THE BIBLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1932, Page 10

THE BIBLE

BEST OF “BEST SELLERS.”

In a recent issue of the “Herald particulars werq given of wha.t to many readers, must have seemed an incredibly large shipment of Bibles to Sydney. It is a fact, howpver, that ot all the books printed in English, tne Bible is the best “seller,” (writes “Layman” in the Sydney Morning Herald); The number turned out by the printing presses annually is enormous. Twenty-nine years ago the Bible, or some part of it, had been printed in 71 languages; in 1924 it had appeared in 886 tongues. Yet withm our own respective circles a surprising number of people know little’ or nothing about “the best book in the wbrld-” A f ew details, therefore, collected fbf the most part from the Rev. 6. Erben’s History of the Books of the Bible, may be acceptable. It is claimed for the Bible that it is a library being composed of many separate books by different writers. They were written at different periods at places widely distant, and under the most varied circumstances. They cover the religious history of the world during several thousands; of years, and foretell the events which are to occur in the distant future. There are 39 canonical books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament, according to the authorised version; “they are distinguished by strongly marked characteristics, but they are all links in one connected chain of Divine revelation.” A history of the creation of the world, together with the genealogy of the patriarchs is given in the opening books of the Old Testament. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy were written by Moses, and it is said that by the Jewish rabbis these five books were called the five-fifths of the law. The date of their appearance is given as between the years 1451 and 1491 B.C. Genesis, according to chronology records a history of the world for a period of 2369 years or thereabouts. In the succeeding portions Genesis records the general history of the descendants of Adam, the fall of man, the banishment from the Garden of Eden, the widespread prevalence of sin, the Flood, and the preservation of Noah and his family in the Ark. From the beginning of the twelfth chapter the his tory is centred chiefly in the patriarch Abraham, his descendants, and those with whom they were brought into contact.

The book of Exodus takes up the history of the descendants of Jacob/ in Egypt, and narrates their deliverance. It covers a period of about 145 years. With this book begins the history of the children of Israel as a nation. It has been said by an eminent histdriari, that “the real history of the world began when Moses led forth the children of Israel from the land of Egypt.” Exodus divides itse>f into two sections. The first comprising the first 18 chapters is chiefly historical; the remaining 32 narrate the giving of the ten Commandments, and the establishment of the Mosaic economy, with its tabernacle and t priesthood.

Leviticus is chiefly taken up with the laws which were to govern the Levites, including the whole body oi. priests who were entrusted with the performance of the ceremonial ami sacrificial rites of the worship of the tabernacle. The book of Numbers records the taking of two different? census of the people, and also some of the most memorable events in the history of Israel. “There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 14.12) is .regarded as referring to the coming of the Messiah.

Deuteronomy consists of three dis-, courses delivered by Moses, in the plains of Moab. These are followed by the Song of Moses and the account of his death. The final chapter, describing the deafe**of Moses, is believed to have been added by a later writer of the Scriptures, either by the successor of Moses or by Ezra. OLDEST OF STORIES. The book of Job has always been regarded as unquestionably the oldest book of the Scriptures, and the “oldest authentic and original book in- the world.” The total absence of any reference to the. Exodus or to the Mosaic law, the large number of obsolete words, with other' evidences, prove, according to the surest canons of criticism that the book belongs to an earlier age. Though the book is highly allegorical, the fact that Job was a real person is indicated by references to hint in the writings of Ezekiel and St. James. The Book of Psalms contains one hundred and fifty psalms, of which the greater part were written by David. The authorship of the book of Proverbs is attributed to Solomon, with the exception' of the two last chapters; these- were written by Agur and Lemuel. Ecclesiastes is believed to have been written, by Solomon in his old-age, and to be an account of his own experience. “The Song of Solomon is a highly poetical allegory which mystically describes the love of Christ for His'Church.” The O’d Testament contains the writings of sixteen prophets. ' The characteristic of the prophets fe that “they -Were instruments in revealing God’s will to man.”

The books of the New Testament are 27 in number, written by eight- different authors' all : of whom were contemporary with our Saviour. The New Testament and the'Old are inseparably connected. But “the New Testament ■is more than a continuation of Old Testament history; it is in itself a bright and glowing revelation. The end of the older dispensation, the culmination of the plan of grace foreshadowed by all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish Church, the. fulfilment of all the prophecies which referred to the advent of the Messiah, their widening of the channels of Divine grace in the present, and the glory of the redeemed in the future — these are the splendid truths which adorn the pages of this final revelation, and lead us to rejoice in the Glorious Gospel of Christ.’ ” Each of the four Gospels with which the New Testament opens gives an account of the life of Jesus Christ. Each one supplements, corroborates, and elucidates the other, and supplies information not found in the others. “Thus, ’ to quote the historian Erben, “the unity of the inspiration is made evident; there is unity in this apparent diversity, and all agree in the- main object of revealing Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, incarnate, crucified for the salvation of the world, risen from the dead, and as-, cended into heaven.”

The writer of the first Gospel, Matthew, was one of the twelve apostles, and there is evidence that he wrote with the special purpose of presenting Jesus to the Jewish people as the Messiah foretold in the Old Testamen.t The word “gospel” is the Eng-, lish equivalent ; of the Greek word whiclj signifies “good news”; it is used “to designate the inspired historical narratives of the life and

words of Jesus, and also in a more comprehensive sense to indicate the whole system of Christianity.” St. Mark does not give any account of the Saviour’s birth, but narrates the chief events of His ministry, closing with a record of His ascension. St. Mark was not an apostle, but was a frequent companion and intimate associate of the apostles Peter and Paul. A GRAPHIC GOSPEL. Like St. Mark, St. Luke was not an apostle An authority says of him that “the Greek of his gospel, and of the Acts of the Apostle/’ which he also wrote, is more classic than that of some of the other New Testament writers'. It has been claimed that “there are few descriptions in the world so graphic and picturesque is those in the opening chapters of St. Luke’s gospel.” The Annunciation of the Virgin, the Nativity of Jesus, the Holy Child laid in a manger of an inn at Bethlehem, the rejoicing of the heavenly host, the visit of the shepherds; all these and other circumstances are brought before us witn such vividness that they appear like the figures of some 1 well-drawn picture, and we seem almost to hear the words which were spoken, and to see the things which were done.” St. John wrote five books in the New Testament —the fourth gospel, tho three epistles which bear his name, and the Revelation. He was one of the first of those who became disciples of Jesus, and subsequently “the disciples whom Jesus loved.’ With Peter and James he was admitted to a special intimacy with the Saviour. Only the three, John, Peter, and James, were permitted to witness the raising of jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration, and the Agony in Gethsemane. St. John is the only apostle mentioned as having been present at the crucifixion; he was one of the earliest to seek the sepulchre on tile morning of the Resurrection, and was the first to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. His banishment to the Isle of Patmos and his death at Ephesus, at the age of almost one hundred years, are taken as facts that may be regarded as historically true. The gospel of St. John was written, long after the other gospels, and is believed to have been the last written of all the books of the Bible. l ln his account of the Acts of the Apostles, the historian expresses the view that no one can carefully read what is recorded therein without noticing .the very great prominence given to St. Petei' in the earlier portion and to St. Paul in the closing portion. St. Peter by his bold and eloquent preaching, laid the foundation of the Church and drew the earliest converts from both the Jewish and Gentile ranks. But after the history of St. Paul is taken up, the great apostle of the Gentiles completely overshadows St. Peter, whose name does not again appear. Thirteen epistles of the New Testament were written by St. Paul, who had received a liberal education. The closing book of the New Testament (Revelation) is claimed to be the grandest of all the books of the Bible, and a present revelation of what is occurring in the heavenly places of God. “It announces the constant intercession of Jesus for his people; He is :revealed to us as the Lamb slain .ttha He might redeem us by His blood and who is to come with majesty and power and gather His redeemed into the heavenly city.”