STUDY OF THE BIBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 19

STUDY OF THE BIBLE

UP-TO-DATE LEAEiMNG

FACING THE FACTS

(By "Ajax.")

Holps.to the, Study of the Bible. 2nd "...', E(}iti.o.n. AYith ma.ny Corrections, : Alterations, and' Additions. By tho ■■; Bishdp" of Bradford : and "Nino Others; 7J x *};■ ClO pages and 104 Platos. London, Oxford University Press; Huinphrcy Milford. Price in itgnAon, 8s 6d. •k-. ..'• JSccond Notice.].

"Whon.thi.S: book camo to hand I was 'dealing- with tho metaphors of. St. Paul, and tho subject suggested two tests for it, which I applied with unfortunate, results.'. Tho first .-was- the ■word /'jnasterics" in..2 Timothy II 5:

And-ii ar iiiun- also strive for masteries, yet 38,-110, not- crowned, except he strive lawfully ..-..'■

Tor the modem reader the verse as it thus, stands in'tho A.V has poeii ren<3cr4§ Almost "uijintelligiblp ,because tlio' word T'mas'tencs " lias lost 'tho meaning of ?'competitions,"which it had in the lCth ; ai!4l7ih. centuries. -.

The;B.V^ puts, the, matter right by tho rendering:—

And i£ also a man contend in the gaihos ho is not crowned except he have contended

B^'t, following tho original edition, tho apw edition of thopxfprd '.'Helps" .does^.Bot-.llnclude ,;'>,uiastcry''.- iu'.-its ''List ofr^ Ob'sole^b'.'or.;' Ambiguous .Words." .Yet a irord which, while rpin, cuwpnt use,' has lost: the that tlite re.cplrqs, ia just^hc kind of' ainOJiguity that-nips't! "liocds , explaining.*; ?yXJio-r'' Glo'ssai-y, of; Bible,Werds " in tlic>p3^b|idg6 '.' Coin-; panisn to Biblical Studies '* is,'also! at; j iaulg'.when it defines' 'finastery" a's^ "superiority"; only—a .meaning which j .'fits §vo of th6i pjtskai^e's'eited,'bSt not -tho Bauline uses of the Word. The "Com-" lMneß'i%ncoj i asnce^'.;^^ ,Jn;.,: ( Wrjglit's,; ''' Illustrated Biblp Treasrify''' dobs alt thafe-is needed whoil it quotes tho A.V. and E.V.. renderings of the Paulino 'passages side by side; •;.'■■■■

■ :j Thp ( authorshjp of; tho Epistloto the .<!tte'6jf'bW*V;iß 'ithtisecoudii point s.oiv.iWihichj ■I consulfed tie hew, pxford;''Help's," ■and hereVtho|[rcsult"was a good .deal ■moro surprising t]San ( 'a mere This is wi§t3;rc4fl:-it-: V.-^ ; ,'V: "..., ■'; :-~\ ' ■"■ The Epife'fle'sfo tfie 'Eebvews occupies ia pccviliar*.place in the Now Testament. The: i^lter, whoever he is, conceals his •jtame. ";He begins ■without ..any '.addiew, tliough. he clones with %.ibritt'v : salutationi (Heb.,, XIII. ;24). Itus'not ; s'urprising, therefore, thaltopiuionVis. divideil d's'^-to'-ifs authorship, and that it has been ascribed to S.t4...Eaul*,tP. l .Stf.L^uk.c,,,to. St- Qleinent, So; i&tftAKs,' and :toj.;St..' JSarnabas." ■'■ It' has recently been .■.scjiJjcfeftr^lVtliafviSv is the work of Fris^oyvil^ ;.of ' AqiUla. j