HISTORICAL COMMENTARY ON THE GALATIANS.
South Galatian" theory. We may briefly explain that there is a serious controversy among divines as to the locality of the "Galatians" to whom the Epistle was addressed. Some hold that it was North Galatia, a comparatively barbarous region ; others, of whom Professor Ramsay is the chief representative, that it was South Galatia, where, indeed, the cities of Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe are to be found. The latter party has on its side the great argument that the Galatian localities actually mentioned in the Acts are in the South ; the former can claim the great authority of Bishop Lightfoot, diminished, however, by the fact, urged with considerable force by Professor Ramsay, that if he had at the time the information that was available later on he would have changed his opinion. The question is of consider- able importance, but the heat with which it has been debated is ludicrous, or would be if it were not so painful. In this volume Professor Ramsay devotes much space to a thorough examination of all that is known of North Galatia. He seeks to show that all the evidence tends to negative the North Galatian theory. Sub- sidiary questions arise as to the precise meaning of St. Luke's expressions in describing St. Paul's journeys. In Acts xvi. 6 he says that he traversed 70 optry:av sal l'aAartsip, xa;paP ; in xviii. 23 the term it Thv raXaTislp x6pay Kal 4,plry:ay. We cannot pretend to analyse the argument ; it is enough to say that Professor Ramsay, who has the immense advantage of being a scholar of the field as well as of the study, seems to hold the stronger position. There are, of course, other matters dealt with in this book, the general outcome of which is certainly greatly to illuminate the Epistle. We see that Professor Ramsay rejects the (in the margin) meaning given by the revisers to aro K44oveal in Galatians v.12. One would gladly agree with him, for the expression is undignified, to say the least. The word is used in this sense in the Septuagint (Deuteronomy xviii. 1), and Paul could hardly have forgotten this.—Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to 'the Ephesians. By the Rev. Herbert G. Miller, M.A. (Skeffington and Son. 12s.) — Mr. Miller has taken, it is evident, much pains with this volume. His commentary is rich in illustration and suggestion. When it deals with the practical sections, it is, we think, especially valuable. We may mention the copious illustration, by example of the Apostolic advice, µIAElS 4441 It/raTaTCO KEVOIT atryotr. But his guidance is not, we think, to be trusted implicitly. Surely it is somewhat extravagant to see in I. i. a claim on the part of the Apostle "that he is the privy to the innermost secrets of the Deity." This is to be inferred, we are given to understand, from the fact that he ascribes himself as 8r6er-roAos 2Cpso-roi; '17yroi3 81a ofkbilaros efoi7. The words are his credentials. It is in right of them that he addresses the Churches, but to put all this weight on them is quite unwarrant- able. How do they differ from the customary suffix used by an Archbishop,—" Divine Providentia " ? We do not, again, see the advantage of the note about the names of our Lord. We are told that it is "most inconsistent with feelings of reverent gratitude" to use the name Jesus simply. We question, also, the statement that in the Epistles this name is never used alone, except where the humanity alone is being for a moment exclusively diielt upon." Is it so, for instance, in Philippians ii. 10, "That at the name of Jeans every knee should bow" ? Mr. H. C. G. Moule paraphrases this (" Cambridge Greek Testament ") : " That before the revealed majesty of the glorified Jesus all creation should bow." It seems to us that Mr. Miller, however excellent his intention, is laying here a needless burden on the Christian conscience. Has he reflected what a number of hymns he is condemning ? In "Hymns Ancient and Modern " sixteen are specially designed for use at Holy Communion. Five of these use the name by itself, one of them " Alleluia, Sing to Jesus," being as frequently used as any. We observe that while Mr. Miller accepts the theory that the Epistle was an encyclical addressed to various churches in Asia, he more than once points out something that seems specially applicable to Ephesus. Such is the note on fierparchia, and that for 'alma (plicrci bp*.
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