The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-03-02
THE NEW TESTAMENT REVISION.
By DIR. j. M. WRIGHT.

By DIR. j. M. WRIGHT.
To copy the new testament by
hand was a tedious and difficult
thing. Though the church NOW
possesses nearly two thousand man
uscript copies of the new testament
not one of them is free from mis-
takes. The object of textual crit
icism is to free the sacred volume
from the copyist's errors. The re-
ceived text, or that now current,
was formed from few and inferior
manuscripts, now textual critics
have ample means for their pur
pose in the ancient manuscripts
that have come to light since the
current text was formed. They
have had abundant leisure for their
work, while they have attained a
skill that is not only praiseworthy
but remarkable.
The two oldest manuscripts, the
Vatican and the Sinaitic, are also
by universal consent the best. Later
manuscripts contain many words
and phrases not found in these two
venerable documents. In such
cases the suspicion is exceedingly
strong that such additions were
made by individual copyists and
once finding their way into the sa-
cred text it would be extremely diff
ficult to get rid of them. In all
ages of the church christians have
been very unwilling to drop any
word or phrase from the new tesla
ment. Veneration tor the sacred
text is highly commendable and is
an honor to the church, but that
veneration should be confined to the
genuine words of the Holy Spirit.
Whenever it can be clearly shown
that any phrase or sentence has
been added by a copyist we should
be willing to give it up,inasmuch as
it is not the word of God. Now
these ancient manuscripts bring to
light these additions.
Let us examine a few passages
into which such additions have
crept. Some of these do not
amount to much, while others make
quite a change in the text. In
Matt. 6, 4, we have two additions,
'and thy father which seeth in Sc
cret himself shall reward thee OPEN
ly." The two words in this pas
sage "himself' and "openly" are
not found in the ancient manu-
scripts and the best critics have
therefore dropped them from the
text. But why should they ever
find their way into the text if
they are not part of it? They were
brought in by some copyist from
a desire to render the promise of
the Savior more emphatic. The
word "openly" was clearly sugges-
ted by the previous phrase Gin
secret"
In the Lords prayer Matt. 6, II,
we find in the superior manuscripts
a reading that is remarkably i'm
pressive, forgive US our debts as
we also have forgiven our debtors"
Here the perfect tense is found in
the best authorities, and how i'm
Dressive it is. Again, that elegant
md beautiful close of the Lords
prayer, that has nestled so deeply
n Christian hearts, is found to be
he addition of some copyist. The
our oldest and best manuscripts do
lot have the words, "For thine is
he kingdom and the power and the
,lory forever, Amen" The words
re not in the earliest versions
which must have been made from
'ther early manuscripts. Most of
he early Greek commentators on
Matthew do not mention the words.
f these were the genuine words of
he Savior and were really written
" st. Matthew, why should they
,e omitted thus by the earliest man
scripts and versions? One of our
'est textual critics says, ''there can
'e little doubt that the doxology
originated in liturgical use in Syria
nd was thence adopted into the
Ireek." By the gen eral consent Of
rites the words are not the words
f the Holy Spirit.
In Matt. Is, IL, we have a whole
erse added ''For the Son of man is
ONE to save that which was lost"
low in Luke 10, 10, we have nearly
he same words. 1t is probable
hat some copyist, relying more
pom his memory than upon the /,
opy that lay before him, brought q
lese words into the text and from
is copy they passed into others. !
hey are not in the early manu- '
cripts. !
Acts s, 81, stAnd Phillip said, If :
lou believest with all thy heart i
lou mayest. And he answered and {
lid, 1 believe that Jesus Christ is .
lie Son of God" These words are
OF found in any of the early manu-
,ripts and are condemned by all
'itical editors. They were not
ritten by Luke and should not
ave a place in the sacred text. G
These are few passages from a v
altitude that. might be selected. =
18th the help of these ancient manu-
.ripts all such passages are ex-
lnged from our Greek testament. a
hall we still hold to them and give n
em a place in our English versionS d
Five Cents. n
The best cent cigar in town at Bob 5.