THE HEALING OF BLIND BARTIMAEUS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—The variations in the Synoptist accounts of the healing of blind Bartimaeus are probably due to the natural action of tradition. And this explanation, as a general principle, I have given in the introduction of " The Unified Gospel" (p. 27), which your reviewer in the Spectator of November 3rd has probably overlooked. But the conditions of any such unifica- tion of the Gospel story (see p. 11) as I have attempted necessitate another explanation of this incident which is at least a not improbable one. For the view—the only one possible to satisfy the conditions which could produce the Unified Gospel—that Bartimaeus cried out as Christ entered Jericho on the one day, but was not healed until he, who was now joined by another blind man, intercepted Him as He left Jericho on the next day, is substantially that of Maldonatus , Bengel, Stier, Trench, Ellicott, Wordsworth, McClellan, and G. Milligan.—I am, Sir, &c., FRANCIS E. POWELL. Sewerby Vicarage, Bridlington.
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