The philosophy of the Bible is embodied in the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job. These are what are called "late" books, and lack the fiery quality of the more original period of the prophets. The prudential, cautious spirit of Proverbs should be illustrated with quotations.
Ecclesiastes represents the hesitating, somewhat skeptical aspect of human thought, and is in some respects the book of the Bible which comes nearest to the modern temper. Plumtre's handbook on Ecclesiastes (Cambridge University Press) has in its appendix comparisons between this book, Shakespeare, Tennyson, and Omar Khayyám which are interesting to refer to.
Carlyle called the book of Job the greatest literary creation of history, for it first deals with the problem of human suffering. Professor Genung has arranged this book in dramatic form, and clubs should read this aloud, in part at least.
IX—THE NEW TESTAMENT
Coming to the New Testament, it may be divided into three parts: History, correspondence, and allegory. The history comprises the four Gospels and Acts. A preliminary paper might show the varying points of view of the authors and compare their literary styles. Read from Matthew part of the Sermon on the Mount, noting his Jewish outlook always; from Mark, part of chapter III, showing him as the historian of action; from Luke (the writer was a physician), the story of the Good Samaritan; from John the philosophical prologue and the parable of the vine, displaying his mystical mind. Make a special study of the literary quality of the parables.
From Acts may be read passages showing the historian's vivid descriptions; see the riot at Philippi, Paul's address at Athens, and the shipwreck.
Letters form the greater part of the New Testament. Those of Paul should be arranged chronologically, and a brief account given of the circumstances under which each was written.
Some of the striking passages in the Epistles should be read, such as chapter XIII in I Corinthians which has been called a Hymn in Praise of Love. The whole of the little Epistle to Philemon may be read, to show the position of the early church on slavery. Reference should be made to the fact that Matthew Arnold said that Paul stood among the seven greatest literary men of history.
The book of Revelation is of immense interest. Have a preliminary paper on the position of Jews and Christians at this time in relation to the Romans, and show the necessity of concealing the meaning of the book. Follow this with another on the allegory in literature: Spenser's "Faërie Queene" and Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" are two famous examples of its use. After this read some of the famous passages from the Revelation; notice the extraordinary wealth of imagery and the stately beauty of its style.