Sermons of McCheyne. A translation into Sindebele.
With the approval of the Rhodesian Presbytery eight sermons of Rev. R. M. McCheyne have been translated into Sindebele and were due to be published in Rhodesia early in the New Year. A precis of Bonar’s Life of McCheyne is also included in the book. Dr James Tallach has been responsible for this work, with help in correcting proofs given by Rev. Mr Mzamo. Miss C. Tallach also gave considerable assistance.
The publication of this book is to be welcomed especially in view of the great lack of literature in the Sindebele language. Apart from odd tracts, the translation of the metrical Psalms, the Confession of Faith and Catechisms there is no sound religious literature for the 1 million Sindebele-speaking people of Matebeleland. It is true that Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress and Holy War are available but only in Zulu, a related dialect.
The cost of producing 1000 copies will come to $R14.00. The prayers of readers are requested that this new publication may be used of the Lord in Rhodesia for the good of souls.
D.B.M.
Gospel of Mark by William Hendriksen. Banner of Truth Trust. £4.00
The Commentaries of Dr William Hendriksen are so well-known that most probably many order in advance whatever volume is being published. His commentaries are pre-eminently for students. This is seen by the wealth of grammatical footnotes, especially on the parts of the verbs used. His long Introduction of five chapters includes what pertains to Mark himself, and those to whom the Gospel-record was primarily addressed. There is much information given in the third chapter on the Lord of Glory — ‘Jesus Christ, “Son of man” and “Son of God”, this conquering King’ (p. 18). The commentary on the Gospel-record itself is, as one expects, most readable, and those who may be described as ordinary readers will find it instructive, and useful for reference. There is emphasised in each of the four Gospel-records that the Eternal Son came to save immortal souls by price and by power. In this “Gospel of Mark”, Dr Hendriksen deals with all the subjects as they come to the forefront.
Yet the conflict between the divine King of Israel and His adversary Satan, is peculiarly noteworthy. On page 136 we read, “Jesus is doing all this because by means of his incarnation, his victory over the devil in the desert of temptation, his words of authority addressed to the demons, his entire activity, he has begun to bind Beelzebub, a process of binding or curtailment of power that was going to be further strengthened by means of his victory over Satan on the cross and in the resurrection, ascension and coronation”. Dr Hendriksen is most tender in his commenting on subjects as they arise. We venture to say, he is especially so respecting the betrayal and condemnation of the Saviour, and His atoning death. By His death the Saviour took the sting out of death for all brought to confide, by sovereign grace, in Him. “O death, where is thy sting?” By His resurrection He conquered the grave, and rose as the Head of His body, the Church. “O grave, where is thy victory?”
We must respectfully but totally disagree with the statements made as to the closing part of Chap. XVI vv. 9-20. During the last hundred years, or so, the view became prevalent that Mark never personally wrote these verses as part of the Gospel. Such a matter requires men who have the standing and qualifications needed to provide a suitable reply. We believe, that in the holy providence of the Saviour such men have been raised up. Dr Scrivener blew the trumpet with no uncertain sound. We do no more here than point to his volume, “Introduction to the N.T.”, p. 7 and pp. 583-590. He had no misgiving as to the fact of the portion being originally part of Mark’s Gospel. We need only mention Dean Burgon’s labours set forth in different volumes. Then more recently there are Dr Edward F. Hills’ books. About Burgon’s treatise on “The Last Twelve Verses of Mark”, Dr Hills writes, “For almost a century this volume has deservedly been held in high esteem by believing Bible students and its basic arguments all this while have remained irrefutable” (“Believing Bible Study”, p. 143). In “The King James Version Defended”, Dr Hills states, “But the last twelve verses of Mark cannot be disowned on the strength of an unsupported statement, even when it is made by the most eminent of modern scholars. For these verses have an enormous weight of testimony in their favour, which cannot lightly be set aside. They are found in all the Greek manuscripts except B and Aleph, and all the Latin manuscripts except K. And, even more important, they were quoted as Scripture by early Church Fathers, who lived one hundred and fifty years before B and Aleph were written, namely, Justin Martyr (c. 150), Tatian (c. 175), Irenaeus (c. 180) and Hippolytus (c. 200). Thus the earliest extant testimony is on the side of these last twelve verses. Surely the critical objections against them must be exceedingly strong to overcome this evidence for their genuineness” (p. 109).
Recently the Banner of Truth Trust re-issued Dr David Brown’s Commentary on “The Four Gospels”. It contains Dr Brown’s comments on this portion. He was of one mind and heart with Scrivener and Burgon. Dr Addison Alexander in his Commentary on Mark — also republished by the Banner of Truth — refers to these verses both in his Introduction, and in his commentary on the text. He states that the key to the correct interpretation of this chapter is as follows; “In this account of the Saviour’s resurrection, and subsequent appearances, a specific purpose of the writer is to point out the successive steps, by which the incredulity of the apostles was at length subdued, and their minds prepared for the reception and the execution of their great commission. These successive steps or stages are: his message by the company of women (1-8); that by Mary Magdalene (9-11); that by the two disciples journeying to Emmaus (12-13); his final appearance to the apostolic body (14); followed by the great commission (15-18); the ascension (19); and the execution of these farewell orders (20). The reader will do well to bear in mind the close concatenation of these topics, when he comes to the question with respect to the genuineness of the last twelve verses” (p. 433).
D.A. Macf.
The Child’s Story Bible (New Testament) by Catherine Vos. Banner of Truth. 215pp. Price £1.95.
‘The Child’s Story Bible in hardback has already been published in this country and has been received with general acceptance, but especially by parents anxious to have help of this kind in instructing their children in the Bible. This Banner of Truth paperback edition of the New Testament section of Catherine Vos’ book will no doubt give wider circulation to a book already well known.
The title given to this work is really a misnomer. It should be called Bible Stories rather than the Child’s Story Bible. It would be a pity if children were led to think of this as their Bible. Even the New Testament sub-title is incorrect as the stories are taken only from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. In attempting to put Bible Stories in simple language for children there is always the danger of mis-stating the truths of Scripture and on occasion this happens here. On the whole, however, the work is well done and many parents will find the book helpful for instructing their young children. The illustrations in the book are no doubt intended to be up to date and may be considered acceptable by those who appreciate modern art. To our eye, however, they appear grotesque.
D.B.M.