Project Gutenberg
The Bible Book by Book (1916)
Josiah Blake Tidwell (1870-1946)
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THE BIBLE BOOK BY BOOK
A MANUAL
For the Outline Study of the Bible by Books
BY
J.B. TIDELL, A.M., D.D.
Professor of Biblical LiteratureIn Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Preface To Second Edition.
In sending forth this second edition of The Bible Book by Book it hasseemed wise to make some changes in it. The descriptive matter hasbeen put in paragraph instead of tabular form; the analyses have beenmade shorter and less complex; the lessons based on the Old Testamentbooks have been omitted or incorporated in the topics of study whichhave been increased, It is believed that the make-up of the book isbetter and more attractive.
The author feels a deep gratitude that the first edition has been sosoon sold. He indulges the hope that it has been found helpful andsends out this edition with a prayer that it may prove more valuablethan did the former.
J.B. Tidwell
Preface To First Edition.
The aim of this book is to furnish students of the Bible with anoutline which will enable them to gain a certain familiarity with itscontents. While it is intended especially for students in academies,preparatory schools and colleges, the needs of classes conducted byWomen’s Societies, Young People’s Organizations, Sunday School NormalClasses, Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. and advanced classes of theSunday Schools have been constantly in mind. Its publication has beenencouraged not only by the hope of supplying the needs mentioned butby expressions that have followed public lectures upon certain books,indicating a desire on the part of Christians in general for a bookthat would, in a brief compass, give them some insight into thepurpose, occasion and general setting of each of the books of theBible.
The work has been done with a conviction that the students of Americanschools should become as well acquainted with the sources of ourreligion as they are required to do with the religions of ancientheathen nations, and all the more so, since the most of our peopleregard it as the true and only religion, and still more so, since “itis made the basis of our civilization and is implied and involved inour whole national life.” It is believed by the Author that aknowledge of the simple facts of the history, geography and chronologyof the Bible is essential to a liberal education and that to befamiliar with the prophecies, poetry, and ethics of the scripture isas essential to the educated man of today as was a “knowledge of Greekhistory in the time of Pericles or of English history in the reign ofHenry the VIII.” And, in order that such knowledge may be gained,effort has been made to put into the book only a minimum of mattercalculated to take the student away from the Bible itself to adiscussion about it and to put into it a maximum of such matter aswill require him to study the scripture at first hand.
Having intended, first of all to meet the needs of those whoseadvantages for scripture study have been limited, the information hasbeen put in tabular form, giving only such facts as have beencarefully gathered from reliable sources, with but little attempt toshow how the conclusions were reached. It is expected that the factsgiven may be mastered and that an interest may be created which willlead to further study upon the subjects treated. And to this end someof the studies have been made sufficiently complicated for collegework and instruction for such work given in suggestions for teachers,leaders and classes. Besides the studies of the books there have beenintroduced some matters of general interest which have been foundhelpful as drills for academy pupils, and which will be foundinteresting and helpful to all classes of students.
The general plan is the outgrowth of the experience of a few years ofteaching, but the material presented lays little claim to originality.It has been gathered from many sources and may in some cases seemalmost like plagiarism, but due acknowledgment is here made for allsuggestions coming from any source whatsoever, including Dr. George W.Baines, who read all the material except that on the New Testament.
Let it be said also, that in preparing these studies the Author hasproceeded upon the basis of a belief in the Bible as the Word of God,a true source of comfort for every condition of heart and a safe guideto all faith and conduct whether of individuals or of nations. It ishoped therefore that those who may study the topics presented willapproach the scripture with an open heart, that it may have full powerto make them feel the need of God, that they may make its provisionsreal in their experience and that it may bring to them new and changedlives.
If the pastors shall deem it valuable as a book of reference forthemselves and to their members who are desirous of pursuing Biblestudy, or if it shall be found serviceable to any or all of thosementioned in paragraph one of this Preface, the Author will be amplyrewarded for the effort made.
J. B. TIDWELL.
Waco, Texas, August, 1914.
SOME INTRODUCTORY STUDIES.
Chapter 1. Why We Believe The Bible.
There are two lines of proof of the reliability of the scriptures, theexternal and the internal. These different kinds of evidences may beput down, without separation, somewhat as follows:
1. The Formation and Unity of the Bible.
There are sixty-sixbooks written by nearly forty men, who lived at various times, and yetthese books agree in making a perfect whole. These writers were ofdifferent classes and occupations. They possessed different degrees oftraining and lived in widely different places and ages of the world.The perfect agreement of their writings could not, therefore, be theresult of any collusion between them. The only conclusion that canexplain such unity is that one great and infinite mind dictated thescripture.
2. The Preservation of the Bible.
That the Bible is a divine bookis proven in that it has survived the wreck of empires and kingdomsand the destruction of costly and carefully gathered libraries andthat, too, when there was no special human effort to save it. At timesall the constituted powers of earth were arrayed against it, but ithas made its way against the tide of fierce opposition andpersecution.
3. Its Historical Accuracy.
The names of towns, cities, battles,kings, empires and great events, widely apart in time and place, aregiven without a blunder. The ruins of cities of Assyria, Egypt andBabylon have been unearthed and tablets found that prove the accuracyof the Bible narrative. These tablets corroborate the stories of thecreation and fall of man, of the flood, the tower of Babel, thebondage in Egypt, the captivity, and many other things. This accuracygives us confidence in the reality of the book.
4. Its Scientific Accuracy.
At the time of the writing of theBible. there were all sorts of crude and superstitious stories aboutthe earth and all its creatures and processes. It was humanlyimpossible for a book to have been written that would stand the teatof scientific research, and yet at every point it has proven true tothe facts of nature. Its teachings areas to the creation of all animallife is proven in science, in that not a single new species has comeinto existence within the history of man and his research orexperiment. David said the sun traveled in a circuit (Ps. 19:6), andscience has proven his statement. Job said the wind had weight (Job28:25) and science has finally verified it. That the earth issuspended In space with no visible support is declared by Job, whosaid that “God hangeth the earth upon nothing”, Job 26:7.Besides these and other specific teachings of science which correspondto Bible utterances, the whole general teachings of the scripture issustained by our investigations. Many theories have been advanced thatcontradicted the Bible (at one time a French Institution of Scienceclaimed that there were eighty hostile theories), but not a singlesuch theory has stood. Wherever a teaching of science contradictingthe Bible has ever been advanced, it has been proven false, while theBible was found to correspond to the facts.
5. Its Prophetic Accuracy.
At least sixteen prophets prophesiedconcerning future events. They told of the coming destruction ofcities and empires, calling them by name. They told of new kingdoms.They told of the coming of Christ, his nativity, the place of hisbirth, and the result of his life and death and made no mistake.
Christ himself showed how their old prophecies were fulfilled in Him.He told the destruction of Jerusalem and the nature of his Kingdom andwork, all of which has been shown to be true. No other but a Divinebook could have foretold the future in detail.
6. The Richness and Universality of Its Teachings.
Its contents arefresh and new to every age and people. Its teachings furnish thehighest standards for right human government and for personal purityof character. Its virtues are superior to all others. Every generationfinds new and wonderful treasures in it, and while hundreds ofthousands of books have been written about it, one feels that it isstill a mine, the riches of whose literary excellence, moral beautyand lofty thought have scarcely been touched.
7. The Fairness and Candor of Its Writers.
In portraying its heroes,the Bible does not attempt any gloss. Their faults are neithercovered up nor condoned, but condemned. This is unlike all otherbooks.
8. Its Solution of Man’s Difficulties.
What is the origin of theworld? What is the origin of man? How came sin in the world? Willthere be punishment of sin that will satisfy the unfairness andinequalities of life? Is there redemption for weak and helpless man?Is there a future life? These are some of the questions that havetroubled man in all ages. The Bible alone answers them in a simple yetadequate way. It alone gives us the knowledge of the way to securehappiness. Its remedies alone furnish a certain balm for bruised humanhearts.
9. Its Miracles.
The Bible, which records how God sent his son andothers on special missions, also tells how He attested their work bysigns or miracles. These miracles were performed in the presence ofcreditable witnesses and should, therefore, be believed. Moreover,they are so different from the superhuman deeds of ancient mythologyas to stamp them as divine and true and at the same time to discreditall the false.
Bible miracles are never for mere exploitation or for personal profitto the one who performs the miracle. They are for the good of others.The blind and deaf and lame are healed. The sick and dead are raised.Lepers are cured and sins forgiven. Moreover, those who perform themiracle claim no power of their own, but attribute it all to God andonly perform the miracle that God may be exalted.
10. Its Spiritual Character.
It is evident that man alone could nothave conceived the lofty ideas of the scripture. All his experienceproves that he can not produce anything so far beyond himself. Thesehigh truths therefore, have come from a greater than man.
11. Its Fruit.
No other book will do for man what the Bible does. Thespread of its truths makes man better.
Wherever the Bible goescivilization and enlightenment follow. This is so, no matter what theformer condition of the people. Where everything else fails, the Biblesucceeds in lifting men out of ignorance and shame.
12. Its Own Claims to Divine Origin.
(1) It clearly claims to be thethe word of God. (a) All scripture is given by inspiration Of God. 2Tim. 3:16. (b) God spake unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb. 1:1.(c) Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2Peter 1:21. (d) He spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, Luke 1:70.(e) Which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake. Acts 1:16. (f)God showed by the mouth of all his prophets. Acts 3:18. (g) By therevelation of Jesus Christ, Gal. 1:12. (h) Not as the word of men, butas it is in truth the word of God, 1 Thes. 2:13. (2) It claims to be agood book and to be given for man’s good. Both of these claims havebeen amply justified. But it could not be a good book and claim whatis not true. This it would do if it ware not the Word of God.
Chapter2. The Names Of God.
Several names are used for God, each having its own significance, andevery Bible reader should in some general way know the meaning of eachname. We cannot always distinguish the exact meaning, but thefollowing, while not all, will be of use in reading the Englishtranslation.
1. God.
This comes from one word and two of its compound or formsand will mean accordingly: (1) The Strong one used 225 times in theOld Testament; (2) The Strong one as an object of worship; (3) TheStrong one who is faithful and, therefore, to be trusted and obeyed.This last is a plural term and is used 2300 times in the OldTestament. It is the name used when God said. “Let us make man” and“God created man in his own image,” etc., Gen. 1:26-27. It was by thisname that God the Trinity covenanted for the good of man before manwas created.
2. LORD.
Small capitals in the old version and translated Jehovah inthe in the revised translation. It means: (1) The self-existing onewho reveals himself; (2) God as Redeemer. It was under this name thathe sought man after the fall and clothed him with skins. Gen. 3:9-17;(3) God who makesand keeps his covenants. It is used more than 100times in connection with the covenants, as in Jer. 31:31-34 where hepromises a new covenant.
3. Lord.
Small letters except the L and always denotes God as Masterin his relation to us as servants. There are two kinds of servants—hired and bought servants, the latter being always superior and morebeloved. The servant is expected to obey and is guaranteed protectionand support for his service.
4. Almighty God.
This means a Strong-breasted one, the Pourer orShredder forth of spiritual and temporal blessings. It refers toGod: (1) As a nourisher, strength-giver, satisfier and a strong onewho gives; (2) As the giver of fruitfulness which comes throughnourishment. He was to make Abraham fruitful, Gen. 17:1-8; (3) AsGiver of chastening. This he does in the way of pruning that there maybe more fruit.
5. The Most High or Most High God.
This means: (1) The Possessor ofheaven and earth, who as owner distributes the earth among thenations; (2) The one who, as possessor, has dominion and authorityover both, Dan. 4:18, 37; Ps. 91:9-13.
6. Everlasting God.
This represents him as: (1) The God of themystery of the ages and, therefore, (2) The God of secrets; (3) TheGod of everlasting existence whose understanding is past finding out,Is. 40:28.
7. LORD (Jehovah) God.
This name is used: (1) Of the relation ofDeity to man, (a) as Creator, creating and controlling his destiny,especially of his earthly relations, (b) as having moral authorityover him, (c) as redeemer; (2) Of his relation to Israel, whosedestiny he made and controlled.
8. Lord (Jehovah) of Hosts.
This refer: Usually to the host ofheaven, especially of angels; (2) To all the divine or heavenly poweravailable for the people of God; (3) The special name of deity used tocomfort Israel in time of division and defeat or failure, Is. 1:9,8:11-14.
Note. Drill on the use of these names and find some scripture passageillustrating the use of each.
Chapter3. The Sacred Officers And Sacred Occasions.
The Sacred Officers.
The following facts about the officers of the Bible should be familiarto all Bible students.
1. The Priests.
They represent the people to God. The head of thehousehold was the first priest. Gen. 8:20. Later the first born oroldest son became priests of the chosen people, Ex. 28:1. They servedin the tabernacle and later in the temple where they conductedreligious services, offered sacrifices for public and private sins andwere teachers and magistrates of the law.
2. The Prophets.
These speak for God to the people. They receivedrevelations from God and made them known to men. They were selectedaccording to God’s own will to impart his spiritual gifts (1 Cor.12:11) and extended down through those who wrote prophetic books toMalachi. They were philosophers, teachers, preachers and guides to thepeople’s piety and worship. Abraham was the first to be called aprophet (Gen. 20:7) and Aaron next (Ex. 7:1).
3. The Scribes.
The word means a writer and Seraiah is the first onementioned, 2 Sam. 8;17. As writers they soon became transcribers, theninterpreters and teachers or expounders. They became known as lawyersand were accorded high standing and dignity. In the time of the kingsthey were supported by the state as a learned, organized and highlyinfluential body of men. In Christ’s time they were among the mostinfluential members of the Sanhedrin.
4. The Apostles.