New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sCHAFFs COMMENTARY.

, THE APOCRYPHA OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. With
r msO Sste. cnSa aud Expssaory. By Ed
WIN CONE BIss.LI, d. D. ovo. New-Nors; Onaries
SCiibners Seas.
This is the sixteenth and cone uding volume OF
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, trans
lated, revised and enlarged under the learned ed-
torial supervision of Dr. Philip Scbaf. OF the
painstaking and enlightened scholarship of this
eminent theologau it is hardly necessary for MS to
speak, nor of the merits OF the great work which
he has placed within the reach Of American
students One is astonished and may say at
the same time attracted by the immense erudtion
which this work has exhibited. The secular reader
may hardly appreciate il. His pursuits may have
been in another direction aud his tastes may not
have led him into this field of research; but he VIII
find much which will be TO him curious. aud not
little which he may turn TO even better account.
In regard 10 this particular volume. DIR. schan
points out that the apOchryphai books OF
the Old Testament have been greatly neg
lected by English diviues. He observes that
they are not equal in authority to the canonical
books; do not belong to the Hebrew canon were
written after the extinction Of prophecy have been
excluded from the canou in its strict sense by the
most learned of the Christian fathers; and contain
some jewish superstitious. Yet Or. Schaff admits
their historical Importance rs filing the gap be-
tween the Old aud New Iestaments; rs illustrating
the period of Jewish history coeva wish the begin
ming of the Christian era; and as containing much
valuable and edifying information.
DR.. Lango's Bible Commentary confined to
the canouical books 1t has been deemed advisable
10 issue this as a supplementary volume Is Is very
fnl in its introductons and explanations, but hom-
ilctical hints have been deemed superhuous for
Protestant ministers and students.
The general introduction Of DR.. Bissel contains.
in part first, an extremely interesting review of
Jewish history in the Persian and Grecan periods.
Following tins is an erudite treatise upon the
apocryphal books Of the Old 1estament-tbeir
origin. character and scope and history The nara
tive of the fortunes Of the Apocrypha connected
with the English Bible tells us how in the various |
TRANSACTIONS OF the Bible from that of Coverdae. in
1885. TO the authorized version OF 1911. the Apo
crypha WAS invariably found, but in a subordinate |
position as without dogmatic authority. But in the
edition of 1929 the apOcrspha books were omitted, |
and aferward they were denounced from the pull |
pits as "a paichery OF human Invention" There |
has been modern disagreemens which still Goa
tinues. The British and Foreign Bible Society con
siders that the circulation of the Apocrypha is eX-
cluded by its principles. The question WAS con
sidered important enough to the connection of
the British society with it's iOre IN auGi acics bat
the debate over these books still continues among
German scholars and religi0nIss.
Apart from all question OF It's canoaica authority
the Apocrypha must remain work of historic value
mainly a work Tor scholars; buS those who make no
pretensou to learning will find in it much that win
attract and inform them.