Chapter II: Preface

This volume is my contribution towards the better understanding of a subject which is destined, when it shall have grown into a Science, to vindicate for itself a mighty province, and to enjoy paramount attention. I allude to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament Scriptures.

That this Study is still in its infancy, all may see. The very principles on which it is based are as yet only imperfectly understood. The reason is obvious. It is because the very foundations have not yet been laid, (except to a wholly inadequate extent,) on which the future superstructure is to rise. A careful collation of every extant Codex, (executed after the manner of the Rev. F. H. Scrivener’s labours in this department,) is the first indispensable preliminary to any real progress. Another, is a revised Text, not to say a more exact knowledge, of the oldest Versions. Scarcely of inferior importance would be critically correct editions of the Fathers of the Church; and these must by all means be furnished with far completer Indices of Texts than have ever yet been attempted.—There is not a single Father to be named whose Works have been hitherto furnished with even a tolerably complete Index of the places in which he either quotes, or else clearly refers to, the Text of the New Testament: while scarcely a tithe of the known MSS. of the Gospels have as yet been satisfactorily collated. Strange to relate, we are to this hour without so much as a satisfactory Catalogue of the Copies which are known to be extant.

But when all this has been done,—(and the Science deserves, and requires, a little more public encouragement than has hitherto been bestowed on the arduous and—let me not be ashamed to add the word—_unremunerative_ labour of Textual Criticism,)—it will be discovered that the popular and the prevailing Theory is a mistaken one. The plausible hypothesis on which recent recensions of the Text have been for the most part conducted, will be seen to be no longer tenable. The latest decisions will in consequence be generally reversed.

I am not of course losing sight of what has been already achieved in this department of Sacred Learning. While our knowledge of the uncial MSS. has been rendered tolerably exact and complete, an excellent beginning has been made, (chiefly by the Rev. F. H. Scrivener, the most judicious living Master of Textual Criticism,) in acquainting us with the contents of about seventy of the cursive MSS. of the New Testament. And though it is impossible to deny that the published Texts of Doctors Tischendorf and Tregelles as _Texts_ are wholly inadmissible, yet is it equally certain that by the conscientious diligence with which those distinguished Scholars have respectively laboured, they have erected monuments of their learning and ability which will endure for ever. Their Editions of the New Testament will not be superseded by any new discoveries, by any future advances in the Science of Textual Criticism. The MSS. which they have edited will remain among the most precious materials for future study. All honour to them! If in the warmth of controversy I shall appear to have spoken of them sometimes without becoming deference, let me here once for all confess that I am to blame, and express my regret. When they have publicly begged S. Mark’s pardon for the grievous wrong they have done _him_, I will very humbly beg their pardon also.

In conclusion, I desire to offer my thanks to the Rev. John Wordsworth, late Fellow of Brasenose College, for his patient perusal of these sheets as they have passed through the press, and for favouring me with several judicious suggestions. To him may be applied the saying of President Routh on receiving a visit from Bishop Wordsworth at his lodgings,—“I see the learned son of a learned Father, sir!”—Let me be permitted to add that my friend inherits the Bishop’s fine taste and accurate judgment also.

And now I dismiss this Work, at which I have conscientiously laboured for many days and many nights; beginning it in joy and ending it in sorrow. The College in which I have for the most part written it is designated in the preamble of its Charter and in its Foundation Statutes, (which are already much more than half a thousand years old,) as _Collegium Scholarium in Sacrâ Theologiâ studentium,—perpetuis temporibus duraturum_. Indebted, under GOD, to the pious munificence of the Founder of Oriel for my opportunities of study, I venture, in what I must needs call evil days, to hope that I have to some extent “employed my advantages,”—(the expression occurs in a prayer used by this Society on its three solemn anniversaries,)—as our Founder and Benefactors “would approve if they were now upon earth to witness what we do.”

J. W. B.

ORIEL, _July, 1871_.

THE LAST TWELVE VERSES.

_Subjoined, for convenience, are_ “the Last Twelve Verses.”

Ἀναστὰς δὲ πρωὶ πρώτῃ (9) Now when Jesus was σαββάτου ἐφάνη πρῶτον risen early the first day Μαρίᾳ τῇ Μαγδαληνῇ, ἀφ᾽ of the week, He appeared ῆς ἐκβεβλήκει ἑπτα first to Mary Magdalene, δαιμόμια. ἐκείνη out of whom He had cast πορευθεῖσα ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς seven devils. (10) And μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις, she went and told them πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσι. that had been with Him, κἀκεῖνοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι as they mourned and wept. ζῇ καὶ ἐθεάθη ὑπ᾽ αὐτῆς (11) And they, when they ἠπίστησαν. had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ὀυσὶν ἐξ (12) After that He αὐτῶν περιπατοῦσιν appeared in another form ἐφανερώθη ἐν ἑτέρᾳ μορφῇ, unto two of them, as they πορευομένοις εἰς ἀγρόν. walked, and went into the κἀκεῖνοι ἀπελθόντες country. (13) And they ἀπήγγειλαν τοῖς λοιποῖς; went and told it unto the οὐδὲ ἐκείνοις ἐπίστευσαν. residue: neither believed they them. Ὕστερον ἀνακειμένοις (14) Afterward He αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἕνδεκα appeared unto the eleven ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ὠνείδισε as they sat at meat, and τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ upbraided them with their σκληροκαρδίαν, ὅτι τοῖς unbelief and hardness of θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν heart, because they ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ believed not them which ἐπίστευσαν. Καὶ εἶπεν had seen Him after He was αὐτοῖς, “Πορευθέντες εἰς risen. (15) And He said τὸν κόσμον ἄπαντα, unto them, “Go ye into κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον all the world, and preach πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει. ὁ the Gospel to every πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς creature. (16) He that σωθήσεται; ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας believeth and is baptized κατακριθήσεται. σημεῖα δὲ shall be saved; but he τοῖς πιστεύσασι ταῦτα that believeth not shall παρακολουθήσει; ἐν τῷ be damned. (17) And these ὀνόματι μου δαιμόνια signs shall follow them ἐκβαλοῦσι; γλώσσαις that believe; In My Name λαλήσουσι καιναῖς; ὄφεις shall they cast out ἀροῦσι; κὰν θανὰσιμόν τι devils; they shall speak πίωσιν, οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς with new tongues; (18) βλάψει; ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους they shall take up χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσι, καὶ serpents; and if they καλῶς ἕξουσιν.” drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Ὀ μὲν οὄν Κύριος, μετὰ τὸ (19) So then after the λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς, ἀνελήφθη LORD had spoken unto εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ them, He was received up ἐκάθισεν ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ into Heaven, and sat on Θεοῦ; ἐκεῖνοι δὲ the Right hand of GOD. ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν (20) And they went forth, πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου and preached every where, συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν the LORD working with λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν them, and confirming the ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. word with signs Ἀμήν. following. Amen.