Commentary on the New Testament. Epistle to the Galatians. Ty
H. A. W. Meyer, Ph.D. (T. and T. Clark.)—The Epistle to the Galatians has been well edited by more than one English theologist. Dr. Lightfoot's commentary, for instance, with its illustrative essays, is as complete and trustworthy a help as the student can desire. Yet there is a place left for a work like Dr. Meyer's. It is, after the national fashion, exhaustive of all that has been written on the subject. At the same time, it is characterised by a cortain freedom and originality of treatment which we look for from a German rather than from an English theological chair. Note, by way of example, the boldness with which the commentator disposes of the much debated question as to the allegory of Sinai and Hagar in Gal. 4 :—" In the -view of a faith not associated with Rabbinical training, the argument wholly falls to the ground as a real proof (Luther says that it is too weak to stand the test), while the thing proved is none the less established independent of the allegory, and is merely illustrated by it." Nor does ho hesitate to quote the words of Banes " Paulus :"—" Nothing can be more pre- posterous than the endeavours of the interpreters to vindicate the argument of the Apostle as objectively true." One of the most valuable characteristics of Dr. Moyer's work is the careful and searching criticism which he applies to the grammatical exegesis of the text. Every particle, every collocation of words is interpreted, and that with a true scholarly insight into the subtleties of the Greek, of the Greek especially which St. Paul wrote. If we may judge from this specimen, the commentary on the whole New Testament, of which it is the beginning, will be of the greatest value to the theological student."
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