1. PURPOSE.

The Redemption of Man.

When our first parents disobeyed God, they were banished from his presence and a book, the Bible, was necessary to make known how each individual may be admitted into his favor.

2. NAMES.

(1) The Bible or the Holy Bible. The word Bible is derived from the Greek word, biblia, meaning books. We call it" the book " because it is the only book that has God for its author.

(2) The Scriptures or the Holy Scriptures. The word Scripture is taken from the Latin, scribo, I write. This word is used forty — two times in the Bible, meaning holy writings.¹

(3) The Oracles. The word oracle is from the Latin os or oris meaning mouth. The term refers to the utterances of God's mouth.

3. TIME COVERED.

From the Creation, 4004 B. C., to John's Revelation on Patmos, 90 A. D.

John was the last writer, closing his work about 90 A. D.; but the prophecy he wrote, and which is to be fulfilled, is as certain as the history Moses recorded of the occurrences before his time. The Bible, therefore, covers a period of unlimited time, as the Scripture is a correct history of the future.

4. AUTHORS.

We trace in this great Book about forty human authors. These writers were from every rank of life; prophets, priests, kings, shepherds, tax-gatherers, etc. They wrote at different times and under different circumstances, but they were under the control of the divine Author who maintained perfect harmony throughout the Sacred Volume.

5. WHEN WRITTEN.

Moses began writing about 1490 B. C., and John concludes the Sacred Volume about 90 A. D., requiring about sixteen centuries to complete our Bible.

6. LANGUAGES.

The original language of the Old Testament was Hebrew. There are a few Chapters in the book of Daniel written in the Chaldaic. The original language of the New Testament was the Greek. This was the universal language when Christ lived and the Gospel was designed for all nations.

7. DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE.

The sixty — six books of the Bible are divided into the Old Testament, containing thirty — nine books, and the New Testament, containing twenty— seven books.²

(1) The Old Testament Books.

(a) The Books of Law, 5.

(6) The Books of History, 12.

(c) The Books of Poetry, 5.

(d) The Books of Major Prophets, 5.

(e) The Books of Minor Prophets, 12.

(2) The New Testament Books.

(a) The Biographical Books, 4.

(6) The Historical Book, 1.

(c) The Pauline Epistles, 14.

(d) The General Epistles, 7.

(e) The Prophetical Book, 1.

QUESTIONS.

• What is the purpose of the Bible?

• What are its names?

• What does the word "Bible " mean?

• Why so named?

• What does the word "Scripture " mean?

• What is meant by "oracles"?

• What names does David give to the Scripture?

• How long a time is covered by the history of the Bible?

• How many authors wrote it?

• What were their occupations?

• How was harmony maintained among so many different authors?

• How long were they in writing the Bible?

• In what language was the Old Testament written?

• In what language was the New Testament written?

• Into how many parts is the Bible divided?

• How many books in each?

• Name the Old Testament divisions?

• How many books in each division?

• Name the New Testament divisions?

• How many books in each division?

1) The Psalmist in Psalm 119 uses the following words referring to the Old Testament: Precepts, Law, Testimonies, Statutes, Commandments,. Judgments, Word, Ordinances, Way and Truth.

2) The Bible was divided into Chapters by Hugo de Sancto Caro about 1250 A. D. The New Testament was divided into verses by Robert Stephens, in 1551. The Old Testament by a Jew, Athias, in 1661.