Page:The New Testament in the original Greek - 1881.djvu/66

 hiii INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

urc, that it leads him to recognise the more fully its gen- eral integrity in the midst of partial variation. What would the thoughtful reader of JEschylus give for the like guidance through the obscurities which vex his patience and mar his enjoyment of that sublime poet ?"

4. CLASSES OF VARIATIONS.

The variations which really involve the sense may, with Dr. Tregellcs, be reduced to three classes omissions, or ad- ditions, or substitutions of words and phrases.

(1.) Omissions. These occur very often from homceo- tcleuton (d/MMortXcvro)'), when two lines or clauses end with the same word or words, which may be easily overlooked. A very important case of this kind is the sentence in 1 John ii. 23 : 6 o^oXoywi' TOV vlov cat Ttjv ira-ipa i%ti (the same ending as in the preceding clause), which is not found in the Textus Rcceptus, and is italicised in the English Version ; but sustained by N, A, B, C, P, and other authorities, and properly restored in the English Revision. Here the older text restores what the later lost.

(2.) Additions are very numerous in the later MSS. and in the Textus Receptus, which must be eliminated accord- ing to the oldest and best authorities. They may be di- vided into several classes.

(.) Additions caused by transferring a genuine word or passage from one book to another ; first on the margin or between the lines, and then into the text. These cases arc most frequent in the parallel sections of the Gospels. They began probably with the Gospel Harmonics, the old- est of which is Tatian's Diatessaron, from the second cen- tury. Sec in the Text. Rec., Matt. i. 25 (supplemented from Luke ii. 7) ; Matt. v. 44 (from Luke vi. 27, 28) ;

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