Companion to the Bible

1. The apostolic epistles are a natural sequence of the office and work committed by the Saviour to the apostles. They were the primitive preachers of the gospel, and, under Chr...

1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established...

1. As it respects inspiration, and consequent infallible authority, the quotations of the New Testament stand on a level with the rest of the apostolic writings. The Saviour's p...

1. The New Testament, like the Old, is not an abstract system of doctrines and duties, but a _record of facts_ involving doctrines and duties of the highest import. This record...

1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three grea...

1. The _material world_ is full of _analogies_ adapted to the illustration of spiritual things. No teacher ever drew from this inexhaustible storehouse such a rich variety of ex...

1. The scriptural idea of prophecy is widely removed from that of human foresight and presentiment. It is that of _a revelation made by the Holy Spirit respecting the future_, a...

1. The Hebrews reckon but three books as _poetical_, namely: Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a stricter rhythm--the rhythm not of feet, but o...

1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to _unfo...

I. _Preliminary Remarks._ 1. A book is _genuine_ if written by the man whose name it bears, or to whom it is ascribed; or when, as in the case of several books of the Old Testam...

1. When the psalmist says: "The Lord God is a sun and shield" (Psa. 84:11), he means that God is to all his creatures the source of life and blessedness, and their almighty prot...

1. Since the Bible addresses men in human language, and according to human modes of thinking and speaking, the interpreter's first work is to ascertain the _meaning of the terms...

1. The genuineness and uncorrupt preservation of our four canonical gospels having been established, the presumption in favor of their authenticity and credibility is exceedingl...

1. The word _Apocalypse_ (Greek _Apokalupsis_) signifies _Revelation_, the title given to the book in our English version as well from its opening word as from its contents. Of...

1. The _unity of the Pentateuch_ has already been considered (Ch. 9, No. 12), and will appear more fully as we proceed with the examination of the separate books included in it....

1. Seven epistles, that of James and the six that follow, are called _Catholic_, that is, _general_ or _universal_, as not being directed to any particular church. They were not...

1. The Greek word _canon_ (originally a _straight rod or pole_, _measuring-rod_, then _rule_) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration...

The term _Pentateuch_ is composed of the two Greek words, _pente_, _five_, and _teuchos_, which in later Alexandrine usage signified _book_. It denotes, therefore, the collectio...

1. "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world;" and therefore they constitute together a self-consistent whole. To receive the Holy Scriptures as containi...

By the word _inspiration_, when used in a theological sense, we understand such an illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit as raises a speaker or writer above error, and th...

The history of the New Testament text naturally falls into two main divisions, that of the _manuscript_ text, and that of the _printed_ text. A few remarks will be added on the...

1. The external evidences of revealed religion are, in their proper place and sphere, of the highest importance. Christianity rests not upon theory, but upon historical facts su...

In the present chapter those versions of the Old Testament also that were made in connection with versions of the New, and in the interest of Christianity, will be briefly consi...

In the present chapter only those versions of the Old Testament are noticed which were made independently of the New. Versions of the whole Bible, made in the interest of Christ...

1. The province of _Particular Introduction_ is to consider the books of the Bible separately, in respect to their authorship, date, contents, and the place which each of them h...

1. The word _Bible_ comes to us from the Greek (_ta biblia, the books_; that is, emphatically, the sacred canonical books) through the Latin and Norman French. In the ancient Gr...

1. The genuineness, uncorrupt preservation, and credibility of the gospel narratives having been shown to rest on a firm foundation, the principal part of our work is accomplish...

1. The historic truth of the Pentateuch is everywhere assumed by the writers of the New Testament in the most absolute and unqualified manner. They do not simply allude to it an...

1. The writings of the New Testament fall into three _main divisions_; the _historical_, the _epistolary_, and the _prophetical_, the latter including only the Apocalypse. This...

1. The original language of the Old Testament is _Hebrew_, with the exception of certain portions of Ezra and Daniel and a single verse of Jeremiah, (Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Dan...

1. It is necessary, first of all, to define what is meant in the present connection by the uncorrupt preservation of the gospel narratives. When a man, whose business it is to e...

Although the great central truth of redemption, that "the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world," and that we have in the New Testament a true record of this missio...

1. The divine authority of the Pentateuch having been established, it is not necessary to dwell at length on the historical books which follow. The events which they record are...

1. Respecting the canon of the New Testament there are two distinct but related fields of inquiry. The first has reference to the _origin and gradual accumulation, of the materi...

1. The term _Hermeneutics_ (Greek, _hermeneuo_, _to interpret_) is commonly employed to denote the _principles of scriptural interpretation_. The Greek word _exegesis_--that is,...

1. In the _character of the original languages of the Bible_, as in every thing else pertaining to the plan of redemption, God's hand is to be reverently acknowledged. It was no...

The grounds on which each of the disputed books--Antilegomena, chap. 5, No. 6--is received into the canon of the New Testament, will be considered in the introduction to these b...

1. The only _legitimate criticism_ of the sacred text is that which has for its object to restore it, as far as possible, to its primitive form. Had we the autograph of Moses in...

I. The Christian religion is not a mere system of ideas, like the philosophy of Plato or Aristotle. It rests on a _basis of historic facts_. The great central fact of the gospel...

7. It requires but a moderate acquaintance with the history of textual criticism to understand that the Elzevir text is not only not perfect, but is more imperfect than that whi...

Many thousands of persons have a full and joyous conviction of the truth of Christianity from their own experience, who yet feel a reasonable desire to examine the _historic evi...

The Greater Prophets. 1. General Remarks on the Prophetical Writings--2. Different Offices of the Prophets under the Theocracy--Their Office as Reprovers--3. As Expounders of th...

THE EPISTLES OF PAUL--1. General Remarks on the Epistles--2. Paul's Epistles all written in the Prosecution of his Work as the Apostle to the Gentiles--Nature of this Work--3. P...

To consider at length all the questions which the spirit of modern inquiry has raised concerning the books of the Old Testament--their genuineness, integrity, date, chronology,...

THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS--1. Jewish Arrangement of these Books--Their Order in the Masoretic Text and in the Alexandrine Version--2. General Remarks on their Character I. _Hose...

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS--1. The New Testament a Necessary Sequel to the Old--The Two Testaments interpret Each Other, and can be truly understood only as an Organic Whole--2. Remar...

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. 1 and 2. Their Office to Unfold the History of God's Dealings with the Covenant People--General Remarks on the Character of this History--I. _Joshua_--3. C...

THE APOCALYPSE--1. Meaning of the Word "Apocalypse"--Abundance of External Testimonies to this Book--2. Internal Arguments considered--Use of the Apostle's Name, Devotional View...

I. _Historical Types_--4. In Respect to these Two Extremes to be avoided--Typical History has a Proper Significance of its Own--This illustrated by Examples: The Kingly Office;...

THE POETICAL BOOKS (INCLUDING ALSO ECCLESIASTES AND CANTICLES). 1. Books reckoned as Poetical by the Hebrews--Hebrew System of Accentuation--A. _Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry...

FORMATION AND HISTORY OF THE HEBREW CANON. I. Meaning of the Word "Canon"--Gradual Formation of the Hebrew Canon--Its Main Divisions--1. _The Pentateuch_--2. General Remark on i...

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE--1. Figurative Language defined and illustrated--General Remarks respecting it--2. Rules for the Ascertaining of Figurative Language--Nature of...

THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AS A WHOLE. 1. Province of Particular Introduction--The Necessity of Understanding the Unity of Divine Revelation--2. Relation of the Old Testamen...

II. _Prophecies relating to the Last Days_--3. Meaning of the Term "Last Days," and its Equivalents--General Character of this Class of Prophecies--4. Prophecies in which the Or...

GENUINENESS OF THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES. 1. Terms defined--Necessity of knowing the Authors of the Gospels--2. Remarks on their Origin--They were not written immediately, but succe...

THE PENTATEUCH. I. Its Unity--Its Fivefold Division--1. _Genesis_--2. Its Hebrew Name--Its Greek Name--3. Its Office--It is the Introductory Book of the Pentateuch--Its Connecti...

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION--1. Signification of the Terms employed how ascertained, with some Superadded Remarks--2. On Ascertaining the Sense of Scripture--3. The Sco...

AUTHENTICITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES. 1. General Remarks--2. Their Authors Sincere and Truthful--3. Competent as Men--4. And as Witnesses--5. Character of the W...

AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH. Meaning of the Term--1. It existed in its Present Form from Ezra's Day--2. "The Law" ascribed to Moses in the New Testament--How Much is included i...

ANCIENT VERSIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. I. _The Greek Version called the Septuagint_--1. Its Antiquity; its Great Influence on the Language of the New Testament--2. Jewish Accoun...

Language of the New Testament--1. God's Providence as seen in the Languages of the Old and New Testaments--Fitness of the Hebrew for its Office in History, Poetry, and Prophecy-...

THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES--1. Origin of the Name "Catholic"--1. _Epistle of James_--2. Question respecting the Person of James--3. Place of Writing this Epistle--Persons addressed--...

UNITY OF REVELATION--1. Essential Unity between the Old and the New Testament--2. This Unity one that coexists with Great Diversity-- Illustrations from the Analogy of God's Wor...

ANCIENT VERSIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT--I. _Latin Versions_--1. Interest attaching to these Versions--2. The Ante-Hieronymian or Old Latin Version--3. Its Canon--Remarks on its T...

UNCORRUPT PRESERVATION OF THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES. 1. What is meant by an Uncorrupt Text--2. Ancient Materials for Writing--Palimpsests--Uncial and Cursive Manuscripts--3. The Apo...

EVIDENCES INTERNAL AND EXPERIMENTAL. 1. External Evidences Important, but not Indispensable to True Faith--2. Internal Evidences--View which the Bible gives of God's Character--...

External Form of the New Testament--1. The Three Main Divisions of the New Testament Writings: Historical, Epistolary, Prophetical--2. Natural Order of these Divisions--3. Subdi...

NAMES AND EXTERNAL FORM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 1. Origin and Meaning of the Word Bible--Jewish Designations of the Old Testament--2. Origin of the Terms Old and New Testament--Ea...

THE ORIGINAL TEXT AND ITS HISTORY. 1. Chaldee Passages in the Hebrew Scriptures--Divisions of the Hebrew and Cognate Languages--2. The Assyrian or Square Character not Primitive...

THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT AND ITS HISTORY--I. _The Manuscript Text_--1 and 2. General Remarks--3. Origin of Various Readings and their Classification--Substitutions, Insertions, Om...

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS--1. Definition of Certain Terms--Hermeneutics, Exegesis, Epexegesis--2. The Expositor's Office--Parallel between his Work and that of the Textual Critic--3....

AUTHENTICITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE PENTATEUCH. 1. Its Historic Truth assumed in the New Testament--This shown by Examples--2. It was the Foundation of the Whole Jewish Polity--...

QUOTATIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW--1. General Remarks on the Authority of the New Testament Writers--2. Outward Form of their Quotations--Its very Free Spirit--This i...

INSEPARABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT. General Remarks--1. Previous Revelations implied in Christ's Advent--2. In the Character of the Jewish People--3. P...

INSPIRATION AND THE CANON. General Remarks--1. Rule of Judgment determined--It is the Writer's Relation to Christ--2. Christ Himself Infallible--3. _The Apostles_--They held the...

REMAINING BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 1. General Remarks--2. The New Testament assumes their Divine Authority--Historical Books--3. Books not strictly Historical or Prophetical-...

FORMATION AND HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON--1. General Remarks--2. Different Periods to be noticed--3. Apostolic Age--4. Age of the Apostolic Fathers--Remarks on their Quo...

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND THE ACKNOWLEDGED EPISTLES. 1. These Books a Natural Sequel to the Gospels--2. _The Acts of the Apostles_--External Testimonies--3. Internal Evidence...

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 1. Christianity rests on a Basis of Historic Facts inseparably connected from First to Last--2. This Basis to be maintained against Unbelievers--3. General...

CRITICISM OF THE SACRED TEXT. 1. The Object to ascertain its Primitive Form--2. Means at Our Disposal--Ancient Hebrew Manuscripts--Remarks on their Quality and Age--3. Ancient V...

THE DISPUTED BOOKS. 1. The Question here simply concerning the Extent of the Canon--2. The Primitive Age One of Free Inquiry--3. Its Diversity of Judgment no Decisive Argument a...