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Notes on the Book of Genesis. London: Gregg, 24 Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row.
Here is a little work which may be safely and strongly recommended, as a suitable book, both for inquiring Christians who desire to search into the living oracles, and for those whose souls are at all awakened to their true condition. It traverses a large and varied surface, inasmuch as the book of scripture of which it treats is, when typically viewed, one of the richest tracts where all is rich. It also abounds in forcible appeals to every heart, in plain, perspicuous language.
The Apocalypse of Saint John. A New Translation, Metrically arranged with Scripture Illustration. London: Jackson & Walford, 18 St. Paul's Churchyard. 1856.
An interesting attempt to arrange the one prophetical book of the New Testament according to the parallelistic method of Old Testament poetry. There are a few turns given, in the translation, which are not unhappy; but, on the whole, it fails in representing the apostle John's majestic simplicity. Who, indeed, has succeeded I Mr. Godwin, however, not only imparts too free and modern an air, but he inclines a great deal too much to the not unfrequently rash changes of Lachmann and other critics. In one instance (Rev. 2:13) he has gone beyond all, and ventures to give a verb, instead of the proper name Antipas, and to render the clause, "and in the days thou wast arraigned." He says that in this he follows some of the oldest MSS. and Versions. Now it is true that the Coptic diverges in one direction, the Syriac, &c, in another, and that the Alexandrian copy, followed by some later ones, spells the word so as possibly to mean a verb; but we are not aware of any authority for Mr. G.'s version, and we have no doubt that a man's name is intended. Mr. G. leans toward the Neronic date, in spite of the testimony of Irenwus; and this upon the slender ground that the internal evidence (i.e., his view) points to the time before the fall of Judaism and Jerusalem. Accordingly Mr. G. makes the seals refer to Jews, the trumpets to idolaters, and the vials "to those who, giving their homage to force and fraud, are really worshippers of Satan"—a scheme in evident accordance with German mysticism and directly tending to blunt the edge of this sharp, prophetic sword of the Lord.
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The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. London: T. H. Gregg, 24, Warwick Lane.
In making known this new version of 2 Corinthians to our readers, we would cite a few of the notes as a sample of what may be looked for. On 2 Cor. 1, 5 the following remark is made:—" I would take this opportunity of drawing attention to the difference between Christ' and 'the Christ.' The Christ' is the designation of a condition, not a name; ' Christ' is a name. Not only these are not used indifferently, but in the gospels, where the word is used alone, it is almost invariably the Christ'—the Messiah, or anointed,—while in the epistles it is rarely so. It is used as a name. Some cases are doubtful, because the structure of the Greek phrase requires or prefers the articles. This is the case here. However, on the whole, I believe the article should be inserted here in English." So, again, it is an interesting observation on 2 Cor. 3, 7 that " it is not said that the ministry was glorious, but that the system was introduced with glory—ἐγενήθη έν δόξη. It is in contrast with 'subsisting in glory.' " Accordingly, the proposed versions runs, verses 7, 8,... 11, "But if the ministry of death in letters, graven in stones, began with glory, so that the children of Israel could not fix their eyes on the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face, [a glory] which is annulled: how shall not rather the ministry of the Spirit subsist in glory?... For if that annulled [was introduced] with glory, how much rather that which abides [subsists] in glory?" That annulled, or done away, as the translator adds in a note, is used sometimes a little harshly here. But the apostle uses it as a formula for the old covenant done away in Christ. If this be borne in mind, the harshness will disappear, and the sense be clearer by adhering to the use of it.
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