The Bible hand-book: an aid in the study of God...

Front matter

I ff -rr -- I t ,

^1'

L'»«ll>>l»l««l|».lllMl'lLaail 'Itift o^b^.-^U «.»..«>

Dedication

To AH who are Earnestly Searching the Bible, the Blessed Volume of Inspiration, for the Hidden Treasures of Wisdom and Grace, this Hand-Book is Respectfully Inscribed by

The Author.

COPTKIGETED, 18S7,

Preface

The Bible Hand-Book is designed as an Aid to the Systematic Study of the Word of God.

The Plan of the Work is simple, and will be readily comprehended on ■examination. It is .suflB.cient here to say that a Preliminary Survey of the Blessed Volume has first been made, and the various Books of the two Grand Departments classified according to their subject-matter, after which each Book has been taken up in its proper order, and, preceded by a General View, its contents Analyzed and Arranged in lessons of convenient length for study «,nd recitation.

To each lesson a few Questions have been appended, designed to test the "knowledge of the student, and these, again, are followed by Seed Thoughts, which embrace the Leading Truths taught, and Practical Lessons to be remembered.

The material found in the Supplementary Sections has been gathered from various sources, and an effort made to bring within the compass of a few pages the substance of many large volumes.

In the Chronology of the Old Testament the Tables of Archbishop Usher have, in the main, been followed; and in the New Testament, those of Dr. Anderson. Though not free from objection and criticism, these are undoubtedly, on the whole, the most reliable that have ever been compiled.

Finally, if this Book should accomplish the mission upon which it is sent, those to whom it may come will love the Bible itself better, and it will daily become more and more "A Lamp unto Their Feet," guiding them in the Way that leads to that City which will be Eternally Lighted by the Glory of God and the Lamb.

W. W. D.

St. Louis, Janiiary, 1887.

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.

I. THE OLD TESTAMENT.

I. THE Law.

OEBEE

BOOK. NO.

OFCH

OKDBR.

BOOK. NO.

OPCH.

Psalms.

Genesis.

Exodus.

50 40

Proverbs.

Ecclesiastes.

31 12

Leviticus.

Song of Solomon.

4 5

Numbers.

Deuteronomy.

36 84 ly. Prophetical.

II. HlSTORICATu

23 24

Isaiah.

Jeremiah.

66 52

Joshua.

Lamentations.

Judges.

Ezekiel.

Euth.

Daniel.

I. SamueL

Bosea. •

II. Samuel.

JoeL

I. Kings.

Amos.

II. Kings.

Obadiah.

I. Chronicles.

Jonah.

IL Chronicles.

Micah.

Ezra.

Nahum.

Nehemiah.

Habakkuk.

a

Esther.

Zephaniah.

III. Poetical.

Haggai.

Zechariah.

2 14

Job.

Malachi.

II. THE NEW TESTAMENT.

OBBBB.

BOOK.

2 3 4

Matthew.

Mark.

Luke.

John.

9 10 11 13

I. Biographical.

STO. OF CH.

28 16 24 21

II. Historical.

Acts of the Apostles. 28

III. Didactical.

Romans. 16

I. Corinthians 16

JI. Corinthians. 13

Galatian s. 6

Ephesians. 6

Philippians. 4

Colossians. 4

OKDEK.

BOOK. NO.

OFCH.

I. Thesealonians.

II. Thessalonians.

I. Timothy.

II. Timothy.

Titus

Philemon.

Hebrews.

James.

I. Peter.

H. Peter.

I. John.

II. John.

III. John.

Jude.

TV. Prophetical.

27 Revelation. 22

Table Of Contents

TITLE.

Title Page,

Dedication,

Part II, - Old Testament Chronology

LD TESTAMENT.

The Returned Captives,

The Story of Esther, -

Historical Books — Review,

The Book ot Job,

Book of Psalms— OwtZiwe,

Book of Psalms— Anal-ysts,

Book of Proverbs,

Ecclesiastes,

Song of Solomon,

Book of Isaiah, -

Book of Jeremiah,

Lamentations,

Book of Ezekiel,

Book of Daniel,

The Minor Prophets— I,,

The Minor Prophets— II.,

The Minor Prophets— III.,

The Minor Prophets— IV.,

50 52

SUPPLEJMENTARY.

Old Testament History,

Intervening Period,

Old Testament Miracles,

Old Testament Para-bles,

Prophecies of Christ, -

Names, Titles and Offices,

Symbols of Christ,

Miscellaneous Symbols,

Types of Christ,

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

TITLE. PAGE.

Types of the Church, - - 161

Miscellaneous Types, - - 163

The Great Temples, - - 165

The Great Empires, - - 169

Civil and Military Officers, - 172 Sects. Orders. Classes & Councils, 174

Weights and Measures, • 179

Lands of the Bible— O. T., - 181

TITLE.

Lands of the Bible— jy. T.,

Mountains,

Lowlands,

Bodies of Water,

Streams, -

Cities and Towns— O. T.,

Cities and Towns— JV. T.,

Descent of Christ,

THE NEW TESTAMENT.

New Testament Chronology, - 204

The New Testament— QutZine, 205

The Xew Testament— ffistory, 208

The Gospels, - - - 212

The Gospel of Matthew, - 214

The Gospel of Mark, - - 219

The Gospel of Luke, - - 223

The Gospel of John, - - 226

Acts of the Apostles, - - 231

The Epistles, - - - 235

Corinthians, - - - 239

Galatians, - - - 243

Ephesians, ... 245

Philippians, - - - 247

Colossians, ... 250

Thessalonians, - - - 252

Timothy, . . .

Titus, . . . .

Philemon, . . .

Epistle of James,

Epistles of Peter,

Epistles of John,

Epistle of Jude,

Book of Eerelations, -

Stpple^lextary.

The Life of Jesus, The Apostles, . . .

Other Eminent Ministers, Paul's 3Iissionary Journeys, - Paul's Journey to Rome, The Church of Christ, - The Gospel of Christ, - The Miracles of Jesus, The Sayings of Jesus,

PAGE.

PAET I.

The Old Testament.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

B. C.

BVENXe.

B. c.

EVENTS.

The Creation.

Marriage of Boaz and Ruth.

The Deluge.

Gideon's Victory.

Confusion of Tongues.

Jephthah's Vow.

Death of Noah.

Birth of Samson.

Birth of Abram.

Birth of Samuel.

Call of Abram.

Death of Samson and Ell.

Birth of Ishmael.

Saul Anointed.

1S9fi

Birth of Isaac.

David Anointed.

Sacrifice of Isaac.

David's Flight from Saul.

Birth of Esau and Jacob.

Death of Saul.

Joseph Sold.

David Made King of Judah.

ITOfi

Israel's Removal to Egypt.

David Made King of Israel.

Death of Jacob.

Revolt of Absalom.

Death of Joseph.

Rebellion of Adonijah.

Birth ofMoses.

Moses' Flight.

Death of David.

Accession of Solomon.

The Exodus.

Dedication of the Temple.

Entrance Into Canaan.

Death of Solomon.

Allotment of Canaan.

Revolt of the Ten Tribes.

1^8

Deborah and Barak.

THE DIVIDED KINQDOM.

B. C.

JTTDAH.

B. c.

ISRAEIi.

B. c.

JTTDAH.

B. o.

ISRAEL.

Rehoboam.

Jeroboam.

Menahem,

Abijah.

Nadab.

Jotham.

Pekahiah.

Asa.

Baasha.

Ahaz,

Pekah.

Elah.

Hezeklah.

Hoshea.

Timrl.

Manasseh.

Captivity.

Omrl.

Amon.

Jehoshaphat.

Ahab.

Josiah.

Jehoram.

Ahaziah.

Jehoahaz.

Ahaziah.

Jehoram.

Jehoakim.

Athaliah.

Jehu.

Captivity of

Joash.

Jehoahaz.

Two Tribes.

Amazlah.

8;«

Jehoash.

Jehoachin.

Uzziah.

Jeroboam II.

Zedekiah.

Zachariah.

Destru' n of Temple.

Shallum.

Complete Captivity.

B.C.

216 203 200 170

EVENTS.

Return under Zerubbabel.

Dedication of the Second Temple.

Mission of Ezra to Jerusalem.

Completion of the Wall of Jerusalem.

Close of Prophecy.

Alexander's Visit to Jerusalem.

Ptolemy Lagus Takes Jerusalem.

Seleucus Obtains Syria.

Simon the Just Made High Priest.

LXX Version of Scriptures.

Ptolemy tries to Enter the Holy of Ho- Antiochus Obtains Palestine. [lies.

Sect of Sadducees Founded.

165 141

EVENTS.

lem and Profanes the Temple.

Judas Maccabees Purifies the Temple

Sovereignty and Priesthood Conferred on Simon.

The Pharisees.

Temple on Gerizim Destroyed.

Pompey Conquers Syria.

Crassus Plunders the Temple.

Herod the Great Takes Jerusalem.

Herod Rebuilds Samaria.

Herod Builds Caesarea.

Herod Begins to Rebuild the Temple.

Birth of John the Baptist.

Birth of Jesus Christ.

The Bible Hand-Book.

THE BIBLK

GENERAL OUTLINE.

I. The Title.— The word " Bible " is from the Greek Bihlia, and signifies The Books; or from Biblos^ meaning The Book. It is the name given in the fourth century by Clirysostom to the collection of Sacred Writings. Before the adoption of this name the Bible was denominated The Scriptures, and The Holy Scriptures, by which titles it is still often and correctly called.

II. The Pre-eminence.— That which gives the Bible a pre-eminence above all other' writings and makes it " The Book of Books " is, that it is The "Word of God, and contains a revelation of his will concerning man.

III. The Source.— The Bible is of Divine Origin; it was "given by inspiration of God;" or "holy men of Old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

ly. The Authors. — In the production of the Bible nearly Forty "Writers were engaged ; the first of whom was Moses, and the last John. The time occupied in its completion was more than 1500 years.

V. The Divisions.— The Bible is divided into two great departments, called The Old Testament, and The New Testament. The Old Testament is sometimes called the Jewish Scriptures, and The ISTew Testament, the Christian Scriptures.

YI. The Ages.— The Bible recognizes Three Dispensations, or Ages: The Patriarchal, from Adam to Moses; The Jewish,

10 THE OLD TESTAJTEXT.

from Mo5€3 to Christ : The Ohristianf from Clirist to the end of time.

Yll. The Tejjs^slatioxs.— The Old Testament was orig- » inally -writreii. partly in Hebrew and partly in Chaldaie; and the Xevr Testament in Heilenistie, or Hebraizing Greek, They have been translated, wholly or in part, into all prominent languages of earth. The English versions most nsed in onr times are The Authorized Version, made by order of King James, of England, in 1607-1610, and The Eevised Version, by eminent Enropean and American scholars, completed in 1885.

^^JJ1. The Design. — The leading purpose ot design of the Bible is to reveal to us Gk^d as our Great Creator, and the liOrd Jesus Christ as our Divine Eedeemer, and to guide us in the way to Onr Heavenly Home.

TEST QUESTIONS.

I. rrom what is the iroxd '-Bible"' V. How is the Bible divided? What

derived? What does it signify* Who ;^ ^ ^ 'totg • ■Testament"' signify?

gave it this name? By what other := :_e Old Testament sometimes

titles is it also tnown? c<s._r 1 - - r > ew?

n. What gives the Bibie its pre- \ -. - i^^ny ages does the Bible

eminence? What does it contain? • re-:- :z~:: ii it"e.re the> called? Give

m. From whom, did the Bible —j - _/. ending of each,

eomef How was it given? Through _ - -^ ^ .^^: ages -ws? the Old

whom was it given? -- —v : :: . T. ^:!:-z" T":^

IV. How many anthors were en- _' -^"- ^ : e :. —

gag^ed in the prodnciion of the Bible* 1^ : f i : ":.:;.:_- . : e _ . ~ : : : _ i-

Who was the first? The last? How pail^j ;-^

SEED THOUGHTS.

1. The Bible is the Word of Grod, and contains a revelation of his holy will.

2. The Bible is a book for all time, adapted to aU people, under all circumstances.

3. The Bible is a lamp to our feet, showing ns the paths of pleasantness and peace in this life.

4. The Bible is a guide and counselor, leading us to the better hf e beyond.

o. The Bible is connected, in all ages and dispensations, by the line of the lineage of Jesus Christs the Promised Seed.

I. The Old Testament,

I. The Old Testament

GENERAL OUTLINE.

I. The Title.— The word " Testament " means Covenant, or Agreement. As used in the Bible the term signifies God's Promise to bestow certain blessings on certain conditions. The First, or Old, refers to those promised through Abraham ; the Second, or New, to those through Christ. Afterwards the names were used to denote The Books, cr collection of books, wherein The Two Testaments were recorded and developed.

II. The Authors. — ^The Old Testament is a collection of 39 Books written by not less than Thirty Authors, all of whom were Israelites, except one (Job), who was an Idumean sage. .

III. The I)ivisio:n^s.— In our English Bible the books of The Old Testament are conveniently arranged according to their subject-matter into Four Departments :

1. The Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses : Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, JSTumbers and Deuteronomy.

2. The Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I. Samuel^ II. Samuel, I. Kings, II. Kings, I. Chronicles, II. Chronicles, Ezra, j^ehemiah and Esther.

3. The Poetical Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon.

4. The Prophetical Books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

IV. The Genuiisteness.— That the various books composing The Old Testament are genuine, that is, that they were tlie works of the persons whose names thej^ bear, we prove by the following :

1. The Testimony of the Jews, to whom they were entrusted, who have in all ages so regarded them.

2. The Testimony of Jesus, wlio quotes from portions of them, and recognizes the distinction of The Law., The Prophets and The Psalms (Luke 24 : 44).

3. The Forms of Expression, found in all parts, which are peculiar to the nation and country to which the reputed writers belonged.

4. The Languages in which they were written, which ceased to be living languages soon after the time claimed as the date of the last.

5. Concurrent Testimony, furnished by other records, monuments and inscriptions, that have been brought to light.

6. Undesigned Coincidences, in the way of allusions to the geography, geology, animals, trees and plants of the country, which have been shown by modern explorers to correspond exactly with that of the lands of the reputed authors.

Y. The PnESEHYATioif.— The Book of the Law, placed by Moses in the side of the Ark in the Tabernacle (Deut. 31 : 26), with the various Annals and Prophetic Books from Joshua to David, Solomon deposited in the Temple, where they remained till its destruction (2 Kings 22 : 8 ; Isa. 34 : 16). After the Temple was rebuilt, ISTehemiah collected the Sacred Books and made a library of them (2 Mace. 11 : 13), to which were added his own writings and those of Ezra and the later prophets.

TEST QUESTIONS.

I. What does the word. " Testamenf" mean? How used in the Bible?

How many are mentioned? To what does "The Old"' refer? "The New?"' For what did the names finally come to stand?

II. How many books in the Old Testament? By how manj' authors?

To what nation did all but one belong? Who was the exception? Of what country was he?

III. Into how many departments is the Old Testament divided? Name them. Mention the books of the Pentateuch. Name the Historical Books.

The Poetical. The Prophetical.

IV. What is meant by "genuineness?" What is the first proof of their genuineness cited ? The second ?

Third? Fourth? Fifth? Sixth?

v. Where was the Law placed by Moses? Vrhere were the Sacred Books deposited by Solomon? How long did they there 'remain? Who afterward re-collected them? What were added to the former collection?

TRE OLD TESTAMENT. 13

SEED THOUGHTS.

1. God has condescended to make covenants, or agreements, with his people in all ages.

2. These covenants contain promises to bestow blessings on certain conditions.

3. God has never failed to fulfill all his promises.

4. God inspired his servants to make a record of his promises and his dealings with mankind.

5. Though these servants wrote in different ages and countries, and under different circumstances, yet, when properly interpreted, they all agree.

6. The Word of God, in each of its grand departments, is a book of order and system, with proper divisions and classifications of subjects.

7. In God's Word are found all that is grand and ennobling in literature : Law, History, Poetry and Prophecy.

8. God has given us the strongest possible corroborating evidence that the things recorded in his Word are true.

9. God has caused the various books composing his Word to be preserved in various ways, while most of the other writings of the same period have perished.

I. THK PENTATEUCH.

II. The Pentateuch

GENERAL'OUTLINE.

I. The Name.— The word " Pentateuch " is from two Greek words signifying The Five-fold Book, and is the name given to the First Department of The Old Testament, consisting of The First Five Books. The Hebrews called it by a word, the meaning of which is The Law, and by this name it is usually referred to in other portions of the Bible.

II. The Atjthor. — The Pentateuch was written by Moses, with the exception of a few verses at the close describing the last moments of the law-giver, which have been ascribed to Joshua.

III. The Time. — The Pentateuch was written between the years 1490 and 1450 B. C, and contains an outline of the history of the world from the creation of man until the death of the author, embracing a period of more than 2500 years.

ly. The Source.— The sources of the information contained in the Pentateuch are supposed to be five-fold :

1. Traditions, handed down from father to son, from the beginning.

2. More Ancient Narratives, portions of which were embodied in the historical records.

3. Personal Observations of the author, during his long and eventful career.

4. The Wisdom of the Egyptians, in the most learned schools of which the author was educated.

5. Direct Revelations from God, from whence came the larger and all the more important portions.

Y. The Diyisions.— The Pentateuch is divided into Five Books, or Departments, named in accordance with the character of their contents:

THE PEN-TATEUCK

1. Genesis: The word "Genesis" is from a Greek word which means "Origin" or "Beginning;" therefore Genesis is The Book of Beginnings.

2. Exodus: This title is from a Greek term, which means "To go out;" therefore Exodus is The Book of Departure.

3. Leviticus: This name is from "Levi," a son of Jacob, from whose descendants the priests w^ere selected ; therefore Xieviticus is The Book of the Priesthood.

4. Numbers : This book is so named from the two numbermgs of the people, one at the beginning, and the other at the end of the wanderings.

5. Deuteronomy : This word is from the Greek, and signifies " The Second Law." It contains, not a new Law, but a Eepetition of the Law first promulgated at Sinai.

yi. The Aim. — The aim of the Pentateuch, as a whole, is to give a condensed History of the Origin of God's Chosen People; their preliminary Schooling in Egypt and the wilderness, and the Divinely appointed System of Worship.

TEST QUESTIONS.

I. From what is the word "Pentateuch" derived? What does it signify? What does it include? By what other name is it often called?

II. By whom was the Pentateuch written? Who added a few lines at the close? What does this addition record?

III. Between what years was the Pentateuch written? What lapse of time does its history cover?

IV. From how many sources did the writer draw his information?

Name them. What was the chief?

V. Into how many parts or books is the Pentateuch divided? Name them. What does the first chiefly contain? The second? Third? Fourth?

Fifth?

VI. What is the chief aim of the Pentateuch ? What three special points are noted?

SEED THOUGHTS.

1. God causes records of his deeds to be written for the information of his people.

2. God's Book, like all his other works, shows order in its arrangement.

3. God selects the agents and instruments for the accomplishment of bis purposes, with infinite wisdom.

4. God schools and prepares his servants for a proper discharge of the duties and responsibilities he lays upon them.

5. God recognizes no systems of worship, except those of his own appointment.

THE OLD TESTAMENT.