The edition of Lachmann, though small in com pass, deserves to be mentioned. It was published in 1831, 12mo. The editor says that he has nowhere followed his own judgment, but the usage of the most ancient Oriental churches. The text of Lachmann was well received, and much import ance was attached to it. In 1842 appeared the first volume of an 8vo edition, and in 1850 the second and last, by Lachmann. The younger Buttmann assisted him in appending the Greek authorities. The object of Lachmann in this important work was to present the text which was most general in the 4th century, from eastern (in his sense of the word) and western sources. The text of the small edition is wholly based on Oriental sources, and where these differ among themselves he adopts the read ings approved by the consent of Italian and. African evidence. Of course his authorities are the most ancient, since he does not come down later than the 4th century. The Vulgate, as edited by him, is principally taken from two MSS. The only ver sion he takes into account is the old Latin in its two forms, that prior to Jerome, and Jerome's revised form. The value of this edition is great, though it was not intended to present the original text as nearly as possible, but rather to exhibit the traditional text as it existed in the 4th century. Hence it was meant to be a contribution towards the original authentic text : that was all. Lachmann himself pointed out readings in it which could not have been the original ones. The tendency of the work has been to raise the value of the most ancient authori ties as testimonies for the best readings. But Lachmann's horizon was too limited ; his range of authorities too circumscribed. His plan re sembles that of Bentley, whose edition was not published. It is matter of regret that the learned critic should speak of the opponents of his work in language uncourteous and unbecoming (see pre face to vol. i.) For strictures on his edition we refer to Tischendorf's isagoge to his editio critica septima, p. cii. et sqq., where its imperfections and defects are correctly represented. It is singular that some critics in England should have under taken the almost unqualified laudation of Lach mann, his railing and all.
Before the appearance of the first volume of Lachmann's large edition, that of Tischendorf had been published at Leipzig, 1841, containing a selected text taken from the best MSS., with the variations of the leading critical editions. The text was mainly based on ancient Alexandrine and western authorities, being formed after those of Griesbach and Lachmann, particularly the latter. His second German edition appeared at Leipzig in 1849, greatly superior to the first, and professedly based on ancient authorities.
The most recent edition of Tischendorf is that which he calls the seventh, completed and published in the year 1859, 2 vols., large Svo. Prefixed is a Latin introduction of 278 pages, which gives a full account of the authorities used, the principles pur sued, and the chief editions published prior to his own. These prolegomena are exceedingly valuable, containing information which cannot be got in any other work. The text is formed solely from ancient witnesses, chiefly from Greek MSS., with out neglecting the testimonies of versions and the fathers. When witnesses disagree, the first regard should be paid, according to the editor, to the readings of the most ancient Greek MSS., i.e., those written from the 4th to the 9th centuries (Isagage, pp. 27, 28). On the whole, this is by far the best critical edition of the Greek Testament.
The text is generally superior to that of any other, and the authorities are clearly given in the margin both for and against the readings. Tischendorf has been singularly fortunate in bringing to light and collating a large number of uncial Greek MSS., so that he has access to more sources of evidence than any other critic. He has neglected the colla tion of no codex which could contribute to the purity of the text. Such as have this edition will feel the want of none else ; nor can it be superseded by any other till the learned editor himself sees fit to publish a better. The indefatigable critic has no rival in the field of N. T. criticism, in which he has already achieved results singularly successful.
In 1846 Von Muralt published a small edition of the Greek Testament at Hamburg, professing to give the text of the Vatican MS. as nearly as possible. This was followed in 1848 by a larger edition, with 115 pages of prolegomena. The text professes to be that of the codex Vaticanus, which it does not, however, exhibit. The same remark applies to the text of Buttmann's edition (1856), which professes principally to follow codex B, and to exhibit the various readings of the received text entire, together with all the readings of the editions of Griesbach, Lachmann, and Tischendorf. The work professes more than it performs, and is in accurately printed. We cannot rely on it for the readings of B. Indeed, even in Cardinal Mai's new work we cannot believe that the MS. has been accurately given.
The critically revised text, with various readings given by Alford in his testament is an eclectic one, taken from the editions already published, and based upon the ancient evidence of MSS., versions, and fathers. It is inferior, on the whole, to that in Tischendorf's last edition.
A new and critical edition of the Greek Testa ment, accompanied by the old Latin version, has been begun by Dr. Tregelles, and issued in fasci cult; of which the gospels have appeared, 4to. The editor aims at great accuracy in his authori ties. His text, however, shews defective judg ment. What can be expected of one who gives as the original reading, 15 Aopo-yeAls Oebs (John i. IS) ? The operations of sacred criticism have estab lished the genuineness of the O. and N. T. texts in every matter of importance. All the doctrines and duties remain unaffected by its investiga tions. It has that there is no material corruption in the inspired records ; that during the lapse of many centuries the Holy Scriptures have been preserved in a surprising degree of purity. The text is substantially in the same con dition as that in which it was found 170o years ago. Let the plain reader take comfort to himself when he reflects that the received text which he is accus tomed to peruse is substantially the same as that which men of the greatest learning and the most unwearied diligence have elicited from an immense heap of documents.
For a copious account of the various editions of the Greek Testament the reader is referred to Le Long's Bibliotheca, edited by Masch ; to Rosen intiller's Handbuch fir die Literatur der biblischen Kritik unar Exegese, i. pp. 27S-422. Davidson's Treatise an Biblical Criticism, vol. ii.; the prolego mena of Tischcndorf to his edition of 1849, and especially the introduction of the edition of 1859; Bleek's Einleitung in das neue Testament, 1862 ; as also to the 6th edition of De Wctte's Lehrbuch der Einleit. in das 'Vette Testament, edited by Messner and Liinemann, 1860.—S. D.