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CHAPTER IV.

THE HOLY BIBLE.

I. A GENERAL VIEW OF THE BIBLE.

WHAT do you mean by the "Bible ?"

The Book-by way of eminence.

Who is its Author?

God: by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Prove this.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Tim. iii. 16. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. i. 21.

By whom and when was it written?

By different men, and in different ages. Heb. i. 1. With what writers does it begin and end?

With Moses and with St. John.

Divide the Bible into two parts.

The Old Testament and the New Testament.
How many years were there from the Creation to Christ?
Four thousand and four. (4004.)

Into how many periods may you divide them?

Into seven periods.

Mention the first of them.

1. From the Creation to the Flood. Gen. i.-viii. years

Mention the second period.

2. From the flood to the call of Abraham. ix.-xi. 427. Mention the third period.

3. From the call of Abraham to the Exodus. Gen. xii.—

Ex. i.-xii. 430.

Divide this period into two equal parts.

i. To Jacob's descent into Egypt. Gen. xii.-xlvi. 215. ii. Thence to the Exodus. Gen. xlvi.-Ex. xii. 215.

Mention the fourth period.

4. From the Exodus to Saul. Ex. xii.-1 Sam. x. 396. What book forms the chief record of this period?

The Book of Judges.

Mention the fifth period.

5. From Saul to the Babylonish Captivity. 1 Sam. x.

Divide this period into three parts.

i. From Saul to the division of the kingdom. 1 Sam. x. -1 Kings xii. 120.

ii. Thence to the Captivity of Israel. 1 Kings xii.—2 Kings xvii. 254.

iii. Thence to the Captivity of Judah. 2 Kings xvii.— 2 Kings xxv. 134.

Mention the sixth period.

6. From the Captivity to the close of the Sacred Canon.

191.

Mention the last two Historians and the last Prophet.

Ezra and Nehemiah: Malachi.

Mention the seventh period.

7. From the close of the Sacred Canon till Christ. Whence do we learn the History of this last period?

396.

From the Apocrypha, Josephus, and other writers. Divide the Old Testament into separate thousands of years

nearly.

1. From the Creation to 13 years after Enoch's Transla-
tion; B.C. 4004 3004
1000 years.

=

2. Hence to Noah's Death; B.C. 3004 - 1998 =
= 1006.
3. Hence to the Dedication of Solomon's Temple. B.C.
1998 1004 994.

4. Hence to our Lord's Nativity; say 1000.

How many dispensations of divine truth does the Bible contain? Three: the Patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian.

Are these three different and distinct things?

They are the same thing in different degrees and forms of discovery.

What same thing do you mean ?

The Gospel of Christ. Express this in other words.

The redemption of mankind from sin and ruin by our
Saviour Christ.

State the record and duration of Patriarchism.

Gen. iv.-Ex. xx: 2514 years.

State the record and duration of Judaism.

All the Bible from Ex. xx. to the crucifixion of Christ: 1523 years.

1490 + 33

=

State the record and duration of Christianity.

The New Testament: dating from the Crucifixion: the

Give the Chronology of the New Testament.

1. From the Birth of Christ to His Assension: 33 years. 2. The Acts of the Apostles: 30 years.

Show how the Acts has been divided chronologically.

1. Christianity among the Jews: ii.—ix. A.D. 33-40. 2. Among the devout Gentiles: x.-xii. A.D. 40-45. 3. Among the idolatrous Gentiles: xiii.-xxviii. A.D. 44-62.

When are the Gospels thought to have been written?

St. Matthew: in Hebrew A.D. 38: in Greek A.D. 61.

St. Mark: between A.D. 60 and 63.

St. Luke: between A.D. 63 and 64.

St. John: about A.D. 97.

When were the Epistles written?

Most of them between A.D. 52 and 65.

When was Revelation written?

About A.D. 96 or 97.

Into how many parts do you divide the Old Testament?
Into four.

Mention them.

1. The Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses.

2. The Historical Books.

3. The Poetical Books.

4. The Prophetical Books.

1. Historical Books: the four Gospels and Acts.
2. Epistles, or Letters.

3. Prophecy: Revelation. How many Epistles are there? Twenty-one.

How are they divided?

1. St. Paul's Epistles: fourteen.

2. Catholic Epistles: seven.

Why are they called catholic, or general?

Because most of them were not written to particular churches or persons.

What does this slight general view of the Bible teach you? 1. That the Bible consists of different parts, related to

each other:

2. That there is a clear and beautiful order in it.

IL A PARTICULAR VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

First Part: the Pentateuch: a record of 2553 years.

1. GENESIS.

What does the word "Genesis" signify?

Production; origin.

Divide the book as to its chronology.

1. To the Flood. i.-viii.

Years 1656.

2. Thence to the call of Abraham. ix.-xii. 427. 3. Thence to the death of Joseph. xii.—l. 286. What is the sum of the three periods?

2369 years.

Mention six leading topics in the first eight chapters.

The Creation; the Fall; Expulsion from Paradise; Cain and Abel; the Translation of Enoch; the Flood. What is recorded of Abel?

His Sacrifice was accepted. iv. 4. Heb. xi. 4.

He was slain by his brother. iv. 8. 1 John iii. 12. What do you know of Enoch?

He walked with God and was translated. v. 24. Heb. xi. 5.

Mention four events between the flood and the call of Abraham. 1. God's covenant with Noah. ix. 8, &c.

2. Noah's prophecy: Canaan cursed. ix. 25, &c.

3. The world repeopled. x. 32.

4. The confusion of tongues. xi. 1—9. What occupies the remainder of the book? The lives of four Patriarchs.

Mention them.

1. Abraham. xii.-xxv. 1-10.

2. Isaac. xx. 11-xxvii. His death. xxxv. 27.