The Bible

The Bible was written by degrees during a period of 1600 years. It was anciently called "The Books," or "The Divine Library," but by common consent, for the past 700 years it has been called the Bible.

The period of history which it covers cannot be definitely ascertained, owing to the uncertainty as to length of the Patriarchal government. The dates on the margins of our English Bibles are given by Archbishop Usher, and range from 4004 B. C. to 96 A. D.; this is known as the "shorter chronology." History comes into clearer light with the Exodus, though the exact date of it has not yet been fully established. Fourteen hundred and ninety-two is an easy date to remember, and, as the date of the Exodus, is near enough for all ordinary exactness. Remembering then, that the Exodus and the beginning of the Hebrew Nationality was as long before Christ as the discovery of America after Christ, we have a landmark that makes the memory of the Bible dates easy. In the year 1000 B. C., the Temple was built; Solomon was king, and the Hebrew monarchy was at its height; in 70 A. D. the last Jewish temple was destroyed by the Romans, and the Hebrew monarchy came to an end. By adding 1000 and 70 and dividing by 2, we get 535. The great captivity of the Jews came to an end just about 535 B. C. These four dates are then four great eras, and represent the founding of the Hebrew nation; the height of its glory; the end of the great Captivity, and the end of their national existence.

The Bible falls logically into three great divisions in each of the two Testaments. In the Old Testament, we have History, Poetry, and Prophecy; in the New Testament, History, Letters, and Prophecy.

SYNOPSIS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

1. "THE LAW OF MOSES," OR PENTATEUCH.

(Written by Moses, or compiled by him from older documents.)

GENESIS,--means the Beginning, that is, of the inhabited world. The creation and fall of man. Christ promised to Eve. Christ foreshadowed in Abel. The flood. The family of Shem chosen for the promised blessing. Christ promised to Abraham, Shem's descendant. Christ promised to Judah, Abraham's descendant. Christ fore-shadowed in Melchizedek, in Isaac, Abraham's son, in Joseph, Abraham's great-grandson.

EXODUS,--means the Going out, that is, of the Chosen B. C. People, the descendants of Abraham, from Egypt to the Promised Land. Christ foreshadowed in the Paschal Lamb; His work of deliverance from sin foreshadowed in the escape from Egyptian bondage.

B. C. 1491 to 1490.

LEVITICUS,--contains the laws regulating divine service in charge of the sacred tribe of Levi,--hence the name. The sacrifice of Christ foreshadowed in the various sacrifices, especially in the goat of the sin-offering on the Great Day of Atonement.

B. C. 1490 to 1451.

NUMBERS,--so named from the two numberings of the people, at the beginning and the end of their wanderings. Contains history of the wanderings in the wilderness forty years. Christ prefigured in the stricken rock and in the brazen serpent,--foretold by Balaam.

B. C. 1451.

DEUTERONOMY,--means the second giving of the Law. Consists mainly of three addresses by Moses, to the people born in the wilderness, who had not heard the original promulgation of the Law. Christ promised as "a prophet like unto Moses."

B. C. 1451 to 1420.

JOSHUA,--the Hebrew word for Jesus. Joshua, a type of Christ, leads the people to the Promised Land.

B. C. 1425 to 1120.

JUDGES,--a history of the Chosen People for 450 years after the death of Joshua. Irreligion and disunion among the Twelve Tribes. Thirteen Judges, some warriors, some priests, some civil rulers, are raised up from time to time, to deliver them from their enemies or to restore law and order.

B. C. 1322 to 1312.

RUTH,--an appendix to the book of Judges; intended to show the genealogy of Christ from a Gentile mother (Ruth) and a Jewish father (Boaz). The great-grandson of Ruth the Moabitess is King David, of whom Christ is a lineal descendant.

B. C. 1171 to 1056.

I. SAMUEL,--the continuation of the history of the Chosen People under the last two Judges, Eli and Samuel. The latter by his personal character and great ability reforms the people, establishes schools and does much to unite the tribes into a nation. The latter portion of this book contains a history of Saul, the first King of Israel.

B. C. 1056 to 1017.

II. SAMUEL,--the history of David's reign. The Twelve Tribes united and victorious over enemies. David improves the character of divine worship and regulates the service of the priesthood. The promise is given that his house and his throne are to be established forever, that is, in his descendant, Christ.

B. C. 1015 to 889.

I. KINGS,--the history of the kingdom under Solomon, David's son; and of the divided kingdoms (Judah, two tribes in the South, and Israel, ten tribes in the North) until the death of the fourth King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, and of the seventh King of Israel, Ahab. Irreligion and wickedness prevail.

B. C. 896 to 588.

II. KINGS,--the continuation of the history of the two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, to the captivity of Israel by Assyria, B. C. 721, and of Judah by Babylon, B. C. 588. The warnings of the prophets are fulfilled. During this period, principally, the prophets flourished, and to Christ "gave all the prophets witness."

B. C. 4004 to 1015.

I. CHRONICLES.--This book and the following were probably composed by Ezra, after the captivity. The first nine chapters contain genealogies from Adam to the time of Ezra, one important use of which was to give that succession of families through which it had been prophesied that the Christ was to come. The remaining chapters contain a review of the national history.

B. C. 1015 to 588.

II. CHRONICLES.--The first nine chapters give an account of the reign of Solomon. The remaining chapters review the history of the kingdom of Judah almost exclusively, to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, B. C. 588, and the proclamation of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the Temple, B. C. 536.

B. C. 536 to 456.

EZRA,--grandson of the High Priest, Seraiah, gives an account of the return of some of the captives from Babylon, the rebuilding of the Temple, and his own reformation of the Church.

B. C. 446 to 434.

NEHEMIAH,--a Jew, cup-bearer to the King of Persia, resigns his lucrative position to go to Jerusalem and continue the work of Ezra. Describes the building of the city walls and his own work of reformation.

B. C. 521 to 495.

ESTHER.--This book gives an incident in the life of those Jews who still remained in Persia, showing how God saved His People from threatened destruction.

III. "THE WRITINGS,"

Of which the Psalms form the chief portion. Besides the other poetical books, Job, Proverbs, Songs of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes, the Jews include under The Writings--Ruth, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and I. and II. Chronicles.

B. C. 1520.

JOB,--perhaps the oldest of all the books of the Bible; besides giving the history of Job and his affliction, it largely consists of a colloquy between him and his friends in regard to the cause and purpose of human sufferings. The climax of Job's argument is reached in XIX., 25, 26, 27, when, with the voice of inspiration, he declares his faith in a Redeemer who is both divine and human, and in the resurrection of the body.

B. C. 1491 to 397.

The PSALMS,--150 in number, about one-half written by David, some by Asaph, certain Levites, and others; the 90th by Moses. The Book of Psalms, divided into five parts by doxologies, was the great hymnal for use in the Temple worship; its composition extends over a thousand years from Moses to Malachi. The chief prophetical Psalms which speak of Christ, His worship and His Church, are the ii., xvi., xxi., xxii., xl., xlv., lxviii., lxix., lxxii., xcii., cx., cxviii., cxxxii.

B. C. 1015 to 700.

The PROVERBS,--a manual of practical rules for the conduct of life, as the Psalms are a manual of daily devotion; part written by Solomon, the rest by Isaiah, Hosea, and others.

B. C. 1014.

The SONG OF SOLOMON,--probably composed by him in the fresh days of his youth. His ardent and pure passion becomes, under the inspiration of God, a type of the love of Christ for His Church.

B. C. 977.

ECCLESIASTES,--or the Preacher, was written by Solomon at the close of his life, after his fall, and expresses his penitence. It is a narrative of the attempts of a main of the world to find happiness. "All is vanity." To "fear God and keep His commandments" is the only thing that avails.

(a) THE FOUR GREATER PROPHETS.

B. C. 760 to 698.

ISAIAH,--a prophet of the southern kingdom, Judah; prophesies about "Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah." Idolatry and wickedness increase. Judah is warned and its enemies' destruction foretold. The faithful are encouraged with renewed promises concerning the Saviour Christ. The birth, lineage, rejection, passion and glory of Christ and the spread of His Church are so minutely foretold, that Isaiah has been called the "Evangelical" or "Gospel" Prophet.

B. C. 629 to 588.

JEREMIAH,--a priest, prophesies in Judah, seventy years after the death of Isaiah. Irreligion and wickedness increase. His warnings are unheeded. He sees the holy city besieged and taken, and its inhabitants carried captive into Babylon (B. C. 588.) He encourages the faithful with promises of Christ's coming, of the blessings of His Gospel and of the spread of His Church among the Gentiles. Prophesied during about forty years.

B. C. 588.

The Lamentations of Jeremiah,--an appendix to the preceding book, in the shape of a pathetic ode expressive of Jeremiah's grief for the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.

B. C. 595 to 574.

EZEKIEL,--a priest, carried captive to the river Chebar, near Babylon, before the destruction of Jerusalem. The first part contains warnings and prophecies of that event. The second part contains promises to the faithful concerning Christ's coming and the glory and spread of His Church.

B. C. 607 to 534.

DANIEL,--a prophet, carried to Babylon before the captivity; raised to great power under three successive governments, Chaldean, Median and Persian. Predicts the course of the five great empires of the world,--Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, Roman, and Christian. Foretells accurately the coming and death of Christ, and the growth of His kingdom to the end of the world.

(b) THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS.

B. C. 862.

JONAH,--a prophet of the northern kingdom, Israel, is sent by God to preach repentance to the inhabitants of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

B. C. 800.

JOEL,--prophesies to Judah; warns of God's judgment on sin; exhorts to repentance, fasting and prayer; promises the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and the coming of Christ's kingdom in peace and prosperity.

B. C. 791 to 787.

AMOS,--prophesies to Israel; denounces the idolatry, oppression, luxury and vice of the people; promises the restoration of the kingdom under Christ.

B. C. 785 to 725.

HOSEA,--a prophet of Israel; denounces idolatry and irreligion; foretells the development of Christ's kingdom out of the seed of Judah and Israel. Prophesied sixty years.

B. C. 750 to 710.

MICAH,--prophesies to both Judah and Israel; depicts their ruin and dispersion; foretells the birthplace of Christ, and the glory and victory of His Church among all nations.

B. C. 713.

NAHUM,--prophesies to Judah; foretells the destruction of Assyria and the utter desolation of its capital, Nineveh; consoles Judah with the promise of "good tidings."

B. C. 630.

ZEPHANIAH,--warns Judah; threatens God's judgments against her oppressors; promises restoration and joy to Jerusalem in latter days.

B. C. 626.

HABAKKUK,--prophesies to Judah; foretells the destruction of the Chaldeans (Babylon) and the spread of Christ's Church, when "the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

B. C. 587.

OBADIAH,--prophesies to Judah; foretells the destruction of Edom, and promises holiness and final victory to the Chosen People.

B. C. 520.

HAGGAI,--inspired by God to rouse the people to rebuild the Temple; foretells that this Temple will have greater glory than the former, by reason of Christ's coming to it. Prophesied four months.

B. C. 520 to 487.

ZECHARIAH,--prophesies two months after Haggai, and continues during two years, encouraging the Jews to prosecute the erection of the Temple. Nine visions of the glory of the kingdom and the worship of Christ. Prophesies concerning Christ's coming, His lineage, betrayal, death and final victory.

B. C. 397.

MALACHI,--the last of the Jewish prophets until John the Baptist. The new Temple has been built and its services fully reestablished; the priests and the people again degenerate. Malachi foretells the glory and worship of Christ among the Gentiles, the coming of John the Baptist, and the sudden appearance of Christ in the Temple to purify priests and people.

(a) THE FOUR GOSPELS.

Four accounts of Christ's earthly life of 33 years, written from four different points of view:--

41. ST. MATTHEW,--writes in the first instance for Jews; dwells, therefore, upon the descent of Christ as man from Abraham, in proof of His being the promised "seed" foretold throughout the Jewish Scriptures.

67. ST. MARK,--writes in the first instance for converted heathen of the Roman Empire; dwells, therefore, on Christ's kingly and victorious character.

53. ST. LUKE,--writes in the first instance for converted Greeks; dwells upon the sacrificial character of Christ; remarkable for his picturesque style.

90. ST. JOHN,--the latest of the four Evangelists, dwells on Christ as God; gives discourse and details not given in the first three Gospels.

(b) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

63. Written by St. Luke as the continuation of his Gospel; gives a brief history of the foundation and spread of the Church for 30 years,--first among the Jews under St. Peter and other Apostles, then among the Gentiles under St. Paul and others.

(a) THE FOURTEEN EPISTLES OR LETTERS OF ST. PAUL.

Ten written to particular branches of the Holy Catholic Church, four to individuals.

58. ROMANS,--to the Church in the city of Rome.

57. CORINTHIANS (I. and II.),--to the Church in the city of Corinth.

57. GALATIANS,--to the Church in Galatia.

62. EPHESIANS,--to the Church in Ephesus.

63. PHILIPPIANS,--to the Church in Philippi, a city of Macedonia.

62. COLOSSIANS,--to the Church in Colosse, a chief city of Phrygia.

53. THESSALONIANS (I. and II.),--to the Church in Thessalonica, a city of Northern Greece.

66. TIMOTHY (I. and II.),--to the Bishop of Ephesus, chiefly in regard to his pastoral or episcopal duties.

66. TITUS,--to the Bishop of Crete (an island in the Mediterranean Sea), chiefly in regard to pastoral or episcopal duties.

62. PHILEMON,--to a member of the Church in Colosse.

64. HEBREWS,--to the Hebrew Christians, residing chiefly in Palestine.

(b) CATHOLIC, OR GENERAL EPISTLES, ETC.

59. ST. JAMES,--"the Less," cousin of our Lord, and Bishop of Jerusalem,--addressed to his own countrymen, "the Twelve Tribes scattered abroad."

64 and 66. ST. PETER (I. and II.),--addressed to the Church in general.

I. ST. JOHN,--addressed to the Church in general.

81 to 94. II. ST. JOHN,--addressed to "the Elect Lady," which some suppose to mean the Church.

III. ST. JOHN,--addressed to "the well-beloved Gaius."

ST. JUDE,--"the brother of James," cousin of our Lord,--addressed to the Church in general.

A. D 96.

REVELATION,--of St. John the Divine, the only prophetic book of the New Testament,--written by the Apostle St. John while on the Isle of Patmos, whither he had been banished (A. D. 96) by the Emperor Domitian. The book consists of two parts: first, the messages to the Seven Churches or Dioceses of Lesser Asia, with their Angels or Bishops; second, prophetic visions of future events in the history of the Catholic Church to the end of time.