What Spurgeon suggested his students use to study the scripture: www.spurgeon.org/misc/c&cl1.htm
This sheds much light on how Spurgeon viewed the scriptures. He certainly did not denouce other translations and critical study. Some examples of books he recommended:
This sheds much light on how Spurgeon viewed the scriptures. He certainly did not denouce other translations and critical study. Some examples of books he recommended:
Quote:
THE CRITICAL ENGLISH TESTAMENT.[23]"A Critical New Testament, so compiled as to enable a reader, unacquainted with Greek, to ascertain the exact English force and meaning of the language of the New Testament, and to appreciate the latest results of modern criticism." Such is the professed aim of this commentary, and the compilers have very fairly carried out their intentions. The whole of Bengel's Gnomon is bodily transferred into the work, and as one hundred and twenty years have elapsed since the first issue of that book, it may be supposed that much has since been added to the wealth of Scripture exposition; the substance of this has been incorporated in brackets, so as to bring it down to the present advanced state of knowledge. We strongly advise the purchase of this book, as it is multum in parvo, and will well repay an attentive perusal. Tischendorf and Alford have contributed largely, with other German and English critics, to make this one of the most lucid and concise commentaries on the text and teachings of the New Testament.
ALFORD'S GREEK TESTAMENT,[24] "for the use of Theological Students and Ministers", is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical research, both modern and ancient, at home and abroad. You will not look here for any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly able and successful work. The later issues are by far the most desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the fourth edition.
What I have said of his Greek Testament applies equally to ALFORD'S NEW TESTAMENT FOR ENGLISH READERS,[25] which is also a standard work.
I must confess also a very tender side towards BLOOMFIELD'S GREEK TESTAMENT,[26] and I am singular enough to prefer it in some respects to Alford; at least, I have got more out of it on some passages, and I think it does not deserve to be regarded as superseded.
The Commentary by PATRICK, LOWTH, ARNALD, WHITBY, and LOWMAN,[27] is said by Darling to be of standard authority, but you may do without it with less loss than in the case of several others I have mentioned. The authors were men of great learning, their association in one commentary is remarkable, and their joint production has a place in all complete libraries.
DR. WORDSWORTH'S HOLY BIBLE, WITH NOTES AND INTRODUCTIONS,[28] is a valuable addition to our stores, but it is rendered much more bulky and expensive than it needed to be by the printing of the text at large. It gives many precious hints, and much of the choicest thought of mediaeval writers, besides suggesting catch words and showing connections between various passages, although it is occasionally marred by the characteristic weaknesses of the Bishop, and has here and there foolishnesses at which one cannot but smile, it is a great work, such as only an eminent scholar could have produced.
...........
23.THE CRITICAL ENGLISH TESTAMENT.Being an adaption of Bengel's Gnomon, with numerous Notes, showing Precise Results of Modern Criticism and Exegesis. Edited by Rev. W. L. Blackley, M.A., and Rev. James Hawes, M.A. Published by Messrs. Isbister and Co, Ludgate Hill, London. (Three vols. 18s.)
24.The Greek Testament: with a Critically Revised Text; a Digest of various Readings; Marginal References to Verbal and Idiomatic Usage; Prolegomena; and a Critical and Exegetical Commentary. For the use of Theological Students and Ministers. By HENRY ALFORD, D.D., Dean of Canterbury. In four volumes. London: Rivingtons, Waterloo Place; and Deighton, Bell, and Co., Cambridge. 1861.
25.The New Testament for English Readers; containing the Authorized Version, with a revised English Text; Marginal References; and a Critical and Explanatory Commentary; By HENRY ALFORD, D.D., late Dean of Canterbury. New edition. 4 vols. 8vo. 54/6. London, Oxford, and Cambridge. Rivingtons, and G. Bell and Sons, 1872.
26.The Greek Testament, with English Notes, Critical, Philological, and Explanatory; partly selected and arranged from the best Commentators, ancient and modern, but chiefly original. Fourth edition, revised. 2 vols. 8vo. London. 1841.
27.A Critical Commentary and Paraphrase on the Old and New Testament, and the Apocrypha. By PATRICK, LOWTH, ARNALD, WHITBY, and LOWMAN. A new edition, &c., in 4 vols. William Tegg and Co.
28.The Holy Bible; with Notes and Introductions [Old Testament only]. 6 vols. imp. 8vo. 6.The New Testament in the original Greek; with Notes, Introductions, and Indexes. By CHR. WORDSWORTH, D.D., Bishop of Lincoln. 2 vols. imp. 8vo. 3. London, Oxford, and Cambridge. Rivingtons. 1872, etc.
####################################
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but inlowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:3-8NKJV) ...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross ... For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resited to bloodshed, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:2-4NKJV)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but inlowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:3-8NKJV) ...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross ... For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resited to bloodshed, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:2-4NKJV)
