The Bible as it is; a simple method of mastering and understanding the Bible

Preface

The title of this book gives its position, its purpose and its method. It is a presentation of the Bible upon its own claims for itself and as we have it. The first essential to any one entering upon the study of the Bible either as friend or foe, is to ascertain exactly what the Bible says and means. We here take the Bible as we have it. We are assured by scholars that our English versions of the Bible are sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes. It is also safe to say that no material change of language, statement or teaching will ever take place in the Bible. The books will always come as they do now and the contents remain essentially as they are. Hence it is safe and proper to learn the Bible as it is. It is the conviction of the author that a fair inquiry as to the actual statements and teachings of the Bible will go far to clear up many if not all of the difficulties the student meets.

The great purpose of all Bible study should be Spiritual effect. Without this all else is " sounding brass and clanging cymbal." It is the kind of study Christ rebuked in the Scribes and Pharisees when he said "Ye search the Scriptures because in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which

4 Preface

bear witness of me; and ye will not come to me that ye may have life." There is to-day much Bible study that is as truly " pharisaical " as ever practiced in Jewish circles of old, while the food for the soul is neglected. It is the latter the rank and file of the army of God need. Not one in a* thousand cares for these minute points of origin, date, etc., but all do want comfort in sorrow, deliverance from sin, and in death hope and assurance. These are the blessings the Bible is intended to convey and without which Bible study is disappointing.

The heart is a truer guide than the head, and the great mass of the church remain convinced that they are still justified in taking the Bible as it is. Certain it is that on the objector rests the burden of showing otherwise.

The plan of these studies is to present the great lines of narrative doctrine and spiritual life upon which the Bible is laid out. First the whole is given at a glance, then the great parts of the structure are given each in a similar view, then the books and smaller divisions. Much of the study of the day is " scrappy" and disconnected and no general or broad idea of the whole divine plan is obtained. It is the plan here to present the mountain peaks of Bible narrative and to view the whole as centered about these in a succession of bird's-eye studies. This is the natural method. We remember history by great men, events and epochs. While it may be the duty of

Preface 5

some to study more closely it is not in the power of the many to do so, nor is it necessary save for special lessons or purposes.

Simplicity is one great purpose kept in mind. While the average of intellectual condition of our day is high the state of Bible knowledge has not kept pace therewith. The tests applied to the advanced classes in some of our colleges have shown a lamentable deficiency in the elementary knowledge of Scripture. If this state exists in such circles it is more common among these who are in active business life. The aim here is to so present the Bible that it will be easily understood by the average mind. The Diagrams and Charts are designed for this purpose. They have been tested in hundreds of classes and found effective. Pastors and teachers will find in these studies what is needed for popular Bible classes. The Diagrams should be reproduced on the blackboard, accompaning them by the necessary explanation. The old chronology is used simply because it is accessible to all and the differences are not important, in the historical books at least, and where accuracy is necessary it may be secured later. Dates are given also in round numbers.

These studies are designed to accompany the Sunday School Lessons, and will furnish either an advanced course or a parallel course uniting the lessons, which are more or less disconnected, into one and a logical and systematic course.

Preface

The present volume is a revision and enlargement of a former volume under another title the reception of which has encouraged the author to thus enlarge it and present it under a more suitable title. It is sent out with the hope that it will aid in the knowledge of "the Bible as it is."

We are in the day of Bible study. Ten million copies are now made and sold every year. The wisest of the world confess its value. Ruskin said the best part of his education was the chapters his mother taught him. Sir Edwin Arnold said he owed his education to the Bible more than to any other hundred books. Dr. Richard G. Moulton has said: " We have done almost everything that is possible with these Hebrew and Greek writings. We have overlaid them, clause by clause, with exhaustive commentaries; we have translated them, revised the translations, and quarreled over the revisions; have discussed authenticity and inspiration, and suggested textual history with colored type; we have mechanically divided the whole into chapters and verses, and sought texts to memorize and quote; we have epitomized into handbooks and extracted school lessons; we have recast from the feminine point of view, and even from the standpoint of the next century. There is yet one thing left to do with the Bible: simply to read it." We add to this, and to read it as it is. This is the purpose of this series of studies.

Alexander Patterson.

CHAPTER I. Introductory

Method of Study, 13. How and Why We Believe the Bible, 15. Testimony of Christ to the Scriptures, 15. The Bible is Authentic, 17. The Bible True- External Evidences, 20. Internal Evidences, 23. The Bible Inspired, 24. How the Bible Came, 27. New Testament Inspiration, 32. How to Understand the Bible, 33. What to Look for in Bible Study, 35.

CHAPTER II. BirdVEye Views of the Bible

The Whole Bible, 37. Lines of Unity in the Bible, 44. Lines of Diversity, 45. Lines of Development, 47. Full View of the Bible, 48. A View of the Old Testament, 50. Genesis, 52.

8 Contents

CHAPTER III. The Creation

Outline, 57. The Godhead in Creation, 58. Extent of the Six Days' Creation, 59. State of the Earth before the Six Days' Creation, 60. The Six Days' Creation, 62. Method of Creation, 66. Creation of Man, 67. Agreement with Science, 71. Spiritual Lessons of Creation, 75. The New Creation^.

CHAPTER IV. Eden and the Fall

Truth of the Narrative, 78. Eden and Original Man, 79. The Probation, 81. The Tempter, 83. The Temptation, 84. The Sin, 86. The Judgment, 88. Consequences of the Fall, 89. Redemption, 91. Spiritual Teaching, 92.

CHAPTER V. The Deluge

Story of Adam's Family, 94. Table of the Races of Seth and Cain, 96. Commingling of the two Races, 98. God's Attitude Towards That Age, 100. Evidences and Extent of the Deluge, 104. Causes of the Deluge, 104. Chronology of the Deluge, 105. Lessons, 105.

Contents 9

CHAPTER XI. The Wilderness Journey

The Books of the Journey, 158. Map of the Journey, 159. Egypt to Sinai, 160. Sinai, 160. Sinai to Canaan, 163. The Years of Wandering, 165. The Fortieth Year, 166. Conclusion, 167. Moses' Farewell, 168. A Review of the Past, 168. A Review of the Law, 169. The Blessings and Curses, 170. Moses' Last Words, 171. Moses' Character, 173. Spiritual Lessons, 174.

Chapter I Introductory

We begin with some general facts introductory to Bible study. What is proposed here is, first, Bible study as distinguished from mere reading, and, second, systematic study as distinguished from promiscuous study of separate parts, and, third, study with the purpose of getting a broad view of the Bible and its general scope.

It is not proposed here that we stop to investigate every interesting question that may arise, whether of fact or doctrine. What we will seek is broad effects, wide landscapes and perspective views of long periods, taking in only the mountain-peaks of the narrative, and only indicating what is important for more detailed study, but not stopping to deal with these now.

The first endeavor is to master the narrative. The Bible is first a history, and this should be learned, but in general at first, without loading the mind with the smaller events. One should thus become able to think through the Bible. The great lessons should be attached to this narrative at the proper places. The book and chapter divisions may be used as helpful to obtain the sequence of events or to keep them in mind. It also greatly assists to future ease in finding places to have a chapter analysis of each book. But there are over a thousand chapters in the Bible, and some books are difficult to so divide, and few could carry so great a number in mind. So it is better to rely upon the narrative and by means of it keep the whole in memory.

The space a matter takes in the Bible is not always a guide to its relative importance. The first chapter of Genesis far outweighs the ten chapters of names in Chronicles. We do not therefore spend the same amount of study here upon all parts proportionally. In reading for these studies, the student should read continuously through the narrative and through all parts containing it. For example, the history of Israel's journey from Egypt to Canaan should be read, without regard to the legislative parts, through to the end, and the legislation made an after study. We must not stop at every interesting story at first. What is wanted is a full grasp of the whole. Afterwards we can take up the details one by one.

Space is not taken in this book with the printed text. It is supposed that the reader has his Bible in hand and has read the passage under discussion, or follows it as he reads here.

How and Why we Believe the Bible.

This question is proper at all times. People have a right to ask questions as to the Bible. Its claims are so great, its interests presented so vast, that it ought to be examined. The Bible never discourages investigation, nor should we. In beginning a course of study we must therefore review briefly our ground of belief. We make three claims for the Bible. 1. It is authentic. 2. It is true. 3. It is inspired. These are three different questions. A book may be authentic but not true. Most works of fiction are so. A book may be true but not inspired. Most histories are so. If inspired it must be authentic and true. For all these claims we present first :

The Testimony of Christ to the Scriptures. This cannot be met or impeached by any one. All the world admits that He was the wisest and holiest who ever lived. This is the testimony of infidels as well as all others. We have abundant historical reason for believing that there is no essential difference between the Old Testament as we have it and as Christ and His apostles used it. Christ and His apostles constantly refer to it and always with the highest reverence and confidence. They do not give the slightest hint of want of faith in it, or that it is other than literally true in its statements of fact and doctrine. Christ lived the life therein commanded, and did many things to fulfil its prophecies. He took His texts from it and preached it constantly.

He quotes from at least twenty of its books covering every part of the Old Testament. He affirms twenty or more of its narratives. Christ refers without any intimation of want of belief in their literal truth to the following Old Testament narratives: Creation of man (Matt. 19: 4). Law of marriage (Matt. 19:5). Story of Cain and Abel (Matt. 23:35). Noah and the Deluge (Matt. 24 : 37). Abraham (John 8 : 56). Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's wife (Luke 17 : 28-32). The Manna (John 6:49). Brazen Serpent (John 3 : 14). David arid Shew Bread (Matt. 12 : 3). Elisha and his miracles (Luke 4: 25). Healing of Naaman (Luke 4: 27). Tyre and Sidon (Matt, n: 22). Jonah and "the Whale " (Matt 12 : 39). The books of Moses (John 5 : 46). The Psalms (Luke 20 : 42). Moses and the Prophets (Luke 24:27). Isaiah (Matt. 13:14). Daniel's Prophecies (Matt. 24: 15). Malachi (Matt. 11 : 10).

A single verse mentions the whole Old Testament as follows : * ' All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me" (Luke 24 : 44). Herein is included the whole of the Old Testament, in the three parts into which it was at that time divided. The Law of Moses included the first five books of our Bible which were then one. The Prophets included most of the prophetical books. The Psalms included the poetical as well as some of the other books, and took that name from the Psalms which formed the first of that part. In the further verses of that passage He bases His whole gospel upon the Old Testament and commands it to be preached everywhere.

So that here is the highest evidence possible for the authenticity, the truth and the inspiration of the Old Testament. Christ and His apostles lived 1,900 years nearer the time of the Old Testament than we, and within the memory of the facts of its composition as well as the facts therein related. They believed in its inspiration ; they give us their unqualified assertions to its genuineness, truth and inspiration. We may therefore rest confidently upon that unimpeachable testimony. The best, shortest and most conclusive reason for believing that the Bible is genuine, true and inspired is because Jesus said so. This can be understood by the child and will satisfy the philosopher. It can be understood and remembered by any one and even in the hour of illness or death will satisfy and bring assurance to the mind.

1. The Bible is Authentic.

We can trace the Bible back step by step from the present day to the time of Christ and beyond. The English version commonly used to-day was printed first in 161 1. Before that were other English versions, the most common ones being Tyndall's and WycklifTs. These were translated principally from the Latin Bible called the Vulgate, which was translated from the Greek copies about 500 a. d. Latin was then a spoken language. The Greek copies we still have number many hundreds and some of them are as old as the third and fourth centuries. It is from these that our Revised Version is taken, based upon the English or Authorized Version of 1611. The following diagram shows the course and connection of title to our Bible as we have it.

History of the Bible.

A.D.

t

1.2.3

|Nh^

LATIN VERSION VULGATE

This diagram shows the history of the Bible from our time back to that of Christ. Our Authorized Version runs back 300 years. The older English versions, as Tyndall's and Wyckliff's, 500 years. The Latin version, called the Vulgate, 1,400 years. The Greek copies, some of them 1,600 years, that is to within 200 years of the time the latest books of the New Testament were written. Fragments have later been discovered as old as 1,700 years and it is very probable that still older ones will some day be discovered ; perhaps even some of the originals.

There is a gap, as shown by the diagram, between the oldest Greek manuscripts and the days of the last of the apostles. This is bridged in several ways. Many writers of the first three centuries quoted from the New Testament, and together they have quoted all but twelve verses. Thus nearly the whole could be replaced from these writers. Many translations were made into other languages, as Syriac and Ethiopian. These all corroborate our copies, so we know that we have not only authentic books, but correct copies of them.

But as we do not have the original manuscripts actually written by the apostles and others, but only copies, how do we know they are correct? Two scholars, Dr. Wescott and Dr. Hort, who have examined and compared these many Greek and other copies, tell us that, leaving out all minor differences which do not affect the sense or meaning, these many manuscripts gathered from all over the world, written on cloth, skins, parchment, papyrus and other material, do not differ from each other more than one word in a thousand ; that is only one-tenth of one per cent. As they do not differ from each other more than this, it is safe to say that they do not differ from the original manuscripts any more than this. So that we have within a tenth of one per cent, of accuracy in the copies we have. This is almost a miraculous preservation in view of the many copyings, translations and vicissitudes through which they have passed.

We have traced the New Testament back to the time of the apostles, and we find, as all admit, that Christ had the Old Testament as we have it, so we need go no farther. If Christ was satisfied that it was authentic, we may well be. Besides we have the testimony of the Jews, who were so careful of their scriptures, and they tell us it is authentic.

There are many other witnesses as the apocryphal so The Bible As It Is

books which mention the Bible, and the Samaritan Pentateuch held by that people from the earliest days; also such writers as Josephus, who mention the parts of the Old Testament as they then had them. In fact there is no ancient book which has one-tenth the evidence of this historical kind that the Bible has. The ancient classics do not have a fraction of the manuscripts that the Bible has, nor the external evidence it has. These are received as genuine. Why not the Bible upon far greater evidence of the same kind ?

2. The Bible is True.

Besides the testimony of Christ, we have many proofs that the Bible is true. It has been submitted to the most searching tests. No book or matter of any kind has been so searched and tested as the Bible. Its proofs are generally classed as external and internal. We have much external testimony to its truth.

i. There is a long line of historians, Christian, infidel and heathen, running from our day back to before the time of Christ. These affirm the facts wherever they touch upon them.

2. The Jews tell us that the Old Testament is true. It is their history. It is their legislation. One might as well deny the facts of American history to us as to deny the facts of Jewish history to them. Their very existence as the Bible describes them is evidence for the truth. The Jew is a witness to the truth of the Old Testament wherever he appears.

3. The land of Palestine is a witness for the Bible.

It fits the facts of the Bible as a seal fits its impress. The mountains, valleys, cities, rivers and even wells are there as the Bible describes. The best guide book of the Holy Land is the Bible.

4. The Christian Church is a witness for the Bible. It has existed as all history admits from the earliest days, and from the beginning it has believed the Bible. Its sacraments, its holy days, its services, its organizations, are all as the Bible declares. There is a continuous line of Christian witnesses from the first century to our times.

5. The ruins of all ancient nations testify to the Bible. The science of archaeology, or ancient things, is one of the latest as well as the best witnesses to the Bible's truth. We can trace the course of the Bible story almost in every event back to the earliest times. On the walls of the Catacombs of Rome, made in the early centuries, are found portrayed nearly all the Bible stories. The Arch of Titus shows the picture of the Golden Candlestick the Bible describes as in the Temple. On the ruins of Assyria and Babylon are the accounts of the capture of Jerusalem with the names of its kings and details of the event. Under the city of Jerusalem has been discovered the conduit Hezekiah built to bring water into Jerusalem. The peoples of Canaan, as the Hittites, are shown, by ruins and inscriptions as described in the Bible account of the entrance of Israel into the land. The life in Egypt is accurate to the smallest detail as corroborated by the monuments and other records of Egypt. The names connected with the history of Abraham are found on the monuments of Assyria. The Tower of Babel has been found as given in the Bible. The ruins of the ancient world as destroyed in the deluge are being found, and the races then existing correspond with those described in Genesis. So as far back as we find remains we are given proof that the Bible story is true. 1 6 . Science is another witness to the Bible. It affirms many facts written in the Bible ages ago. Almost every science is touched upon and wherever the Bible touches science it does so with precision. Professor Dana tells us the first chapter of Genesis agrees with the record of geology. Job gives this description of the earth: " He stretcheth out the north over empty space and hangeth the earth upon nothing " (Job 26 : 7). Here is a perfect description of the suspension of the earth in space and the inclination of its axis towards the north, and this written thousands of years before the discovery of these facts by modern science. So, in another place, is an equally pertinent reference to the facts of meteorology. "The wind goeth towards the south and turneth about unto the north ; it turneth about continually in its course and the wind returneth again unto its circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full : unto the place whither the rivers go thither they go again " (Eccl. 1 : 6, 7). Here is a statement

1 See Authenticity of the Hexateuch, by President S. P. C. Bartlett.

of one of the most recent facts of science, the rotary motions of storms ; also a reference to the evaporation of the water of the seas and the circulation of vapors in the atmosphere.

Thus exact also are the astronomical references and the anatomical and all other points which the Bible touches, showing that the writers were guided in their work. Where narratives or statements occur which seem to be in conflict with fact, it is because we do not understand either the reference or the fact. Many difficulties have been cleared up by increasing knowledge of the true meaning and the true facts of nature or history.

Among the internal evidences to the truth of the Bible we mention a few.

1. It claims to be true. There is no admission by any writer that he is recording anything but facts and truth. There is allegory, symbol and parable, but no fiction in the Bible. Such is its own claim, and every book and author must be taken at its own claim unless controverted. Succeeding writers in the Bible testify to those who wrote before.

2. The Bible looks like a true book. It gives facts and names and dates and places all very unlike the works of fiction or fable. In Luke 3:1, 2, there are seventeen distinct historical geographical references which, taken separately and together, form a network of testing in which a fictitious narrative could not escape detection. Many such are in the Bible and through all it has passed triumphantly, unimpeached.

3. The agreement of the various writers with each other in statement of fact is another evidence of truth. There is not that verbal agreement which evidences collusion, but that difference of statement with yet substantial agreement which is the mark of unbiased narrative.

4. Its plain statement of facts derogatory to its own heroes and people evidences truth in the narration. Works of fiction glorify their heroes and conceal their faults. The Bible takes no pains to do so. It exposes Abraham's lie and Jacob's deception and David's unchastity and murder and Solomon's fall and Israel's apostasy, with unconcealed frankness.

3. The Bible is Inspired.

This is the great matter. If inspired it must be authentic and true. It is this quality which lifts it above all other books. It is in this respect that it stands alone. No other book can claim to be inspired. We sometimes use the word " inspired " in a weak sense, as when we say a picture or a painting or a song is inspired. We mean specially conceived and executed. This is not what we mean when we say the Bible is inspired. We apply to it two words, Inspiration and Revelation. The Bible is a Revelation given by Inspiration. We will see later what is meant by these terms and how it was given.

1. We here again rely on the testimony of Christ as to its inspiration. He fully believed it was from God. He was silent as to any want of faith in its inerrancy or inspiration. His silence is as eloquent as His words. He based His whole gospel upon it, and commanded His apostles to do so, and they did. " Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. ' ' If the foundation is defective, what of the superstructure ? They stand or fall together.

2. The Bible claims to be inspired. In the Old Testament the phrase, " Thus saith the Lord/' occurs 2,600 times. The parts preceded by this word certainly claim inspiration. The apostles claim to have written by inspiration and place themselves on a level with the prophets of the Old Testament.

3. Many scripture writers affirm the inspiration of those who went before or were their contemporaries. So the prophets affirm that Moses spake from God. So Peter affirms Paul's inspiration.

4. The Bible bears the marks of an inspired book. Its nobility of language and thought agree with this claim. Its conception of God and man and the universe is high and noble. It gives a conception of God entirely different from that of the world before or since. This is also true of the hereafter. Its pictures of heaven are as beautiful as its pictures of hell are awful.

5. It has foretold events and these events have come to pass. The fulfilled prophecies of the Bible are to our day what miracles were to the days of the apostles. In the visions of Daniel we have an outline of the world's history as it has actually been fulfilled. The fate of empires has come as foretold.

Nineveh, Tyre, Egypt, Babylon, Jerusalem, and the Jews are to-day just what the Bible foretold in writing centuries ago.

6. Its agreement with the facts of science already noted is evidence of its inspiration. Professor Dana, the great geologist, writes of the first chapter of Genesis : " It displays purpose in the author of the document and knowledge beyond that of ancient or any time and philosophy more than human. The sacred volume manifests its divine origin in its accordance with the latest readings of nature/ ' No other hand than God's could have written the account of creation, for man did not then exist.

7. The effects of the Bible substantiate its claims to inspiration. Blessing has followed its path. Freedom, education, morality, plenty and safety are the evidences of the Bible's origin wherever it goes.

8. The adaptability of the Bible and its religion to all mankind is another proof. It is understood as well by the Esquimaux as by the Syrian ; in our day, as in the time of its giving. It is a world book for all time and ages and peoples. This is not true of any other book whatever.

9. It has been accepted and trusted by the wisest and best in every age and land. We give some testimonies which might be multiplied by the hundred. 1

1 Many such testimonies may be found in a little book, " Testimonies of Great Men to the Bible and Christianity," by The Religious Tract Society, London.

Goethe wrote, — Almost to it alone do I owe my moral culture.

Locke, — It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without an admixture of error for its matter.

Ruskin, — I count it very confidently the most precious and on the whole the essential part of all my education.

Napoleon, — Everything in it is grand and worthy of God.

Wm. E. Gladstone, — The scriptures are a house builde^ on a rock. The weapon of offense which shall impair their efficiency in the redemption of mankind has not yet been forged.

Daniel Webster, — I have read it through many times. I now make a point of going through it once a year. It is the book of all others for the lawyer.

Abraham Lincoln, — Take all of this book on reason that you can and the rest on faith and you will live and die a happy man.