A review of the minister and his greek new testament
You're referring to the famous review of Frederick Denison Maurice's book "The Ministry of the Future" (1838) by John Henry Newman, which was published in the British Critic in 1839. The review is notable for its critique of Maurice's views on the Greek New Testament and the nature of Christian ministry.
In the review, Newman argues that Maurice's understanding of the Greek New Testament is flawed because he relies too heavily on the German biblical critics of his time, such as Friedrich Schleiermacher and Johann David Michaelis. Newman contends that these critics have a biased and overly rationalistic approach to the text, which leads them to question the authenticity of certain passages and the historical accuracy of the New Testament accounts.
Newman also criticizes Maurice's views on the nature of Christian ministry, which he sees as too focused on the individual and too neglectful of the institutional church. Newman argues that Maurice's emphasis on the "ministry of the future" (i.e., the idea that the church's ministry should be focused on preparing individuals for the second coming of Christ) is misguided, and that the church's primary responsibility is to care for the spiritual needs of its members and to promote the spread of Christianity through evangelism and mission.
The review is significant not only because of its critique of Maurice's views, but also because it reflects the theological debates of the time. The review is often seen as a representative of the more conservative and traditionalist views of the Church of England, which were opposed to the more liberal and rationalistic tendencies of the German biblical critics.
Here is a quote from the review that gives a sense of Newman's critique of Maurice's views:
"Maurice's book is a specimen of that species of criticism which is now so prevalent, and which is characterized by a want of reverence for the sacred text, and a disposition to question the authenticity of the most important passages. He is not content with the ordinary methods of criticism, but seeks to undermine the authority of the New Testament by a series of subtle and ingenious arguments, which are calculated to shake the faith of the unwary."
Overall, the review is a significant example of the theological debates of the 19th century, and it reflects the tensions between conservative and liberal views of the Bible and the nature of Christian ministry.