New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

80 ,rpEN JESV Won BERNHAHD WEISS bIs"
pA' A'A' Band Berlin, 1882.

.,io STRAINS. published his Lilo of Jesus since
that time in addition TO poemical writings WIN
ON, number bearing on the main theme n"' a lew
,ormal biographies of Christ. some OF them qu"o
conious have made their appearance IN germany
put since the noble book OF Neander which IS one
of the most ohectual though indirect replies 10
Strauss. saw the light, no book in tins depa me"'
Inns been written that is moro deserving OF a''eu'
,.o, the work of Dr. Bernard Weiss the first vol
n,ne of which has lately been issued. Inc ''|"
s.andiu., OF Weiss among New Testament scholars
Is sufficiently indicated by the Circumstance ,'"'
after the death OF Meyer the Prince OF the Ne"
Testament commentators Of the later tme' he MS
ohoso, IN revise and reeompose the sub segment
ol,,io,s of The famous Exegetcal handb'oN OF
,,a, Imminent critic Weiss has before puphsIeu
exterlcd critical works upon the "oSP''S Ga
Matthew and of Mark. in which he has eNhlol'e"
,ars critical tact and a very accurate ana rroiounu
.ccutintance with the original Gospels In MS
" pi,iical Theology of the New Testament he has
given rroof OF q like intimate knowledge OF the
New Testament writings IN their entire compass
Th,Aupouocencnt that this learned theoioGian OF
Berlin had brought together the results OF MS long
study OF the New Testament Scriptures ana OIL Ci'''
t;on sntionity in the form of biography OF Jesus
excited lively anticpatons IN all earnest minus
who are interested IN those inquiries which relate
before us will not fail satisfy the high eNprcta-
tons icrtainel respecting it, The style IS luenu
mud animated 1t is encountered with few notes
and references such as are apt to Load down Tue
pares of German theological writer's IN way 10
aaect the ordinary reader with drowNlnesS' II mol
with disgust Yet Tins omission Oh learned appdr"-
tus is not made at the cost of thoIonShneNs'
Reasons are uniformly given for the opinions that
are advanced. There no traces OF dogniatlsm'
nj the samc time that ndecsion and ambiguity are
avoided. Every pare gives evidence that the work
springs from ripe investigation ana Iehecuoh' Inc
extraordinary familiarity Of the author with every
part of the New Testament enables him to marshal
In, proof, and illustrations briefly and perspicuouNy
aud seemingly without an effort
The standpoint" of Weiss is that of liberal
orthodox experimentation. lie belongs in the same
q.ncral category Of scientific and critical, vet
evangelical and believing scholar. to which be-
lonrrl Member. Thouck Blccb, Muller, NltzSch'
Never and other illu>'rous namos among the dead
anl such men Is Dorner among the living. Owing
full cfc lit to the supernatural mission of Jesus ana
70 tho facts of tuc Gospel history rs recorded by
the Tvangelists. including the miracles and the
Te,urrect OF. and accepting in the main the doc
trna beliefs current i'm the Church. Weiss Is one OF
That numerous and increasing body OF Christian
+b.olooians who discard the traditional formulas
narrative, OF tho New Testament. although free
from all Intentional fraud and substantially trust
worthy. are. nevertheless not free from discrcpan-
cies and inaccuracies which it is the business Of
criticism 20 consider and to adjust as it best may
Noone who reads the wor;, before MS Will doubt
the canlor and md pcnlenCo Of the learned author.
Free as lie is in hi, judgments. there is no trace OF
irrevercnce or lippaucy. There Is no dsceinlhie
bias TO warp tho mind of the writer, either IN tile
direction Of traditional assumptions or OF ainhi-
ti7us Innovation IN WORD. the spirit o. the work
is both scientific anu Christian.
The inquisitlye student will look with keen in
terest to the opening discussion whcn treats OF
"The Sources" of the biography Of Jesus,-the
oririn AMI character OF the four Gospels. Those
who are conyersant with Weiss's pre- ,Ous writings
will lind on this TOPIC no now opinions hut they
will find an admirably clear Iestatement OF the
views which the author has elsewhere propounded.
In agreement with most of the German critics at
the present day. he holds that the oldest evanGeli-
cal wiring was work at the basis Of our first Cos
pel-a collection OF the Lords dScourseS, by
Matthew. with which, however, was connected
from The first no iucOn,iderdbc amount OF the mar
ratiyo matter ncludel in the existing form of the
Gospel The Gospel OF Mark vas next i'll the order
of composition, a book written by companion OF
Peter This Gosnel Weiss shows is not the result
ofsmlll.r dimensions. The main prop for such an
hypothesis is removed when it is perceived that tho
original Matthew contained certain narratives as
well as discoursos-these narratives being thus in
dependent of Mark. Matthew in its canOnica form
is the result of continuation. at very early day.
OF the original Matthew with narratives drawn
chiefly from Mark. Luke had before him the
primitive Matthew and Mark together with other
Recommendations of them being Juddic-ChrStlan
writing which betTays its origin in its style as well
a. contents On this general theory Weiss con-
ceives that the resembanres we'll as differences
of the Svnoptic Gospels are capable Ct complete
exploitation. In his work Matthew lie under
takes to carry through the existing Gospel the line
of demarcation separating the primitive writing OF
Matthew from the portion OF matter subsequently
Introduced from Mark and from other sources.
Weiss is a strong defender of the ycnuinencss of
Johns Gospel. This final GOSPEL was composed, he
is fully convinced, by the aged Apostle whom
Jesus had loved Il friend well as follower.
The evidences, both external and internal such
that the suppOstlon Of a spurious authorship IS
cludcd. But regards the character OF the fourth
Gospel. Weiss makes some concessions which
move the difficulties, he thinks, which COM
monty alleged in dsprool of its Apostolic origin
Concessions which really serve TO bring the Oppos
ing parties On this question Of the real character
OF the fourth Gospel into some degree Of approx
nation to one another. Weiss holds that the re-
ports OF John free reproduction rather than
closely accurate record of the teaching OF Jesus.
We have in john according to Weisss view, an
element of eXplication. even an clement of uncOn-
scious development. mingled in the Johaunine re-
ports of the Masters instruction. Germs OF teach
ing are here and there expanded. subjective
element is thus utermng.ed; an element not i'm
Ilyirg as the septic, have contcndtd, nOnApOstOlic
authorship, but due to the revolving OF tho Lords
sayings in the mind and heart of the living disc-
pie under the manifold experiences Of "a half cen
fury during which the Jewish State was over