facts, implied in the phraseology, by which the age and nation of the authors of these writings are known. In short, by obferving the rules mentioned, the author hath endeavoured to make his translation as exact an image of the original as he could; not only because, in that method, it acquires the authority which a translation of writings divinely inspired ought to have, but because, by a faithful exhibition of the fcriptures in their original dress, there arises such a strong internal proof of their antiquity and authenticity, as far overbalances any inconveniences resulting from a few pleonafms, uncouth expreffions, and grammatical anomalies, all common in ancient writings, and retained in this tranflation of the apoftolical epiftles, for the purpose of shewing the scriptures in their unadorned fimplicity. Yet many modern tranflators, disregarding that advantage, and aiming at an imaginary elegance of ftyle, have departed from the words and phrases of the original, in fuch a manner, as to convert their tranflations of particular paffages into paraphrases, which exhibit a meaning often different from that of the inspired writers; a fault from which our tranflators of the bible are not altogether free. It must be acknowledged, however, that there are some fentences in these invaluable writings which cannot be literally tranflated; and therefore, to represent their true meaning, recourse must be had to the paraphraftic method. But these are the only paffages, in books divinely inspired, which should be paraphrafed in the tranflation. Among the free tranflators of the fcripture, Sebaftian Castalio, fome time profeffor of the Greek language at Bafil, is the most eminent. But whatever praise he may deferve for the general propriety and conciseness of his tranflation of the new testament, and for the purity of his Latin, it is certain that, by aiming at a claffical and polished ftyle, he hath often loft fight of the original, and hath given what he imagined to be its meaning, in words not at all correfponding to the Greek text; fo that his tranilation of a number of paffages hath little relation to the original, confequently is often erroneous *. Wherefore, neither his nor * Of Caftalio's free tranflation of the scriptures, wherein he hath misrepresented their meaning, all thofe paffages are examples, in which he hath translated the word αγγελοι nor Erasmus's, nor any other free tranflation of the fcriptures, can be relied on: because, if a material word in the original is omitted in the tranflation, or if a word not in the original is added, without marking it as added, or if words not correfponding to the original are used *, much more if a whole fentence, or even a part of a sentence is paraphrafed, the meaning of the text very probably will be altered, if not entirely loft; confequently the version, in these paffages, can have no authority. It is time now to inform the reader, that this tranflation of the apoftolical epiftles differs not a little from the former verfions, because therein meanings are affixed to a number of Greek words and phrases, diverse from those given to them in the same pasfages by other tranflators. Yet the translation of these paffages is not the less literal on that account. Perfons converfant in the language know, that many Greek words have more meanings than one, all of them equally literal, though not equally com→ αγγελοι by geni, and the word βαπτίζω by lave, and βαπτισμα by lotio, and εκκλησια by respublica, and ovvaywyas by collegia, and J, Heb. i. 8. applied to the Son by Divus, and TeoOntesa, Rom. xii. 6. by Divinatio, and esdwho by Deaftros.--Other examples of more importance are, Luke vii. 3 . Και εδικαιώθη ἡ σοφία από των τέκνων αυτής Ita juis omnibus aliena eft fapientia.Rom. i. Δικαιώσυνη γας 17. 988 εν αυτώ αποκα λύπτεται εκ πίσεως εις πίςιν. Nam per id divina juftitia exeritur perpetuanda fide.— Rom. vii. 5. Τα παθήματα των αμαρτιων, τα δια τε νομ3. Peccatorum perturba tiones a lege orientes.-Rom. xiv. .. τον δε ασθενώντα εναντα τη πίσει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μη Els diangious diañoyloμwv. Ni quis autem imbecilla fide eft, buic, nulla cum animi dubitatione, opitulemini. Cor. 1, 24. εχ ότι κυρευομεν ὑμων της πίτεως, αλλά συνεργο ExμED THE Xagas Sjwv. Non quod vobis fiduciam derogemus, fed confulimus veftro gaudio. 2 Cor. vi. 12. 8 σενοχωρείσθε εν ήμιν, σενοχωρείσθε δε εν τοις σπλαχνοις ύμων. Si vos eftis angufti, non erga nos eftis angufti, fed erga bominem cui eftis intimi.-2 Thef. i. 11. και πληρωση πασαν ευδοκιαν αγαθοσύνης, και έργον πις έως εν δυνάμει. Perficiatque ut bonitatem, et fidei opu, et libentiffime, et fortiter perfequamini, atque abfolvais. Ats 7. 12. Διά δε των χείρων των αποςόλων, εγένετο σημεία, και τερατα, εν τῷ λαῷ Tona. Apoftolorum autem operá, multa vulgo monftrosè, prodigiosèque fiebant. This ftrange tranflation conveys a moft improper idea of the apoft e's miracles. -2 The following is an example from Erasmus's verfion, where the meaning of a paffage is perverted by tranflating a fingle word freely. Rom. ii. 19. Aidaoxaλ& m Doctorem imperitorum: A teacher of the unskilful. This tranflation of the claufe Erafmus gave, on the pretence that no one teaches babes. But he had forgotten that the Jews gave to the Gentiles that appellation, with the others mentioned by the apostle, to thew their contempt of them; and did not know, I fuppofe, that the apoftle, by intro> ducing thefe contemptuous names in this paffage, intended to paint the intolerable arrogance of the Jews in a lively manner. This example fhews, that every translation of the fcriptures ought to be as literal as poffible, because those who afterwards ftudy them with care may find proprieties in the original expreffions, altogether overlooked by the free tranilator. mon; and that the skill of a tranflator is fhewn, in his choofing from among thefe different literal fignifications, the one that best fuits the scope of the paffage where it is found. And if he choofes judicioufly, his tranflation will be more truly literal than those in which the more ordinary fignifications of the Greek words have been adopted, if these fignifications do not accord fo well with the writer's defign. The truth of this remark will appear, especially in thofe paffages of the new tranflation, where the Greek particles have meanings affixed to them different from thofe given them in other verfions, but agreeably to their acknowledged use elsewhere in fcripture. For, howéver much it hath been overlooked hitherto, it is certain that, in a verfion of St. Paul's epiftles, the connection and propriety of his reasonings will either appear, or be loft, according to the manner in which the particles *, which connect the different parts of his difcourfe, are tranflated. The author, therefore, to lay a firm foundation for the just tranflation of the fcriptures, hath been at great pains, in Prelim. Eff. iv. to establish the uncommon fignifications which, in fome paffages, he hath affixed to the Greek words and phrafes, by examples brought from the fcriptures themfelves, or from approved Greek writers. In the fame effay he hath offered fome grammatical remarks, by which the peculiarities of style obfervable in the writings of the Jews are illuftrated. But what hath been one of the chief objects of his attention in that effay, was, by examples taken from the fcriptures themselves, to explain the meaning and powers of the Greek particles, as used by the facred writers. Some of these * Of the influence which the right translation of the Greek particles hath to render the apostle's reafonings clear and conclufive, take Tap for an example. This particle fometimes fignifies for, fometimes wherefore. Now, if it is tranflated in the former fenfe, where it hath the latter, the fcheme of the apoftle's difcourfe will be reversed; because that will be a reafon, which was meant as an inference. (Compare the common English verfion of Rom. iv. 2, 3. Heb. vi. 1. 11. 18. with the new translation of these paffages.) In like manner, the other Greek particles having different fignifications, if, in a tranflation of the epiftles, the fame fenfe is uniformly given to the fame particle, or if one of its fenfes is fubftituted for another, it will render the tranlation erroneous. Of this, Rom. vii. 4. That the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled (ex) in us, is a remarkable example. For this tranflation reprefents men as abfolutely paffive in fulfilling the rightecufnefs of the law. Whereas the true literal tranflation is, That the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled (ev) by us, who walk not according to the flesh. Many other examples might be given, but these may fuffice. examples, examples, at first fight, may, perhaps, appear inconclufive; because the word, for the fake of which the example is produced, may, in that paffage, be taken in its ordinary acceptation. Yet the other examples, in which it can have no meaning but that which the author hath given it, and which is acknowledged by our tranflators to be its meaning in thefe paffages, make it probable, that, in the first-mentioned examples likewife, it hath the uncommon fignification contended for, especially, if fo underftood, it agrees better with the context.-There are, however, two or three inftances of uncommon fignifications given to words, for which the author can produce no authority. But he contends that the context leads to these fignifications of the words; and that, in giving them fuch fignifications, he is fupported by critics and dictionary writers, who prove the uncommon fignifications which they affix to fome words, only by producing a single paffage from an approved author, in which it cannot be otherwife understood. See examples, 2 Pet. i. 20. note. Many of the alterations introduced into this new translation of the epiftles, may, perhaps, be thought needlefs, as making but little difference in the fenfe of the paffages. Yet it is a fufficient juftification of thefe alterations, that they render the language of the tranflation more grammatical and modern, and that they approach nearer to the words of the original than the tranflation in our English bible. A number of them, however, on a nearer inspection, will be found to preserve the emphasis of the original expreffions, and to fhew the propriety of the reasoning, and even to convey important meanings, which are loft in the common version *. By *The following are examples of fmall alterations made in the new tranflation, which greatly improve the fenfe of the paffages where they are introduced, and which, at the fame time, are perfectly literal.-1 Cor. iii. 2. Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jefus Chrift. In the original, it is os esty Inous & Xpis, which is Jefus the Chrift. For the doctrine that Jesus is the Chrift, promifed in the law and the prophets, is the great foundation on which the chriftian church, the temple of God, is built. Rom. ix. 5. from whom, & Xgs, the Chrift defcended. Ephef. iii. 6. That the Gentiles fhould be fellow heirs, and of the fame body, and partakers of his promife in Cbril. In the original, it is είναι τα εθνη συγκληρονομα, και συσσωμα, και DUKKETOXA THE Ewayything; That the Gentiles frould be joint beirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of his promife in Chrift; namely, with the Jews. For the apostle's By bringing the translation of the scriptures as close to the original as the idiom of the language will allow, many advantages will be obtained, of which the following are the chief: 1. A tranflation which exhibits, not the gloffes of commentators, but the very words of the original, as nearly as can be done in a different language, will afford the unlearned the greatest satisfaction, by making them fee with their own eyes the heavenly light of truth, and will give the translation that authority which a tranflation of the word of God ought to have with all who read it.-2. By a juft literal translation, which expreffes the true meaning of the facred writings, thofe controverfies concerning the articles of our faith which have arisen from a wrong translation and application of particular texts, will be cut up by the roots. And the disciples of Chrift, difcerning the truth, will be led into a more liberal way of thinking in religious matters than formerly, and, of course, will entertain charity towards those who differ from them, the want of which hath occafioned numberlefs evils in the church.-3. An accurate, perfpicuous, unambiguous tranflation of the fcriptures will be of great use in guarding the unlearned against errors, which have a tendency to perplex their minds, and make them careless of the duties of morality. (See Rom. vii. 12. to the end; and 2 Cor. iii. 5. new tranflation.)-4. A juft tranflation of the fcriptures, by exhibiting the doctrines of the gofpel in their meaning is, that, under the gospel, the Gentiles are equally entitled with the Jews to all its privileges, and to all the promises of God.. d. Theff. iv. 16. With the voice of the archangel. This tranflation implies, that there is but one archangel; whe eas, in the original, it is av Qwvn agxayyɛhɛ; With the voice of an archangel.-Rom. iv. 3. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham-tbrough the law. This tranflation leads the reader to think that Abraham was under the law of Mofes; whereas the expreflion, in the original, is de vous, through law; that is, through the works of any law whatever.-1 Cor. xv. 26. deftroyed is death. This implies, that there are fome ftroyed; whereas, in the Greek, it is soxar exde is - The last enemy that shall be enemies who shall not be dexarapynσetaι & Davatos ; Death, the last enemy, fhall be deftroyed. James iii. 8. But the tongue no man can tame z as if it were impoffible for men to govern their own tongues: whereas, in the Greek, it την δε γλοσσαν εδεις δυναται ανθρωπων δαμασαι ; but the tongue of men to one can fubdue. Pet, iv. 15. To him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. I tranflation reprefents the judgment of the world as at hand when St. Peter wrote; but, in the original, it is ETOμws XOTь, who is prepared to judge, &c. namely, by the commission and power which the Father hath bestowed on him for that purpose. This genuine |