At a comparatively recent period, certain inter nal marks were observed to belong to documents containing the same text. A similarity in charac teristic readings was noticed. Bengel appears to have been the first to whom the idea suggested itself of dividing the materials according to the peculiarities which he faintly perceived. It was afterwards taken up by Semler, and highly elaborated by Griesbach. Later editors and critics have endeavoured to improve upon Griesbach's system. The different forms of text observed by Semler and Griesbach they call recensions; al though the appellation family is more appropriate. Perhaps the data that have been so much regarded in classifying the documents containing the N. T. text are insufficient to establish any system. The subject of recensions, though frequently discussed, is not yet settled. In the history of the imprinted text it is the chief topic which comes before the inquirer. Reserving it for future notice [REcEN sIoNs], we pass to the history of the printed text, and the efforts made to emend it.
The whole of the N. T. was first printed in the Complutensian Polyglott, 1514, though not pub lished till 1517. The first published was that of Erasmus, at Basle, in 1516. Both were issued independently of one another, and constitute the basis of the received text. Yet the best materials were not employed in preparing them, and on both the Vulgate was allowed to exert an undue influence. Even critical conjecture was resorted to by Erasmus. No less than five impressions were published by Erasmus, into the third of which John v. 7 was first put. In the last two he made great use of the Complutensian Polyglott.
The third place among the early editors of the Greek Testament has been assigned to Robert Stephens, whose first edition was printed at Paris, 1546, I2M0, chiefly taken from the Complutensian, and generally styled the Afirifica edition, from the commencement of the preface. His second edi tion was published in 1549 ; the third in 155o, in folio. In this last he followed the fifth of Erasmus, with which he compared fifteen MSS., and the Complutensian Polyglott. In 1551 appeared another edition, accompanied by the Vulgate and the Latin translation of Erasmus. It is remark able for being the first into which the division of verses was introduced.
The next person who contributed to the criti cism of the Greek Testament was Theodore Beza. The text of his first edition, 1565, folio, was the same as that of the third of Stephens, altered in about fifty places, accompanied with the Vulgate, a Latin version of his own, and exegetical remarks. In his second edition, 1582, he had the benefit of the Syriac version, an Arabic one of some books, and two ancient codices, the Clermont and Cam bridge ones. A third impression appeared in 1589, and a fourth in 1598. The Elzevir editions exhibit partly the text of the third of Stephens, and partly that of Beza. The first appeared at Leyden in 1624. The second edition of 1633 proclaims its text to be the textus receptus, which it afterwards became. Subsequently five other editions issued
from the same press. The editor does not appear to have consulted any Greek MSS. All his read ings are either in Beza or Stephens.
Brian Walton, the learned editor of the London Polyglott, gave a more copious collection of various readings in the sixth volume of that work than had before appeared, which was further enlarged by Dr. Fell in his edition published at Oxford in 1675 ; reprinted by Gregory in 1703, folio.
Dr. John Mill, encouraged and supported by Fell, gave to the world a new edition in 1707, folio. The text is that of Stephens' third edition. In it the editor exhibited, from Gregory's MSS., a much greater number of readings than is to be found in any former edition. He revised and in creased the extracts formerly made from ancient versions. Nor did he neglect quotations from the fathers. It is said that the work contains thirty thousand various readings. This important edi tion, so far superior to every preceding one, cost the laborious editor the toilsome study of thirty years, and excited the prejudices of many who were unable to appreciate its excellence. It commenced a new era in the criticism of the Greek Testament. Ludolph Kuster reprinted Mill's Greek Testament at Amsterdam in 1710, enriching it with the read ings of twelve additional MSS.
The first real attempt to emend the textus re ceptus was n.ade by John Albert Bengel, abbot of Alpirspach. His edition appeared at Tubingen, 4to, to which was subjoined his Introductio in crisin Novi Testamenti.' An apparatus critic: s contains his collection of various readings, chiefly taken from Mill, but with important additions.
Dr. John James Wetstein contributed, in no small degree, to the advancement of sacred criti cism by his large edition of the Greek Testament, published at Amsterdam in. 1751-52, 2 vols. folio. In 173o he had published It was his desire to give a new and corrected text, but he was compelled by circumstances to exhibit the textus receptus. Yet he noted, partly in the text itself, partly in the inner margin, such readings as he preferred. His collection of various readings, with their respective authorities, far exceeds all former works of the same kind in copiousness and value. He collated anew many important MSS. which had been superficially examined, gave ex tracts from many for the first time, and made use of the Philoxenian version, hitherto uncollated. For convenience, he marked the uncial MSS. with the letters of the alphabet, and the cursive with numeri cal letters. His exegetical notes are chiefly ex tracts from Greek, Latin, and Jewish writers. The edition of the Greek Testament under con sideration is indispensable to every critic ; and will always be reckoned a marvellous monument of in domitable energy and unwearied diligence. The prolegomena contain a treasure of sacred learning which will always be prized by the scholar. They were reprinted, with valuable notes, by Semler, in 1764, 8vo.