I may at once say that no writing of the New Testament is
directly referred to by name in this epistle, and consequently any
supposed quotations are merely inferred to be such by their similarity
to passages found in these writings. With the complete unconsciousness
which I have pointed out that Dr. Lightfoot affects regarding the
object and requirements of my argument, Dr. Lightfoot is, of course,
indignant that I will not accept as conclusive evidence the imperfect
coincidences which alone he is able to bring forward. I have elsewhere
fully discussed these, [140:1] and I need only refer to some portions
of his essay here.
"Of Vettius Epagathus, one of the sufferers, we are told that,
though young; he 'rivalled the testimony borne to the elder
Zacharias ([Greek: sunexisousthai te tou presbuterou Zacharious
marturia]), for verily ([Greek: goun]) he had _walked in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless_.' Here we have
the same words, and in the same order, which are used of Zacharias
and Elizabeth in St. Luke (i. 6): 'and Zacharias, his father, was
filled with the Holy Ghost.'" [140:2]
Dr. Lightfoot very properly dwells on the meaning of the expression
"the testimony of Zacharias" ([Greek: te Zachariou marturia]), which he
points out "might signify either 'the testimony borne to Zacharias,'
_i.
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