THE object of the brief notice given in the Treatise, of the history of the temptation, was principally to point out the relation between the fact of our Saviour being tempted and His sinlessness. We endeavoured to show what aspect this relation bears, as seen from the various points of view occupied by those who have discussed the two subjects and with this purpose we referred even to those opinions which present the greatest difficulty. But what was there said would be insufficient and unsatisfactory without a further investigation of the whole subject. We subjoin, accordingly, an examination of the various expositions of this passage,³³⁹³³⁹   The most recent literature on the subject of the temptation has been given above, p. 130, to which may be added Riggenbach’s Lectures on the Life of Christ, pp. 271-286. More information may be found in Hase’s Life of Jesus, and De Wette’s Exegetical Handbook. Specially rich in literary notices is a treatise in the (Catholic) Tübinger Quartalschrift, 1828, 1 and 2. and 265supply a fuller vindication of the view which, in our opinion, deserves the preference.

Everywhere in the Bible the exposition of the details, and the view to be taken of the whole, reciprocally modify each other and this is especially the case with reference to the passage before us. But while, as is evident, the details can be fully understood only by a correct appreciation of the whole, there is a great danger of allowing one’s self to be influenced in fixing the meaning of the separate histories by a predetermined conclusion on the import of the whole narrative. That we may avoid this danger, and pursue the safest course, we shall first state what can with certainty be determined with regard to the details, and then proceed to the general history, that thus justice may be done to both, by a due consideration of their mutual relation.