ist. Others may have been additions, from tradition. The idea that these early writings possessed any especial sacredness or "inspiration" is comparatively modern, and therefore was not an obstacle to what may have been considered important amendments.

Besides a few passages found in the older version, which have been omitted by Westcott and Hort, and from the recent Revision, the latter portion of Mark, and the closing sentences of John, are generally acknowledged by scholars to be spurious, and are inclosed in brackets in the present work.

There are, no doubt, other instances of this kind. But, as there is now no certain means of determining whether such passages are or are not genuine, and as this question does not seriously affect any essential religious truth, no harm is done by retaining them, for the present at least, or until some ancient manuscript yet to be discovered shall give more light in the matter.

The old and familiar division into chapters and verses, which is universally acknowledged to be purely arbitrary and very faulty, is discarded. The divisions adopted are thought to be in substantial harmony with the logical divisions of the subject-matter. Still, as an aid for reference and comparison, the chapters and verses of the old version that are comprised in each page of the present work, are indicated at the bottom of the page.

The familiar order of the several books is retained, with the exception that the Letters of the Apostle Paul are arranged in their probable chronological order as suggested by Conybeare and Howson in their "Life and Epistles of Saint Paul," also by Hackett. Some scholars, however, suggest a slightly different arrangement, or earlier dates.

The author gratefully acknowledges his obligations to friends who have rendered valuable aid: especially to his pastor, Rev. Fritz W. Baldwin, D.D., who kindly revised the entire manuscript.

The author trusts that he has succeeded in ascertaining the true meaning of many obscure passages, in bringing out beauties of thought and nice shades of meaning, and the peculiar force of many emphatic expressions.

This "labor of love" is now committed to the Christian public, in the hope that it will commend itself to its readers, as a valuable aid toward the better understanding of this portion of The Writings, and that it will prove to be a useful step toward the better and more perfect version that is yet to be made.

EAST ORANGE, N. J., 1897.

Robt. D. Weekes.

I

GOOD-TIDINGS

According to Matthew

According to Mark

According to Luke

According to John

ACTS OF APOSTLES

GOOD-TIDINGS

ACCORDING TO

MATTHEW

HE genealogy of JESUS CHRIST, son of David, son of Abraham.

THE

Abraham begat Isaac; Isaac begat Jacob; Jacob begat Judah and his brothers; Judah begat Perez and Zerah (from Tamar); Perez begat Hezron; Hezron begat Aram; Aram begat Amminadab; Amminadab begat Nahshon; Nahshon begat Salmon; Salmon begat Boaz (from Rahab); Boaz begat Obed (from Ruth); Obed begat Jesse; Jesse begat David the king.

David begat Solomon (from her who had been the wife of Uriah); Solomon begat Rehoboam; Rehoboam begat Abijah; Abijah begat Asa; Asa begat Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begat Joram; Joram begat Uzziah; Uzziah begat Jotham; Jotham begat Ahaz; Ahaz begat Hezekiah; Hezekiah begat Manasseh; Manasseh begat Amon; Amon begat Josiah; Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brothers, about the time of the removal to Babylon.

After the removal to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Salathiel; Salathiel begat Zerubbabel; Zerubbabel begat Abiud; Abiud begat Eliakim; Eliakim begat Azor; Azor begat Zadok; Zadok begat Achim; Achim begat Eliud; Eliud begat Eleazar; Eleazar begat Matthan;

(i. 1-15.)

Or, Messiah: the Greek Christos and the Hebrew Messiah being synonyand signifying Anointed, or, the Anointed One.