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The Emphatic Diaglott By Benjamin Wilson. Samuel R. Wells, New York, article in The Sword and the Trowel, ed. by C.H. Spurgeon 1873
[This work] Deserves to hold a place in the first rank of the many valuable works that hare issued from the American religious press. The idea is excellent, and the execution leaves little to be desired. If the book does not deserve quite unqualified praise, we can nevertheless give to it our very cordial recommendation. It bears evidence of painstaking study and work, and of careful and accurate scholarship, and we learn with surprise that it is the product of but seven years' labour. The author speaks of "slow progress," but the wonder to us is that what is in many respects a truly great work should have been completed in so short a time. The principal features which distinguish this from other modern versions of the New Testament are the "Interlineary Word for Word English Translation," and the "Signs of Emphasis." Of the Interlineary Translation it would be difficult to speak too highly. It is well and carefully and faithfully executed, and is calculated to be very useful, not to those only who are unacquainted with Greek, but to all save the profoundest scholars, who are almost as familiar with the languages of the Bible as with their own mother tongue. The marking of the Signs of Emphasis is, we venture to think, somewhat overdone. No doubt there are many words and phrases in the New Testament whose full force is either not known or not observed, owing to the non-indication of the emphasis that pertains to them in the original, and hence the full import and beauty of many a passage is concealed from the general reader. In such cases the Signs of Emphasis which Mr. Wilson has employed are very useful, and very much needed. But when we come to read a chapter in his version we are absolutely bewildered by the number of emphasised words that appear in it. We do not believe that almost every fifth word that the New Testament contains was intended by the Holy Spirit to be emphatic. Of the new version as a whole we can speak only in terms of approval; it compares favourably with most others that have come under our notice. We think, however, that Mr. Wilson is mistaken in not in every instance rendering the same Greek word by the same English equivalent. Moreover, he has sometimes made use of very uncommon words where those of everyday life would have suited his purpose equally well, if not better. We wish our space had permitted us more fully to notice Mr. Wilson's excellent work, but we must content ourselves with what has already been said. We extend to the "Emphatic Diaglott" our hearty welcome, and should be glad to know that it occupied a place, not in the bookcase, but beside the desk of every divinity student and every preacher of the gospel. If a new edition should be called for, as we hope it speedily will, we would suggest that the publisher would do well to print it on better paper and in clearer type.
Review of the Emphatic Diaglott in the The National Sunday School Teacher 1876
ANOTHER help which covers all the New Testament is The Emphatic Diaglott, by Benjamin Wilson. It is intended more especially for those who are Greek scholars, though others might find it of considerable service. It contains the original approved Greek text, with the various readings of the Vatican MSS. No. 1,209, an interlineary, word for word, translation, a copious selection of references, and, on the margin, a new version which is generally excellent in its renderings, and in which the emphatic words of the original appear in “small caps.” Beside these it has occasional illustrative and exegetical foot-notes and a valuable alphabetical index which makes a pretty good word “text book.” Although approving, as a rule, of the improved translation of the new version we do not sympathize with the expedient of using a Greek word in the English text because it has no exact English equivalent, or because its meaning is in dispute. In John 17: 2, 3 in which occurs the word which is usually translated “eternal,” we notice that Mr. Wilson, in his word for word translation, renders that as “age-lasting,” and then brings it bodily over into his marginal version as “aionian,” so that it reads: “and this is AIONIAN life”! That smacks too much of the pedagogue and of accuracy run into the ground, or of a fear to take sides on the question of the meaning of “aionian” in such passages as that of Matt. 26:46, where, we see, the author has rendered “everlasting” in the same non-committal way. These facts give us occasion to suspect its orthodoxy, while, nevertheless, we value the good points in the book we have named above. New York: S. R. Wells & Co.
1873 Review Ad:
This valuable work is now complete. The different renderings of various passages In the New Testament are the foundations on which most of the sects of Christians nave been built up. Without claiming absolute correctness for our author's new and elaborate version, we present his work so that each reader may judge for himself whether the words there literally translated are so arranged in the common version as to express the exact meaning of the New Testament writers.
In regard to Mr. Wilson's translation there will doubtless be differences of opinion among Greek scholars, but having submitted it to several for examination, their verdict has been so generally in its favor that we have no hesitation in presenting it to the public.
We have no desire for sectarian controversy, and believe that it is consequent chiefly upon misinterpretation, or upon variations in the formal presentation of the truths of Christianity as taught in the New Testament; and it is with the earnest desire that what appears crooked shall be made straight, that we present this volume to the careful consideration of an intelligent people.
Opinions of the Clergy:
The following extracts from letters just received by the publishers from some of our most eminent divines will go far to show in what light the new "Emphatic Diaglott" is regarded by the clergy in general:
From Thomas Armitage, D.D., Pastor of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church.— "Gentlemen: I have examined with much care and great interest the specimen sheets sent me of 'The Emphatic Diaglott.' * * * I believe that the book furnishes evidences of purposed faithfulness, more than usual scholarship, and remarkable literary industry. It can not fail to be an important help to those who wish to become better acquainted with the revealed will of God. For these reasons I wish the enterprise of publishing the work great success."
From Rev. James L. Hodge, Pastor of the First Mariner's Baptist Chunk, N. Y. —"I have examined these sheets which you design to be a specimen of the work, and have to confess myself much pleased with the arrangement and ability of Mr. Wilson. * * * I can most cordially thank Mr. Wilson for his noble work, and you, gentlemen, for your Christian enterprise in bringing the work before the public. I believe the work will do good, and aid in the better understanding of the New Testament."
From Samuel Osgood, D.D., New York City.— "I have looked over the specimen of the new and curious edition of the New Testament which you propose publishing, and think that it will be a valuable addition to our Christian literature. It is a work of great labor and careful study, and without being sure of agreeing with the author in all his views, I can command his book to all lovers of Biblical research."
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