Companion to the Bible
The design of the present work, as its title indicates, is to assist in the study of God's word. The author has had special reference to teachers of Bible classes and Sabbath-schools; ministers of the gospel who wish to have ready at hand the results of biblical investigation in a convenient and condensed form; and, in general, the large body of intelligent laymen and women in our land who desire to pursue the study of Scripture in a thorough and systematic way.
The First Part contains a concise view of the Evidences of Revealed Religion. Here, since Christianity rests on a basis of historic facts, special prominence has been given to the historic side of these evidences; those, namely, which relate to the genuineness, integrity, authenticity, and inspiration of the several books of the Bible. A brief view is added of the evidences which are of an internal and experimental character.
In the Introductions to the Old and New Testament which follow in the Second and Third Parts, the general facts are first given; then an account of the several divisions of each, with their office and mutual relations, and such a notice of each particular book as will prepare the reader to study it intelligently and profitably.
The Fourth Part is devoted to the Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Here the plan is to consider the Scriptures, first, on the human side, as addressed to men in human language and according to human modes of thinking and speaking; then, on the divine side, as containing a true revelation from God, and differing in this respect from all other writings. To this twofold view the author attaches great importance. To the human side belong the ordinary principles of interpretation, which apply alike to all writings; to the divine side, the question of the unity of revelation, and the interpretation of types and prophecies.
In each of the abovenamed divisions the author has endeavored to keep prominently in view the unity of revelation and the inseparable connection of all its parts. It is only when we thus contemplate it as a glorious whole, having beginning, progress, and consummation, that we can truly understand it. Most of the popular objections to the Old Testament have their foundation in an isolated and fragmentary way of viewing its facts and doctrines; and they can be fairly met only by showing the relation which these hold to the entire plan of redemption.
E. P. Barrows
COMPANION TO THE BIBLE.
PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE.
GENERAL PREFACE.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
PART II.
PART III.
PART IV.
PART I.
EVIDENCES OF REVEALED RELIGION.
PREFATORY REMARKS.
EVIDENCES OF REVEALED RELIGION.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
CHAPTER II.
GENUINENESS OF THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES.
CHAPTER III.
UNCORRUPT PRESERVATION OF THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES.
CHAPTER IV.
AUTHENTICITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES.
CHAPTER V.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND THE ACKNOWLEDGED EPISTLES.
CHAPTER VI.
THE DISPUTED BOOKS.
CHAPTER VII.
INSPIRATION AND THE CANON
CHAPTER VIII.
INSEPARABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER IX.
AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH.
CHAPTER X.
AUTHENTICITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE PENTATEUCH.
CHAPTER XI.
REMAINING BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER XII.
EVIDENCES INTERNAL AND EXPERIMENTAL.
PART II.
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
PREFATORY REMARKS.
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT.
FIRST DIVISION, GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER XIII.
NAMES AND EXTERNAL FORM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ORIGINAL TEXT AND ITS HISTORY.
CHAPTER XV.
FORMATION AND HISTORY OF THE HEBREW CANON.
I. THE PENTATEUCH.
II. THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.
III. THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS.
IV. THE POETICAL BOOKS.
V. THE COMPLETION OF THE CANON.
CHAPTER XVI.
ANCIENT VERSIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
I. THE GREEK VERSION CALLED THE SEPTUAGINT.
II. OTHER GREEK VERSIONS.
III. THE CHALDEE TARGUMS.
IV. THE SYRIAC PESHITO.
CHAPTER XVII.
CRITICISM OF THE SACRED TEXT.
THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AS A WHOLE.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE PENTATEUCH.
I. GENESIS.
II. EXODUS.
III. LEVITICUS.
IV. NUMBERS.
V. DEUTERONOMY.
CHAPTER XX.
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.
I. JOSHUA.
II. JUDGES AND RUTH.
III. THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL.
IV. THE BOOKS OF KINGS.
V. THE BOOKS OF CHRONICLES.
VI. EZRA AND NEHEMIAH.
VII. ESTHER.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE POETICAL BOOKS (INCLUDING ALSO ECCLESIASTES AND CANTICLES).
(A.) CHARACTERISTICS OF HEBREW POETRY.
(B.) THE SEVERAL POETICAL BOOKS.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE GREATER PROPHETS.
I. ISAIAH.
II. JEREMIAH AND THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS.
III. EZEKIEL.
IV. DANIEL.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS.
I. HOSEA.
II. JOEL.
III. AMOS.
IV. OBADIAH.
V. JONAH.
VI. MICAH.
VII. NAHUM.
VIII. HABAKKUK.
IX. ZEPHANIAH.
X. HAGGAI.
XI. ZECHARIAH.
XII. MALACHI.
APPENDIX.
THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
I. THE TWO BOOKS OF ESDRAS.
II. TOBIT.
III. JUDITH.
IV. ADDITIONS TO THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
V. THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON.
VI. ECCLESIASTICUS.
VII. BARUCH AND THE EPISTLE OF JEREMIAH.
VIII. ADDITIONS TO THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
IX. THE PRAYER OF MANASSES.
X. THE BOOKS OF THE MACCABEES.
PART III.
INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT.
FIRST DIVISION, GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER XXIV.
LANGUAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER XXV.
EXTERNAL FORM OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT AND ITS HISTORY.
I. THE MANUSCRIPT TEXT.
II. THE PRINTED TEXT.
III. PRINCIPLES OF TEXTUAL CRITICISM.
CHAPTER XXVII.
FORMATION AND HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ANCIENT VERSIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
I. LATIN VERSIONS.
II. SYRIAC VERSIONS.
III. EGYPTIAN AND ETHIOPIC VERSIONS.
IV. THE GOTHIC AND OTHER VERSIONS.
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.
I. THE GOSPELS AS A WHOLE.
II. MATTHEW.
III. MARK.
IV. LUKE.
V. JOHN.
VI. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE EPISTLES OF PAUL.
I. EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.
II. EPISTLES TO THE CORINTHIANS.
III. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS.
IV. EPISTLES TO THE COLOSSIANS, EPHESIANS, AND PHILEMON.
V. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
VI. EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS.
VII. THE PASTORAL EPISTLES.
VIII. EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES.
I. EPISTLE OF JAMES.
II. EPISTLES OF PETER.
III. EPISTLES OF JOHN.
IV. EPISTLE OF JUDE.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE APOCALYPSE.
APPENDIX TO PART III.
WRITINGS OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS, WITH SOME NOTICES OF THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS.
I. WRITINGS OF CLEMENT.
II. THE EPISTLES OF IGNATIUS.
III. THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP.
IV. THE WRITINGS OF BARNABAS AND HERMAS.
V. THE APOSTLES' CREED.
VI. APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS AND ACTS.
PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
FIRST DIVISION.
INTERPRETATION VIEWED ON THE HUMAN SIDE.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE.
SECOND DIVISION.
INTERPRETATION VIEWED ON THE DIVINE SIDE
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE UNITY OF REVELATION.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
SCRIPTURAL TYPES.
I. HISTORICAL TYPES.
II. RITUAL TYPES.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
INTERPRETATION OF PROPHECY.
I. PROPHECIES RELATING TO THE NEAR FUTURE.
II. PROPHECIES RELATING TO THE LAST DAYS.
III. THE QUESTION OF DOUBLE SENSE.
IV. THE QUESTION OF LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE MEANING.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
QUOTATIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW.
INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
INDEX OF TEXTS.
FAC-SIMILES OF ANCIENT NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS, TO ILLUSTRATE CHAPTER XXVI., PAGE 380.