Page:The New Testament in the original Greek - 1881.djvu/72

 Uiv INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

(8.) The reading which explains the origin of the other readings is preferable. This rule is emphasised by Tisch- endorf.

(9.) "That reading is preferable which best suits the peculiar style, manner, and habits of thought of the au- thor; it being the tendency of copyists to overlook the idiosyncracies of the writer " (Scrivener).

(10.) That reading is preferable which shows no doctrinal bias, whether orthodox or heretical.

(11.) The agreement of the most ancient witnesses of all classes decides the true reading against all mediaeval copies and printed editions.

(12.) The primary uncials, X, B, C, and A especially X and B if sustained by ancient versions and ante-Nicenc citations, outweigh all later authorities, and give us pre- sumably the original text.

7. APPLICATION OF THE RULES.

The application of these critical canons decides, in the main, against the Textus Receptus, so called, from which the Protestant versions were made, and in favour of an uncial text. The former rests on a few and late, mostly cursive MSS., which have very little or no authority when com- pared with much older authorities which have since been brought to light. It abounds in later additions, harmless as they may be. It arose, as it were, by accident, before the material for the science of criticism was collected and examined. Erasmus, Stephens, and Beza were good schol- ars, but could accomplish little with the scanty resources at their command. Griesbach, Lachmann, Trcgelles, and Tischendorf have the advantage over them in the posses- sion of an immense critical apparatus which has been accu-

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