The Companion Bible, Part I
By Editor
The Companion Bible, Part I, The Pentateuch, being the authorized version of 1611 with the structures and notes, critical and explanatory and suggestive. Oxford University Press, London, New York, Toronto, and Melbourne. The object of this work is to publish the English Bible in four instalments, each containing about 400 pages: The Pentateuch, Joshua to Job, Psalms to Malachi, and the New Testament. The aim is to make the Bible self-explanatory, designed for the general use of all English readers. It is not to be considered a new translation nor an amended translation nor a commentary. There are no alterations in the text beyond what can be effected by a variation in the character of the type. All ancient readings and all amended renderings are confined to the margin. There are no minute English or Greek "superior" letters to confuse the text. Distinctions are indicated by type. Pronouns referring to Deity are indicated by capital letters; pronouns emphasized in the original are in special type. Where capital and small letters affect interpretation these are given. Words spoken or cited are placed within quotation marks. There are many other good features which we have not space to mention. Chapters and verses of the Authorized Version are retained, but spaces are introduced to mark them off into paragraphs, so that the advantages of both verse and paragraph division are retained. The marginal notes give all the important readings in the Old Testament according to Ginsburg's Massoretico-Critical Text of the Hebrew Bible. In the New Testament all the important readings will be given according to the great textual critics Griesbach, Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Alford, Westcott and Hort, and the Revisers' Greek Text. Another excellent thing is that no Hebrew or Greek words are brought in with the Hebrew or Greek characters, but all such terms are transliterated. Structures of the books are given, and all their parts, which are the surest thing to their interpretation and the strongest proof of their inspiration. One may not be in concord with all of the appendixes and explanations given, but he will find the work decidedly helpful. The Oxford Press has certainly done an excellent thing in the issuing of the Companion Bible. As a help to the student we gladly commend it.