02. THE WORDS
Introductory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 I. THE MEANING OF WORDS TO BE GATHERED FROM THE SCOPE; NOT THE SCOPE FROM THE WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 i. 2 Pet. i. 20, "Private interpretation" . . . . 186 ii. 1 Pet. iii. 20, "Spirits in prison" . . . . 188 iii. Heb. ix. 16, 17, "Testament" or "Covenant" . 195 iv. Gen. xxiv. 63, "Meditate" . . . . . . 197 v. Rev. i. 10, "The Lord's day". . . . . . 198
II. THE SCOPE OF A PASSAGE TO BE GATHERED FROM ITS STRUCTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 i. INTRODUCTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 ii. The PRINCIPLES governing the Structure of Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 iii. EXAMPLES of each principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 iv. The ADVANTAGES and importance of the Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 v. ILLUSTRATIONS of these advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 (1) 2 Pet. i. 16—21, "Private interpretation" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 (2) 1 Pet. iii. 18—22, "spirits in prison" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 (3) Heb. ix. 15—23, "Testament" and "Covenant" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 (4) 2 Cor. v. 1—5, "absent from the body" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 III. THE BIBLICAL USAGE OF WORDS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR CORRECT INTERPRETATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 i. Where ENGLISH WORDS have gone OUT OF USE altogether . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 All to brake, Away with, Come at, Do to-wit, For to-do, Full well, Go to, Trow, Wist, Very . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 ii. Where the usage of ENGLISH WORDS has become CHANGED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Prevent, To take in, Adventure, Artillery, Assay, By and By, Charity, Beeves, Bonnet, Carriages, Clouted, To ear, Earnest, Fast, Libertine, Lusty, Naughty, Nephew, Occupy, Penny, Presently, Publican, Quick, etc., Simple, Simplicity, Scottish, Vagabond, Silly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 233 xxii
| | *Page* |
| --- | --- |
| iii. Where the USAGE OF GREEK WORDS had become changed . . . . . | 234 |
| (1) By God : | |
| ἀρετή (*aretē*), praise . . . . . | 234 |
| ἦθος (*ethos*), manners . . . . . | 234 |
| ἄγγελος (*angelos*), angel . . . . . | 234 |
| χορηγέω (*chorēgeō*), supply . . . . . | 234 |
| ἐκκλησία (*ecclēsia*), church . . . . . | 234 |
| παράκλητος (*paraklētos*), comforter, advocate . . . . . | 234 |
| σκάνδαλον (*scandalon*), offence . . . . . | 234 |
| (2) By man . . . . . | 235 |
| ζωοποιέω (*zōopoicō*), quicken . . . . . | 236 |
| πάρκυκος (*paroikos*), neighbour . . . . . | 236 |
| πράκτωρ (*praktōr*), officer . . . . . | 236 |
| πήρα (*pēra*), scrip . . . . . | 236 |
| πρεσβύτερος (*presbuteros*), elder . . . . . | 238 |
| ἀναγνώσκω (*anaginōskō*), persuade . . . . . | 238 |
| ἀποστοματίζω (*apostomatizō*), question . . . . . | 238 |
| γράφω (*graphō*), wrote . . . . . | 238 |
| ἀπέχω (*apechō*), reward . . . . . | 238 |
| βεβαίωσις (*bebaiosis*), confirmation . . . . . | 239 |
| το δοκίμιον (*to dokimion*), trial . . . . . | 239 |
| δίκαιος (*dikaios*), righteous . . . . . | 239 |
| ἱλαστήριον (*hilastērion*), propitiation . . . . . | 239 |
| εὐεργήτης (*euergētēs*), well-doer . . . . . | 240 |
| πλήθος (*plēthos*), multitude . . . . . | 240 |
| μικρός (*mikros*), little . . . . . | 240 |
| παράδεισος (*paradeisos*), paradise . . . . . | 240 |
| κυριακός (*kuriakos*), Lord's . . . . . | 240 |
| χειρόγραφον (*cheirographon*), handwriting . . . . . | 241 |
| ἄδολος (*adolos*), sincere . . . . . | 241 |
| σφραγίζω (*sphragizō*), seal . . . . . | 241 |
| χάραγμα (*charagma*), mark . . . . . | 241 |
| ἀναπέμπω (*anapempō*), send . . . . . | 241 |
| βιάζομαι (*biazomai*), suffer violence, press . . . . . | 241 |
| κατάκριμα (*katakrima*), condemnation . . . . . | 242 |
| ὑπόστασις (*hupostasis*), substance . . . . . | 243 |
| iv. Where DIFFERENT but CONCURRENT USAGES OF GREEK WORDS should be observed in the English . . . . . | 243 |
| 1. Parousia . . . . . | 244 |
| 2. Pneuma . . . . . | 246 |
| 3. Church . . . . . | 248 |
| 4. Elements and Rudiments . . . . . | 249 |
| 5. Saints . . . . . | 250 | xxiii v. Where a UNIFORM USAGE OF GREEK WORDS should not be departed from in the English . . . 252
1. Withhold 253 2. Temptation 254 3.Poor 255 4. Paradise 256
5.Sheol and Hades 256
6. Mystery 257 7. "At hand" 259 8. "Depart" 260 9. Leaven 261
IV. THE CONTEXT ALWAYS ESSENTIAL TO THE INTERPRETATION OF WORDS . . . . 264 i. The IMPORTANCE of the CONTEXT shown . . 264 ii. Illustrations of ERROR arising from a DISREGARD of the Context . . . . . . 265
1. Isa. lii. 8, "They shall see eye to eye". 265
2. Hab. ii. 2, "That he may run that readeth" 265
3. Ps. ii. 8, "Ask of Me". 266
4. Matt. xxii. 32, "The God of the living". 267
5. Matt. xxiii. 3, "That observe and do". 269
6. John vi. 37, "Him that cometh". 270
7. Acts xvi. 31, "Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved" 271
8. Rom. viii. 28, "All things work together for good" 272
9. 1 Cor. iii. 17, "Him shall God destroy". 272
10. 2 Cor. v. 8, "Absent from the body". 273
11. Phil. i. 21, "To die is gain". 274
12. Phil. ii. 12, "Work out your own salvation" 275
13. Text-Mangling 276
14. Text-Garbling 278 iii. Illustrations of TRUTH AND TEACHING resulting from a DUE REGARD to the Context . . . 279
(a) The NEARER CONTEXT . . . . 280
1. Gen. xxxv. 2 and xxxiv. 26-29, "Put away the strange gods". 280
2. 2 Kings iv. 13 and iii. 16, 17, "Wouldst thou be spoken for to the King". 281
3. Dan. v. 30; vi. 1; and Esther i. 1--3, "The 120 and 127 Provinces". 281
4. Eph. iii. 15 and i. 21, "The whole family" 282 xxiv
(b) The REMOTER CONTEXT . . . . . 285
1. Gen. xix. and xiv., The cities and the city . . . . . . . . . 285
2. Gen. xxiv. 24; and xviii. 11, 12, Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel . . . . 286
3. Gen. xxxvii. 25, 28, 30; and Judg. vi.—viii., The Ishmaelites and Midianites . 287
4. Exod. vi. 16—20; and Num. xxvi. 59, Moses's parents . . . . . . 288
5. Num. xvi. 1; and Num. iii. 29; ii. 10, The sons of Kohath . . . . . . 289
6. Num. xvi. 27; and Num. xxvi. 11, The sons of Korah . . . . . . 289
7. Josh. iii. 15; iv. 19; and Exod. xi. 31; Josh. ii. 6, Jordan overflowing in time of harvest . . . . . . 289
8. 1 Sam. xiii. 19; and Judg. iii. 16, 31; v. 8; xiv. 5, 6, No smith found in Israel . . . . . . . . 290
9. 1 Sam. xvii. 4; and Josh. xi. 21, 22, Goliath of Gath . . . . . . 290
10. 1 Kings xvii. 9, 12 and Josh. xix. 28. Deut. xxxiii. 24, A little oil in a cruse 291
11. 2 Chron. xvii.—xxiv.; and Josh. xxi. 13, "Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel" . . . . . . 291
12. 2 Chron. xxii. 11, 12; and xxiv. 7, Joash, Jehosheba, and nurse . . . . . 292
13. 2 Chron. xxi. 10; and Josh. xxi. 13, The revolt of Libnah . . . . . . 293
14. 2 Kings xviii. 13—16; and Isa. xxxix. 2. 2 Chron. xxxii. 22, 23, The depletion of Hezekiah's treasury . . . . 293
15. Isa. lxii. 2—5; and 2 Kings xxi. 1, The land shall be called Hephzibah . . 294
16. Jer. xiii. 18; and 2 Kings xxiv. 12, 15, "Say unto the Queen" . . . 295
17. Mark xiv. 51, 52; and John xii. 10, The young man who fled from Gethsemane 295
18. John xxi. 15; and Matt. xxvi. 31, 33, "Lovest thou Me more than these" . 296
19. Acts ii. 16; and Joel ii. 28—32, "This is that" . . . . . . . . . 297
20. 1 Cor. xi. 10; and Gen. vi. 1, 3, Power on her head . . . . . . . 302 xxv
21. Gal. iii. 15-17; and Gen xv. Acts vii. 6, The 400 and 430 years 302
22. Gal. iii. 20; and Gen. xv. 12, "God is one" 302
23. Heb. xii. 17; and Gen. xxvii. 34 38, "No place of repentance" 303
V. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF WORDS, EXPRESSIONS, AND UTTERANCES OFTEN ESSENTIAL TO THEIR INTERPRETATION . . . . 304 i. WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 1. "Prophet" (Gen. xx. 7). 304
2. "Hallelujah" (Ps. civ. 35) 306
3. "Selah" (Ps. iii. 2, 3) 307
4. "Jerusalem" (Judges i. 7, 8). 310
5. The Spiritual significance of Numbers 310
6. The Divine Names and Titles 312 ii. EXPRESSIONS:
1. "The Son of Man" (Ps. viii.) 312
2. "The Man of God" (Deut. xxxiii. 1) 314
3. "The Day of the Lord" (Isa. ii. 11, 17) 314 iii. UTTERANCES:
1. The first utterance of the Old Serpent (Gen. iii. 1) 315
2. The first ministerial utterance of the Lord (Matt. iv. 4). 316
3. The first utterance of the Lord as Son of Man (Luke ii. 49). 317
4. The first Questions in the Old and New Testaments (Gen. iii. 9. Matt. ii. 2). 318
5. The first interpretation of prophecy in the New Testament (Isa. vii. 14. Matt. i. 22, 23) 319
VI. THE PLACE WHERE A PASSAGE OCCURS IS OFTEN ESSENTIAL TO ITS FULL INTERPRETATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320 1. "All Scripture given by inspiration" (2 Tim. iii. 16) 320
2. "Come unto Me" (Matt. xi. 28) 323
3 "Anathema, Maranatha" (1 Cor. xvi. 22) 324
VII. NO ONE PASSAGE TO BE INTERPRETED IN A SENSE REPUGNANT TO OTHERS THAT ARE CLEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 1. The rich man and Lazarus (Luke xvi. 19--31) 327
2. "Destroy not thy weak brother with thy meat" (Rom. xiv. 15; and 1 Cor. viii. 11) 328 xxvi
VIII. THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURACY IN THE STUDY OF THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE . 335 i. In THE REMOVAL OF ERRORS . . . . 337
1. Ammonite or Moabite (Deut. xxiii. 3; and Matt. i. 5) 337
2. Zedekiah and Babylon (Jer. xxxii. 4; xxxiv. 3. Ezek. xii. 13; and 2 Kings xxv. 6, 7). 337
3. Omer and Homer (Exod. xvi. 36; and Ezek. xlv. 11). 338
4. The going of Balaam (Num. xxii. 22) 338
5. God's Command concerning Sacrifices (Jer. vii. 22, 23; and Lev. i. 3). 338
6. Hearing and not hearing the Voice (Acts ix. 7; and xxii. 9) 339
7. Standing, and Falling to the earth (Acts ix. 7; and xxvi. 14) 339
8. Spoken and written (Matt. ii. 23) 340
9. "Jeremiah the prophet" (Matt. xxvii. 9) 341
10. The sending of the Centurion (Luke vii. 3, 6. Matt. viii. 5). 341
11. The inscriptions on the Cross 342
12. The offering of drink on the Cross 344
13. The "others" crucified with Christ 345
14. The burying of Jacob and his sons (Acts vii. 15-17). 348 ii. In the REVELATION OF TRUTH . . . . 349
1. Words and Expressions:
"From above" (Luke i. 3) . . . . 349
"Another King" (Acts vii. 17) . . . 349
"The world that then was" (Gen. i. 1, 2) . 351
The mention of the "blood" in 1 John i. 7; and ii. 1 . . . . . . . 353
"Accepted!" and "Acceptable" (Eph. i. 6; and 2 Cor. v. 9) . . . . . . 354
"Man" and "Men" . . . . . . 354
Remembering and Forgetting . . . 355
2. The OPPOSITE of what is said . . . 355
"Out of the Scriptures" (Acts xvii. 2) . 355
"Waiting for God's Son" (1 Thess. i. 9) . 356
"Except there come the Apostasy" (2 Thess. ii. 3) . . . . . . . . 356 xxvii
3. MARKS OF TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 356 "The second day" (Josh. x. 31, 32) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356 "Then came Amalek" (Exod. xvii. 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357 "Then will I sprinkle" (Ezek. xxxvi. 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358 "Then shall the offering" (Mal. iii. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358 "Then they that feared the LORD" (Mal. iii. 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359 "Then we which are alive" (1 Thess. iv. 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. xxv. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359 "Immediately" (Matt. xxiv. 29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 "Afterward" (Joel ii. 28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362 "At that time" (Matt. xi. 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 4. MARKS OF REASONING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 "Therefore, I beseech you" (Eph. iv. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 "Therefore I charge you" (2 Tim. iv. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 5. NUMERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364 50,070 (1 Sam. vi. 19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365 42,000 (Judg. xii. 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365 The Census of Num. i. and xxxvi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366 6. NAMES OF PERSONS AND PLACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366 (a) Of PERSONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367 1. The same Name borne by different Persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367 2. The same Person bearing different Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 3. Changes in Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371 4. The Divine Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371 (b) Of PLACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371 1. The same Name given to different Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371 2. The same Place called by different Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373 7. CHRONOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373 (a) The 120 years of Gen. vi. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374 (b) The 400 years of Gen. xv. 3 and Acts vii. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 (c) The 430 years of Exod. xii. 40 and Gal. iii. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 (d) The 450 years of Acts xiii. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 (e) The 490 years of Dan. ix. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 (f) The 480th year of 1 Kings vi. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377 xxviii
8. SYNONYMOUS GREEK words . . . 377
9. SYNONYMOUS HEBREW words . . . 379
10. The GENITIVE CASE . . . . . 381
(a) The Genitive of Character . . . 382
(b) The Genitive of Origin . . . . 383
(c) The Genitive of Possession . . . 385
(d) The Genitive of Apposition . . . 385
(e) The Genitive of Relation . . . 386
(f) The Genitive of the Material . . . 387
(g) The Genitive of the Contents . . . 387
(h) The Genitive of Partition . . . 388
(i) Two Genitives: one dependent on the other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388 IX. FIGURES OF SPEECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390 X. INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393 1. The account of Creation (Gen. i.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394 2. The Rejection of Messiah (Isa. liii.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396 3. The mourning of Israel (Rev. i. 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397 4. The Potter's house (Jer. xviii.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397 5. The Ten Virgins (Matt. xxv.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 XI. THE LIMITS OF INSPIRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403 XII. THE PLACE OF VARIOUS READINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406 1. The Hebrew MSS. of the Old Testament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407 2. The Greek MSS. of the New Testament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408 3. The Ancient Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410 4. The Printed Greek Text of the N.T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412 CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 xxix
HOW TO ENJOY THE BIBLE:
OR,
THE "WORD," AND THE "WORDS":
*HOW TO STUDY THEM.*
INTRODUCTORY.
A REVELATION in writing must necessarily be given in "words." The separate words, therefore, in which it is given must have the same importance and authority as the revelation as a whole. If we accept the Bible as a revelation from God, and receive it as inspired by God, we cannot separate the words of which that inspired revelation is made up, or admit the assertion "that the Bible *contains* the Word of God, but *is not* the Word of God." The position conveyed by such an expression is both illogical and impossible. As we design this work for those who accept the Scriptures as the Word of God, we do not propose to offer any arguments in proof of its inspiration.
The Bible is its own best proof of its inspiration. It claims to be "the Word of God;" and if it be not what it claims to be, then it is not only not a "good book," but is unworthy of our further attention.
We cannot understand the position of those who assert and believe that many of its parts are myths and forgeries, while at the same time they continue to write commentaries upon it, and accept their emoluments and dignities for preaching or lecturing about it. If we were told and believed that a bank-note in our possession is a forgery, we certainly should take no further interest in it, beyond mourning the loss which we had sustained. Our action would thus be consistent with our belief. HOW TO ENJOY THE BIBLE
We write, therefore, for those who, receiving the claims of the Scriptures as being the Word of God, desire to study it so as to understand it and enjoy it.
When this claim is admitted, and a course of study is undertaken in this spirit, we shall be at once overwhelmed with proofs as to its truth; and on almost every page find abundant confirmation of our faith.
The Bible simply claims to be the Word of God. It does not attempt to establish its claim, or seek to prove it. It merely assumes it and asserts it. It is for us to believe it or to leave it.
Hence we do not now attempt to prove or establish that claim; but, believing it, our aim is to seek to understand what God has thus written for our learning.
Nor do we attempt to explain the phenomena connected with Inspiration. We have no theories to offer, or suggestions to make, respecting it.
We have the Divine explanation in Acts iii. 18, where we read:
"Those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets . . . he hath so fulfilled."
The particular "things" referred to here are "that Christ should suffer;" but the assertion is comprehensive and includes all other things "showed" by God.
Note, that it was God who, before, had showed them. It was the same God who had fulfilled them. The "mouth" was the mouth of "all His prophets," but they were not the prophets' words. They were the words of God. Hence, concerning other words, it is written:
"This Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spake before concerning Judas" (Acts i. 16).
It was David's "mouth," and David's pen, David's vocal organs, and David's hand; but they were not David's words. They were the words "which the Holy Ghost spake before concerning Judas." David knew nothing about Judas, David could not possibly have spoken anything about Judas. David's "mouth" spake