New Testament manual ...

Front matter

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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Preface

This book is not designed as a commentary on the New Testament, boat rather as an introduction to a careful study and proper understanding of the New Testament Scriptures.

It has been truly said that every word of the Bible is from God, and every man is interested in the meaning of it. We are aware that many elaborate and exceedingly valuable works have been prepared and offered to the public as introductions to the study of the Bible; but their very size, and consequent expense, render them inaccessible to the great mass of Bible readers. This Manual we now offer to the public has been selected with great care from the works of the most eminent ancient and modern biblical critics; and its contents are so condensed, and its price so limited, as to make it available to all. Every Intelligent reader of the Bible will observe that most of the books of the New Testament, especially the Epistles, were written to confute some error that was creeping into the churches in those primitive days of Christianity, or to establish believers more firmly in the doctrines and precepts taught by Jesus Christ and his immediate followers. These errors seem to be clearly set forth by the inspired writers, with the only successful and profitable way to meet them; and we

4 PREFACE.

are assured that the church would never be free from the influence of those false teachers who would endeavor to draw men away from the true faith by declaring "it is vain to serve God" in the manner prescribed in his word.

And as this Scripture is being fulfilled in our day, and false teachers have arisen who are endeavoring to turn men from the faith once delivered to the saints, and who would, if it were possible, deceive the very elect, we should not determine the meaning of the sacred Scriptures according to modern notions and systems, but endeavor to carry ourselves back to the very times and places in which they were written, and realize the ideas and modes of thinking of the sacred writers, that we may understand and apply the great truths and doctrines which these "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

We should also remember that only an unbiassed mind can obtain the genuine sense of Scripture.

There are many historical circumstances connected with the books of the Bible, which it is important for the reader to understand, and which we have endeavored to narrate as far as the limits of this work will permit.

It is important to a right understanding of the Scriptures that we have a knowledge of their authors, the date when each book was written, the place where it was written, the occasion upon which the several books were written, their respective scopes or designs, and an analysis of each book ; also biblical antiquities, including the geography, sacred and profane history, and private life of the Jews, and other nations mentioned in the Bible.

Want of attention to the general scope and design of the doctrinal parts of Scripture, particularly of the Epistles, has been the source of many and great

PREFACE. 5

errors. These should be read through at once with close attention to the scope and tenor of the discourse, regardless of the divisions into chapters and verses, precisely in the same manner in which we would peruse the letters of other ancient writers.

Great care has been exercised, in the compilation of this work, to quote only from such authorities as are known and acknowledged to be reliable. We have drawn more largely from " Home's Introduction to the Study of the Bible " than from any other work, but have consulted freely the works of Lardner, Macknight, Michaelis, Benson, A. Clarke. Barnes, &c, &c. The author has long felt the necessity of a work of this kind in his own experience in Sabbath schools and Bible classes, and trusts it will meet a want which must have been experienced by the community at large.

It is too much to suppose that, in a book of this kind, where so many quotations and references occur, no errors will be found; yet we trust it is as nearly correct as could be reasonably expected; for no effort has been spared to secure strict accuracy in this respect. In conclusion, we can only enjoin upon every reader of this little volume to obey the divine injunction, "Search the Scriptures," that you may "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you," remembering that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness."

S. H.

Boston, December 10, 1870.

NAMES AND ORDER OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WITH NUMBER OF CHAPTERS AND VERSES IN EACH.

NAMES.

Matthew.

Mark. . .

Luke. . . .

John. . . .

Acts. . . .

Romans. . .

2 Corinthians Galatians.

Ephesians Philippians Colossians. i Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians

Total. . .

*55 104

89 47 1

NAMES.

190 6552;

Brought up,

1 Timothy. .

2 Timothy. .

Titus. . . .

Philemon. .

Hebrews.

Epist. of Jame

1 John.

2 John.

3 John. .

Jude. . .

Revelation.

Total.

u

25 3°3 108

105 61

260 7959

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WITH THE ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE REFERENCES. (As arranged in the Cottage Bible.)

Luke . . Lu.

Acts Acts.

1 Timothy. . . . 1 Tim.

Titus Ti.

! 1 Peter 1 Pe.

Jude Ju.

2 Timothy. ... 2 Tim.

I 2 Peter 2 Pe.

I 1 John 1 Jn.

J 2 John 2 Jn.

j 3 J^n 3jn.

; Revelation. . . . Rev.

John Jn.

Matthew. . . .

Matt.

1 Thessalonians.

1 Thes.

2 Thessalonians.

2 Thes.

Galatians. . .

. Gal.

. 1 Cor.

Romans. . . .

. Rom.

. 2 Cor.

Mark

Mark.

Ephesians. . . .

Eph.

James. ....

Ja.

Colossians. . .

Col.

Philemon. . .

. Philem.

Philippians.

Phil.

Hebrews. . . .

. Heb.