God has not chosen to exempt the Bible by a miracle from the fate of other books, but has wisely left room for the diligence and research of man, who is responsible for the use of all the facilities within his reach for the study of the Bible. He has not provided for inspired transcribers any more than inspired printers, nor for infallible translators any more than infallible commentators and readers. He wastes no miracles. He desires free and intelligent worshippers. “The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The Bible, in its origin and history, is a human as well as a divine book, and must be studied under this twofold aspect.

From “Introduction” by Philip Schaff in American Edition of The New Testament in the Original Greek, eds. B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881), xii-xiii.