inconsistent and unsatisfactory, like that of the Oxford translator and that of Migne, the editor was not far advanced in Colossians before he saw clearly that the Verona text as rewrought by Field was, beyond question, generally correct and greatly to be preferred. Accordingly the whole of this portion, Philippians as well as the rest, has been conformed to Field's text, except in occasional passages, where Field's own MSS. were thought to indicate otherwise, and these have been pointed out in the foot-notes if they possessed the least importance. The foot-notes also present some few specimens of the numerous enlargements and explanatory changes or transitional additions by which the altered text printed by Savile and his followers sought to piece out and smooth into literary propriety the rough, fragmentary, and sometimes obscure expressions of the true text. It was only when nearly all this work had been done that the editor observed that some other portions of the Oxford translation were originally based on Field's text, which for those portions had appeared in time for the purpose. Thus his part of the work has in fact become assimilated to the American edition for Matthew, and for Acts and Romans. The translation of the Oxford edition shows general excellence, and frequent felicity of English expression. Besides the numerous cases of differences in text, the translation has been altered where the syntax seemed to be misunderstood, where the passion for variety of rendering (as often in the common or authorized English version of the Bible) had obscured the verbal connection of passages, &c. It is possible that the American editor, in his love for Chrysostom's freedom and downrightness, has sometimes gone to the opposite extreme from that of the translators in England, and become too baldly literal. The foot-notes in square brackets are from the editor. The others are from the Oxford translators, being retained except where they were superseded by the change of text or of translation, or for some other reason appeared to be no longer useful. Their references to other volumes of the Oxford edition have been conformed in the paging to the American edition for Matthew, Acts, and Romans, and the Statues; elsewhere the pages were simply omitted. J. A. B. 1 Persons interested in text-criticism may care to know that Field's volume for the Homilies on these Epistles, with a digest of various readings, would strikingly illustrate for them, in different material, the scientific principles and methods of Westcott and Hort. In the Homilies on Colossians they will find (out of six MSS. collated for Field, viz., A B C D E H), a well-marked and singularly uniform group of three, viz., BC H, presenting the peculiarities of the altered text, adopted in many passages by Savile and followers, but in many others not adopted. The "internal evidence of groups," as described by Westcott and Hort in vol. ii., Schaff's Companion to the Bible, or Warfield's Textual Criticism, may be here applied with great ease and assured results. In Thessalonians (out of five MSS., B CIK L) B and C are the same documents as before, but C here presents marked differences of text. B K, with or without one or two other MSS., will be found very generally wrong, with the peculiarities of the altered text. C sometimes joins them, but oftener stands aloof, frequently uniting with I or L in giving the true text, and sometimes standing alone for the right. In Philippians (out of four MSS., C E F G) C G will quite frequently give the altered text, but there is not such uniformity as in the Homilies on the other Epistles. It may be added that (as Field also remarks) the alterations throughout the Homilies on these Epistles show a marked family likeness, and doubtless came from the same early critical editor, who, however, altered much more freely in some Homilies (as on Philippians) than in others (as on 2 Thess.). The altered text sometimes places Chrysostom among the supporters of a "Syrian" reading of the New Testament, where his real text is not so, but the instances observed in these Homilies are not so numerous as to affect his general position. It is to be hoped that other MSS. of Chrysostom will be collated, and more complete materials be at hand for future critics to settle details now remaining uncertain, and perhaps to throw light on the origin of the altered or Savilian text; but the superiority of the Verona type, as given by Field, is not at all likely to be ever again otherwise than clear and assured. THE COMMENTARY AND HOMILIES OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, ON THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE GALATIANS AND EPHESIANS. The Oxford Translations Revised, with Additional Notes, by REV. GROSS ALEXANDER, D.D., PROFESSOR OF NEW TESTAMENT GREEK IN VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN. CONTENTS. COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS. PAGE ........ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead; ) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the Churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.. bas, taking Titus also with me. And I went up by revelation...... CHAPTER V.-Verse 1. With freedom did Christ set us free; stand fast therefore..... CHAPTER VI. — Verse 1. Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass... HOMILIES ON EPHESIANS. HOMILY II.-Eph. i. 11-14. In whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: having the eyes of your heart enlightened; that ye strength of His might, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead.... of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once dren of wrath even as the rest.... HOMILY V. Eph. ii. 11, 12. Wherefore remember, that aforetime ye the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 49 ..... |