THE Bible is the oldest book in existence, and its Greek and Hebrew manuscripts are the most ancient. The earliest portions of the Bible were written fourteen centuries and a half B.C.; thus, several centuries before: the first known of human productions-the Greek poems of Homer and Hesiod-and about a thousand years before Herodotus published his celebrated history. The former, according to some, date from the times of Elijah, and the latter from the days of Malachi. Hence, Moses was the first of all inspired or uninspired writers. The Pentateuch was extant in the days of the godly king, Josiah, about eight hundred years after it was penned by the hand of Moses. (2 Chron. 34)
It is very probable that the original inspired documents of the early books of scripture perished in the destruction of the temple, in the year 588 B.C., and a month after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans_ (2 Kings 25) This we gather from the fact that the temple was the sacred depository of the holy writings. It is also very likely that the writings of the prophets were destroyed during the reign of the Syrian monarch, Antiochus Epiphanes, a man of infamous memory amongst ancient and modern Jews. If so, it would be about two hundred and fifty years after the canon of the Old Testament was completed, and thus about a hundred years after the translation of the whole into Greek, termed the Septuagint, was begun, if not finished.
The New Testament was completed a few years before the death of the apostle John. The three oldest New Testament manuscripts are respectively deposited in St. Petersburg, Rome, and London. Two are believed to date from the fourth century, the third from the fifth century. It is supposed that the original document of the New Testament perished during the reign of Diocletian. The external form in which the Bible as a whole, and its separate books, have come down to us, is deeply interesting, but the faith of the Christian is founded on what God has written. The scriptures are inspired, and from that fact flows their authority over the soul.
The Bible contains a greater variety and rangeof subjects than will be found in any human production whatever. Take a few chapters in the book of Genesis as illustrative of our statement.
Chapter 1 is the basis of geology and kindred sciences. Chapter 2 reveals the source of all our moral relationships. Chapter 3 details the entrance of sin into the world, and unfolds its governmental effects. Chapter 4 shows the earliest attempt to make a comfortable world apart from God, the earliest attempt to approach Him on the ground of works, as also the divinely-revealed ground on which a sinner can meet God in grace and righteousness. Chapter 5 is the basis of all true systems of chronology-the first date recorded in scripture is found here. Chapter 6 gives the moral characteristics of the times preceding the /universal deluge. Chapter 7 shows the baptism unto death and judgment of the old wor] d-the traditions concerning which are universal; here only have we the true account. Chapter 8 reveals the new (present) world, as founded on sacrifice, and on the ground of which the seasons are to continue, and harvests promised by the diligent use of agricultural means. Chapter 9 reveals the institution of civil government, God's covenant of goodness with creation, and the respective sources of the various branches of the human family. Chapter 10 unfolds the origin of every nation on the earth, tracing all up to the sons of Noah; thus this highly important chapter is not only the basis of all history-universal, general, or particular-but is the only and authoritative source on which the science of ethnology is founded. Chapter 11 morally accounts for the distribution of the one family of mankind into distinct nationalities, and now speaking more than two thousand six hundred known languages and dialects. Chapter 12 begins the biographical section of the Bible.
What, however, lends such a wonderful charm and interest to the Bible, is its one object, which is to glorify CHRIST. Beloved readers, take care of mere occupation with the letter of scripture. Never allow the question of who wrote the various sacred books to set aside the more vital one of what is written. God in His word speaks to your soul. May we hear and read in growing simplicity and deepening faith.
We will, in as brief terms as possible, indicate, what appear to us to be the general character and leading divisions of the books of the Bible.
GENESIS is the " seed-plot" of the Bible, as it contains in germ every subject developed in the succeeding books of scripture. Chapters 1.-8. 19-history of the old world, a period of sixteen hundred and fifty-six years; chapters 8: 20-11—governmental dealings with the world at large; chapters 12.-l.—-God's ways with His people in grace, discipline, government, and glory.
EXODUS unfolds, in numerous types, the great truth of redemption, and of the consequent relationships of the redeemed to God. Chapters 1-18-grace taking up the people in misery, and setting them down (in type) in millennial glory; chapters 11-10-1-Israel in relationship with Jehovah, on the ground of law, then of grace, and the revelation of heavenly truths, in the construction of the tabernacle and institution of priesthood.
LEVITTCUS has the tabernacle as its center; and sacrifice, priesthood, and holiness as its characteristic truths. Chapters 1-15.-Christ's work, priesthood, and man's necessity as a sinner in nature and practice; chapters 16.-27.-the holiness becoming God's house and people, and all on the basis of redemption. (Chapter 16)
NUMBERS exhibits the service, trials, and testings of the people in the wilderness; it shews the constant and unwearied care of God over the journeying host, as also over each member of the pilgrim band. Chapters1-10. 10 -Jehovah numbering, guarding, and gathering the people around Himself before they journey; chapters 10. 11- 36-the people journey, under the care and guidance of Jehovah.
DEUTERONOMY insists upon obedience to the commandments of the Lord, as the practical ground of blessing, and also morally reviews the wilderness. Chapters 1. -16. 17 detail the religious life of the nation when in Canaan; chapters 16. 18-34.-the civil life of the people when in the promised land.
JOSHUA records the wars of Canaan, figuring the spiritual conflicts of the church with wicked spirits in heavenly places. (Eph. 6) Chapters1.-5.—Jordan crossed, and 'preparation for the wars of Jehovah; chapters 6.-12.-victories and defeats; chapters 13.- 22.-Canaan portioned out amongst the tribes; chapters 23.,24.-Joshua's dying charge.
JUDGES unfolds the utter failure and corruption of all classes of the nation. Chapters 1.—3. 8-Jehovah forsaken for idols, the failure of the people in being God's instrument of judgment upon the Canaanites • chapters
9-16.-Israel under the government of the thirteen Judges, or saviors of the people, from Othniel to Samson; chapters 17.-21.-Israel's moral condition.
Ruth-Israel's past, present, and future history typically presented; the origin of David's family, and of Christ, according to the flesh will be found here.
FIRST SAMUEL contains the main subjects: the complete break-down of the priesthood as the national and normal means of maintaining the people in their varied relationships to Jehovah, the institution of the prophetic order in Samuel (Acts 3:24), by which God could address a failed people, and direct the gaze of the faithful on to the coming glory; then the establishment of monarchy-God's last resource in blessing for Israel and the earth. Chapters 1.-8.-failure of the priesthood, and rejection by Israel of the theocracy; chapters 9.-15.- the kingdom in responsibility, and its utter collapse; chapters 16 -31.—David, the chosen of Jehovah, his life and sorrows as Israel's rejected king.
SECOND SAMUEL shews the kingdom established in the house of David, according to the sovereign choice of Jehovah, as also the sovereign choice of Zion as the seat
of royalty and grace Chapters 1.-4.-David's reign at Hebron over part of the nation; chapters 5.-12.-David king over all Israel-Jerusalem and the ark, or royalgovernment and priestly grace; chapters13.-24. Absalom, the usurper, and David, the true king.
FIRST KINGS traces the public history of the kingdom from the death of David till the death of Jehoshaphat, embracing also the ministry of Elijah. Chapters 1-10 the throne and temple in connection with the reign of Solomon; chapters 11-16-the united kingdom divided, and its history, from Rehoboam till Ahab; chapters 17-22—the prophetic ministry of Elijah and Elisha amongst the apostate ten tribes of Israel. SECOND KINGS continues the public history of the kingdom till the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, noting especially the ministry of Elisha. Chapters 1.-8. 15-the prophetic service of Elisha; chapters 8. 16-18.—history till the Assyrian captivity; chapters18.-25.-history till the Chaldean captivity.
w. s.
( To be continued, the Lord willing.)