The Gospels in the Second Century - An Examination of the Critical Part of a Work Entitled 'Supernatural Religion' by William Sanday
page 21 of 445 (04%)
page 21 of 445 (04%)
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the birth of Christ must undergo a more searching examination, by
minds of different nationality and training, both as to the date, text, and character of the several books. The whole balance of an argument may frequently be changed by some apparently minute and unimportant discovery; while, at present, from the mere want of consent as to the data, the state of many a question is necessarily chaotic. It is far better that all these points should be discussed as disinterestedly as possible. No work is so good as that which is done without sight of the object to which it is tending and where the workman has only his measure and rule to trust to. I am glad to think that the investigation which is to follow may be almost, if not quite, classed in this category; and I hope I may be able to conduct it with sufficient impartiality. Unconscious bias no man can escape, but from conscious bias I trust I shall be free. CHAPTER II. ON QUOTATIONS GENERALLY IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITERS. The subject then proposed for our investigation is the extent to which the canonical Gospels are attested by the early Christian writers, or, in other words, the history of the process by which they became canonical. This will involve an enquiry into two things; first, the proof of the existence of the Gospels, and, |
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