C.H.S. And Paraphrases

In his book :Commenting And Commentators Spurgeon reviews quite a number of paraphrases.Now understand that his "reviews" are quite brief.He arranged book in three categories."The reader will please observe that the books most heartily recommended are listed with *** after the books.Good,but more ordinary works are with **,and the least desirable with *."

Seventeen of the paraphrases received a single *.Nineteen got either **,or ***.I'll deal with the works which he rated with 2 or three stars.

Joseph Hall --A Plain and familiar Explication.**

Job Orton -- Exposition of the Old Testament **

Henry Hammond -- Paraphrase And Annotations **

[Actually Mr.Hammond is mentioned twice.The first mention is his treatment of the Psalms.The second time is his work on the New Testament.:"Though Hammond gives a great deal of dry criticism,and is Arminian,churchy,and peculiar,we greatly value his addition to our stores of biblical information.Use the sieve and reject the chaff."]

A.A. Morgan -- Ecclesiates Metrically Paraphrased
...a carefully written metrical translation make up an elegant work of art"

Joseph Bush -- The Canticles Of The Song Of Solomon **

"A good compilation,with a helpful translation."

Joseph Irons --Nymphas ***

"It is a paraphrase in blank verse,rendered in a very spiritual manner."

Thomas Wilcocks --Exposition **

"Short and somewhat in the manner of a paraphrase."

J.C.Whish --A Paraphrase Of The Book Of Isaiah,with notes **

"The paraphrasing is not prolix,and it does,as a rule,aid the reader in getting at the literal sense."

Edward Barlee -- Explanatory Version Of The Minor Prophets **

"One of the best paraphrases we have ever met with."

David Stokes --Paraphrase **

Desiderius Erasmus -- Paraphrase **

"This paraphrase was appointed by public authority to be placed in all churches in England,and the clergy were also ordered to read it."

John Forster -- The Gospel Narrative With A Continuous Exposition **

"A paraphrase upon a good system,carefully executed,and instructive.Thoroughly Anglican."

George Benson --Paraphrase And Notes On 1 And 2 Thessalonians, 1 And 2 Timothy,Philemon,Titus,And The Seven Catholic Epistles **

Zachary Pearce -- Translation Of 1 Corinthians with paraphrase and notes **

Joseph B.M'Caul -- Hebrews.A paraphrastic commentary... **

A.MacLean -- Paraphrase And Commentary On Hebrews ***

 

Before his "Remarks Upon The Catalog Of Commentaries" he had an opening section called :"A Chat About Commentaries".

Here is a brief excerpt:

Upon the New Testament,Philip Doddridge's Expositor is worthy of a far more extensive reading than is nowadays accorded to it.It is all in the form of a paraphrase,with the text in italics;a mode of treatment far from satisfactory as rule,but exceedingly well carried out in this instance.The notes are very good,and reveal the thorough scholar.Our Authorized Version is placed in the margin,and a new translation is the paraphrase."

 

The following is interesting.

Stephen Street -- A New Literal Translation *

"One hardly desires a rigidly literal translation of a poetic book,for the beauty and spirit are lost."[This concerned a book on the Psalms.]

 

Isn't there anyone here who is surprised at how many paraphrases there were from the 17th through the 19th century?

 

This particular post doesn't deal with CHS and his favorite Bible paraphrases. But Arthur S. Way paraphrased the epistles of Paul and the book of Hebrews. F.F. Bruce paraphrased all of Paul's epistles.

Paraphrases can still be considered the Word of God. And they can still be considered translations -- just not in the formally-equivalent style.

 

A Golden Oldie.

 

Well Charles H. Spurgeon considered them paraphrases.

 

Spurgeon reviewed a variety of Christian books. Among the ones under review were Bible paraphrases.

 

Richard Baxter wrote The New Testament With paraphrase And Notes back in 1652 and updated it through the years till 1685.

Ecclesiastes was paraphrased by Gregory Thaumaturgos.

The above were notes that I have had from an unknown source.

The following snips are from the International Bible Encyclopedia (from page 92 by Geoffrey W. Bromiley)

E. Wells put out a common Translation Corrected With a Paraphrase And Notes back in 1718.

Changes in vocabulary and style demanded more up-to-date renderings.

[These newer translations/paraphrases were necessary] to keep it idiomatic as the language was changing.

Changes in written and spoken English became incresingly obvious.

[ All of the above said in reference to the need that existed to have Scripture made more modern than the antiquated KJV]

The pace quickened in the 18th century. Paraphrase still dominated the scene in the first decades. Whitby, Guyse, Clarke, Pyle all made contributions.

 

Moises Silva paraphrases the NASB and the New International Bible for the book of Philippians. Does anyone have that?

What about Gordon Fee's paraphrase of Philippians?