We desire, in the following pages, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to gather together some of the many things that throw light upon the various writings which form the Book commonly called the New Testament.
We are not aware that God Himself gave the book this title, though we doubt not He guided those who first collected the sacred writings to place them in the order in which we now find them, and also over-ruled the selection of a title for the collected books.
While there was only the Old Testament writings it was not needful to call them old; but when a new dispensation was brought in, with scriptures belonging thereto, it was necessary (while calling the whole collection the Bible—The Book) to distinguish between the writings belonging to the old order of things, and those belonging to the new order.
It is important to see that the latter is not merely a continuance of what had existed before, though all had surely come from God. Many passages of scripture clearly point out the difference, such as "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:7.) "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." (Matt. 11:11-13.) "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:17.) In the first and second epistles of John that which Christ introduced is again and again called " the beginning," surely signifying the beginning of Christianity.
It is therefore quite right and becoming that the inspired writings which unfold Christianity should be collected together, and have a distinguishing title such as, in the providence of God, has been given to them in the familiar but hallowed title of "The New Testament." The Christian may regard it as his Father's "will."
The New Testament has also come to us in some respects in a new way, though all scripture is equally inspired and authoritative. Thus we read, " God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his SON " (Heb. 1:1, 2)we have therein the very words of the Lord Jesus, when as a man He walked among men. We know also that the Old Testament prophets were used to communicate what, at times at least, they did not understand (1 Peter 1:10-12); whereas the apostle Paul was able to say, " Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God: that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Cor. 2:12,13.)
The New Testament naturally divides itself into four sections. 1, The four Gospels; 2, The Acts of the
Apostles; 3, The twenty-one Epistles; 4, The Revelation. A brief summary of its contents may be given thus:
1. God reveals Himself especially as Light and Love. In the birth of the Lord Jesus we have " God manifest in the flesh." In His going about healing their diseases and feeding the hungry, He fulfilled the prophecies that spoke of Israel's Messiah. (Isa. 53:4; Psa. 132:15.) His rejection and death, though accomplished by the hatred of man, was the means ordained by God to atone for sin, and lay the foundation for all God's purposes of blessing. He arose from among the dead, and ascended to heaven (Acts 2:23,24.) In the death of Christ the power of Satan was annulled, according to the word uttered in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15); the total ruin of man in the flesh was brought to light, the first man being set aside in judgment, and the second Man, Head of the new creation, exalted. The death and resurrection of Christ is the key-note of the gospel proclaimed throughout the wide world.
2. The descent of the Holy Spirit as a person (in distinction from His being with the Old Testament saints to indwell believers (John 7:39), and by whom they are " builded together for an habitation of God " (Eph. 2:22), so that now the saints are the temple of God, in contrast to the temple built by Solomon. By the descent of the Holy Spirit the saints are also formed into the one body, of which Christ is the Head in heaven. (1 Cor. 12:12,13.) The presence of the Holy Spirit is to the world a demonstration of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8-11.)
3. The existence of the church, which commenced at Pentecost, as a practical union of believers. (Acts 2:44-47.) Also the spread of the gospel, first at Jerusalem, when about three thousand were converted; then to the Samaritans and Gentiles (Acts 8:25;10), and proclaimed "everywhere" by those who were scattered abroad by the persecution. (Acts 8:4.)
4. The conversion and apostleship of Paul, to whom was revealed the doctrine of the church—a mystery hid until then—and who was led to speak of the gospel he proclaimed as "my gospel:" it was the gospel of the glory of Christ.
5. The doctrines of Christianity as given in the Epistles of Paul, John, and Jude, giving God's plan of salvation how a guilty man can be just before God. They detail the gifts in the church, and the order of an assembly. They also speak of the false prophets that were already associated with the church; and foretold the coming of the Antichrist, and the judgments that should fall upon apostate christendom; but setting before the Christian the bright hope of the coming of the Lord.
6. The Epistles addressed to believing Jews, which place, in strong contrast, the one sacrifice of Christ with the many sacrifices under the law, and the eternal blessings of Christianity with the temporal blessings under Judaism. They also enforce the practical side of Christianity.
7. The Revelation, which speaks of the things that then existed in the addresses to the seven churches, though they also bear a historical application to the church as long as it is on earth. Then it speaks of the things that shall be after the church is seen in heaven, with the judgments that will fall upon apostate christendom and on the world, Satan bound, and Christ reigning King of kings and Lord of lords, with many collateral subjects, ending with the present bright hope of the saints, the speedy return of the Lord Jesus.
A five-fold division of the New Testament has also been pointed out, answering in character to the five books of Moses: namely:—
We hope to see many of the beauties of each of the Gospels, of the Epistles and of the Revelation when we come to consider them somewhat in detail.
The more the Bible, as a whole, is studied, the more it is seen to be the handiwork of the Spirit of God. Penned as it was by so many different writers, with varying characters of mind, during a period of some thousands of years, and yet to see the supernatural network entwining and enveloping the whole, stamps upon it its true character—THE WORD OF GOD. It carries its own authority with it. It commands the conscience of all readers, and works effectually in all who bow to it.
The spiritual mind apprehends the completeness of the whole. Were any part taken away the void would be felt. There is no superfluity, and there is nothing lacking.
May God vouchsafe to guide us in our studies, prevent anything erroneous being herein stated, and bless this feeble endeavor to help in the study of His inspired word; and to Him be all the glory.