Again, in Acts xvii. 23. it is said in the text, As I passed by, and beheld your devotions; but, in the margin it is, The gods whom you worship, or, the things ye pay divine honour to; which is very agreeable to the context, and the design of the apostle therein. Again, in chap. xxii. 29. it is said in the text, that they departed from him, which should have examined him, meaning Paul, in the margin it is, tortured him; which is agreeable to the Roman custom of scourging, and thereby tormenting one that was under examination for supposed crimes.
Again, in Gal. i. 14. the apostle says, I profited in the Jews religion, above many my equals; in the margin it is, My equals in years; which seems much more agreeable to the apostle’s design.
Again, in Heb. ii. 7. it is said in the text, Thou madest him, viz. our Saviour, a little lower than the angels; in the margin it is, A little while inferior to them; as referring to his state of humiliation; which continued comparatively, but a little while.
[2.] In order to our making a right use of our English translation, that we may understand the mind of God contained therein, let it be farther observed, that by reason of the conciseness of the Hebrew and Greek texts, there are several words left out, which must be supplied, to complete the sense thereof; which are inserted in an Italic character. And it will not be difficult for us to determine whether the insertion be just or no; when we consider that the translators often take their direction herein from some words, either expressed or understood in the context; as in Heb. viii. 7. it is said, If the first covenant had been faultless, &c. where the word covenant is inserted; as it is also in verse 13. because it is expressly mentioned, in verses 8, 9, 10.
Again, in chap. x. 6. it is said, in sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure. The word sacrifices is supplied from the foregoing verse; and, for the same reason, offerings might as well have been supplied, as in ver. 8. And, in ver. 25. we are commanded to exhort one another; where one another is supplied from the foregoing verse.
Again, in 1 Pet. iv. 16. it is said, If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; where the words, any man suffer, are inserted as agreeable to what is mentioned, ver. 15.
And, in Eph. ii. 1. You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins; the words, hath he quickened, are supplied from ver. 5. and our translators might as well have added, you hath he quickened together with him, viz. Christ. These things I only mention as a specimen of the insertions, to complete the sense in our translation; and we shall find, that the words supplied in other scriptures, are for the most part, sufficiently just; but if they be not so, they are subject to correction, without the least imputation of altering the words of scripture, while we are endeavouring to give the true sense thereof; and we may be allowed, without perverting of the sacred writings, sometimes, to supply other words instead of them, which may seem more agreeable to the mind of the Holy Ghost therein. Thus, in Eph. vi. 12. it is said, We wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places. The word places, is supplied by our translators; and, in the margin, it is observed, that it might as well be rendered heavenly places. Now because there is no spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, therefore they choose, without regard to the proper sense of the Greek word, to render it high places. Whereas, in chap. iii. 10. where there is no appearance of such an objection, they render the same word, heavenly places; though, I think, the words in both those scriptures, might better be rendered in what concerns heavenly things.
Again, in 2 Cor. vi. 1. it is said, We, as workers together with him, beseech you, &c. where, with him, is supplied to complete the sense; but, I think, it might better have been left out, and then the sense would have been, ministers, are workers together with one another, and not together with God; they are honoured to be employed by God, as moral instruments, which he makes use of; but they have no other casuality in bringing about the work of grace. The principal reason why the words with him, are supplied, is because it seems agreeable to the apostle’s mode of speaking, in 1 Cor. iii. 9. We are workers together with God; but, I think, those words might better be rendered, labourers together of God[[36]]; or we are jointly engaged in his work; therefore there is no reason from hence to supply the words with him, in the text but now referred to.
(3.) If we would understand the sense of a particular text of scripture, we must consider its connexion with the context. Accordingly we must observe,
1st, The scope, design, or argument insisted on, in the paragraph, in which it is contained. Thus in Rom. viii. the apostle’s design in general, is to prove that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, and to shew who they are, that may conclude themselves to be interested in this privilege; together with the many blessings that are connected with, or flow from it, which the subject matter of that chapter principally relates to.