04 How to study the Bible
CHAPTER 4A--HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE- The Synthetic Method, or Bible Study by Books
THERE are seven methods of Bible Study. Of these the first four are primary or elementary. The remaining three are secondary or subsidiary, and relate to the use of three standard compilations or helps to Bible Study-the Bible Dictionary, the Bible Concordance, and the Bible Commentary. The seven methods of Bible Study are 1. The Synthetic Method, or Bible Study by Books.
2. The Parallel Method, or Bible Study by Marginal References.
3. The Topical Method, or Bible Study by Topics.
4. The Typical Method, or Bible Study by Types.
5. The Cyclopaedic Method, or Bible Study by Bible Dictionary.
6. The Microscopic Method, or Bible Study by Concordance.
7. The Explanatory Method, or Bible Study by Commentary.
Before considering the various methods by which we may hope to attain to the mastery of the Bible, it will be well for us to try and form some conception of the Book as a whole. It is important to realise the unity of the Book, and to grasp its central idea. The Bible consists of sixty-six books, written by about thirty-six different authors, during a period of about sixteen centuries. Yet the most distinctive feature of the Book is not the diversity but the unity of its authorship. It is one Mind that is unfolded to us, one Purpose that is disclosed, one Will that is revealed. The Bible is an organism. Its parts are so related that to reject any one book in it is to destroy the symmetry of the whole, for what remains is no longer a body, but a mutilated trunk.. The Bible is a beautiful,. palace built up out of sixty-six blocks of solid marble-the sixty-six books. In the first chapter of Genesis we enter the vestibule, which is filled with the mighty acts of creation. The vestibule gives access to the law courts-the five books of Moses-passing through which we come to the picture gallery of the historical books. Here we find hung upon the walls scenes of battlefields, representations of heroic deeds, and portraits of eminent men belonging to the early days of the world’s history. Beyond the picture gallery we find the philosopher’s ,-chamber-the book of Job-passing through which we enter the music-room-the book of Psalms-where we listen to he grandest strains that ever fell on human ears. Then we come to the business office-the book of Proverbs -where, right in the centre of the room, stands facing us the motto, " Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." From the business office we pass into the chapel -Ecclesiastes, or the preacher in his pulpit, and thence into the conservatory-the Song of Solomon with the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley, and all manner of fine perfumes and fruit and flowers and singing birds. Finally we reach the observatory-the Prophets, with their telescopes fixed on near and distant stars, and all directed toward " the Bright and Morning Star," that was soon to arise.
Crossing the court we come to the audience chamber of the King-the Gospels-where we find four vivid life-like portraits of the King Himself. Next we enter the work-room of the Holy Spirit-the Acts of the Apostles-and beyond that the correspondence-room-the Epistles--where we see Paul and Peter and James and John and Jude busy at their desks, and if you would know what they are writing about, their epistles are open for all to study. Before leaving we stand for a moment in the outside gallery-the Revelation-where we look upon some striking pictures of the judgments to come, and the glories to be revealed, concluding with an awe-inspiring picture of the throne-room of the King.