The Bible: The Sunday school text-book

Front matter

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Contents

INTRODUCTORY LETTER ADDRESSED TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

Origin and purpose of this book— Plan excludes the question of inspiration — Considerations pointing to a Divine origin of the Bible : (1) Its survival of all attempts to destroy it— and (2) all attempts to destroy belief in it— (3) Its vast circulation — (4) Its influence on modern literature — (5) Its influence on human life and character. The Bible a unity— A progressive revelation — How this Text-book should be studied ... ... ... ... ... ...

Chapter I

ON THE EVIDENCES OP THE AUTHENTICITY AND GENUINENESS OP THE SACRED WRITINGS.

The evidence for the Old Testament based on that for the New.

I. New Testament. — Pauline Epistles selected for a startingpoint — (1) Internal evidence for these Epistles — General characteristics — Undesigned coincidences — Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians examined— (2) External testimony to the Pauline Epistles — (3) The Gospels and oiher books of the New Testament — Their contents corroborated by the Epistles — Internal evidence — Testimony of Papias, Justin, Irenseus, etc. — Comparison with Apocryphal Gospels.

II. Old Testament. — Contents verified by profane history, etc. — Frequent quotation of the Old Testament by Christ — and by the evangelists and apostles — Interdependence of the Old Testament and the New ...

IV CONTENTS.

Chapter II. On The Formation Of The Canon: Characteristics Of The Several Books

PAGR

Meaning of the word " canon." I. Canon of the Old Testament —Formed gradually— " The Law"— "The Prophets"— " The Writings "—Synod of Jamnia — The Canon of Josephus. II. Canon of the New Testament — Formed gradually — Earlier portion— Later additions — Persecution of Diocletian — Council of Carthage — Authority of Scripture not due to councils — Table from Dr. Charteris's " Canonicity." Summary of the contents and characteristics of the principal canonical books ... ... ... ... .. 25

Chapter III

ON THE LANGUAGE AND STYLE OF SCRIPTURE : THE BIBLB A UNIQUE BOOK.

Language and style of Scripture vary in the different books — Nevertheless some common characteristics : 1. Dignity — 2. Reference throughout to God and righteousness — 2. Suppression of the personality of the writers — 4. Impartiality and candour — 5. Dramatic style — 6. Simplicity and sobriety — 7. Figurative speech — 8. Parallelism — 9. The Bible a unique book — Testimonies of Dr. Huxley, Sir Walter Scott, and Sir William Jones ... ... ... ... 50

Chapter IV

ON THE STUDY OF SCRIPTURE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTRUCTION.

The teacher must know more than he teaches — 1. The Bible to be studied as a book of human life — 2. The progress of Divine revelation — In morality — Modes of worship — The idea of God — The doctrine of the future life — 3. The Bible must be studied historically — Epitome of Bible history — 4. Other studies necessary — 5. Plan for the reading of Scripture — 6. Preparation of the lesson — 7. Scripture difficulties : (i.) Miracles— (ii.) Apparent contradiction in statements of

CONTENTS.

PAGE fact— (iii.) Apparent contradiction in doctrine — (iv.) The bad actions of good men — (v.) Evil things apparently done with Divine approval— (vi.) The imprecatory Psalms — (vii.) Anthropomorphism and Anthropopathism — (viii.) Passages which offend our delicacy of taste ••• ... 66

Chapter V

ON THE MEANS OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, UNDER THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WITH EXAMPLES.

The information scanty and scattered — 1. Parental instruction — 2. Instruction by rites and symbols — 3. Public reading of the Scriptures — 4. Instruction by teachers divinely commissioned — The prophets — 5. The schools of the prophets — 6. The service of song — 7. The synagogue — 8. Schools — 9. The Christian Church ... ... ... „, 95

Chapter VI

ON THE TEACHING PROCESS, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE BIBLE ! IN QUESTIONING, METAPHOR AND SIMILE, OBJECT ILLUSTRATION, PARABLE, AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION.

1. Questioning — Different forms answering different purposes — Christ's use of the art of questioning— 2. Metaphor and simile — Defined and illustrated — Metaphors and similes of Scripture mostly drawn from natural objects — Examples from the writings of Paul and other apostles — 3. Object illustration — In the Old Testament — In the Gospels — In the Epistles — 4. The parable— Defined and distinguished from the fable — Parable of Nathan — Later prophets — Parables of our Lord— 5. Practical application — Need for this in teaching children — Instances in the Old Testament — In the discourses of Christ — In the Acts o c \e Apostles — In the Epistles ... ... .. ... ... ... 114

The other volumes of Normal Studies novj ready are as follows : —

THE YOUNG TEACHER: An Elementary Handbook of Sunday-school Instruction. By Wm. H. Groser, B.Sc, with an Introduction by J. II. Vincent, D.D. Price 75 cts.

Contents. — I. The Sunday School, its Scope and Aims. — II. The Chief Qualifications of the Sunday-school Teacher. — III. Principles of Instruction, and their Relation to Bible Teaching. — IV. Methods of Instruction : their Use in Bible Teaching. — V. Bible Lessons, and How to Prepare Them. — VI. Class Teaching. — VII. Class Management. — VIII. Helps and Hinderances.

PRIMER OF CHRISTIAN EVIDENCE. By R. A. Redford, M.A., LL.B. Price 75 cts.

Contents. — I. What Christianity is. — II. What the Credentials of Christianity are. — III. What Christianity is to the World. —IV. How Christian Evidences should be Studied. — V. How to Teach the Old Testament.

Address all orders to the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, corner Beacon and Somerset Streets, Boston.

Note to tije American lEUtttou.

No teachers have so strong reasons for desiring the highest skill as those who teach the Word of God. That their great aim is to induce their pupils to surrender their wills to the will of God, and to develop into moral and spiritual perfection those into whom the Holy Spirit has come to abide, only makes it more necessary that they should understand the principles and methods of instruction.

The last twenty-five years have witnessed great advances in knowledge of the art of teaching. Schools for training teachers are now provided at public expense in nearly all the States of the Union. New text-books are constantly being written on the subject; and new methods of applying the principles of instruction, and of developing the mental powers, are constantly being tested and described. The average Sunday-school teacher has not time for thorough and extended training in the art of teaching. He is busy in other callings. His work in the Sunday-school is voluntary ; and his continuance in it is not secured by ordinary business obligations, but by the higher motive of service to his fellow-men for Christ's sake. The strength of these motives is determined by the activity of his spiritual life and his faith in God ; and these are constantly in danger of being weakened from many causes. To set the standard of his qualifications too high is to discourage him altogether, and banish him from the school. The question, how much of this training should be insisted on as essential to his fitness for his work, is a most important one.

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V1U NOTE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

In the presence of some opposition and much more indifference, increasing efforts have been made, for several years, to furnish some sort of special training to Sunday-school teachers. In this movement Dr. J. II. Vincent has been from the first the acknowledged leader. Through his guidance, and for this purpose, the Chautauqua Sunday-School Assembly was organized ten years ago. A number of books have been written on the subject, of which many of the best have been either by his pen or under his direction. Summer Assemblies have multiplied, and have expanded beyond their original aim. Sunday-school teachers from all parts of the country have been made acquainted with each other, and have awakened in each other holier fervor and more exalted ideas of their mission by mutual intercourse.

Still, it is plain enough that the churches have not yet taken up the idea that this teacher-training is their business. Special efforts in the churches in this direction are the exce23tion. Only a small proportion of them have any meetings for the purpose of studying how to teach. Theological seminaries have, as yet, no place in their curriculum for instructing students in the art of teaching teachers. The subject rarely finds a place in the programmes of church conferences or associations ; and when it does, there are few who can so treat it as to kindle interest and furnish valuable information.

Yet the churches are sensitive to the necessity of special training for their pastors. They are slow to trust a company of a hundred or more to the care of one unprepared for his work. It is only natural to look in the near future for a similar demand for those to whose pastoral guidance companies of five and ten are entrusted. The leadership that was once confined to a few professional men has extended itself to a great multitude of laymen and women ; and, surrounded as they are by the growing spirit of inquiry in regard to secular teaching, they will seek for at least a knowledge of the elementary principles of the art of teaching, as applied to the Sunday-school.

The issue of this series of text-books is one important step in this direction. The demand for them, expressed four years

NOTE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. IX

ago in the action of the Centenary Meeting in London, is much greater now than it was then. They will themselves create a greater interest, and lead to the preparation of other books in the same line. When the task of revising them was first committed to me, I intended making extensive changes. But a more thorough examination convinced me that this would be unjust to their authors, and I have contented myself with only such alterations as seemed necessary to adapt the books to American readers. I have added to the Primer of Christian Evidence a part of the excellent little treatise of Principal Benham on "How to Teach the Old Testament," because of its suggestive hints in the line of the course of lessons I have prepared for the second year of a course of normal study.

This course is another important step in the training of Sunday-school teachers. Taking these books as a basis, a series of lessons has been prepared, which, with the readings connected with them, may profitably occupy such time as the average teacher may be likely to be able to appropriate to such study for two years. Individuals in correspondence with the managers, and by the use of leaflets which will be furnished, may pursue the course alone. Classes of teachers under the guidance of pastors may undertake it with still greater advantage.*

Nearly all the larger Summer Assemblies have already adopted this course; and if those who study it through the year will come up to the Assemblies to meet competent teachers with such questions as they may wish to ask, listen to the lectures, and take part in the daily drill and examinations, they will so fit themselves for their work that they may reasonably expect a higher degree of success.

More than that, the meeting and intercourse of teachers of different religious denominations and from different sections of the country, in a fraternity organized on the basis of this common aim and study, will greatly promote the interests of the Sunday-school. I welcome with great joy this Christian fel-

* Any desiring further information concerning this Assembly Normal Union may address either myself or Rev. J. L. Hurlburt, D.D., 705 Broadway, New York.

X NOTE TO THE AMEKICAN EDITION.

lowship and the noble results it promises, and would gladly pray for the special gifts of the Holy Spirit for teaching His truth to each one who enters into it.

May these books help many fellow-workers to greater success in winning souls, and in informing them concerning the thoughts and will of God, and transforming them into the image of His dear Son.

A. E. Dunning.

Congregational House, Boston.

INTRODUCTORY LETTEE.

Addressed to Sunday school Teachers, and especially* to the Young Teachers for whom this book is more particularly designed.

My dear Friends,

This little work lias been written at the request of the Committee of the Sunday School Union, in furtherance of a scheme drawn up by the International Normal Committee, which embraced representatives of the Sunday school work in America as well as Great Britain. Their desire was to afford you some guidance in the pursuance of a course of reading and study, which would enable you to discharge more efficiently the important duties you have undertaken. The scheme falls into three parts, of which the second relates to "the Bible as the Sunday school Text-book. " You will, of course, understand that by M text-book " is meant not a book of texts, but a manual of instruction — a book to be used in class as the " text " upon which your teaching is to be the "commentary." Your aim goes beyond the mere teaching the contents of the Bible, however intelligently this may be done. Your aim is to " teach Christ " — to bring your scholars into personal and saving relations with the Redeemer of mankind, and to mould them in His likeness. But for this purpose the

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Xll INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

Bible is indispensable as a text-book. It contains all we know of Jesus Christ, and of the way in which God prepared mankind for His coming. It is, therefore, your hand-book, which you will use as every good teacher uses the hand-book or class-book on any subject which he has fco teach ; first mastering its contents yourself, and gathering from all quarters information which will enable you to employ them most effectually for the main end you have in view.

The International Committee laid down the divisions of the subject, and though, in some respects, I should have preferred a different plan, I have thought it best, on the whole, to adhere to theirs in the headings of the following chapters, with only very slight modification. The first chapter will show you by what evidence the genuineness and authenticity of the several books is established ; the second describes the gradual process of their collection into one volume, the Canon of Holy Scripture, and briefly indicates the contents and characteristics of its several parts ; the third calls attention to some features in the language and style of Scripture which make this volume a unique book The International Committee have deemed it wise not to enter on the question of Inspiration, but I should like at the outset to lay before you some considerations which may strengthen your own faith in the Divine origin of the Bible, and provide you with a reply to such persons as would class this volume among the ordinary productions of the human intellect. Ti*ese considerations do not require us to assume or discuss any particular theory of inspiration, but only to ponder certain undeniable facts connected with the history of the Book.

1. First of all, I would call your attention to the

INTRODUCTORY LETTER. Xlll

remarkable way in which this Book has outlived all attempts to destroy it. When Antiochus Epiphanes conquered Palestine, 168 B.C., he determined to extirpate the Jewish religion, and commanded all copies of the Law to be burned, and every one found in possession of a copy to be put to death. In the year 303 of our era, the Emperor Diocletian issued a similar edict throughout the whole Roman Empire, with regard to the New Testament scriptures, which was carried into effect with, the utmost rigour. The Roman Catholic Church, as you are well aware, made the most vigorous efforts, at the time of the Reformation, not, indeed, to destroy the sacred originals, but to destroy all copies of them in the language of the people ; and in addition to these might be enumerated other attempts, more partial in their extent, to banish the volume of Holy Writ from the realm of literature. But, in spite of all these strenuous endeavours to destroy it, the Bible has survived, and not only survived, but multiplied to an extent utterly unparalleled in the case of any other book whatever.

2. Consider, again, the attempts made to destroy "belief in the Bible — the vast number of books written to oppose its teaching, to invalidate its historical testimony, or to refute its claims to Divine authority. If we were to begin with the writings of its early opponents, Celsus and Porphyry, and gather together all such works as have appeared in succeeding centuries down to the present date, we should have enough to fill the shelves of a wellfitted library. " If all these books," says Professor Rogers, " were placed in one library, and this single volume set on a table in the midst of it, and a stranger were told that this book had drawn upon itself for its exposure, confutation,

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and destruction this multitude of volumes, I imagine he would be inclined to say, ' Then, I presume this little Book was annihilated long ago ; though how it could be needful to write a thousandth part so much for any such purpose, I cannot comprehend.' How surprised would he then be to learn that they were felt to be not enough ; that similar works were being multiplied every day, and still to no purpose in disabusing mankind of this frenzy. He would learn, indeed, that so far from accomplishing their object, the new volumes are little more than necessary to replace those of this fruitful and yet fruitless literature which are continually sinking into oblivion."

3. And whilst this is the fate of the volumes written to " put down" the Bible, what is the fate of the Book itself ? The demand for it goes on increasing from year to year. In 1881 the Revised Version of the New Testament was published. It was known beforehand that the alterations of the Authorised Version would not be very material. One might have thought that a slightly modified translation of an old book, the general contents of which were well known before, could not create a very large demand. But so intense is the interest which this old Book has awakened in itself, that the Oxford University Press alone received orders in advance for more than a million copies. When it was actually published, the demand for copies, both here and in America, exceeded the powers of the printing press to keep up with them. One newspaper in Chicago published the entire New Testament in its issue of May 22, 1881, the greater portion having been transmitted from New York by telegraph. How can the sceptic account for this extraordinary and universal eagerness to obtain copies of the New Version of this old book, if, as

INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XV

he says, it has long since been proved to be in the main a collection of fictitious histories and fantastic dreamings !

Meanwhile, the Old Version goes on circulating at th e rate of about six million copies a year. The issue of the British and Foreign Bible Society for 1882 was 2,964,636 copies ; and after careful examination of the statistics kindly furnished to me by the secretaries of this and other societies, I calculate that about an equal number are supplied from all other societies and private publishing houses taken together, The largest proportion of these are in the English tongue, but it is worthy of special notice that the whole Bible, or considerable portions of it, have been translated into 298 languages and dialects, and these have found a welcome wherever they have come. Now, it would be vain for the sceptic to try to evade the force of these facts by saying, "It is easy enough to account for the numerous translations and extensive circulation of the Scriptures when there are large and wealthy societies formed for that express purpose " — because it is the Bible itself that has called these societies into existence. There has lately been formed a " Browning Society," for the purpose of promoting the study of the works of Robert Browning. Should the result be that the works of Robert Browning circulate at the rate of six millions a year in three hundred different languages, it will not in the least impair the tribute due to the author's genius to say that this result has been affected through the agency of a society which his own works created and inspired.

4. The same remark applies to the one other fact I would bring before your notice, viz. the enormous influence which the Bible has had on all modern literature ; and the

XVI INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

vast amount which it has directly called into existence. It has permeated all the streams of poetic, aesthetic, philosophic, and even historical literature. Traces of the Bible are to be found on the pages of every author outside the realms of mere technical science ; and the orator involuntarily quotes its phrases as the most forcible way of expressing his sentiments, and emphasizing his periods ; while the books expressly written to expound the contents and enforce the teaching of this one volume, would form no insignificant proportion of the entire mass of literature of all kinds taken together. Twenty-one volumes of the Catalogue of the Library of the British Museum are devoted to the single heading, " Bible ; " and yet these twenty-one volumes by no means embrace the titles of all the books in that library written, about the Bible ; many, probably the greater number, being classified under other headings, such as the author's name, etc. This is a unique phenomenon. The nearest approach to it is in the case of the works of Shakespeare, who has his name at the head of five and a quarter volumes of the above catalogue ; and he is admitted to be the greatest dramatic genius the world has ever seen,

Now the writers of the Bible were for the most part men of very imperfect education, belonging to an insignificant people, dwelling in a little strip of land no larger than Wales, in a corner of Asia, where they were cut off from intercourse with the great literary nations of antiquity. If there were no Divine power guiding their intellect and furthering their work, how is it possible that it should have had such results ? I would advise you to ponder carefully these facts on which I have been dwelling, to lay them up in your memory, and if a sceptic

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asks you (as the manner of sceptics is) to account for this or that particular statement or incident in the Bible on the supposition of its Divine origin, to shew him that he has something far more difficult to account for if he denies its Divine origin. Tell him there may very probably be things here and there in Divine revelation which you cannot explain, but that he must meet you on the broad ground of what the Bible is and what it has done as a whole ; and that before you enter into these details he must explain to you how it is that this Book, written by a number of obscure and apparently illiterate men, and, according to his statement, full of errors, contradictions, and absurdities, has survived all the attempts of kings and emperors to destroy it, all the efforts of learned men of many ages to refute it, and, in spite of all this, has achieved a success which the most brilliant writers of ancient or modern times have never attained, and has this day an influence on the thought and action of mankind to which no other book makes the faintest approach. He will find that very hard to explain. It cannot be explained except by admitting the truth, viz. that behind and through the intellect of the human authors of Scripture, the Spirit of God Himself was working, and that His hand has guided its history.

5. This, and only this, will explain another fact which the sceptic may be unwilling to admit, but which the impartial inquirer cannot gainsay, — that wherever this Book has been heartily received, diligently studied, and faithfully obeyed, there men have grown in virtue and godliness, there the principles of liberty have been developed, and the cause of humanity has prospered. The teachings of this Book have made the unchaste man pure, the drunkard sober, the

XV111 INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

violent man gentle, and the selfish generous. They have sustained men under every kind of hardship, trial, and persecution ; diffused rays of light through lives that would have been, without them, all gloom and sadness ; and have enabled countless thousands to face the " Last Enemy " with calm cheerfulness, and even with ecstatic joy. Can the same be said of any other book in the whole realm of literature ?

I have been the more anxious, dear friends, to set before you these considerations affecting the character and worth of the Book as a whole, because in the following chapters, in the study of the separate parts of the Bible, you may overlook the unity which belongs to it, and because in dwelling upon the human elements which it contains you may possibly lose sight of the Divine.

To some of you much of the ground traversed in this work will be wholly new. You have been accustomed to take the Bible as though it were a sacred volume, made by the Divine hand, which had dropped down to you out of heaven. It may be new, and perhaps at first even a little embarrassing, to learn that it grew gradually, during a period of above a thousand years ; and to enter into discussions as to when and by whom particular books were written, and what special circumstances called them forth. But if you would teach this Book aright you must become acquainted with these things ; and if your spirit is reverent, you will be willing to abandon any preconceived notions, and to ask simply, How has God been pleased to reveal His will ? Now, it was not His pleasure to send us this Book miraculously, ready-made, complete. God's way was to enlighten men by His Holy Spirit by degrees, as they were able to bear it ; each inspired man handing on

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to his successors what he had written, for their instruction and guidance, while they in turn looked up to God for fresh light, to disclose yet higher and deeper truths. You will find some further description of the Progress of Divine Revelation in the fourth chapter of this work. Every step of this process has the highest interest for us, and is fraught with instruction. The Bible cannot be rightly understood unless it is studied, as it was given, by degrees, step by step, " line upon line and precept upon precept.' ' I trust you will not grudge the labour necessary to this thorough study. Remember that you have undertaken to teach and train a portion of the rising race in the most important of all kinds of knowledge. Remember that you have undertaken to expound to them the most wonderful book in all history, a book whose truly Divine origin and character has been above briefly indicated. In view of these considerations I trust you will brace up your energies to a diligent perusal of the following pages, fully resolved that whatever information tbey can give about this wonderful Book you will make that information your own. It will be of no use whatever to give this little work a slight reading. It must be thoroughly studied. The first two chapters in particular will require patient and earnest attention. Do not be discouraged if you cannot grasp the exact bearing of every point at the first perusal. There is nothing beyond your powers of comprehension if you will give your mind to the task, and you may have the consolation of knowing that you will find " plainer sailing " further on. Do not shirk the trouble of looking up the Scripture references. To have quoted the words at length would have increased this volume to nearly double its size ; but if you neglect to turn them up, you will miss a good deal of

XX INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

the profit you would otherwise gain, and in some cases miss the entire force of the argument. The Bible has come down to you in its present form through the almost infinite pain, and labour of your forefathers. Surely it is not too much to expect that the heritage which they havu won for you with sweat of brain and shedding of blood, will be by you at least diligently explored.

My little book makes no pretensions to originality. Mosi of what it contains, you will find said, and better said, elsewhere, — only, in books of larger cost, and less easily accessible to you. To some of those works I have referred you at the end of each chapter. Most of them will be found in any good library, and if you have access to such, you may study them there. The less expensive ones I hope you will by degrees make your own, and thus acquire for yourselves a Sunday school teacher's library, which will be of great assistance to you in your work. If the following pages arouse in your minds earnest desire to pursue Biblical study much further than they themselves can carry you, they will not have been written in vain. May the God who inspired "the Sunday School Text-book " aid you in all your endeavours to get at the " wealth of wisdom and knowledge hidden therein, ,, and make this little book a useful instrument in your hand, as you seek to explore the mine, and bring forth its treasures for the enrichment of