The value of work like that which follows requires no argument to prove its worth. An unindexed book is like an unexplored continent. It may contain streams of thought which might be sources of power if known. Diamonds and gold may there be hidden away. The index is the explorer's chart to the undiscovered country. The great stores of a work like The Expositor's Bible are not realized until they are tabulated in an index. The chemistry of thought has produced many a gem for this great work. This index will show where they are. The compiler has endeavored to make a complete, comprehensive, and practical index to this series. The index is by subjects, texts, and authors quoted.
It has given me great pleasure to know in this intimate way what The Expositor's Bible contains. If this work shall help others to the same knowledge, the labor involved is worth while.
S. G. Ayres.
HOW TO USE THE INDEX
As an illustration of the method by which to use the subject index, take the first topic, Aaron. The reference to Aaron and his sons will be found in the volume "Numbers" of The Expositor's Bible, page 32.
A good illustration of the way to use the textual part of the index is found in John XVII, 19. Of course the main treatment will be found in its proper place in Vol. II of the Gospel of John by Dr. Dods; but we find a reference in the volume on Leviticus, page 57; in that containing Ephesians, page 369; in that on the Epistles of Peter, page 151. The reader will find that these will aid in acquiring a more complete understanding of the text studied. The inter-relation of the Old and New Testaments will be the better noted. It has been thought that less trouble will be caused the reader by having the texts included with the subjects under one index.
Where a book of the Bible is contained in more than one volume, although possibly bound, the two volumes in one, the reference, for example, under Acts VII, verse 49, to Isaiah II, 287, would be found on page 287 of the second volume of Isaiah.