<- Previous   First   Next ->

it is now the opinion of, I believe, all expert authorities that the version here given is Purvey's revision, made in or about 1386 (after Wiclif's death), of Wiclif's own translation of 1380. The technical inaccuracy is lessened by the fact that in ‘Ephesians’ the difference between Wiclif and his reviser amounted to very little.

The Appendix is made up of (i) an analytical conspectus of the theology of the Epistle, (ii) a series of Additional Notes on particular words or topics, (iii) a Greek Vocabulary of the Epistle.

The title ‘Heads of Doctrine,’ given to the first of these divisions, is taken from a Summary, or Table of proposed Contents, prepared by Dr Westcott for a projected work, which he eventually abandoned, on ‘Christian Doctrine.’ And nearly all the subject-headings given are selected from that Summary; that is to say, those subjects in the list have been taken, which admitted of illustration from the Epistle to the Ephesians. But in the treatment of them no uniform rule has been observed. In some cases nothing has been set down beyond the mere words of those verses of the Letter which contain reference to the subject in hand. In other cases brief comment has been interposed either by repetition from one or more of the notes in the text or by citation from one or other of Dr Westcott's published works. And in a few cases, when this was suggested by anything from Dr Westcott's pen, the occurrence of a term or topic has been traced through other Pauline Epistles or even throughout the New Testament.

But for the most part any such treatment of a subject has been reserved for the Additional Notes.

In these, with the exception of a few sentences from Dr Hort's posthumously edited works and a few editorial observations enclosed in square brackets, nothing has been introduced which is not either ( a ) Biblical Text, ( b ) statistical matter drawn and digested from Text and Concordance, ( g ) express quotation from works actually cited, or used, by Dr Westcott in connexion with this Epistle, or ( d ) comment of his own, gathered partly from extant manuscript material, partly from relevant passages in his published Commentaries and other writings.

With regard to the several subjects treated the facts are these. In most cases an Additional Note on the subject was definitely projected by Dr Westcott. In many cases prospective reference to the intended Note had been made in the Commentary. More often than not the general outline of the Note existed in the form of classified groups of instances or brief summary statements with or without accessory matter. In no case had it been brought into a form that could be regarded as final.

It thus became necessary either to leave these collectanea infertile or to supplement them. In adopting the latter course I have observed the restrictions stated above. Scriptural and other testimonies, cited by reference, have been verified and given in full: outlines left by Dr Westcott have been filled in and illustrated, where this was practicable, from his own writings or from sources quoted by him elsewhere.

The few titles not expressly emanating from Dr Westcott cover topics which he has indicated as calling for separate treatment. There is therefore no need to specify or defend them.

For the Vocabulary or Index of Greek Words used in the Epistle, and also for the short Index of Subjects, I am solely responsible.

The foregoing explanation may, I am inclined to hope, suffice to justify the Introduction and the Appendix.

But, if not, it is no great matter. Disapproval signifies merely that, in the judgment of those who disapprove, the ‘Addenda’ would have been better


<- Previous   First   Next ->