صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

in sacred geography, chronology, civil history, and archæology; i. e. to understand those things which respect the situation and climate of the countries, where the events referred to happened; as well as those which serve to define the times when they happened; and also the history of the nation among whom they took place, and of other nations mentioned in this history, with their condition, manners, and

customs.

(1.) Geographical knowledge. The geography of Palestine and the neighbouring countries should be well understood, (a) as also their natural productions. (b) of countries To this must be added a knowledge many in Asia, and of some in Europe; also the Roman empire, as it then existed, divided into provinces.

(a) Well's Sacred Geography. Relandi Palæstina. Bachiene Histor. und Geograph. Beschreibung von Palæstina, Tom. vii. 8vo. 1766. Hamelsfeldt Biblische Geographie, 3 Theile. 1796. Specially, Bellerman's Biblical Geography, a classical and excellent work, which, it is hoped, will soon be translated into English.

(b) Celsii Hierobotanicon, 1745. Bocharti Hierozoicon, edit. Rosenmueller, 1776, Tom. iii. Supp. to Calmet's Dictionary, Vols. iii-v. Harmar's Observations, edited by A. Clarke.

(2.) Chronology. The interpreter should have not only a knowledge of technical chronology, but of the Roman mode of reckoning ab urbe condita, and of the Greek Olympiads, (on which subjects he may study authors well deserving of credit;) but in respect to historical chronology, he should know in what order of time the events related in the Old Testament happened; when and where the first Roman emperors, the various kings and princes that sprung from the house of Herod the Great, the Roman consuls at the beginning of the empire of the Cæsars, the Jewish high priests (and the number of them) in our Saviour's

1

time, and the Roman magistrates, especially in the provinces of Syria and Judea, succeeded each other.

Petavii Opus de doctrina temporum, 1703. Scaliger de emendatione temporum, 1629. Usherii Annales Vet. et. N. Test. Franckii Novum Systema Chronol. fundamentalis. Goetting. 1778.

(3.) History, civil and political. In regard to the history of events among the nations mentioned in the sacred books, and also their forms of government, it is important for the interpreter to make himself acquainted, first, with the ancient history of the Jews. In studying this, he is not to confine himself merely to the Old Testament; he must also consult the traditionary accounts, which were extant in the time of Christ and the apostles. (a) Secondly, he must study the history of the Jews under the Herods, and that of these princes. Thirdly, the condition and circumstances of the Jews in Palestine, while under the dominion of the Romans; and also of the Jews living in other countries. Finally, the history of the Roman emperors at that period, and of the Roman prefects over the Asiatic provinces.

(a) Shuckford's Connexion. Prideaux's Connexion. Krebsius, Decreta Romanorum pro Judæis e Josepho collecta, 1 vol. Svo. 1763. Wesselingii Diatribe de Judæorum Archontibus, 1 vol. 8vo. 1738. Benson's History of the first planting of the Christian Religion. Josephi Opera, edit. Havercampii. Jahn, Geschichte der Juden in Archæologie der Hebraer, Band I.

(4.) Manners and customs. In regard to these, (a) A knowledge of Hebrew antiquities in general is necessary. (b) A considerable knowledge of the Greek and Roman antiquities. (c) A knowledge of the ecclesiastical rites and customs of the primitive churches; both those which they received from the Hebrews, and others which were introduced by Christians themselves.

(a) Opera Philonis Alex. et Josephi. Warnekros Entwurf

der Heb. Alterthuemer, 1 vol. 8vo. Jahn's Archæology, translated by the Rev. T. C. Upham; a work which combines brevity with perspicuity and good order, and comprizes the substance of preceding publications on this interesting subject.

(b) Of Roman antiquities, Adams' work is a very useful compend; and of the Greek, Potter remains not only the best, but almost the only respectable one.

(c) Of Eccles. antiquities, Bingham's Orig. Ecc. Also Roesler Bibliothek der Kirchenvaetern.

§ 4. Doctrinal contents of the sacred books. That part of the New Testament which is directly concerned with faith and practice, will be rightly understood, when the interpreter rightly understands what each particular writer has inculcated. As there are many passages which relate to the Jews, and as the writers of the New Testament and their first readers were of Jewish extraction, it will be important,

(1.) To know the sentiments of the Jews of that period, in regard to religion; especially of those who used the Hebrew-Greek dialect, and of the three great sects among which the Jews were divided, viz. the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes.

Josephi et Philonis Scripta. An admirable view of Philo's sentiments has been published by Schreiter, in Analekten der exeget. Theologie, Band i. ii. Fabricii Codex Pseudepigraphus Vet. Test. et Codex Apocryphus Nov. Test. Grabii Spicilegium Sanctt. Patrum, sæċ. i. ii. iii. 2 vols. 8vo. On the right use of these sources, see Mori Hermeneut. Vol. ii. p. 172, &c. Brettschneider. systemat. Darstellung der Dogmat. und Moral der Apocryph. Schriften des A. Test. 1805. Stæudlin, Theologiæ Moralis Ebræorum ante Christum Historia, 1794. De tribus Judæorum Sectis, Delph. 1703, 4to. comprising the works of Serrarius, Drusius, and Scaliger, on this subject.

(2.) The precepts of the Christian religion. What was adopted from the Jewish religion, what rejected, and what was added anew to Christianity, must be understood in order to explain the New Testament

properly. But knowledge of this nature, that is certain, can be drawn only from the sacred writings themselves.

The Biblical Theology of Storr, Reinhard, Doederlein, Zacharia, Leun, Muntinghe, (and for some purposes, of Ammon and Bauer,) may be used with profit. But the student is not to be guided by any system, except so far as the author shows it to be built upon a satisfactory interpretation of the word of God. Flatt's edition of Storr, translated into German, and accompanied by the notes of the editor, is a fundamental book in the study of Biblical Theology.*

(3.) The doctrines of heretical sects. It is important to know the opinions of early heretics, because, it is probable some passages of the New Testament have a special reference to them.

By far the best book is Walch's Entwurf einer vollstaend. Geschichte der Ketzereien, &c. 11 vols. 8vo. Vol. i. contains an account of the earliest heresies. Tittmanni de vestigiis Gnosticorum in Nov. Test. frustra quæsitis, will well repay the labour of perusal.

§ 5. In enumerating the qualifications of an interpreter, we must not omit a knowledge of grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy.

(1.) Grammar. Not only a general knowledge of its principles is necessary, but also a special technical knowledge of both etymology and syntax. The interpreter must be acquainted with the various forms of words, and understand how the significations are connected with the forms; he must understand the manner in which words are connected in a sentence; the use of the particles; and also of the grammatical figures, as they are called, such as ellipsis and pleonasm.

* Just translated into English, and published by the Rev. Mr. Schmucker, of Shenandoah County, Andover, 1826, two vols. 8vo.

24 LITERARY QUALIFICATIONS OF AN INTERPRETER.

Vigerus de idiotismis Ling. Græcæ, edit. Hermann, 1812. Hoogeveen Doctrina partic. Græc. edit. Schutz, 1806. Bos Ellipses Græcæ, edit. Schæfer, 1808. Weiskii Pleonasmi Græci, 1807. Winer's Grammar of the N. Testament, Andover, 1825, 8vo. will be found of singular use.

[ocr errors]

(2.) Rhetoric. A knowledge of this is necessary, not so much to judge of rhetorical figures as to find out the meaning of them, or the sentiment which they are designed to convey.

(3.) A knowledge of philosophy. Not that of some particular school or sect merely, but that which pertains to the cultivation of the mental powers, and to nice psychological discrimination. Such a knowledge is requisite, in order to form clear conceptions in the mind, and accurately to define our ideas; to discern what is similar in different things, and what is distinct; to judge of the connexion of thought and argument; and finally, to qualify one perspicuously to represent the opinions of an author to others. Great caution, however, is necessary here, lest the interpreter intrude upon his author his own particular philosophy.

Ernesti Opuscula Philol. de vanitate Philosophantium, &c.

« السابقةمتابعة »