It is impossible to examine here the documentary evidence in detail: much of it is obscure and uncertain. Much has been done towards a rigorous sifting of it by Dr Ezra Abbot in an elaborate article in defence of r. Xvpiov, contributed to the (bilzlz'o?zeca, Sacra for 1876, pp. 313 ff., where will also be found an account of the variations of Syriac and zethiopic mss on dr.wright?s authority. Unfortunately no certi fied patristic. Evidence is extant for the ante-nicene period; and the controversial purposes which the passage might naturally4.serve were not such as would justify-inferences from the silence of extant writers. It is probable however that Iren had the same reading as Iren.lat. The documentary evidence for Kvplov is very good and various; On the other hand the combination rb.