Tstorooy.—Introduction to the Catholic Epistles. By J. Paton Gloag, D.D.
(T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh.)—This volume deals fully and ably with a portion of the New Testament which scarcely receives the attention that it deserves. For one work treating of the writings of the older Apostles, there are ten which discuss the Pauline Epistles. Dr. Paton's treatise is therefore particularly welcome. We would gladly discuss it more in detail than time permits. The writer, we see, has an able argument in favour of the authenticity of the Second Epistle of Peter, and gives a speoial dissertation on the passage which is, so to speak, common to both it and Jude. About this his judgment seems balanced. Which of the two writers borrowed from the other, he cannot make up his mind, though he rejects the hypothesis that both borrowed from some common source. We are inclined to think that if Jade borrowed from Peter, this is a serious argument against the authenticity of the Epistle assigned to him, for not far from half will have been thus taken. Is not this derogatory to the character of an inspired writer ? We may also direct special attention to Dr. Gloag's discussion of the alleged difference between the Pauline and the Jacobean views of faith and works. What do the more vehement asserters of the apostolicity of Presbyterianism say to the statement that John "seems to have exercised an episcopal oversight of the Churches of Proconsular Asia "? Was this only a consequence of the Apostolic character ? And was it when the Apostles passed away, and not till then, that Presbyterianism was establiehed ? Then Epiempaoy is Apostolic, a counsel of per- fection, and Presbyterianism a concession to human imperfection. —Part of the subject treated by Dr. Gloag is taken up by the Rev. J. J. Lim, in The First Epistle of St. John (Nisbet and Co.), a work reprinted from the Homiletical Magazine. It will bo understood that Mr. Lias's object has been homiletical as well as exegetical. He does not lay claim to originality of treatment, but to have " selected from various commentaries such matter as seemed most likely to be -useful."--Commentary on St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. By F. Godet. Translated from the French by the Rev. F. Cusin, M.A. (T. and T. Clark.)—We have here the first volume of a careful and laborious work. Professor Godet occupies a conservative and orthodox standpoint. We see that in the case of discipline de- scribed in chap. v., he considers that "the destruction of the flesh " means " death," and, consequently, that there is no reference to the guilty person in 2 Cor. xi., 7, as is commonly supposed. His judgments, wherever we have examined them, have seemed weighty. He has the great merit of a scrupulous attention to the text, and tolerates no interpretation that necessitates tampering with its plain meaning. His book, which at present extends as far as the end of chap. viii., should find a place in the library of the theological student. It is to be regretted that this volume should be disfigured by the omission of accents and aspirates in the notes. In the text they are always to be found. What possible defence can there be for this strange inconsistency ?—The Acts of the Apostles : with Notes. By the Rev. M. F. Sadler. (Bell and Sons.)—We have had occasion to speak before of Mr. Sadler's work, and are inclined to consider that the " practical " is greater than the " critical " value of the notes. To a certain extent, Mr. Sadler is bound to foregone con. elusions. He feels constrained, for instance, to reconcile St. Peter's account of the death of Judas with that given by the Evangelists. But he has the courage to allow that Stephen, in /speaking of "the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the eons of Emmor the father of Sychem," may have made a mistake, such a slip being no argument against his being possessed by the "highest inspiration." We should say that, on the whole, a devout reader of the Bible, having no special aims in view, cannot do better than study the Acts with the help of Mr. Sadler's very careful commentary.—We have also received the first volume of A Biblical Commentary on the Psalms. By Franz Delitsch. Translated from the latest edition by the Rev. D. Eaton. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—Professor Delitsch's work on the Psalms is well known in this country by theological students'. This new edition represents his latest researches and results, the work of the period of fourteen years which has elapsed since the appearance of the third edition. The translation has been made from en interleaved copy of the fourth edition, and therefore represents the most recent acquirements of the great Hebraist. The volume includes Psalms i..xxxv.—An Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament, by the Rev. Benjamin B. Warfield, D.D. (Hodder and Stoughton), is intended as " a primary guide to students making their first acquaintance with the art of textual criti- cism as applied to the New Testament." It contains four chapters, treating respectively of the " Matter," " Methods," " Praxis," and " History of Criticism," and will well perform the object for whioh it is intended.—We have also received :—The System of the Christian Certainty. By Dr. Fr. H. R. Frank. Trans- lated from the German by Rev. Maurice J. Evans. (T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh.)—The Patriarchal Times, by the Rev. Thomas White- law (Nisbet and Co.) ; an account of the origin of man, and of human history as far as the death of Abraham, from the orthodox point of view. The accepted chronology is given up, but evolution and the rise of man out of barbarism are rejected.—The Great Com- mentary of Cornelius a Lapide. Translated and Edited by G. Gould Ross. St. Lake's Gospel. (P. Hodges.)—Studies in the Epistle to the Galatians, by the Rev. W. S. Wood (Rivingtons), contains some essays on certain passages of acknowledged difficulty in the Epistle, —e.g., the question of the circumcision of Titne (which Mr. Wood answers in the negative), the well-known crux," Now a mediator is not a mediator of one," Jo. The volume, which contains maoh in a very moderate compass, will repay perusal. —41. Manual of Christian Evidences, by the Rev. C. A. Row (Hodder and Stoughton), the work of one of the ablest and most suocessful, as lie is one of the most candid of modern apologists—Knowledge and Faith Studies Theo. logical and Biblical. By William Adamson, D.D. (Hamilton, Adams, and Co.)—The Words of the Angels. By Rudolph Stier, D.D. With a Preface by the Bishop of Liverpool. (Swan Sonnenschein and C o.)— Meditations on the Bible Heaven. By Samuel T. Spear, D.D. (Funk and Wagnalle, New York and London.)—Seven the Sacred Number. By Richard Samuell. (Keg= Paul, Trench, and Co.)—Systematic Theology. By Augustus Hopkin Strong, D.D. (E. R. Andrews, Rochester, U.S.A.)—The Survive/ of the Fittest and the Salvation of the Few, by Alexander S. Wilson, M.A. (Alexander Gardner), a criticism on Professor Drummond's "Natural Law in the Spiritual World."—Fragmentary Records of Jesus of Nazareth. By Frederick B. Wynne, M.A. (Hodder and Stoughton.)
Previous page
