There can be little doubt, that
the very obscurities of Hebrew form one of its chief recommendations to men,
whose favorite delight is to grapple with difficulties, and to explore what is
dark, dubious and uncertain. But though
this taste, within certain limits, is useful and praiseworthy, it is extremely
dangerous, when indulged in excess, especially on subjects of Biblical
investigation. There is small scope for
invention, in matters of Biblical criticism, and the closer we adhere to Divine
authority the less likely are we to fall into human paradox.
The Septuagint comes before us,
as the most ancient authorized interpretation of the Hebrew. Such an authority quenches the spirit of
theory, and rebukes the love of invention.
We then remain pupils and scholars, and sit patiently at he the feet of
the original, and the version.. This is
painful and humbling to human genius, but it is the best attitude of the
Christian student and divine. It should
not be charged, as any imperfection of the Greek version, that it keeps us,
from the elation of theorists and from the pride of dogmatists. When poor
mortals sit down to study the Word of God, their first and most painful lesson
is to abjure the love of originality. It
is their business to translate, not to invent; to follow; not to lead; to copy,
not to originate. The Greek version of
the Old Testament, when united to the original, is admirably adapted to cherish
and nurture this intellectual docility.
It should be used, as the teacher of the Christian student, in his
approach to the awful mysteries of the Cross.
He will acquire from it far more valuable discipline, than from all the
technical canons of Biblical critics.
Edward
William Grinfield
