Biblical Repertory (Volume 3) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: OH THE DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE RIGHT INTERPRETATION OF TIIE ON THE INTERPRETATION- OF THE N-TESTAMENT- Among the popular errors of the literary community, should be numbered also, in my opinion, that widely disseminated and prevalent notion, that the correct understanding and interpretation of the sacred books, which, collectively, we denominate the New Testament, is a very easy matter, or at least a far easier matter than that of the other Greek writings. For, to what, except to the influence of this hasty notion, can we ascribe the reiterated expressions of those, who either advocate their own ignorance of Greek letters, by saying, they know enough if they understand their New Testament; or excuse the ignorance of another, with these words, the Neio Testament, however, he will be able to interpret ? It is easy to conjecture whence this notion originated. It is a well known fact, that in our elementary schools universally, the boys commence their Greek reading with the New Testament. This practce, which was introduced with the best intentions by oiir forefathers, and with a special design to promote the interests of religion, might still be adhered to, without any disadvantage as it regards the knowledge of the Greek language or the understanding of the sacred volume, provided it were regulated by suita. ble laws, and restricted to such portions as reveal most clearly the principal points of Christian doctrine, and to the familiar narratives and the parables. As it now is, the inexperienced beginner is introduced to all the books without distinction; no becoming selection is made of particular passages. The translation, moreover, is conducted by rendering word for word into Latin; whence arises a latin- ity frequently as unintelligible as the original...