SEPTUAGINT The name given to a Greek version of the books of the Old Testament, from its being supposed to be the work of seventy-two Jews, who are usually called the seventy interpreters, because seventy is a round number. Aristobulus, who was a tutor to Ptolemy Physcon; Philo, who lived in our Saviour's time, and was contemporary with the apostles; and Josephus, speak of this translation as made by seventy-two interpreters, by the care of Demetrius Phalereus, in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. All the Christian writers, during the first fifteen centuries of the Christian aera, have admitted this account of the Septuagint as an undoubted fact; but, since the reformation, critics have boldly called it in question. But whatever differences of opinion there have…

VATICAN MANUSCRIPT One of the principal Greek manuscripts now extant. It contained originally the whole Greek Bible. The age of this manuscript is supposed to be no higher than the fifth century.

POLYGLOT Having many languages. For the more commodious comparison of different versions of the Scriptures, they have been sometimes joined together, and called Polyglot Bibles. Origen arranged in different columns a Hebrew copy, both in Hebrew and Greek characters, with six different Greek versions. Elias Hutter, a German, about the end of the sixteenth century, published the New Testament in twelve languages, viz. Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Bohemian, English, Danish, Polish; and the whole Bible in Hebrew, Chaldaic, Greek, Latin, German, and a varied version. But the most esteemed collections are those in which the originals and ancient translations are conjoined; such as the Complutensian Bible, by cardinal Ximencs, a Spaniard; the king of Spain's Bible, directed by Montamis, &c. the…

TRANSLATION In the ecclesiastical sense of the word, is the removing of a bishop from one see to another. It is also used for the version of a book or writing into a different language from that in which it was written. In translating the Scriptures, great knowledge and caution are necessary. Dr. Campbell lays down three fundamental rules for translating: 1. The translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original.--2. The style and manner of the original should be preserved.--3. The translation should have all the ease of original composition. He observes that the difficulties found in translating the Scriptures arise, 1. From the singularity of Jewish customs.--2. From the poverty (as appears) of their native language.--3. From the fewness…