MUCH difficulty is found in ascertaining with chronological accuracy, the dates of the several books of the New Institution. After much investigation and a patient examination of numerous documents, we resolved to lay before our readers the results of the inquiries of the most distinguished chronologists and writers on this subject, in parallel columns. On weighing the arguments of the most laborious writers, and prying into the most authentic records of antiquity, we have fixed upon the dates in the last column.

      The fact that our Lord was born on the 4th year before the vulgar era, called Anno Domini, thus making (for example) the 42d year from his birth to correspond with the 38th of the common era--has contributed something to perplex the mind of the most diligent inquirer, in deciding on ancient documents, the precise time when certain incidents transpired. Add to this, that the time in which certain books appeared in certain countries, and the age of certain copies and versions differing materially, have contributed to involve the subject in still more perplexing intricacy. Matthew, for example, is said to have written his testimony in Hebrew, in the year 38, and it is said to have been translated into Greek, A. D. 61. Now some contend for the Greek as the original, and some for the Hebrew, each giving to Matthew's testimony the antiquity of the original which he adopts. Some, like Michaelis, suppose both dates to be correct; and while they date the Greek original in 61, allow the existence of the Hebrew in 38 or 41. So perplexed was the last great biblical critic in setting the dates of some of these books, that he could not decide between the rival claims of some chronologists concerning the autographs of some of the books; these we have marked thus (00) in the column devoted to his researches. The dates we have selected, will, we presume, best accord with the contents of the book itself, and with the most valuable documents and researches of chronologists. Upon the whole, the reader will perceive a very great coincidence in the dates of most of the books, and in some of them perfect unanimity.

[TLO4 15-16]