Chapter III: Preface: To the Book

1. THE PURPOSE

This book is designed to be used in Bible Study Classes in churches, in communities, in academies, in colleges. The author has endeavored to furnish a text book of outlines and questions that shall unfold the general contents of the Word of God. Its primary aim is to impart a swift and comprehensive acquaintanceship with the material of the books of the Bible.

2. THE CHARACTER OF THE WORK

It is not an exhaustive study. From its aim it could not be such. Some of the sixty-six books are passed over in brief space, and some (chiefly in the prophecies and epistles) are omitted altogether. It is a surface study. The title so suggests. It does not enter into the deeper things. It simply aims to lay bare the surface facts. It is expressly designed to serve as a foundation for later detailed searching of the Word. It is flexible. The teacher can add or subtract as time or local conditions demand, and is earnestly exhorted so to do. One book may be omitted and another added at the teacher's discretion. A part of the questions may be omitted, or additional ones inserted. The outlines may be enlarged or diminished or changed to suit the needs of the class according to the teacher's personal judgment.

3. REQUISITES FOR STUDY

Let each scholar be provided with a cheap tablet, a well-bound blank book of two hundred pages, a small Bible Dictionary of recognized merit, and a copy of the American Revised Version of the Bible. (Standard Edition of Nelson & Sons, 1901, bourgeois 8vo, is good.) The teacher should provide for reference, to which the pupils should have constant access, a copy of the Rand-McNally Bible Atlas, by J.L. Hurlbut, D.D., a copy of Young's Complete Analytical Concordance, and a copy of a large and complete Bible Dictionary.

4. SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS

To secure the best results the following plan, tested by experience, is suggested: Let the assigned lesson be wrought out and recorded by the pupil in the cheap tablet. At the next recitation let this recorded lesson be read and corrected. At the following recitation this lesson first assigned and corrected is to be recited from memory. So at each recitation the following will be the general order: (1) The assigning of the advance lesson. (2) The reading and correction of the lesson assigned at the previous recitation. (3) The reciting from memory of the lesson corrected at the previous recitation.

The work as soon as corrected is to be recorded by the scholar in the blank book according to a simple set of rules. The following rules have been used with good results:

DIRECTIONS FOR BIBLE BOOKS

1. Record each lesson the evening after its correction. (Commit the work, as you record, for recital.)

2. Begin each large division at the top of the page.

3. Capitalize and underline all headings.

4. Leave a vacant line between small divisions.

5. Where questions are used, record both questions and answers.

6. The books will be graded substantially as follows:

Correctness of record, 35. (Includes spelling and grammar.)

Fullness of record, 35.

Neatness and care, 10.

Mechanical accuracy, 10.

Originality, 10.

It would be well to place a printed copy of these rules in the hands of each student, to be pasted in the front of the blank book. These blank books should be examined and graded every four or six weeks and should constitute at least a third of the student's grade. The recording of the work in the blank books may be omitted in the community or church classes, at the option of the teacher. But the record of the work by pencil in a cheap tablet _should be insisted upon as absolutely necessary for the best results_. In the academy and college classes the painstaking record in ink has been found by experience to be a most valuable portion of the study.

Let the teacher review constantly. Drill the students, singly and collectively, in the recitation material. Emphasize the avoidance of mechanical study. Secure as much consecutive reading of the Word as possible. Feed upon rich truths. Make practical and personal applications of the Word. "All Scripture is profitable."

CHART OF THE SIXTY-SIX BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

INTRODUCTORY LESSON. CHART OF THE SIXTY-SIX BOOKS

+--------------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+--------------+ | | I | II | III | IV | V | |NAMES OF |THE KINGDOM | THE KINGDOM |THE KINGDOM| THE KINGDOM | THE KINGDOM | |DIVISIONS |FORESHADOWED| FORMING |CONQUERING | UNDIVIDED | DIVIDED | +--------------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+--------------+ |Beginning and | 4004-1689 | 1571-1451 | 1451-1095 | 1095-975 | 975-606 B.C. | |Ending Dates | B.C. | B.C. | B.C. | B.C. | | +--------------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+--------------+ |Names of Books|Genesis |Exodus |Joshua |I and II Samuel|I and II Kings| | | ---- |Numbers |Judges |I Chronicles |II Chronicles | | |Job | ---- | ---- | ---- +--------------+ | | |Leviticus |Ruth |Psalms | ISRAEL | | | |Deuteronomy | |Song of Solomon| 975-721 | | | | | |Proverbs +--------------+ | | | (Read Psalms| |Ecclesiastes |Jonah | | | | 8, 90, | | |Amos | | | | 105-107) | | |Hosea | | | | | | +--------------+ | | | | | | JUDAH | | | | | | | 975-606 | | | | | | +--------------+ | | | | | |Joel | | | | | | |Isaiah | | | | | | |Micah | | | | | | |Nahum | | | | | | |Zephaniah | | | | | | |Habakkuk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +--------------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+--------------+ |NUMBER OF | | | | | | |BOOKS | 2 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 12 | +--------------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+--------------+

+--------------+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-----------+ | | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | | NAMES OF |THE KINGDOM |THE KINGDOM|THE KINGDOM'S| THE KINGDOM |THE KINGDOM| | DIVISIONS |IN CAPTIVITY| RESTORED | TRUE KING | CONQUERING | TRIUMPHANT| | | | | | THE WORLD | | +--------------+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-----------+ |Beginning and | 606-536 | 536-420 | 4 B.C.-29 | 29 A.D. | | |Ending Dates | B.C. | B.C. | A.D. | | | +--------------+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-----------+ |Names of Books|Daniel |Ezra |Matthew |Acts |Revelation | | |Esther |Nehemiah |Mark | ---- | | | | ---- | ---- |Luke |I Thessalonians | | | |Jeremiah |Haggai |John |II Thessalonians| | | |Lamentations|Zechariah | |Galatians | | | |Obadiah |Malachi | |I Corinthians | | | |Ezekiel | | |Romans | | | | | | |II Corinthians | | | | (Read Ps. | | |Philemon | | | | 137) | | |Ephesians | | | | | | |Philippians | | | | | | |Colossians | | | | | | |Hebrews | | | | | | |I Timothy | | | | | | |Titus | | | | | | |II Timothy | | | | | | |James | | | | | | |I Peter | | | | | | |II Peter | | | | | | |Jude | | | | | | |I John | | | | | | |II John | | | | | | |III John | | +--------------+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-----------+ |NUMBER OF | | | | | | |BOOKS | 6 | 5| 4 | 22 | 1| +--------------+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-----------+

NOTES ON THE CHART

1. The sixty-six books are divided into ten groups, according to their relation to the Kingdom. In this connection the word Kingdom is not used in any restricted or technical sense. It is used to designate the Kingdom of God instituted to redeem the race from sin, under whatever form manifested.

2. Several of the books are not located in their exact places. Esther is located in Division Six because it is Captivity narrative. The Kings and Chronicles technically overlap two divisions. Lamentations and Jeremiah chronologically belong to the preceding division, but are placed among the books of the Captivity because their wails betoken that event.

3. The books in each division are arranged in chronological order. In Division Nine the fourteen epistles of Paul are placed first, in the order of their composition, then the seven general epistles in the order of their writing.

4. Where the books of a division are separated into two groups by a dash, those above the dash are historical, those beneath the dash are biographical, or poetical, or legal, or prophetical, or epistolary.

5. The teacher may exercise his own judgment in requiring the committal of this chart at the start, or part by part as the study proceeds.

I

THE KINGDOM FORESHADOWED

Genesis Page

Job Page

NOTES

1. Use full page in blank book, copying as above.

2. Place number of page on which above studies begin in blank book. This serves as index.

OUTLINE FOR STUDY OF HISTORICAL BOOKS

1. Pictorial Device.

2. Kind of Literature.

3. Meaning of Name.

4. Author.

5. Beginning and Ending Dates.

6. Outline of Contents.

7. Key Verse.

8. Leading Thought.

9. Leading Phrases and Verses.

10. Leading Chapters with Names.

11. Leading Characters.

12. Leading Lessons.

13. What of Christ:

(a) Symbol.

(b) Type.

(c) Analogy.

(d) Prophecy.

14. Questions.

15. Items of Special Interest.

16. Individual Finds.

NOTES ON HISTORICAL OUTLINE AND ITS USE

Most of the books in the first four divisions will be studied with this outline as a basis. In the pursuance of these lessons the numbers left vacant in the outline are to be wrought out by the pupils. In recording the work in the blank book the first page is to be given to the pictorial device. One of these will be printed in its appropriate place. Let students prepare the others. Urge the pupils to use originality of thought and pen in producing them. The aim of the device is to impress by a simple picture the contents of the book as a whole. Under No. 2 the kind of literature may be described, as history, law, discourse, biography, etc. Secure answers to Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 in Bible Dictionary. As a rule, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 will be given. Under No. 10 part of the chapters will be named, and part are to be read and named by the pupils. After the pupils present the names of these chapters in class, one must be agreed upon, so that the names will be uniform. When the names of chapters are given in the outline, require the pupils to glance over the chapters and verify them. Under No. 13 the foreshadowed facts of Christ are given, so as to manifest Him as the living center of the Book. Only the leading ones are selected. The teacher or pupil may add others. For convenience sake they are classified as follows: (a) Symbol; (b) Type; (c) Analogy; (d) Prophecy. Though the words symbol and type are not technically distinct, we have agreed to use the word _symbol_ to designate an _object_ or _animal_ that prefigures Christ, as "star" or "lamb," and the word _type_ to designate a _person_ that prefigures Christ, as Melchizedek or Moses. We have also agreed to limit the symbols and types to those directly or indirectly mentioned in the New Testament. By analogy we mean a person who, though widely differing from Christ in many particulars, bears some one resemblance to Him in quality or deed. These analogies are not mentioned in the New Testament. The word _prophecy_ in the outline is confined, then, to _facts_ foretold regarding Christ. Under No. 15 let the teacher call for five or ten (suit the number to conditions) items of peculiar interest, touching the literary form, events, facts, teachings, etc. This topic is in accord with the first article of the Creed recorded on the opening page of the book. Under No. 16 let the teacher assign at least one chapter rich in contents for individual search upon the part of the pupils. Let the pupils record and number their individual finds. This in accord with the fifth article of the Creed. The purpose is to cultivate the "seeing eye" and to develop originality in Bible research.

GENESIS

I. _Pictorial Device._

_____ ,-'| GOD |'-. ,-' , ----- . '-. ,-' ,' / \ '. '-. ,-' ,' / \ '. '-. ,-' ,' / \ '. '-. ,-' ,' / \ '. '-. ,-' ,' / \ '. '-. +--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+ |2 | |6 | |12| |21| |25| |37| +--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+ |A | |N | |A | |I | |J | |J | |D | |O | |B | |S | |A | |O | |A | |A | |R | |A | |C | |S | |M | |H | |A | |A | |O | |E | | | | | |H | |C | |B | |P | | | | | |A | | | | | |H | | | | | |M | | | | | | | +--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+-----+--+ | BEGINNINGS | +-----------------------------------------------+ | GOD | +-----------------------------------------------+

NOTE.--In order to make the work and the method of recording it as clear as possible, the outline study of Genesis is printed in full, except the answers to the questions.

II. _Kind of Literature:_ History.

III. _Meaning of Name:_ Beginning.

IV. _Author:_ Moses.

V. _Beginning and Ending Dates:_ 4004 B.C. to 1689 B.C., making 2315 years.

VI. _Outline of Contents:_

1. 1 to 11. God's Dealings with the Human Race.

2. 12 to 50. God's Dealings with the Chosen Race.

VII. _Key Verse:_ 1:1 in part: "In the beginning God--"

VIII. _Leading Thought:_ God before all and in all and over all.

IX. _Leading Phrases and Verses:_

4:9--"Am I my brother's keeper?"

15:1--"Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

18:4--"Is anything too hard for Jehovah?"

X. _Leading Chapters with Names:_

1. The Six Days of Creation.

3. The Temptation, the Fall and the Promise.

4. Cain and Abel.

6 to 8. The Flood.

11. Babel.

12. Abraham.

22. The Sacrifice of Isaac.

23. The Wrestling of Jacob.

37. Joseph.

49. The Blessings of Jacob.

XI. _Leading Characters._ See Device.

XII. _Leading Lessons:_

1. God's Intimate Acquaintanceship with Man.

2. The Wide Influence of One Person. (Let teacher and scholar illustrate these.)

XIII. _What of Christ:_

(a) Symbol: (The blood of Abel. Heb. 12:24.)

(b) Type: Adam. Rom. 5:14.

Melchizedek. Heb. 6:20.

(c) Analogy: Noah. Joseph.

(d) Prophecy: 3:15: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel."

12:3: "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." See Matt. 1:1.

49:10: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come: and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be."

XIV. _Questions:_

1. Name the first two great institutions established by Jehovah.

2. Name the beginnings recorded in Chapters 3 and 4.

3. Name five facts mentioned about the Garden of Eden.

4. Name God's first recorded words, Satan's, Adam's.

5. Name the curses pronounced upon the serpent, upon the woman, upon the ground for man's sake.

6. Name the first blacksmith, the first musician, the first piece of poetry, the first city, the first and second tithers.

7. Give ages of Adam, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Joseph.

8. Name the cause of the flood and the number of people saved.

9. Name the three sons of Noah and the prophecies regarding the descendants of each.

10. Why did the people build the Tower of Babel?

11. Name the seven promises made to Abraham in Chapter 15.

12. By what quality was Abraham saved? 15:6. See Gal. 3:8.

13. Who was Melchizedek? Hagar? Ishmael?

14. Name the wife and sons of Isaac.

15. In what two ways did Jacob mistreat Esau?

16. How long did Jacob serve for his wives and cattle?

17. Fill out the following diagram of Jacob's wives, concubines and children. See 35:23.

+---------+---------+---------+---------+ | | | | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+

18. Give origin, meaning and location of Mizpah.

19. Give the two chief reasons for the elevation of Joseph.

20. Name the dreams interpreted by Joseph.

21. Locate and give the substance of Judah's plea.

22. How many of the house of Jacob went down into Egypt?

NOTES ON THE QUESTIONS

These questions must needs be few in number. If the time permits, let the teacher add others. They are designed to be mere surface questions, to secure acquaintanceship with a few of the great facts. In assigning the questions on each book of the Bible let the teacher go over them with the class, seeking their knowledge (or imparting it) as to the chapters in which the answers may be found. If the class has the time and desires a more thorough acquaintance with each book, let each member prepare two "large" questions on each chapter, or upon as many chapters as they desire. The following questions on Chapter 1 will serve as examples: (1) Name the seven purposes of the lights. (2) State the number of times the word God occurs.

XV. _Items of Special Interest:_

1. The symmetry of the paragraphs in the record of the six creative days in Chapter 1.

2. God's notice of the human countenance. 4:6.

3. The first piece of recorded poetry is degenerating, bloody. 4:23, 24.

4. The word for "rooms," 6:14, in the margin is "nests"--a primitive description.

5. The richness of the historical prophecy in 9:27.

XVI. _Individual Finds:_

Chapters 10, or 23, or 37, or all. Or each of these three chapters could be assigned to a third of the class.

JOB