SUMMARY

31 Sword of the Spirit,” and that all this was fully known to God beforehand, we are fully war ranted in the belief that it was not through chance, but by providential control of the circumstances, that the translators had access to just those Mss. Which were available at that time, and to none others. This belief in no way conflicts with the fact that man’s part in the preparation of the A. V. is marked, and plainly enough, by man’s infirmities.

Chapter V The Principle of, “Ancient Evidence Only” Examined

The principle of “Ancient Evidence Only” examined. Divine

Safeguards to the Sacred Text. The Evidential Value of latex Mss.

Errors of Omission. An illustrative test of the comparative values of the earlier and the later Mss. The strength of the case for the Received Text.

WE COME now to the examination of the principle adopted by the various editors of the Greek Text of the Bible, a principle that was imposed upon the Revision Committee, though that imposition was accomplished in such a way (as hereinafter pointed out) that many of them apparently were not aware of it until after they disbanded.

We fully admit that the principle of following the most ancient manuscripts is, on its face, reasonable and safe ; for it is indisputable that (other things being equal) the copies nearest to the original autographs are most likely to be freest from errors. If therefore it were a question whether or not we should follow, in the fashioning of a Greek Text, the earliest as against later manuscripts, there would be no “ question” at all; for all would agree. But, as the case actually stands, it is impossible for us to follow the earliest manuscripts, for the simple reason that they no longer exist. Not a single copy of the many thousands that were made, circulated, and read in the first three centuries is known to exist today. We do have Versions and patristic quotations that date back to the second century, and these, according to the principle we are discussing, are entitled to great weight. Is it not strange therefore, that those who justify their course by appealing to, and by professing to follow blindly, that principle, should cast it aside and accept the readings of fourth century Codices, where these are in conflict with second century Versions and quotations ?

Seeing then that the earliest manuscripts are no longer in existence, we cannot follow them, and hence it is clear that the problem which con fronts us is one that cannot be solved by application of the simple rule we are discussing. Briefly, the situation is this : We have on the one hand, the Greek