its original characters, and also in Greek characters, the six columns formed the Hexapla. The addition of two other Greek Versions of some parts of the Scriptures, in particular places, composed the Octaplu; and a separate translation of the Psalms being afterwards subjoined, the entire work has by some been termed the Enneapla. It is, however, most probable, that Origen edited only the Tetrapla and the Hexapla. As Origen's object was to correct the differences found in the existing copies of the Old Testament, he carefully noted the alterations made by him, with peculiar marks. Fifty years after his death, this great work was discovered in an obscure corner of the city of Tyre, by Eusebius and Pamphilus, by whom it was deposited in the Library of Pamphilus the Martyr, where Jerome saw it about the middle of the fourth century. It is supposed to have perished on the capture of that city by the Arabs, A. D. 653. A few fragments, retrieved from MSS. of the Septuagint and the writings of the Fathers, are all that remain of this noble undertaking in be half of sacred literature.

V. The Septuagint continuing to be read in most of the Greek churches, the text, as corrected by Origen, was transcribed for their use together with his critical marks. In progress of time, from the introduction of numerous errors by copyists, a new revision became necessary and as all the oriental churches did not receive Origen's labours with equal deference, three principal recensions were undertaken nearly at the same time, viz:

:

1. The edition, undertaken by Eusebius and Pamphilus, about A. D. 300, from the Hexaplar Text, with the whole of Origen's critical marks: by repeated transcriptions these marks soon became changed, and were finally omitted.

2. The recension of the Vulgate, or common Greek Text, by Lucian, a presbyter of the Church at Antioch, who suffered martyrdom A. D. 311. He took the Hebrew Text for the basis of his edition, which was received in all the eastern churches from Constantinople to Antioch. Contemporary with Lucian was

3. Hesychius, an Egyptian Bishop, who undertook a similar revision, which was generally adopted in the churches of Egypt.

All MSS. and printed editions of the Septuagint, now extant, are derived from these three recensions. The Septuagint Version is of great importance, in a critical point of view, not only for correcting the Hebrew text, but also for ascertaining the meaning of particular idiomatic expressions and passages in the New Testament.

VI. It remains to notice, briefly, some other ancient Greek Translations, which have been incidentally mentioned.

1. The Version of AQUILA, a native of Sinope, in Pontus, was executed about the year 160. He was of Jewish descent, and had apostatised from the Christian faithto Judaism. His version, which is very literal, was undertaken to gratify the Jews. Nearly contemporary with

him was

2. THEODOTION, an Ebionite, or semi-christian: his version is a kind of revision of the Septuagint; it holds a middle place between the servile closeness of Aquila and the freedom of 4. SYMMACHUS, who lived about the year 200, and was also an Ebionite.

4-6. The three anonymous translations, usually called the fifth, sixth, and seventh versions, derive their names from the order in which Origen disposed them in his columns. Their authors are not known.

SECTION III.-Ancient Oriental Versions of the Old and New Testaments.".

I. SYRIAC VERSIONS.-Christianity being very early preached in Syria, several versions of the Scriptures were made into the language of that country.

1. The most celebrated of these is the Peschito, (that is, right, literal, or exact,) also called the Versio Simplex, on account of its close adherence to the original sacred text. It was made early in the second, if not at the close of the first century: and, from some internal evidences furnished by the style, it is supposed to have been the work of several authors. The second epistle of Peter, the second and third epistles of John, and the epistle of

In the larger edition of the author's Introduction to the Study and Knowledge of the Scriptures, he has treated the oriental versions of the Old and New Testaments in distinct sections. They are here condensed, in order to avoid repetitions, that would otherwise be necessary.

Jude, as well as the disputed passages in John viii. 2— 11, and 1 John v. 7, are all wanting in the New Testament of this version; having been added in the sixth century by some unknown and indifferent translator. This version is much esteemed for its singular fidelity.

2. The Philoxenian, or Syro-Philoxenian Version, derives its name from Philoxenus or Xenayas, Bishop of Hierapolis in Syria, A. D. 488-518, who employed his rural bishop, Polycarp, to translate the New Testament from the original Greek into the vernacular Syriac of that time. Though inferior to the preceding, it is nevertheless of considerable value in a critical point of view, as well as for the interpretation of the New Tes

tament.

3. The Syriac Translation of Jerusalem is known to have existed, from its having been discovered in a lectionarium, or book containing ecclesiastical lessons from the New Testament. It has never been published.

II. EGYPTIAN VERSIONS.-Two Translations of the Scriptures have been made in the Egyptian language, -one in the Coptic or ancient dialect of Lower Egypt, the other in the Sahidic, or dialect of Upper Egypt, and both from the Greek. The Coptic Version is by some eminent scholars referred to the second or third century, though others carry its date so low as the fifth century; the Sahidic Version was probably executed in the second century.

III. Several ARABIC TRANSLATIONS have been made at different times between the seventh, and the tenth or eleventh centuries, for the inhabitants of those countries, where the Syriac and Egyptian languages have been supplanted by the Arabic. They were not all executed from the original text, but from those versions, which they were intended to accompany.

IV. The ETHIOPIC, or ABYSSINIAN Version of the Old Testament was made from the Septuagint; some fragments of it only have been printed, but the entire New Testament, has been published, This version is of considerable antiquity, the Old Testament being referred to the second, and the New Testament to the fourth century

V. The ARMENIAN Version of the Old Testament was

also made from the Septuagint; the New Testament has been twice translated, from the Syriac, and then from the Greek. This version is ascribed to Miesrob, the inventor of the Armenian Alphabet, towards the close of the fourth, or early in the fifth century

VI. Though the Scriptures are said to have been early translated into the PERSIAN language, no fragments of this ancient version are extant. The Pentateuch is all that has been printed of the Old Testament; it was translated by a Jew, and for the benefit of Jews. Of the New Testament, there are extant two versions of the four Gospels; the most ancient and valuable of which is printed in the London Polyglott, by bishop Walton, from a manuscript of the fourteenth century.

SECTION IV.-Ancient Western Versions of the Scriptures.

I. Many LATIN Versions of the Scriptures were made at the first introduction of Christianity, by unknown authors. One of these, called the Vetus Itala, or Old Italic, appears to have acquired a more extensive circulation than the others, to which it was preferred on account of its clearness and fidelity. It was translated from the Greek, both in the Old and New Testaments; and was made in the early part of the second century. In the progress of time, very numerous alterations, however, being made by transcribers, Jerome, towards the close of the fourth century, undertook to revise it, and make it more conformable to the original Greek. Some parts only of this revision have been preserved. But before it was completed, he undertook, and at length accomplished, a version of the Bible, which gradually acquired so great an authority in the West of Europe, that, ever since the seventh century, it has been exclusively adopted by the Romish Church; and in the sixteenth century, the assembly or council of Trent pronounced the Latin Vulgate (for so this version is termed) to be authentic, and to be exclusively used in the public service of the church. Various grave errors having crept into this version in the lapse of ages, several revisions were undertaken by learned men. Of these the most celebrated is the revision of

Pope Sixtus V., published at Rome in 1590, but suppressed by Pope Clement VIII., whose authentic edition appeared in 1592. This edition has been followed in all subsequent impressions of the Latin Vulgate. Notwithstanding the variations between the Sixtine and Clementine editions, (both published by infallible pontiffs!) and that several passages are mistranslated in order to support the peculiar dogmas of the Romish Church, the Latin Vulgate preserves many true readings, where the modern Hebrew copies are corrupted.

II. The GOTHIC VERSION of the Bible was made from the Greek, both in the Old and New Testaments, by Ulphilas, Bishop of the Mæso-Goths, who invented the Gothic characters. A fragment of the Book of Nehemiah, the four Gospels, and some portions of the Epistles, are all that has been published, from this version; which, though interpolated from the Latin Vulgate, is nevertheless much esteemed for its general fidelity.

III. The SCLAVONIC or OLD RUSSIAN translation was executed from the Greek, in the ninth century, by the two brothers, Cyril and Methodius. It is said to have undergone several revisions; and the New Testament is rendered with more perspicuity than the Old.

IV. The ANGLO-SAXON Version is ascribed by Dr. Mill to several authors, and is supposed to have been executed in the eighth and ninth centuries. Having been made from the Old Latin, it may be of use in determining the readings of that version. Several portions of it have been published at different times.

SECTION V.-Use and Application of Ancient Versions.

As no one version can be absolutely free from error, reliance ought not to be implicitly placed on any one translation. Versions of Versions, that is, versions not made immediately from the Hebrew of the Old Testament, or the Greek of the New Testament, are of authority only to determine the meaning of the version from which they are taken.

its

I. The Alexandrian, or Septuagint Greek Version, from very great antiquity, and its influence on the style of the New Testament, claims the first place. Next in order is,