It is impossible for the student to consider the subject of Bible Study without being impressed by the immense labour and the profound scholarship which have been devoted to the interpretation and discussion of Scripture. Continued investigation has solved many difficulties, but has also vastly increased the mass of evidences and conjectures which must be weighed in connection with any doubtful passages. The Britannica tells us, for example, (Vol. 3, pp. 903, 904) that the translators of the King James’s version spent only two years and nine months over their task, while the work on the Revised Version took eleven years for the New Testament and fourteen for the Old Testament.
The Bible as a Focus of ThoughtIt is equally true that all the time which learned men have given to translating and elucidating the text seems nothing when it is compared with the time that mankind at large have spent in reading it. But the Britannica mentions a report of the great English Bible Society, the “British and Foreign,” in which the copies circulated by it are totalled at more than 198 million, and, for the American Bible Society and its federated associations, it gives a total of more than 84 million copies (Vol. 3, p. 907). It has often been said that the English Bible is the only example of a translation that became more famous than the original, and it is as true that no other translation has been the source of so many secondary translations, for versions in no less than 530 distinct languages and dialects have been derived from the English text. It is interesting to note, although in this case the English version has certainly nothing to do with the matter, that “in Italy, by a departure from the traditional policy of the Roman Church, the newly formed, ‘Pious Society of St. Jerome for the Dissemination of the Holy Gospels’ issued in 1901, from the Vatican press, a new Italian version of the Four Gospels and Acts,” and sold 400,000 copies at 4 cents each.
As a sort of threshold-study, it will be well to consider three topics: Hebrew Literature, Hebrew Religion and Biblical History.
PreliminariesHebrew Literature (Vol. 13, p. 169), by Dr. Arthur Cowley, of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, points out that the term “Hebrew Literature” is loosely used of “all works written in Hebrew characters, whether the language be Aramaic, Arabic, or even some vernacular not related to Hebrew;” and that “this literature begins with, as it is almost entirely based upon, the Old Testament.” This article on Hebrew Literature may be supplemented by the following articles:
Targum, by John Frederick Stenning, lecturer in Aramaic at Oxford.
| Halakha | by Israel Abrahams, reader in Talmudic and Rabbinic Literature, Cambridge. |
| Qaraites | |
| Talmud | by Stanley Arthur Cook, lecturer in Hebrew and Syriac, Cambridge. |
| Midrash |
Seadiah, by Dr. Arthur Cowley.
Maimonides, by Herbert Loewe, curator of Oriental Literature, Cambridge.
Hebrew ReligionQuite as important is the article Hebrew Religion (Vol. 13, p. 176), by the Rev. Charles+Whitehouse">Dr. Owen Charles Whitehouse of Christ’s and Cheshunt Colleges, Cambridge. His treatment of the subject is comparative and historical. There is an interesting summary of what is known and may be inferred about pre-Mosaic religion; and it is important to notice that the author does not consider that the plural Elohim used in certain Old Testament passages to mean “God” is to be understood as “a comprehensive expression for the multitude of gods embraced in the One God of Old Testament religion,” but explains the plural as one “of majesty” like the “we” of royalty. Blood-offerings and magic charms against demons and jinns may be assumed as belonging to the early Hebrew religion as to the later Arabian period before Mahomet. Charles+Whitehouse">Dr. Whitehouse thinks that there is little or no trace of totemism but possibly some of ancestor-worship in the Jews’ religion.
Among the many articles supplementing this general treatment of Hebrew religion the following are possibly the most important:
Circumcision, by Israel Abrahams.
Teraphim, by W. Robertson Smith and G. H. Box, formerly lecturer in theology, Oxford.
Baal, by W. Robertson Smith and Stanley Arthur Cook, editor for Palestine Exploration Fund.
Calf, The Golden, by S. A. Cook.
High Places.
Passover, by Dr. Joseph Jacobs of the Jewish Theological Seminary of New York City.
Pentecost, by Dr. O. C. Whitehouse.
Ark, by Stanley Arthur Cook.
Tabernacle and Temple, by Dr. Archibald R. S. Kennedy, professor of Hebrew and Semitic languages, Edinburgh.
Ephod, by S. A. Cook.
Urim and Thummim, by G. H. Box.
Prophet, by W. Robertson Smith, Charles+Whitehouse">Owen Charles Whitehouse, Adolf Harnack of Berlin, and Professor A. C. McGiffert of Union Theological Seminary, New York.
Jehovah, by George Foot Moore, professor of history of religion, Harvard.
Messiah, by W. Robertson Smith and Charles+Whitehouse">O. C. Whitehouse.
Eschatology, by Dr. A. E. Garvie, principal of New College, Hampstead.
Angel, by William Henry Bennett, professor of Old Testament Exegesis in New and Hackney Colleges, London.
Biblical HistoryThe third topic is history and for this the student should read the article Jews (Vol. 15, p. 371), especially the part on Old Testament History, by S. A. Cook; the article Palestine, Physical Features, by R. A. S. Macalister, director of excavations for the Palestine Exploration Fund, Old Testament History, by S. A. Cook, especially the treatment of Biblical Religion (pp. 610–611 of Vol. 20); Canaan, by Dr. Thomas Kelly Cheyne, formerly Oriel professor of interpretation of Scripture, Oxford; Hittites, by D. G. Hogarth, keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
The Article BibleBut of course the central article for the Bible student is the article Bible (Vol. 3, p. 849), which is divided into two main parts—Old Testament and New Testament, each of these being divided in turn into five parts: Canon, Texts and Versions, Textual Criticism, Higher Criticism, and Chronology. This logical arrangement greatly enhances the value of the article, which is in itself an excellent summary of the subject written by the following authorities: Dr. Samuel Rolles Driver, professor of Hebrew, Oxford, on Old Testament canon and chronology; John Frederick Stenning, dean of Wadham College, Oxford, and lecturer in Aramaic, on Old Testament texts and versions; Dr. George Buchanan Gray, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis, Mansfield College, Oxford, on Old Testament textual and higher criticism; Dr. William Sanday, professor of Divinity and canon of Christ Church, Oxford, on New Testament canon; the Rev. Kirsopp Lake, author of The Text of the New Testament, etc., and professor of New Testament exegesis at Leiden, on New Testament texts and versions and textual criticism; Dr. Francis Crawford Burkitt, professor of divinity, Cambridge, and author of The Gospel History and its Transmission, etc., on New Testament higher criticism; and Cuthbert Hamilton Turner, of Magdalen College, Oxford, on New Testament chronology.
The article Bible, English (Vol. 3, p. 894), by Anna C. Paues, author of A Fourteenth Century Biblical Version, and Canon Henson of Westminster Abbey (on the Revised Version) is accompanied by a plate with fac-similes of several early English Bibles and is besides of special value as giving quotations from different versions in Anglo-Saxon and later English. The article Bible Societies (Vol. 3, p. 905), by the Rev. Thomas Herbert Darlow, literary superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, will also be of value to the student.
InspirationOne other general article should be studied before the articles on different books of the Bible are taken up. This is—Inspiration (Vol. 14, p. 645), by Dr. Alfred Ernest Garvie, author of Studies in the Inner Life of Jesus; it outlines the principal theories of inspiration—
(1) Mechanical dictation or verbal inspiration;
(2) Dynamic influence or degrees of inspiration;
(3) Essential inspiration, distinguishing matters of doctrine and conduct from the remaining contents of Scripture;
(4) Vital inspiration, emphasizing religious and moral life.
The HexateuchA course of study in the books of the Bible may well start with the outline in the article Bible, especially pages 851–854 for the Old Testament. For the Hexateuch the student should read first the brief article Hexateuch; then what there is under Bible on pp. 851–852 of Vol. 3; then under Jews for the early period; and then the articles:
Genesis, by S. A. Cook; and the subsidiary articles: Cosmogony, Eden, Paradise, Adam, Eve, Abel, Cain, Enoch, Lamech, Noah, Deluge, Ararat, Ark, Babel, Canaan, Genealogy, Nimrod, Ham, Shem, Japheth, Abraham, Beersheba, Melchizedek, Isaac, Midian, Abimelech, Ishmael, Esau, Jacob, Jacob’s Well, Bethel, Israel, Simeon, Shechem, Reuben, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Asher, Gad, Manasseh, Joseph, Benjamin, Lot, Moab, Ammonites, Goshen, etc.
Exodus, Book of, by John Frederick Stenning, and Exodus by S. A. Cook; and the articles Moses, Aaron, Rameses, Pithom, Amalekites, Jethro, Passover, Sinai, Horeb, Decalogue, Sabbath, Calf (Golden), Tabernacle, Ark, Urim and Thummim.
Leviticus, by J. F. Stenning and Levites, by S. A. Cook; and Sacrifice, Atonement and Day of Atonement, Moloch, Pentecost.
Numbers, by Dr. James Alexander Paterson, professor of Hebrew, New College, Edinburgh; and the articles Balaam, Hebron.
Deuteronomy, by Dr. Paterson, and the articles Ezra, Nehemiah, and Josiah.
Joshua, by S. A. Cook, and the articles Amalekites, Gibeonites, Hivites, Philistines, Gezer, Judah, Caleb, Shechem.
Judges, Book of, by S. A. Cook, and the articles, Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gibeon, Abimelech, Jephthah, Shibboleth, Samson, Ephod, Teraphim, Micah (of Ephraim).
Samuel, Books of, and Samuel, by S. A. Cook; and the articles Eli, Shiloh, Ark, Saul, Jonathan, David, Goliath, Ahithophel, Jashar, Absalom, Jerahmeel, Kenites.
Kings, Books of, by S. A. Cook; and the articles David, Adonijah, Solomon, Temple, Jerusalem, Abiathar, Joab, Ephraim, Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Asa, Omri, Ahab, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Athaliah, Ahaziah, Elijah, Carmel, Jordan, Elisha, Jehu, Rechabites, Joash, Azariah, Hosea, Uzziah, Ahaz, Isaiah, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Jehoiachin, Samaria.
Chronicles, by W. Robertson Smith and S. A. Cook; and the articles Absalom, David, Uzziah, Jubilees, Midrash, Levites and many mentioned above under Samuel and Kings.
Ezra and Nehemiah, Books of, by S. A. Cook; the article Ezra; and, as the books are to be grouped with Chronicles, that article and Deuteronomy, and the article Samaritans and those on the two “apocryphal” books, Ezra, Third Book of, and Ezra, Fourth Book of, by Dr. Robert Henry Charles, lecturer in Biblical studies, Oxford. See also Synagogue.
The ProphetsFor the prophetical books the article Prophet as an introduction, and then:
Isaiah, by T. K. Cheyne; and, for outline, under Bible, Vol. 3, p. 853; and Emmanuel (on chap. 7) and Messiah and Atonement (on chap. 53).
Jeremiah, by T. K. Cheyne; and the articles Baruch, Zedekiah, Nebuchadrezzar, Edom, Ammonites, Moab.
Lamentations, by the Rev. Charles James Ball, lecturer in Assyriology, Oxford, with peculiarly valuable information about poetical structure and acrostic verse, some suggested emendations of the text, and a summary of the arguments in regard to the authorship.
Ezekiel, by Professor C. H. Toy of Harvard University; and the articles Zedekiah, and, for certain literary forms, Allegory and Parable.
Minor ProphetsThe Minor Prophets: see Vol. 3, p. 853; Vol. 22, p. 443; Vol. 13, p. 183.
Hosea, by W. Robertson Smith and the Rev. Henry Wheeler Robinson, professor of church history, Rawdon College, Leeds; articles Baal, Calf (Golden), etc.
Joel, by W. Robertson Smith and T. K. Cheyne; and Eschatology, etc.
Amos, by T. K. Cheyne; Jeroboam, etc.
Obadiah, by W. Robertson Smith and H. W. Robinson; and Edom, Eschatology, etc.
Jonah, by T. K. Cheyne; and the article Nineveh, and, for an explanation of the “great fish,” Cosmogony.
Micah, by W. Robertson Smith and H. W. Robinson; and Samaria, High Place, Messiah, Eschatology.
Nahum, by G. H. Box; Nineveh, etc.
Habakkuk, by H. W. Robinson; Chaldaean, etc.
Zephaniah, by S. A. Cook; and Baal, Moloch, Costume, Oriental (Vol. 7, p. 226 sq., for chap. 1, v. 8), etc.
Haggai, by W. Robertson Smith and Dr. A. J. Grieve, professor at the United Independent College, Bradford; and the article Temple.
Zechariah, by Julius Wellhausen, professor at Göttingen, and H. W. Robinson; and the articles Angel, Temple, Messiah, Zion, Japheth and Ionians (for “Javan” of chap. 9, v. 13).
Malachi, by W. Robertson Smith and H. W. Robinson.
PsalmsPsalms is by W. Robertson Smith and Dr. Robert Hatch Kennett, Canon of Ely and professor of Hebrew, Cambridge; read the articles Hallel, David, Solomon, Temple, Levites (for Levitical Psalms), Asaph, Chronicles, Ezra, Psaltery, Liturgy, the section of Hebrew Hymnody in, and the whole article Hymns; Bible, English, for the version of the Psalms in the English Prayer Book from the Great Bible; and, for Psalms 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145, and the article Acrostic. See also R. H. Charles’s article on the apocryphal book, Solomon, Psalms of.
Wisdom LiteratureThe student should read the article Wisdom Literature, by Prof. C. H. Toy of Harvard as an introduction to Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes (and to the apocryphal Wisdom, Book of—see article by Professor Toy; Ecclesiasticus,—see article by William Emery Barnes, Hulsean professor of Divinity, Cambridge; Tobit,—see article by St. George Stock, lecturer University of Birmingham; and 4th Maccabees—see the article Maccabees, by Dr. William Fairweather, editor of Maccabees in the “Cambridge Bible for Schools.”)
Proverbs, Book of, by C. H. Toy; and the articles Solomon, Proverb and, for other famous collections, Publilius, Erasmus, etc.
Job, by Dr. Andrew B. Davidson, late professor of Oriental languages, New College, Edinburgh, and author of a Commentary on Job, and Prof. C. H. Toy; and the articles Devil (for the meaning of “Satan” in chap. 1, v. 6); Sabaeans, Uz, Behemoth, etc.
Ecclesiastes, by Professor Toy; the articles Pessimism, Eschatology, Sadducees.
Canticles, by W. Robertson Smith and H. W. Robinson.
Other Old Testament BooksEsther, by T. K. Cheyne and, on the “additions,” Dr. Robert Henry Charles, Grinfield lecturer, Oxford; and the articles Ahasuerus, Susa, Cosmogony, Purim.
Ruth, by W. Robertson Smith and S. A. Cook; and the articles Bethlehem, Caleb, and, for the marriage custom underlying the story, the article on Levirate.
Daniel, by John Dyneley Prince, professor of Semitic languages, Columbia University, and, for the “additions,” Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, and The Song of the Three Children, the Rev. Dr. Robert Henry Charles; the article Semitic Languages for the Aramaic of chapters 2 (from verse 4) to 7; Angels, Gabriel, Michael; Chaldaean and Chaldee; Belshazzar; Apocalyptic Literature (for chapters 7–12).
ApocryphaBefore passing to the New Testament the student should read the article Apocryphal Literature, by Robert Henry Charles; and the articles on the separate books: Ezra, Third Book of (1 Esdras) and Ezra, Fourth Book (or Apocalypse), both by Robert Henry Charles; Judith, by the same scholar; Ecclesiasticus, by Dr. W. E. Barnes; Baruch, by R. H. Charles; Tobit, by St. George Stock; Jeremy, Epistle of, by R. H. Charles; Maccabees, Books of, and Maccabees, by the Rev. Dr. William Fairweather; Manasses, Prayer of, by R. H. Charles, and Manasseh; and Wisdom, Book of, by C. H. Toy.
New TestamentThe general articles preliminary to a study of the New Testament are:—besides the part of the article Bible dealing with New Testament, Canon, Criticism, Text, Chronology, etc.—the following:
Messiah, by W. Robertson Smith and Charles+Whitehouse">Dr. Owen Charles Whitehouse, lecturer in Hebrew, Cheshunt College, Cambridge.
Jesus Christ, by the Very Rev. Dr. Joseph Armitage Robinson, dean of Westminster, constituting a critical outline of the gospel story.
Christianity, by Dr. George William Knox, late professor of philosophy and history of religion, Union Theological Seminary, New York City.
In outlining a course of study on the New Testament, the order of the books as printed in English Bibles will not be followed absolutely. Here, as in studying the Old Testament, a rearrangement may be worth while for topical study.
The GospelsBut first the student should read the article Gospel, by the Rev. Dr. Vincent Henry Stanton, professor of divinity, Cambridge, and author of The Gospels as Historical Documents, etc.; and the article by Dr. Kirsopp Lake on Tatian the compiler of the Diatessaron or “Gospel of the Four Gospels.”
For the gospel story the student should read the following separate articles:
John the Baptist, Herod Antipas, Salome, Joseph (Vol. 15, p. 513, col. 2), Mary, Immaculate Conception, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Nazarenes, Ebionites, Galilee, Capernaum, Cana, Jordan, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, Judas, Demonology, Possession, Exorcism, Miracle, Mary Magdalene, Nathanael, Pharisees, Sadducees, Sabbath, Passover, Eucharist, Parable, Caesarea Philippi, Judaea, Jerusalem, Bethany, Olives, Mount of; Gethsemane, Pilate, Calvary, Joseph of Arimathaea.
In studying the separate Gospels, let the reader follow the order suggested in the articles Gospel and Jesus Christ.
First he should study the article Mark, Gospel of, by Dr. Stanton; the article on St. Mark, by Dr. James Vernon Bartlett, professor of Church History, Mansfield College, Oxford, and, for a summary of the points in the Marcan or Galilean narrative as contrasted with the Jerusalem narrative in regard to the betrayal of Jesus and the period immediately following, the article on St. Peter by Dr. Kirsopp Lake.
Matthew, Gospel of St., by Dr. Vincent H. Stanton, and Matthew, by Dr. J. V. Bartlett; with particular attention to the paragraph on additions to Mark’s narrative in Vol. 15, p. 355, and to the stress on the Messianic character, the mention of the church and of St. Peter as the Rock in chapter 16.
Luke, Gospel of St., by Dr. Stanton, and the biographical sketch of Luke, by Dr. Bartlett; and the paragraph on Luke’s additions to Mark’s narrative in Vol. 15, p. 356. This is the universal gospel, just as Mark’s was for extra-Palestinian use and Matthew’s particularly for the Jew, as is shown by the incidents of Zaccheus and of the Samaritan leper; and Renan’s characterization of the gospel of the one evangelist who was not a Jew, “the most beautiful book in the world,” is quoted twice in the Britannica.
John, Gospel of St., and John (the Apostle), both by Baron Friedrich von Hügel, author of The Mystical Element of Religion: the paragraph on the distinctive elements of John’s gospel (in Vol. 15, p. 357), such as the story of John the Baptist (see the article on this “forerunner,” by G. H. Box, late lecturer in theology, Oxford); the philosophical prologue (see the article Logos, by the late Rev. Dr. Stewart Dingwall Fordyce Salmon, professor of systematic theology, United Free Church College, Aberdeen, and the Rev. A. J. Grieve, professor of New Testament and church history, Yorkshire United Independent College, Bradford); the Judean scene as contrasted with the predominance of Galilee and Samaria in the other three (synoptic) gospels, and the prominence given to great abstract ideas and symbols—the Light of the World, the Living Bread, the Only-Begotten, the Re-Birth, Eternal Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Water and Wine, the Paraclete, and the refrain and variations on the theme of Love.
Before studying the articles dealing with the book of Acts, let the reader consult Dr. Garvie’s article Miracle, for a study of the supernatural and particularly for a development of the argument for miracles from “the congruity of the miracle with divine truth and grace”; the miracles of Jesus, and of the apostles, consist in “the relief of need, the removal of suffering, the recovery of health and strength.”
ActsThe article Acts of the Apostles, by Dr. J. Vernon Bartlett, should be supplemented by referring again to the article Luke, and the student should call to mind that the probable author was not a Jew, was a personal friend and traveling companion of both Paul and Peter, and was a physician, a trained scientific observer, as can be seen not only from his descriptions of disease, but from his accuracy in geographical, meteorological and other matters. The importance of the testimony of the physician to the miracles of the apostles is brought out (p. 164, top of column 2) in the article on the book. For the study of Acts, besides the article on the book, read the following separate articles:
Luke, Peter, John, Judas, Aceldama, Matthias, Pentecost, Tongues, Gift of; Ananias, Gamaliel, Stephen, Simon Magus, Philip, Paul, Joppa, Antioch, Herod, Barnabas, Iconium, Lycaonia, Mark, Timothy, Silas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Areopagus, Corinth, Aquila, Apollos, Ephesus, Felix, Ananias, Agrippa.
St. PaulFor a study of the book of Acts, which was probably written before any one of the Gospels, one will need constantly to refer in the Britannica to the article on Paul, the Apostle (Vol. 20, p. 938), by Dr. J. Vernon Bartlett. This article, equivalent to 55 pages in this Guide, is so important that it will be well to outline it here. After an introduction, in which Paul’s attitude toward Jewish legalism is made an explanation of the superficially obvious contrast between Jesus and Paul, there is a biographical sketch: Paul of Tarsus, a Roman citizen with Roman name, talking Latin and not a narrow, one-sided Jew; his Jewish training; in Jerusalem, under Gamaliel (see the article Gamaliel); first impressions as to Jesus, and Saul as persecutor; the vision at Damascus and its spiritual content; his new theory of the law and its universal value; Christology of Paul,—his deep insight into Jesus’s character; Paul’s theology rooted in experience; his early apostolate; his first missionary journey; the issue of Gentile Christianity raised; Paul’s conciliatory spirit; Peter’s visit to Antioch; Paul’s protest; the second mission tour; Paul in Europe—Athens, Corinth, etc.; first missionary letters; as an ethical teacher; Paul, the Law, the Spirit; later travels; later letters; Paulinism—its Christocentric character; apparent contrasts and contradictions between Paul’s gospel and Jesus’s gospel—one seen through the eyes of a conscious sinner, the other the sinless consciousness of the Saviour; Paul’s position between Judaeo-Christianity and Gnosticism—see also the article Gnosticism, by Wilhelm Bousset, professor of New Testament exegesis, Göttingen.
The Pauline EpistlesIn general on the Pauline epistles the student should not only read this article Paul, but should turn again to the treatment of New Testament canon in the article Bible (Vol. 3, pp. 872–873), and should look over the first part of the article Jesus Christ which finds in 1st Thessalonians the earliest extant document of Christianity. Then let him read the articles:
Thessalonians, Epistles to the, by the Rev. James Everett Frame, professor of Biblical theology, Union Theological Seminary, New York City. See also in the article Paul (Vol. 20, pp. 945–946) for Paul at Thessalonica, and the articles Eschatology and Apocalyptic Literature for the doctrine of the “second coming” or “Parousia,” especially in 2 Thess., chap. 2.
Corinthians, Epistles to the, by the Rev. Dr. James Hardy Ropes, professor of New Testament criticism and interpretation, Harvard; and the articles Corinth, Apollos, Peter, Asceticism, Fasting, Eucharist (1 Cor., chap. 11, vs. 23 sqq. is the oldest extant account of the Lord’s Supper), Titus.
Galatians, Epistle to the, by the Rev. Dr. James Moffatt, author of The Historical New Testament: and the articles Galatia (for the “South Galatian” theory), Antinomianism (for Christianity vs. legalism).
Romans, Epistle to the, by Dr. Moffatt; and the article Hebrew Religion for the covenant which Paul here presents as one of faith and not of the law.
Ephesians, Epistle to the, by Prof. J. H. Ropes, pointing out that the theme is “the unity of mankind in Christ and hence the unity and divinity of the Church of Christ”; the article Ephesus; the articles on Colossians and on 1st Peter for textual criticism; the article Marriage for Paul’s influence (Eph. ch. 5, v. 23–32) on the Church’s attitude toward marriage; and the article Gnosticism for the tendency in the church which Paul attacked in this epistle and in Colossians.
Colossians, by Prof. J. E. Frame; the article Colossae; Angel (on chap. 2, v. 18); Asceticism (on chap. 2, v. 16).
Philemon, Epistle to, by Dr. Moffatt; the article Slavery, Rome (Vol. 25, p. 218) for the status of a runaway like Onesimus.
Philippians, Epistle to the, by Dr. Moffatt; the article Philippi; Antinomianism (on the beginning of chap. 3); and on the Kenosis or emptying of self of Christ in Phil. 2, 7, see the article on Charles Gore (Vol. 2, p. 255), and in the article Theology the discussion in column 1 of p. 781 (Vol. 26).
Timothy, First Epistle to; and Timothy, Second Epistle to, by Dr. Moffatt; the article Timothy; the articles Marriage and Celibacy (on 1 Tim. 4, 3); Fasting, the article Gnosticism (for the “knowledge falsely so-called” of 1 Tim. 6, 20), and the article Pastoral Epistles on these letters and on that to Titus. The article Titus has much important criticism on Timothy.
Titus, The Epistle to, by Dr. Moffatt; the articles Bishop and Presbyter, etc.
Hebrews, Epistle to the, by Dr. J. Vernon Bartlett; and, on authorship, the articles Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Luke, Clement, Stephen; and the articles Clementine Literature, Hebrew Religion, Temple, Atonement and Day of Atonement, Angel, Moses, Priest, Aaron, Melchizedek, Sacrifice, Messiah.
The Other EpistlesBefore turning to the articles on the other books of the New Testament, let the student read a part of the article Theology, by the Rev. Dr. Robert Mackintosh of the Lancashire Independent College, Manchester, with special attention to the paragraphs (end of p. 773 and p. 774, Vol. 26) on Jewish theology, St. Paul and contents of the New Testament. Here “Paulinism” is shown not merely in the Pauline writings but in the Acts, in 1st Peter (“good independent Paulinism”), and even in the Apocalypse, at least as regards the atonement and Christology. “The Johannine Gospel and Epistles are later than Paulinism, and presuppose its leading or less startling positions.” And the same article (p. 783) after pointing out that Luther and the evangelical revival “went back to St. Paul” asks “can Christianity not dig deeper by going back to Jesus?” The writer also suggests that the German school of Ritschl in “not idolizing Paulinism” have “idolized Luther.”
The other principal topics to be studied are:
James, Epistle of, by the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Wisner Bacon, professor of New Testament criticism and exegesis, Yale; the article on James by the Rev. Dr. George Milligan, Professor of divinity and Biblical criticism, Glasgow; and the articles Revelation, Clement, Hermas, etc., for the question of date and relation with other writings; Wisdom Literature, for earlier writings on the “Wisdom” and proverbial expressions of chapter 3; Matthew, for a similar view of the gospel and the Church; and on “Justification,” vol. 20, p. 954, in article Paul.
Peter, Epistles of, by Dr. Kirsopp Lake; the article on St. Peter, by the same scholar. For a date earlier than that of the Epistle of James, see the article on that book. See also Romans and Polycarp to supplement what is here said of the relations of 1st Peter to these writings; and Eschatology on the expected “second coming” of 2nd Peter, chapter 3, vs. 1–13, and Jude, Epistle of, on its relation to this book.
Jude, Epistle of, by Prof. B. W. Bacon of Yale; the article on Hegesippus, the authority for the little we know of Jude; the articles Eschatology (for “the last time” of verse 18), Angel (for vs. 6, 9), Michael, and especially the articles Apocryphal Literature; Moses, Assumption of; and Enoch, Book of, for the allusions in verses 9 and 14.
Under the head of Johannine are grouped, besides the fourth gospel, the three epistles of John and the Revelation. On these see:
Johannine WritingsJohn, The Epistles of, by Dr. Moffatt, and the article on St. John in regard to authorship, which may more probably be assigned to John the presbyter; and the articles Antichrist (on 1 John, 2, 22), Gnosticism (for chap. 3, vs. 4–7), etc.
Revelation, Book of, by the Rev. Dr. Robert Henry Charles, lecturer in Biblical studies, Oxford. This book, and this article, should be studied in connection with the article, also by Dr. Charles, on Apocalyptic Literature, and the canonical apocalyptic passages in Mark 13, Mathew 24, Luke 21 and 2nd Thessalonians 2, as well as the extra-canonical apocalypses described in Apocalyptic Literature and in the separate articles Isaiah, Ascension of, and Hermas, Shepherd of. Besides see the articles Eschatology, Millenium. The student should read the article Nero, even if “666” does not certainly refer to him, and the articles Domitian and Vespasian on the possibility that one of them may have been “the beast that was and is not, ... himself also an eighth” (see footnote on p. 220, Vol. 23).
Apocryphal LiteratureAs an epilogue the student should read the articles Apocryphal Literature, both of the Old and New Testament periods, by Dr. Charles and at least the first part, by Dr. A. C. McGiffert of Union Theological Seminary, New York City, of the article Church History.
A Biblical EncyclopaediaThe study outline sketched in this chapter will give the student some idea of the possibilities of the Britannica in helping him. The list of articles dealing with the Bible on pp. 944–945 of the Index (Vol. 29) will show that in the Britannica there is an adequate and excellent encyclopaedia of the Bible or text-book of Bible Study.