to the early years of the second century.
The results of the foregoing investigation of the second-century testimony to the virgin birth may be summed up in two propositions: —
1. A firm and well-formulated belief in the virgin birth extends back to the early years of the second century.
2. The denials of the virgin birth which appeared after the beginning of the second century were based upon philosophical or dogmatic prepossession more probably than upon genuine historical tradition.
Matthew 1:16 and the Virgin Birth*
AN ancient manuscript of the Gospels in Syriac )a Semitic language which was spoken in the country to the east of Antioch( renders Matt. 1:16, as follows )the translations from the Syriac in the present article are taken from Burkitt, "Evangelion Da-Mepharreshe"(: "Jacob begat Joseph. Joseph, to whom was betrothed Mary the Virgin, begat Jesus that is called the Messiah." This interesting reading has recently been given considerable prominence in the newspapers, being used as though it constituted an important testimony against the supernatural conception of Jesus. A few words of explanation may therefore be in place. The manuscript in which the reading in question is found is the famous "Sinaitic Syriac," or "Lewis Syriac" which was discovered by two English ladies in the monastery of St. Catherine, on Mt. Sinai, in 1892. The Sinaitic Syriac is a "palimpsest"—that is, the vellum has been used a second time after the original writing had been partly obliterated. The upper writing, which treats of the lives of certain Syrian saints, was produced in the eighth century; the under writing, with which alone we are concerned, constitutes an ancient copy of the Gospels. This