it. Then they came to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to turn out those that sold and bought in the court of the temple, and threw down the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves: and suffered not any one to carry a burthen through the courts of the temple. And He taught them, saying, Is it not written, my house shall be called an house of prayer for all nations? But ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how to destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were struck with his doctrine.
Now the feast of the passover and unleavened bread was within two days: and the chief priests and the scribes were contriving how they might seize Him by treachery and put Him to death. But they said, Not on the feast-day, least there be a tumult of the people.
praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.
and when He was twelve years old, going up to Jerusalem, as usual at the feast, and having finished the time, when they returned, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem: and Joseph and his mother did not know it; read more. but supposing Him to be in the company, went a day's journey, and then sought for Him among their kindred and acquaintance: and not finding Him they returned to Jerusalem seeking for Him: and after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, attending to them and asking them questions.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and according to his custom He went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up to read. And there was delivered to Him the book of the prophet Esaias; and opening the book, He found the place where it was written, read more. "The spirit of the Lord is upon me to the end, for which He hath anointed me: He hath sent me to publish good tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to release them that are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." And He folded up the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him. And He said unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And they all bare witness to Him, and wondered at the gracefulness of the words, which proceeded from his mouth, and said, Is not this the son of Joseph? And He said unto them, No doubt ye will apply to me this proverb, "Physician, cure thyself, and do here in thy own country what we have heard were done at Capernaum." But, said He, indeed I must tell you, that no prophet is well received in his own country. And I assure you, there were many widows in Israel, in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a great famine through all the land; but Elias was sent to none of those widows, but to a widow-woman at Sarepta in the territory of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel, in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed; but Naaman the Syrian was. And all the synagogue were filled with rage, when they heard these things, and they rose up and drove Him out of the city, and dragged Him to the brow of the hill, on which their city was built, in order to throw Him down the precipice. But He passed through the midst of them, and went away.
and He came down the hill with them, and stood in the plain; with the rest of his disciples, and a great multitude of people from all the parts of Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, even those that were tormented by impure spirits: and they were healed. read more. And all the people endeavoured to touch Him, for there went a divine virtue out of Him, and healed them all. And lifting up his eyes on his disciples He said, Blessed are ye though poor; for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be satisfied. Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and reject you, and reproach you, and cast out your name as infamous on account of the Son of man. Rejoice in that day, and be exceeding glad; for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for thus did their fathers to the prophets. But wo unto you that are rich; for ye have received your consolation. Wo unto you that are full; for ye shall be hungry. Wo unto you that laugh now: for ye shall mourn and weep. Wo unto you when all men speak well of you; for their fathers did the same to the false prophets. But I say unto you my hearers, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that abuse you; to him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and let him that taketh away thy cloke, have thy coat too rather than strive with him: give to him that asketh thee, and from him that taketh thy goods on loan demand nothing. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them in like manner. If ye love only them that love you, what thanks are due to you? for even the wicked love those that love them: and if ye do good offices to them that do good to you, what thanks are due to you? for even wicked men do the same. And if ye lend to those from whom ye expect to receive, what thanks are due to you? for sinners also lend to sinners that they may receive an equivalent. But do ye love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing from it: and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the sons of the most High; for He is kind even to the ungrateful and the wicked: be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed and shaken down and running over, shall they give into your bosom: for by the same measure, which ye measure with, shall it be measured back again to you. And He said to them by way of parable, Can a blind man guide a blind man? will they not both fall into a ditch? the learner is not above his teacher, tho' every complete scholar will become as learned as his master. But why dost thou look at the chaff in thy brother's eye, and takest no notice of the beam that is in thine own? or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother let me take out the splinter that is in thine eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first take out the beam from thine own eye, and then thou wilt see distinctly how to take out the chaff that is in thy brother's eye. For that is not a good tree which produceth bad fruit, nor is the tree bad, which produceth good fruit: for every tree is known by it's fruit; for men do not gather figs from thorns, nor grapes from a bramble. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. But why do ye call me, Lord, Lord, and do not practise what I teach you? Whosoever cometh unto me, and heareth my instructions, and observeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man who in building an house digged deep, and laid the foundation upon a rock; and when a flood came, the torrent beat violently against that house, but could not shake it, for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth and observeth not, is like a man that built an house upon the ground without any foundation, which the flood beat violently upon, and immediately it fell down, and the ruin of that house was great.
And it came to pass, as the days were almost fulfilled of his being received up again into heaven, that He set his face to go to Jerusalem,
After these things the Lord appointed also seventy others, and sent them two and two before Him, into every city and place, whither He himself was about to come. And He said unto them, The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few: pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that He would send out workmen to his harvest. read more. Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry neither purse, nor bag, nor shoes; and salute no one by the way. But whatever house ye come into, first say, Peace be to this house: and if there be a child of peace there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall return upon yourselves. But remain in the same house, eating and drinking such as they have; for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you; and heal those in it that are sick, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come unto you. But into whatever city ye come, and they receive you not, go out into the streets of it and say, even the dust that cleaveth to us out of your city we wipe off against you: but know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. And I tell you, it shall be more tolerable in that day even for Sodom than for that city. Wo unto thee, Chorazin, wo unto thee, Bethsaida, for if the miracles wrought among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgement than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted even to heaven, shalt be cast down to hell. ---He, that heareth you, heareth me; and he, that rejecteth you, rejecteth me; and he, that rejecteth me, rejecteth Him that sent me.
And on the third day after, there was a marriage at Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. read more. And the wine falling short, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? my time is not yet come. His mother saith to the servants, Whatsoever he ordereth you to do, do it. And there were six stone waterpots, placed according to the custom of purifying among the Jews, containing each about two or three firkins. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water: and they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and carry it to the master of the feast. And they carried it to him. And when the manager of the feast had tasted the water which was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants, that drew the water, knew,) he called the bride-groom, and saith unto him, Every man sets out good wine at first, and when they have drank plentifully, then that which is worse; but thou hast keep the good wine till now. This beginning of his miracles Jesus wrought at Cana of Galilee, and made manifest his glory: and his disciples believed on Him.
For the passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the money changers sitting: read more. and having made a whip of small cords He drove them all, out of the temple; with the sheep and the oxen: and He poured out the changers money, and threw down the tables. And said to them that sold doves, Take away these things from hence, and make not my Father's house an house of traffick. And his disciples remembered that it is written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. The Jews therefore answered and said unto Him, What sign dost thou shew us, seeing thou dost these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again: then said the Jews, Forty and six years has this temple been in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? but He spake of the temple of his body. Therefore when he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered, that He had said this to them: and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
Now it was the feast of dedication at Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus was walking about the temple, in Solomon's portico. read more. Then the Jews came round Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou be the Messiah, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I have told you, and ye do not believe me: though the works that I do in the name of my Father, testify of me. But ye believe not; because ye are not of my sheep: for as I said unto 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 force them out of my hand. My Father who gave them to me, is greater than all: and therefore none is able to force them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one. Then the Jews again took up stones to stone Him. But Jesus said unto them, Many good works have I shewn you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered Him, saying, We do not go about to stone thee for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because thou being a man makest thyself God. Jesus replied, Is it not written in your law, "I have said, ye are gods?" And if it stiled them gods, to whom the word of God came, (and the scripture cannot be made void,) do ye say of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him. Therefore they sought again to seize Him; but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan, to the place where John was at first baptizing, and there He abode. And many resorted to Him, and said, John wrought no miracle, but all that he said concerning this man, was true. And many there believed on Him.
Now there was a certain person sick, to wit, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and Martha her sister. (And it was Mary, that anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) read more. His sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. But when Jesus heard it, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. Therefore when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed indeed two days in the place where He was: and after that He saith to his disciples, Let us go again into Judea. The disciples say unto Him, Master, the Jews very lately attempted to stone thee, and art thou going thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? if any man walk in the day, he doth not stumble; for he seeth the light of this world: but if any one walk in the night, he stumbleth; because he hath no light. Having thus answered them, He afterwards saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is asleep; but I am going to awake him. Therefore his disciples said, Lord, if he sleep, he will do well. But Jesus spake of his death; though they thought that He was speaking of the refreshment of sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead: and I am glad for your sakes, I was not there, that ye may believe: but let us go to him. Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. And when Jesus came, He found that he had been four days in the grave. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, being but about fifteen furlongs from it: and many of the Jews were come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Therefore Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him: but Mary was sitting in the house. And Martha said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know that even now whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will grant it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus then told her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were dead, shall live again. And every one that is alive, and believeth in me, shall never die. Dost thou believe this? She saith unto Him, Yes, Lord, I believe that thou art the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world. And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister, telling her privately, The Master is coming and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard it, she gets up with all speed and comes to Him.
As soon as she heard it, she gets up with all speed and comes to Him. For Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. read more. The Jews therefore that were with her in the house to comfort her, seeing Mary that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She is going to the grave to weep there. Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw Him, fell down at his feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Jesus therefore, when He saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping, that came with her, groaned in spirit and was troubled. And He said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto Him, Lord, come and see: and Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, Behold, how he loved him! but some of them said, Could not He, who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused also that this man should not have died? Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre: which was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus saith, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the deceased, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he is offensive; for it is the fourth day. Jesus saith unto her, Did I not tell thee, that if thou believest, thou shalt see the glory of God? So they took away the stone from the place where the corpse was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank Thee, that Thou hast heard me. I knew indeed that Thou always hearest me: but because of the people standing by I say this, that they may believe that Thou hast sent me. And when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that had been dead came forth, having his feet and hands rolled up in grave-cloths: and his face bound about with a napkin. Then Jesus bid them, Loosen him and let him go.
Wherefore Jesus appeared no longer publicly among the Jews; but went away from thence into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
And among those that came up to worship at the feast there were certain Greeks: that came to Philip who was of Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we have a desire to see Jesus. read more. And Philip cometh and telleth Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus. And Jesus answered them saying, The time is come that the Son of man is to be glorified. Though I tell you indeed and in truth, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remaineth alone; but if it die, it produceth much fruit. So he, that loveth his life, shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall preserve it unto life eternal. If any man would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: and if any one serve me, him will my Father honour. 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, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore that stood by, and heard it, said, That it was thunder: but others said, it was an angel spake to Him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not for my sake, but for yours. Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, shall draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death He should die. The people answered Him, We have heard out of the law, that the Messiah abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, the Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while the light is to be with you; walk while ye have the light, least darkness overtake you; for he that walketh in the dark knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and then went away, and concealed himself from them.
and cast him out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. read more. And bending his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep.
And Saul was well pleased with his execution. For at that time there was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And some pious men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation for him. read more. But Saul made havock of the church, entring into the houses, and dragging out men and women, committed them to prison. Now they that were dispersed went about preaching the word.
And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is water, what hindereth me from being baptized?
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took 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 preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
But Barnabas took 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 preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus:
And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus: and he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, who attempted to kill him: read more. but when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
But Peter, putting them all out, kneeled down and prayed: and then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
But some of them were Cyprians, and Cyrenians, who when they came to Antioch, discoursed with the Grecians also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
And they assembled in the church a whole year, and taught much people: and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
And he cut off James, the brother of John, with the sword. And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also, (in the days of unleavened bread:) read more. whom he seized and put into prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending, after the passover, to bring him out to the people. Peter was therefore kept in custody: but incessant prayer was made to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him forth, that very night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the guards at the door watched the prison. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the room; and smiting Peter on the side, he waked him, and said, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself and tie on thy sandals: and he did so. And he saith unto him, Throw thy garment round thee, and follow me. So he went out and followed him; and he did not know, that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate, that leadeth into the city, which of its own accord opened to them: and they went out and passed on through one street; and then the angel departed from him. And Peter being come to himself said, Now I know truly, that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And considering with himself, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was sirnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying. And when Peter knocked at the door of the porch, a servant named Rhoda came to ask who was there. And knowing Peter's voice, through excess of joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them, that Peter was standing at the door. And they said to her, Thou art mad: but she confidently affirmed that it was so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door, they saw him, and were astonished. But he made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, and related to them, how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go, tell these things to James and to the other brethren. And he departed and went to another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And Herod searching for him, and not finding him, brought the keepers to a trial, and ordered them to be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Cesarea, and abode there.
but immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and being devoured by worms he died.
And they spent a considerable time there with the disciples.
A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question.
And to this agree the words of the prophets,
And he staid a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
and landing at Cesarea, went up to Jerusalem, and after he had saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
and spake boldly, disputing with them for the space of three months, and persuading them of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
And this he did for two years; so that all the inhabitants of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord Jesus.
Now there happened at that time no small disturbance about the way which he taught.
And having passed through those parts, and given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.
And after the days of unleavened bread we sailed from Philippi, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we spent seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples were assembled together to break bread, Paul being about to depart on the morrow, preached unto them, and continued his discourse till midnight.
And sailing from thence we came the next day over against Chios; and the day following we arrived at Samos, and stopping at Trogyllium, we came the day after to Miletus.
But he sent from Miletus to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
And we stayed there seven days; having met with some disciples: who told Paul by the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem.
On the morrow Paul and those that were with him departed from Ptolemais, and came to Cesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven deacons, we stayed with him.
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us with joy.
But when the seven days were near ended, the Jews that came from Asia seeing him in the temple, raised a tumult among the people, and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help:
And he called two of the centurions to him, and said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night.
But after two years Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; and being willing to gain favor with the Jews lest Paul confined.
And when he had staid among them more than ten days, he went down to Cesarea, and the next day sitting on the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought before him.
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.
The next day therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with much pomp, and entering into the court, together with the chief officers, and men of greatest eminence in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
Now as it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan cohort.
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier that had him in custody. And after three days Paul called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were come together, he said unto them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people of the Jews, or the customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
yet I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother there; but taking my leave of them, I went away into Macedonia.
But when it pleased God, (who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,) to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the gentiles; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, read more. nor went I up to Jerusalem to those that were apostles before me, but I departed into Arabia, and afterwards returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and I staid with him fifteen days.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and I staid with him fifteen days.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and I staid with him fifteen days.
As I exhorted thee to stay at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain persons not to teach other doctrine,
For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest set in order what remained, and ordain elders in every city as I directed thee:
I would rather intreat thee out of love to me, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner too for the sake of Jesus Christ.
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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But this kind is not to be cast out but by prayer and fasting.
And He said unto them, This kind cannot be cast out, but by prayer and fasting.
Now Jesus being risen early on the first day of the week appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven devils:
The salutation of me Paul I write with my own hand.
The salutation of me Paul, with my own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works, that ye may serve the living God?
Having many things to write unto you, I would not with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.
I had many things to write: but I would not write to thee with pen and ink;