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SECOND TIMOTHY.

2 TIMOTHY 1.9.

(UNITARIANISM.)

"In Christ Jesus before the ages."—Wakefield.

"In Christ Jesus before the ancient dispensations."

Unitarian Version.

2 TIMOTHY i. 13.

"Hold fast the form of sound words."

(QUAKERS.)

The Quakers consider that this command is broken by addressing an individual in the plural number, the origin of which custom they ascribe to vanity and pride. Also, by giving the names of the heathen deities to days and months.

See Tuke.

Mr. Gurney says, "It is the practice of Friends to avoid the commonly adopted names of months and days, and to indicate those periods by numerical appellations, according to the order of their succession; as the first, second, or third month; the first, second, or third day, &c. The reason for making

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this alteration, is simple and forcible. All the days of the week, and many of the months of the year, have received the names by which they are usually described, in honour of false gods. Thus, January is the month of Janus; Thursday, the day of Thor, &c. This relic of heathenism is not only needless and indecorous, but, according to our sentiments, is opposed to the tenor and spirit as well as to the letter of those divine commandments addressed to the Israelites, which forbad the use of the names of false gods, and every other the slightest approach to idolatrous purposes. See Exod. xxiii. 13; Josh. xxiii. 7. Compare Deut. xii. 3.; Ps. xvi. 4, &c. Idolatry was indeed a sin which easily beset that ancient people, and to which, in the present enlightened state of society, Christians are but little tempted. But it will scarcely be denied, that the various precepts contained in the Old Testament on the subject, form a part of that law which changes not; and that the standard of truth, in this particular, was heightened rather than lowered, by the introduction of the Gospel dispensation. Although, therefore, we may now be in little or no danger of falling away into the worship of false gods, it appears that the maintenance of a custom which had its origin in such worship, and by which a verbal honour is still given to ideal deities, or to devils, is inconsistent with the pure piety and unmixed devotion of the simple Christian.

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"May it not be considered, in some degree, discreditable to the religious profession of our country, that the votes of the British Parliament, passed as they are after the daily recitation of prayers addressed to the ever blessed Jehovah in the name of Christ, should, when printed, uniformly bear about D d

them the stamp of classical heathenism? These documents are dated in Latin; 'Die Veneris, Quarto Martis; Die Mercurii, Secundo Julii, &c."

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2 TIMOTHY ii. 26.

(UNITARIANISM.)

"And they who have been taken captive by the accuser, may recover themselves out of his snare, to the will of God."

Unitarian Version.

"i. e. They who through fear of calumny and persecution have apostatized from the Christian faith. 1 Tim. iii. 6, 7. 11. See Simpson on the existence of the devil, p. 147."

Note to the Unitarian Version.

No. 1.

66

2 TIMOTHY iii. 16.

"All Scripture."

(ROMAN CATHOLICS.)

Every part of divine Scripture is certainly profitable for all these ends. But if we would have the whole rule of Christian faith and practice, we must not be content with those Scriptures which Timothy knew from his infancy, that is, with the Old Testament alone; nor yet with the New Testament, without taking along with it the traditions of the Apostles, and the interpretation of the church, to which the Apostles delivered both the book and the true meaning of it."

Note to the Roman Catholic Version.

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The followers of Socinus denied the plenary inspiration of the sacred writers, and insinuated that mistakes had crept into their writings.

Sandii Biblioth. Antitrinit. Lamy, Hist. du Socianisme.

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“Every writing inspired by God, is useful for doctrine,” &c. Wakefield's Translation.

« All the old versions omit και before ωφέλιμος, except the Ethiopic, whose single testimony is with me, I own, equivalent to all the rest in a difficult or disputed passage. In that case, we must retain the old translation, referring ypaon to the writings just mentioned."

Wakefield.

"All Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is also profitable," &c. Unitarian Version.

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"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable,' &c. Newcome. But in his note the primate observes, that some render, All Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable, &c. So Syr. the three Arabic versions, Vulg. Grotius, the English Bible of 1549, &c. Thus it is not defined what Scripture was divinely inspired.""

Note to the Unitarian Version.

2 TIMOTHY iv. 4.

" Unto fables."

(UNITARIANISM.)

"The doctrines to which the Apostle alludes, were undoubtedly those of the Gnostics. He did not live long enough to see the rise of other and greater corruptions of Christianity, though they were in some respects of a similar nature. Had the Apos tle lived to have seen the rise and progress of such doctrines, as the Trinity, original sin, predestination, and atonement, his indignation would have risen much higher than it did against any doctrines held by the Gnostics, because they were much further removed from the genuine principles of Christianity. Compared with these doctrines, which infringe upon the great article of the unity of God, and which derogate from the equitable principles of his moral government, the notions of the Gnostics were only idle fables."

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