Page:A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament.djvu/9



OWARDS the close of the year 1862, the "Arnoldische Buchhandlung" in Leipzig published the First Part of a Greek-Latin Lexicon of the New Testament, prepared, upon the basis of the "Clavis Novi Testamenti Philologica" of C. G. Wilke (second edition, 2 vols. 1851), by Professor of Jena. In his Prospectus Professor Grimm announced it as his purpose not only (in accordance with the improvements in classical lexicography embodied in the Paris edition of Stephen's Thesaurus and in the fifth edition of Passow's Dictionary edited by Rost and his coadjutors) to exhibit the historical growth of a word's significations and accordingly in selecting his vouchers for New Testament usage to show at what time and in what class of writers a given word became current, but also duly to notice the usage of the Septuagint and of the Old Testament Apocrypha, and especially to produce a Lexicon which should correspond to the present condition of textual criticism, of exegesis, and of biblical theology. He devoted more than seven years to his task. The successive Parts of his work received, as they appeared, the outspoken commendation of scholars diverging as widely in their views as Hupfeld and Hengstenberg; and since its completion in 1868 it has been generally acknowledged to be by far the best Lexicon of the New Testament extant.

An arrangement was early made with Professor Grimm and his publisher to reproduce the book in English, and an announcement of the same was given in the Bibliotheca Sacra for October 1864 (p. 886). The work of translating was promptly begun; but it was protracted by engrossing professional duties, and in particular by the necessity—as it seemed—of preparing the authorized translation of Lünemann's edition of Winer's New Testament Grammar, which was followed by a translation of the New Testament Grammar of Alexander Buttmann. Meantime a new edition of Professor Grimm's work was called for. To the typographical accuracy of this edition liberal contributions were made from this side the water. It appeared in its completed form in 1879. "Admirable", "unequalled", "invaluable", are some of the epithets it elicited from eminent judges in England; while as representing the estimate of the book by competent critics in Germany a few sentences may be quoted from Professor Schürer's review of it in the Theologische Literaturzeitung for January 5, 1878: "The use of Professor Grimm's book for years has convinced me that it is not only unquestionably the best among existing New Testament Lexicons, but that, apart from all comparisons, it is a work