THE NEW COVENANT: CONTAINING I. AN ACCURATE TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. II. III. A CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE TEXT. A BRIEF AND HANDY COMMENTARY. VOLUME II.-ACTS, THE EPISTLES, By J. W. HANSON, D. D. Non valet hæc ego dico, hæc tu dicis, hæc ille dicit, sed hæc dicit Dominus. BOSTON: UNIVERSALIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, 1886. --Augustine. BS 2015 V.2 COPYRIGHT. J. W. HANSON. 1885. GEO. DANIELS, PRINTER, 79 AND 81 RANDOLPH ST., CHICAGO. INTRODUCTION. Since the appearance of the First Edition of Volume I. of THE NEW COVENANT, the Translator has carefully considered the criticisms of the press, and the suggestions of friends, and is gratified to be able to inform his readers that the errors and actual defects that have been pointed out are fewer than he had dared anticipate, and that nothing seriously affecting its value has been indicated. Such a work should, no doubt, if possible be issued first in a tentative edition of a few hundred copies, for the inspection of critics, as it is scarcely less than impossible for one person to be accurate in all the well-nigh infinite minutiæ contained. Such defects as have been designated have been corrected in the plates for the second edition. Most of the unfavorable criticisms have grown out of the misapprehensions of the critics. For example, it has repeatedly been stated that the rhetoric is less felicitous than is the diction of the Established Version. This criticism entirely overlooks the purpose of the book, which was not to rival, much less surpass the choice though antiquated English of King James's translation. Let it not be forgotten, however, that what is popularly called "good English" (in the Bible) is the English of three hundred years ago, now obsolete or obsolescent outside of the Bible, much of which was in fact already obsolete when King James's translation was made, and yet which is largely present in the Established Version and the Revised Version. But if the critics of this translation had read the Introduction they would have seen that this version is solely in the interest of accuracy. If the English words he has given express the exact meaning of the Greek, the object of the author is accomplished, and all criticisms based on its diction are out of place. If in any respect he has failed to give the meaning of the original in the best word for the purpose, the book is so far open to condemnation. An example of the criticisms he has received is found in those who have condemned his use of the xonian words. |
