INQUIRY INTO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF ST. MATTHEW'S GOSPEL; WITH RELATIVE DISCUSSIONS ON THE LANGUAGE OF PALESTINE IN THE TIME OF CHRIST, AND ON THE ORIGIN OF THE GOSPELS. BY THE REV. ALEXANDER ROBERTS, M.A. MINISTER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ST. JOHN'S WOOD. SAMUEL BAGSTER AND SONS; AT THE WAREHOUSE FOR BIBLES, NEW TESTAMENTS, CHURCH SERVICES, PRAYER BOOKS, 15, PATERNOSTER ROW. ΠΟΛΛΑΙ ΜΕΝ ΘΝΗΤΟΙΣ ΓΛΩΤΤΑΙ, ΜΙΑ Δ' ΑΘΑΝΑΤΟΙΣΙΝ. 1859. 101. l. 307. Ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσονται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρέλθωσι. St. Matt. xxiv. 35; St. Mark, xiii. 31; St. Luke, xxi. 33. BODY NUSTIO ILLUER PREFACE. THE object of the following Treatise is to vindicate and uphold the Greek original of St. Matthew's Gospel. This has been attempted on other, and, it is hoped, more satisfactory grounds, than those which have sometimes been assigned by the advocates of that opinion; and in the partially new aspect which has thus been given to the argument, as well as in the belief that such a work is at present seasonable, is to be found the special reason for this publication. Every one at all conversant with Biblical studies, knows how keenly the question, respecting the original language of St. Matthew's Gospel, has been discussed, and how diverse are the conclusions which have been formed regarding it. The question is, indeed, one which is beset with peculiar difficulties, and which demands no ordinary patience and reflection from those who enter on its consideration. But with all its perplexities, it is a question which must be faced by every critical student of Scripture. It meets him at the very threshold of the New Testament; and he soon perceives, that it is not only first in the order in |