5, BOLT-COURT, LONDON.

THE trouble you were last year so good as to take, in perusing a considerable part of this Work in manuscript, and the favourable sentiments you were pleased to express of what you had got time to peruse, have emboldened me to dedicate it to your Lordship. I mean not thus to bespeak your future patronage, or even approbation of the whole, when you shall become acquainted with it. That can be only as your better judgment shall direct. I well know, that if the book have no merit of its own, no patron whatever can long preserve it, or ought to preserve it if he could, from its natural fate, oblivion. But I am happy in this opportunity of expressing to the world my gratitude for the patronage you have already bestowed both on it and on its author. I am happy also to have it in my power to inscribe a work intended for promoting the best interests of mankind, the cause of truth and probity, to one who, to the satisfaction of the candid and judicious, has approved himself an able defender of the most important truths, as well as a successful detecter of fraud and falsehood.

I have the honour to be, with great respect,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's most obliged,

and most obedient servant,

GEORGE CAMPBELL.

ABERDEEN, September 17, 1788.

PREFACE

CONTENTS.

DISSERTATION I.

Page 1

Observations on the Language and Idiom of the New Testament, on the Diver-

sity of Style, and

on the Inspiration of the Sacred Writers.

PART I. The Language and Idiom

PART II. The Style and Inspiration

DISSERTATION II,

The Causes to which the principal Differences in Languages are imputable;

the Origin of the Changes produced on the Language and the Idiom of the

Jews; the principal Difficulties to be encountered in translating the Sacred

Books.

PART I.

PART II.

The Causes of the Differences in Languages

PART III.

The Origin of the Changes in the Idiom of the Jews

The Difficulties found in translating the Scriptures

DISSERTATION III.

3

48

54

61

67

Of the Style of the Scripture History, particularly the Gospels.-Its Perspicuity

defended against the Objections of Father Simon

⚫ DISSERTATION IV.

Observations on the right method of proceeding in the critical Examination of

the Books of the New Testament

Of the Proper Version of some Names of Principal Import in the New Testa-

Inquiry into the Differences in the Import of some Words commonly thought

Inquiry into the Import of certain Titles of Honour occurring in the New Tes-

tament.

PART I. Κυριος

PART II. Adaganos, Rabbi

DISSERTATION VIII.

:

Observations on the Manner of rendering some words to which there are not any

152

168

192

200

216

228

243

254

ibid.

264

267

DISSERTATION IX.

Inquiry whether certain names which have been adopted into most Translations

of Scripture in the West, coincide in Meaning with the original Terms from

which they are derived, and of which they are used as the Version

Page 282

283

Of Heresy

DISSERTATION X.

The chief things to

PART I.

PART II.

PART III.

be attended to in translating.-A comparative View of the

opposite Methods taken by Translators of Holy Writ.

The things to be attended to in translating

Strictures on Arias Montanus

323

325

Of the Regard which, in translating Scripture into English, is due to the Prac-

tice of former Translators, particularly of the Authors of the Latin Vulgate,

and of the common English Translation.

PART I. The Regard due to the Vulgate

PART II. The Regard due to the English Translation

DISSERTATION XII.

An account of what is attempted in the Translation of the Gospels, and in the

Notes here offered to the Public.

PART I. The essential Qualities of the Version

372

403

415

445

459

469

480

491

THE lineage of Jesus from Abraham. His conception and birth. The visit of

the magians. The judgment of the chief priests and scribes concerning the

place where the Messiah should be born. Joseph's retreat into Egypt.

murder of the infants. Herod's death. Joseph's return to Galilee

SECTION II. The Baptism.-Chap. iii. iv.

The

John sent to baptize and announce the Messiah. Jesus baptized by him, and

attested from heaven. Tempted by the devil in the desert. Returns to Ga-

lilee. Calls Peter, Andrew, and the two sons of Zebedee. Gives intimation

to the people of the reign of God. Performs miraculous cures

SECTION III. The Sermon on the Mount.-Chap. v. vi. vii.

Who are happy. The disciples of Jesus bound to be exemplary. He came to
ratify the divine law, much impaired by the traditions of the Pharisees. I. In
respect of extent. Exemplified in what concerns-1. murder; 2. adultery;
3. divorce; 4. oaths; 5. retaliation; 6. the love of our neighbour. II. In
respect of motive. Where the end is applause, the virtue is destroyed. Ex-
emplified-1. in almsgiving; 2. in prayer; 3. in fasting. Did we estimate
the stability of the things in heaven compared with the things on earth, we
should pursue the former with ardour, and prove superior to all anxiety about
the latter. The service of Mammon incompatible with the service of God.
Admonitions to charitableness in judging others: to impartiality in judging

513

515