Bishop William Newcome
(1729–1800)

Harmony of the Gospels (1778) / Observations on our Lord's Conduct as Divine Instructor | The New Testament in an Improved Version, Upon the Basis of Archbishop Newcombe's New Translation with a Corrected Text and Notes Critical and Explanatory (1808) With Notes From Modern Preterists Michaelis, Pearce, Newcombe, Le Clerc, Grotius, Wetstein, Clarke | J.P. Dabney Annotations on the New Testament: Compiled from the Best Critical Authorities (1829)

"The destruction of Jerusalem by Titus is emphatically called the coming of Christ"

"The parousia of Christ to destroy the Jews was a virtual and not a real one; and his coming was to be understood figuratively, not literally. See Ps. xcvi. 13, Isa. xxvi. 21, Micah 1:3." (Observations, p. 231)

The destruction of Jerusalem by Titus is emphatically called the coming of Christ : the spirit of prophecy speaks particularly of this, because the city and temple were then destroyed, and the civil and ecclesiastical state of the Jews subverted. The Jews also suffered very great calamities under Adrian ; but not so great as those under Vespasian : and the desolation under Adrian is not particularly foretold. But I think that any signal interposition in behalf of his church or in the destruction of his enemies may be metaphorically called a coming, and a parousia of Christ. See 2 Thess. ii. 8, and compare Rev. xviii. 2" (Observations, p. 231)

"The slaughter of the Galileans, and the destruction of those on whom the tower of Siloam fell, are retorted by our Saviour on the uncharitable Jews, with this prophetical addition, " Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." This seems an evident allusion (supported by the parable that follows of the fig-tree) to the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred not long after, in a manner totally similar. A considerable number were slain by the ruins of the walls and towers ; the temple was everywhere polluted by the blood of its priests ; many, who came from far to attend the passover, fell before their sacrifices; and when Titus took the city, a multitude of dead bodies lay round the altar." (Harmony, p. 447)

(On Acts 3:19-21)
"These verses refer to the destruction of Jerusalem. The providence of God preserved, the Christians, at the time when such unexampled calamities befel the Jews."  (New Testament Improved, p. 269)

(On The Significance of A.D. 70)
"     The calamities undergone by the Jews were unparallel'd in their history, and will remain so. The many and great evils arising from their own distractions and intestine madness, were peculiar to this time. And Josephus asserts in general that no other city underwent such sufferings. In particular he says, that the number of captives, throughout the whole war was 97 thousand and that one million one hundred thousand perished in the course of the siege: To these must be added 237,490 of whom express mention is due by this historian, as being destroyed in other places; besides innumerable others, not subject to calculation, who were swept away by fatigue, famine, disease and every kind of wretchedness and violence. Thus did the awakened vengeance of heaven require of that generation, the blood of all the prophets, which had been shed from the foundation of the world." (Harmony, p. 246.)

What do YOU think ?

Submit Your Comments For Posting Here
..Will Be Spam Filtered and Posted Shortly..