diff options
Diffstat (limited to '41602-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 41602-8.txt | 5073 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5073 deletions
diff --git a/41602-8.txt b/41602-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a487fc4..0000000 --- a/41602-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5073 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Outline Studies in the New Testament for -Bible Teachers, by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Outline Studies in the New Testament for Bible Teachers - -Author: Jesse Lyman Hurlbut - -Release Date: December 11, 2012 [EBook #41602] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLINE STUDIES--NEW TESTAMENT *** - - - - -Produced by Emmy, Mark C. Orton and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= while -italic text is surrounded by _underscores_. - - - -OUTLINE STUDIES - -IN - -THE NEW TESTAMENT - -FOR - -BIBLE TEACHERS - -By - -JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D. - -[Illustration] - - - NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS - CINCINNATI: JENNINGS & GRAHAM - - - - - Copyright, 1906, by - EATON & MAINS. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - PREFATORY 5 - HINTS TO STUDENTS 7 - HINTS TO TEACHERS 9 - THE COURSE DIVIDED INTO LESSONS 11 - I. THE LAND OF PALESTINE 13 - II. THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE 19 - III. THE LIFE OF CHRIST 25 - IV. THE THIRTY YEARS OF PREPARATION 30 - V. THE YEAR OF OBSCURITY 35 - VI. THE YEAR OF POPULARITY 40 - VII. THE YEAR OF OPPOSITION 48 - VIII. THE WEEK OF THE PASSION 54 - IX. THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION 58 - X. THE FORTY DAYS OF RESURRECTION 64 - XI. THE NEW TESTAMENT WORLD 68 - XII. THE SYNAGOGUE 73 - XIII. THE CHURCH IN JUDEA 76 - XIV. THE CHURCH IN TRANSITION 83 - XV. THE CHURCH TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE ASCENSION 89 - XVI. THE PREPARATION OF PAUL FOR HIS WORK 93 - XVII. THE CHURCH AMONG THE GENTILES 99 - XVIII. THE END OF THE AGE 106 - - - - -PREFATORY - - -There is no book in the world which repays earnest study so abundantly -as the Holy Bible. Even the cursory reader who possesses a candid mind -can gather many precious thoughts from its pages; and he who turns to it -for guidance in life, however ignorant he may be, will never be led -astray. But as the precious metal lies hidden in the mountains, and must -be sought out by the miners, so the treasures in the Word of Life are -found only by those who search diligently for them. He who not only -reads but _studies_ the Scriptures finds an abundant reward. There is -need in our age of searchers in the Bible, who shall bring out of its -treasure-house things new and old. - -In the old Bible the most important themes are those which gather around -the God-man, Jesus Christ. His coming to earth was the culmination of -all prophecy, the focus of all history, and the center of all doctrine; -and the church which he founded has been for nineteen centuries the -inspiration of the world's progress. There are two subjects in the New -Testament with which every follower of Christ should be thoroughly -acquainted, and they are its two most prominent themes: the life of -Christ on earth, and the growth of the early church. In the life of -Christ he should know the order of the leading events; he should grasp -its principles, and should enter into its spirit. Only as we apprehend -Christ can we comprehend the truths taught and inspired by Christ. - -But our work as New Testament students must not end with the story of -Christ's ascension from earth. Jesus left behind him a little church, of -only one hundred and twenty members, which in seventy years overswept -all the lands of the greatest empire then on the earth, and which now -covers nearly all the world. Of that church we are members, inheritors -of its traditions, its doctrines, and--best of all--its spirit. It -should be our delight to trace the steps of its early progress, to see -how its plans grew with the advancing years, and how an obscure company -of Jewish disciples became a church of world-wide reach. - -To enable a student to obtain this knowledge this book has been -prepared. The earlier studies on the life of Christ have been published -as Studies in the Four Gospels, but have been carefully revised and, in -the author's judgment, improved. The studies on the early church are the -outgrowth of work begun many years ago, frequently revised, taught to -classes many times, and carefully restudied in the light of the most -recent researches in the domain of early church history. - -These chapters are, as their titles indicate, _studies_; designed, not -for reading, but for study. This book does not undertake to be a life of -Christ, and a history of the early church, to be read. It simply extends -a helping hand, and holds out to the student a clue by means of which he -can form his own life of Christ and prepare for himself a history of the -early church. Wherever a fact can be learned by searching out a -Scripture reference the fact is not stated, but the reference is given. -Every text referred to should be searched out, as these texts contain -the essential facts of this book. Whoever would use these studies -rightly must pursue them with the Bible close at hand, and must consult -his Bible more frequently than this text-book. - -There are a million and a half Sunday school teachers who should be -acquainted with the story of Christ and his church: and there are -several millions of young people in our Sunday schools who may be -teachers before many years and need the same knowledge. This book has -been prepared in the hope that these teachers and young people may find -it a help to know Him who is the head of the church; and to understand -the church, which is the pillar and ground of truth. - - JESSE L. HURLBUT. - -January 3, 1906. - - - - -HINTS TO STUDENTS - - -Those who desire merely to _read_ this book, or to look it over, will -not find it interesting. Those who already know how to study will not -need these hints, and can use the book in their own way. But there are -many who desire to study these subjects carefully and yet do not know -precisely how to do the work. For these students, earnest but untrained, -these hints are given. - -1. These studies should be pursued with the Bible close at hand, so that -every Scripture reference may be at once searched out and read. - -2. Begin each lesson by a general view; reading it through carefully, -and memorizing the leading divisions of the outline, which are indicated -by the Roman numerals I, II, III, etc. This will give the general plan -of the lesson. - -3. Now take up Part I of the lesson in detail; notice and memorize its -subdivisions, indicated by 1, 2, 3, etc., and search out all the -Scripture references cited in it. If practicable, write out on a sheet -of paper the reference (not the language of the text in full), and what -each reference shows. Thus with references in the Second Study, page 19, -Section I, =Origin=, 1. =Semitic.= (Gen. 12. 1-3) God's call and promise -to Abram. (Gen. 17. 1-8) The call repeated; name changed to Abraham. -(James 2. 23) The Friend of God. (Gen. 18. 19: "He will command his -children," etc.) - -In this manner write out all the facts ascertained from all the -references in the section. - -4. It would be a good plan to write out in full, as a connected -statement, all the facts in the section. - -5. In like manner study out and write out all the facts obtained by a -study of the lesson and the text cited in it. This will greatly aid the -memory in holding fast to the information gained. - -6. Having done this, look at the blackboard outline at the end of the -study and see if you can read the outline of the lesson by the aid of -the catch-words and indications which it affords. Study the lesson until -you can read it with the blackboard outline, and then recall it without -the outline. - -7. Now take up the questions for review. Read them over, one by one, and -see if you can answer them. To many of them the answer is not given in -the text-book, but it will be found in the Scripture references when -searched out. Do not cease your study until every question can be -answered from memory. - -8. Frequently review the lessons already learned. Before beginning the -third study review the first and second; before the fourth, review the -first, second and third; and at the completion of the course review them -all. The knowledge gained by this thorough study will more than -compensate for the time and trouble which it requires. - - - - -HINTS TO TEACHERS - - -Classes may be organized on various plans and out of varied materials -for the study of these lessons. - -1. A teachers' class, composed of teachers and also of senior scholars -in the Sunday school, may be formed to study the life of Christ, which -is one of the most important subjects in the Bible. This may meet on an -evening, or an afternoon, and devote all the session to the study of the -lesson and to discussions upon it. - -2. In many places a teachers' meeting is held for the study of the -International Lesson as a preparation for the Sunday school class. A -part of the time might be taken at this meeting for the study of these -subjects. In that case it would be well to follow the division into -lessons, as given on pages 11, 12. - -3. A normal class may be organized among the brightest scholars in the -Sunday school, who should be trained to become teachers. This normal -class may meet on an afternoon, or an evening, or may take the lesson -period in the Sunday school session. - -4. These studies may be pursued by the young people's society of the -church, or by a class formed under its auspices, meeting at such time -and place as shall be found most convenient. - -There are two methods in which these lessons may be taught: One is the -_lecture method_, by which the instructor gives the lesson to the class -in the form of a lecture, placing the outline upon the blackboard as he -proceeds, calling upon the students to read the texts cited, and -frequently reviewing the outline in a concert drill. By this method the -students may or may not have the books, as they and the instructor -prefer. While it is not necessary to supply the class with the -text-book, it will be a good plan to do so. Some lecturers prefer to -have the books closed while the lecture is being given; but others -desire to have the students use the outline in the book as a syllabus, -enabling them to follow the subject more closely. - -The other method, simpler and easier, is to let the student have a copy -of the book, to expect the lesson to be prepared by the class, and to -have it recited, either individually or in concert. Let each student -gain all the information that he can upon the subjects of the lesson; -let each bring his knowledge to the possession of all; let all talk -freely, and all will be the gainers. - -It would be a good plan to have papers read from time to time upon the -subjects suggested by the course and parallel with it. - -Some teachers and classes may regard the contents of this book as too -extensive and may prefer a shorter course. The aim of the author has -been to include in the course only those subjects that are essential to -an understanding of the New Testament, and the entire series of lessons -is recommended; but if a shorter course be deemed absolutely necessary, -two plans are suggested: - -1. There are three subjects which under necessity might be omitted: -Second Study, The People of Palestine; Third Study, General View of the -Life of Christ; Twelfth Study, The Synagogue. This will leave fifteen -studies, or twenty-two lessons. - -2. Another plan might be undertaken: to take up as a course the studies -on the life of Christ, or even omitting, as above, the second and third -studies, making eight; and to leave the eight studies in the early -church--a most interesting and valuable subject--to a later period. - - - - -THE COURSE DIVIDED INTO LESSONS - - -For the convenience of teachers and classes, the eighteen studies of -this course are divided into twenty-five lessons, as follows: - - Lesson 1. The Land of Palestine. First Study. - " 2. The People of Palestine. Second Study. - " 3. The Life of Christ--General View. Third Study. - " 4. The Thirty Years of Preparation. Fourth Study. - " 5. The Year of Obscurity. Fifth Study. - " 6. The Year of Popularity. Sixth Study. Part One. - " 7. The Year of Popularity. Sixth Study. Part Two. - " 8. The Year of Opposition. Seventh Study. Part One. - " 9. The Year of Opposition. Seventh Study. Part Two. - " 10. The Week of the Passion. Eighth Study. - " 11. The Day of the Crucifixion. Ninth Study. - " 12. The Forty Days of Resurrection. Tenth Study. - " 13. The New Testament World. Eleventh Study. - " 14. The Synagogue. Twelfth Study. - " 15. The Church in Judea. Thirteenth Study. Part One. - " 16. The Church in Judea. Thirteenth Study. Part Two. - " 17. The Church in Transition. Fourteenth Study. - " 18. The Church Twenty Years after the Ascension. Fifteenth - Study. - " 19. The Preparation of Paul for his Work. Sixteenth Study. - Part One. - " 20. The Preparation of Paul for his Work. Sixteenth Study. - Part Two. - " 21. The Church among the Gentiles. Seventeenth Study. Part - One. - " 22. The Church among the Gentiles. Seventeenth Study. Part - Two. - " 23. The Church among the Gentiles. Seventeenth Study. Part - Three. - " 24. The End of the Age. Eighteenth Study. Part One. - " 25. The End of the Age. Eighteenth Study. Part Two. - - - - -FIRST STUDY - -The Land of Palestine - - -In the historical study of the New Testament the two principal subjects -are, the life of Jesus Christ on earth and, after the Ascension, the -growth of the Christian church. - -The life of Christ was passed entirely in Palestine; and we therefore -begin our studies with a view of that land as it was in our Saviour's -day. - -I. =It was an oriental land.= In all ages the boundaries of Palestine -have been about the same, though the dominion of its rulers has varied -according to their power. Palestine Proper, originally the land of -Canaan, and later the land of Israel, or the Twelve Tribes, is located -near the south-eastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea; having Syria and -Phoenicia on the north, the great Syrian Desert on the east, the -Sinaitic wilderness on the south, and the Mediterranean on the west. -Located just outside the tropics, near the point of contact between Asia -and Africa, it belongs to the Oriental or Eastern world. - -II. =It was a small land.= The greatest lands have not always been the -largest. Greece, no larger than half a dozen counties in America, is -greater in history than vast China; and the single city of Rome won and -held the empire of the Mediterranean lands. Territorially the whole -extent of Palestine was about that of Massachusetts and Connecticut -united, or that of Switzerland, in Europe--about 12,500 square miles. -Its sea-coast, from Tyre to Gaza, is 140 miles long; its Jordan line, -from Mount Hermon to the foot of the Dead Sea, is 156 miles. - -III. =It was a land of varied natural features.= There is a regularity -in the natural conformation of Palestine which every traveler notices. -The country lies in five parallel sections. - -1. Approaching from the Mediterranean one meets first a =sea-coast -plain= two or three miles wide at the north, but widening, as it goes -southward, to nearly twenty miles at Gaza. - -2. Crossing this we approach the =Shephelah=, _or foot-hills_; a terrace -of low hills, from 300 to 500 feet high. - -3. Ascending these we reach =the mountain region=, a range of mountains -broken by ravines in all directions, and varying from 2,500 to 3,000 -feet high. This region was the home of the Israelites in all their -history. They were always a mountain people and never occupied the lower -plains in any great degree. In all the Bible times the plains and -valleys were mainly foreign and heathen in their population, while the -mountains were Israelite in the Old Testament and Jewish in the New. - -4. Crossing the mountains we descend to the =Jordan valley=, lower than -the sea level and from five to twenty miles wide. Through this runs the -river Jordan, passing through two lakes--Lake Merom and the Sea of -Galilee--and emptying into the Dead Sea. - -5. Beyond the valley rises the =eastern table-land=, with higher -mountains, but more level summits, and broken by fewer valleys. The -mountains gradually decline to the great Syrian Desert on the east. - -IV. =It was a Land of Five Provinces.= In the time of Christ there were -five political divisions in Palestine; three on the west side of Jordan -and two on the east. - -[Illustration: PALESTINE In the time of CHRIST] - -1. On the north, west of the Jordan, was the province of =Galilee=, -situated between the river Jordan, the Sea of Galilee, the land of -Phoenicia and Mount Carmel. It was inhabited by a brave, simple-hearted -people, mainly Jews, but with many Gentiles among them. Hence its name -(Isa. 9. 1, 2; Matt. 4. 15, 16); and the contempt in which it was held -at Jerusalem. (John 7. 41, 52.) It was the home of Jesus during most of -his life and ministry. - -2. The central region was =Samaria=. See its location. (John 4. 3, 4.) -It was, strictly speaking, not a province but a district around the -cities of Shechem and Samaria, not extending either to the sea or river, -and of uncertain limits, inhabited by a composite people, partly -Israelite, partly heathen, in their origin. Note the claim of its people -(John 4. 12) and their expectation. (John 4. 25.) Observe how they were -regarded by the Jews. (John 4. 9; 8. 48.) Notice that Christ paid no -regard to this caste prejudice. (John 4. 10.) - -3. The southernmost province of Palestine was =Judea=. As the largest, -and the special home of the Jewish people, it often gave its name to the -whole land, as in Mark 1. 5; Luke 7. 17; Acts 10. 37. Generally, -however, it is distinguished as the name of the province, as in Luke 2. -4; Matt. 2. 22; John 4. 3. Jesus made several visits to this district, -especially to its city, but only for limited periods, as its people were -more bigoted than the Galileans and bitterly opposed to him. - -4. On the east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea was the province of -=Peræa=, a word meaning "beyond." It is not mentioned by that name in -the New Testament. Notice what it is called in Matt. 19. 1; Mark 10. 1. -We read of a visit paid by Jesus to this region near the close of his -ministry. - -5. North of the river Hieromax, and east of the Sea of Galilee, was a -fifth province, the ancient land of =Bashan=, "woodland," but known in -the gospels as "Philip's tetrarchy." Notice how it is specified in Luke -3. 1. Another name for a part of this territory is given in Matt. 4. 25; -Mark 5. 20; 7. 31. Its inhabitants were mostly Gentiles or heathen. -Twice this country enjoyed brief visits from Jesus, each marked by a -miracle (Mark 5. 1-20; 7. 31-37). - -V. =It was a Populous Land.= We can only note the places referred to in -the gospel history, and we arrange them according to the provinces. - -1. In Galilee we note: 1.) =Nazareth=, due west of the southern end of -the Sea of Galilee, the early home of Jesus (Matt. 2. 23; Luke 2. 51). -2.) =Nain=, south of Nazareth, where he wrought a miracle (Luke 7. 11). -3.) =Cana=, north of Nazareth, where the first miracle was wrought (John -2. 1). 4.) =Capernaum=, on the Sea of Galilee, the home of Jesus during -most of his ministry, and the scene of many miracles (Luke 4. 31; Mark -2. 1). - -2. In Samaria we note two places: 1.) =Shechem=, which may be the place -referred to in John 4. 5, though late authorities regard it as the name -of a hamlet, now called Iskar, near by. 2.) =Samaria=, a few miles -north-west of Shechem, the early capital of the province, and the first -place where the Gospel was preached to other than the Jews (Acts 8. 5). - -3. In the province of Judea we notice: 1.) =Jerusalem=, "the holy city" -(Matt. 4. 5), and the place where Jesus was crucified (Matt. 16. 21). -2.) =Bethany=, two miles east of Jerusalem (John 11. 18), where Jesus -was entertained by Mary and Martha (John 11. 1). Note two great events -near this place (John 11. 43; Luke 24. 50, 51). 3.) =Bethlehem=, six -miles south of Jerusalem. The great event in its history (Matt. 2. 1.) -Its ancient honor (Luke 2. 4.) 4.) =Hebron=, the ancient capital of -Judah, a priestly city, and the probable birthplace of John the Baptist -(Luke 1. 39, 40.) 5.) =Jericho=, eighteen miles from Jerusalem, in the -Jordan valley, visited by Jesus near the end of his ministry (Luke 19. -1). 6.) =Ephraim=, a village fourteen miles north of Jerusalem, the -hiding place of Jesus for a brief period (John 11. 54). - -4. In the province of Peræa but one place is identified as connected -with the life of Christ: =Bethabara= (Revised version, "Bethany beyond -the Jordan") the place of the baptism and of the first disciples; -thirteen miles south of the Sea of Galilee. - -5. In Philip's tetrarchy, east of the Sea of Galilee, we note three -places: 1.) =Cæsarea Philippi=, at the foot of the Mount Hermon (Mark 8. -27; 9. 2). 2.) =Bethsaida=, at the head of the Sea of Galilee, east of -the Jordan (Luke 9. 10-13). 3.) =Gergesa= or =Gerasa=, a little place on -the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 8. 28). - -VI. =It was a Subject Land.= Half a century before the birth of Christ -the Jews became subject to Rome, and thenceforward various changes took -place in the form of government: - -1. The whole land, with some surrounding provinces, was a =kingdom= -under Herod the Great (Matt. 2. 1), but tributary to the emperor at Rome -from 37 B. C. to 4 B. C., the year of Christ's birth. - -2. On Herod's death it was divided into three =tetrarchies=, -"fourth-part rules." Archelaus became tetrarch of Judea and Samaria -(Matt. 2. 22); Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa (Matt. 14. -1; Luke 23. 6, 7); Herod Philip, tetrarch of the Bashan district (Luke -3. 1). A fourth tetrarchy, outside of Palestine, on the north, was held -by Lysanias (Luke 3. 1). - -3. About the year 7 A. D., when Jesus was eleven years old, Archelaus -was deposed by the Roman emperor and his dominion made a province under -a Roman procurator, the other two tetrarchies remaining undisturbed. -This was the form of government during the ministry of Jesus. Judea and -Samaria constituting one Roman province under Pontius Pilate; Galilee -and Peræa, Herod's tetrarchy, and Bashan, Philip's tetrarchy. - -[Illustration: NEW TESTAMENT PALESTINE] - -4. In the year 37 the Roman emperor made Herod Agrippa I. king first -over Judea, and then, in 41, over all the dominions of his grandfather, -so that Palestine became a kingdom again. He is mentioned in Acts 12. 1. - -5. On Agrippa's death, in A. D. 44, a new division took place. Agrippa -II., son of Agrippa I., became ruler of Chalcis and Bashan. He is -called, but by courtesy only, "King Agrippa," in Acts 25. 13; 26. 1, 2. -The rest of Palestine, consisting of Judea, Samaria, and Peræa, became -again a procuratorship under direct Roman rule. See Acts 23. 24; 24. 27. - -6. On the rebellion of the Jews, A. D. 66, the government was again -changed. Palestine became a part of Syria, under Vespasian, the legate. -This was the end of Jewish history as a separate nationality. - - -Suggestions for Study and Teaching - - 1. Study carefully a good map of Palestine and learn - from it the boundaries and location of the land. - Memorize the dimensions and distances given in the - outline. - - 2. Draw a map showing the five natural divisions in - Par. III., and learn their names. - - 3. Indicate on your own map the five provinces, - comparing the best maps at hand to find their boundary - lines. - - 4. Locate on your own map all the places named in Par. - V., and be able to name an event connected with each, - studying the references for this purpose. - - 5. Be sure to examine all the references, and state - what fact each reference shows concerning a locality. - - 6. Draw in succession five sketch maps, each to - represent the political government of a period. Write - across each province the name of a ruler. Map No. 1 - will represent it at the birth of Christ. No. 2, - during the childhood of Christ. Map No. 3, during his - ministry. No. 4, about A. D. 41. No. 5, from 42 to 66 - A. D. Look out all the references given in Par. VI. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Orien. L. Bound.= N. S. P. E. S. D. S. S. W. W. M. S. - - II. =Sm. L.= S. M. 12,500. S. C. 140. J. L. 156. - - III. =Var. Nat. Fea.= S. C. P. Sh. M. R. J. V. E. T. L. - - IV. =Fiv. Prov.= Gal. Sam. Jud. Per. Bash. - - V. =Pop. L.= Gal. N. N. C. C. Sam. Sh. Sa. Jud. J. B. B. H. - J. E. Per. B. Ph. Tet. C. P. B. G. - - VI. =Sub. L.= 1. Km. 2. Tetr. 3. Prov. 4. Kgm. 5. "Kg. Ag." - Rom. Proc. 6. Part of Syr. - - -Questions for Review - - Why do we need to study the land of Palestine? What - were the boundaries of Palestine? Where is it located? - Name some small countries which have been prominent in - history. What is the size of Palestine? How long is - the coast-line? The Jordan line? What are the five - natural divisions of the land? Name and bound each of - the political divisions. In which of these provinces - was Jesus born? In which did he pass most of his life? - In which was he crucified? Name four places in - Galilee, and an event connected with each? Two places - in Samaria, and their events. Six places in Judea and - their events. One place in Peræa and three in Philip's - tetrarchy, with their events. State the six successive - forms of government and their rulers in Palestine - during the New Testament period. - - - - -SECOND STUDY - -The People of Palestine - - -In all the ancient world there was but one people among whom Christ -could have come with his revelation, and through whom his message could -have been given to mankind. That people was =the Jews=, in certain -respects the most remarkable of all the races. - -I. We notice their =origin=, which shows a series of selections -extending through many centuries and a training for their peculiar -mission. - -1. Of the three great families of earth, they sprang from the =Semitic=, -which has been the mother of all the great religions of the world; a -thoughtful, meditative race, rather than active and aggressive. - -2. From this race =Abraham= was called, more than twenty centuries -before Christ, to be the father of a great nation (Gen. 12. 1-3; 17. -1-8). He was distinguished for his worship of the one God, for his -faith, and for his nobility of character. Notice his title in Jas. 2. -23; a name by which he is still known in the East, _el Khalil_, "the -Friend." His influence upon his family (Gen. 18. 19). - -3. Of the families descended from Abraham that of =Isaac= was chosen -(Gen. 21. 12; Rom. 9. 7). All the other races of Abrahamic origin -yielded to the idolatrous influences around them and lost the knowledge -of God. - -4. Of the two sons of Isaac one married among the Canaanites, and, as a -result, his descendants became idolaters (Gen. 26. 34, 35; 36. 2). The -other chose the inheritance of the covenant (Gen. 28. 20-22). His name -was changed (Gen. 32. 28; 35. 10). His descendants, the =Israelites=, -trained up in the true faith, became the people of God. Each of his -twelve sons was the ancestor of a tribe (Exod. 1. 1-7). They continued -one people for a thousand years, though part of the time divided into -two kingdoms. - -5. In the year 721 B. C. ten of the twelve tribes were carried into -Assyrian captivity (2 Kings 17. 18-20). Having lost their religion, the -only bond of unity, they mingled with the idolatrous world and ceased to -be a separate people. The =tribe of Judah= was left, Benjamin being -incorporated with it. Henceforth they were called "the Jews," a name -found first in 2 Kings 18. 26. - -6. But through all the history of Judah, as well as of Israel, there had -been two distinct elements in the people: the worshipers of God and of -idols; the religious and the worldly. In order to separate these -elements, to cut off the evil and to discipline the good, came the -Babylonian captivity, B. C. 587. Through this the idolatrous element was -either destroyed or assimilated with the heathen world. At the release -from captivity, B. C. 536, all the Jews were of God-fearing, -Scripture-loving element. This was =the Remnant=, the "holy seed," the -true Israel (Isa. 6. 8-13). - -Thus, out of all the world, was gradually chosen and prepared a people -among whom the Lord should come. - -II. Notice =their traits= as a race, for which they were chosen, and -which were intensified by their training: - -1. They were a =religious= people; monotheistic; worshiping the one -invisible God, hating idolatry. See the command (Exod. 20. 3-6). The -exhortation of Joshua (Josh. 24. 14). This is the great glory of Israel -alone among the ancient nations. - -2. They were an =exclusive= people; strongly attached to each other, and -seeking no affiliation with other races. Note this trait in Abraham -(Gen. 24. 2-4). Also in Isaac (Gen. 28. 1, 2). See Balaam's prophecy -(Num. 23. 9). To this day the Jews dwell apart; in most European cities -there is a "Jewish quarter." - -3. They were a =conservative= people; attached to their own customs, -opposed to all changes, clinging to their worship despite persecution. - -4. They were an =aspiring= people. From their earliest history the Jews -cherished the expectation of being a great and conquering nation. From -their own prophecies they obtained the hope and belief that a great king -should arise among them to rule the world. See the promises in Gen. 49. -10. The prophecy in Isa. 32. 1, 2. His title in Dan. 9. 25. The word -"Messiah" in Hebrew is "Christos" in Greek, and "Anointed" in English. -This messianic hope was the central thought of all Judaism. - -5. They were a =moral= people. Their Scripture set up a standard of -character immeasurably superior to that in other ancient lands. Among -the Jews womanhood was honored, drunkenness was rare, honesty was the -rule, and crime was far less frequent than elsewhere. - -These were the traits that made the Jews the people of God and fitted -them to accomplish the divine purpose. - -III. What was that purpose? Every race has its mission in the world. The -Greeks were set to exalt the intellect; the Romans, to establish the -reign of law. We notice the =mission of the Jewish people=: - -1. =To perpetuate the knowledge of God.= In the general wickedness of -the world and the spread of idolatry there was danger lest the true -religion be utterly lost. Therefore God chose out one nation--the one -having the traits best fitting it for his purpose--and set it apart to -guard the holy fire of divine truth until the rest of the world should -be ready to receive it. - -2. =To receive training for higher revelation.= The higher revelations -of God can come only to a people whose religious faculties have been -trained to receive them. Judaism was God's school where a chosen race -was educated. They received the Scriptures, the prophets, the ritual of -worship, and, above all, the discipline of trial, fitting them to become -"a nation of priests." See Paul's enumeration of their privileges in -Rom. 9. 4, 5. - -3. =To proclaim the Gospel to the world.= When, in the fullness of time, -Israel was trained up to knowledge and the outer world prepared to -receive the truth, Christ came as the consummation of Judaism. Then a -new mission opened before the Jews--that of proclaiming Christ to the -world. The little company of disciples were the seed that should -replenish the whole earth. See the command. (Matt. 28. 19, 20.) - -IV. We notice now the =Jews in the time of Christ=. - -1. They were divided into two great =branches=: the =Jews of Palestine= -and the =Jews of the Dispersion=. The former were descendants of those -who had settled in Palestine after the decree of Cyrus, B. C. 536 (Ezra -1. 1-3); the latter those who remained in the lands of their adoption, -were found all over the ancient world, and were far more numerous. See -references to them in John 7. 35; James 1. 1; 1 Pet. 1. 1. We note that -these "Jews of the Dispersion" were not descendants of the Ten Tribes, -except in a few instances, but were _Jews_--that is, descendants of -Judah. - -2. Noticing now the Palestinian Jews, for with these the life of Christ -was mainly connected, we find them divided into two =sects=, or schools -of thought: the =Pharisees= and the =Sadducees=. These two parties arose -about 168 B. C., in the time of the Maccabæan uprising. Let us look at -them in contrast. - - 1.) Their _names_ express their traits. _Pharisee_ - means "separatist," "one who is apart." _Sadducee_ - means "just," or "righteous," but rather with our idea - of the world "moralist." - - 2.) Their _aims_. The Pharisee aimed to keep the - Mosaic law absolutely, particularly with regard to - ceremonial requirements; to do more than obey it, by - setting around it a hedge of traditional - interpretations going beyond its letter in strictness. - The Sadducee professed to keep the law, ignoring - tradition, but gave it a lax and easy interpretation - which often ignored its requirements. - - 3.) Their _spirit_. The Pharisee was the radical and - zealot, showing an intense, intolerant Judaism. The - Sadducee was the liberal easy-going man of the world, - taking the world as he found it. - - 4.) Their _beliefs_. The Pharisee believed in a - spiritual world, heaven, hell, angels, the hereafter, - the judgment. The Sadducee could not find clear - statements of these doctrines in the Old Testament, - and denied them. See Matt. 22. 23; Acts 23. 8. - - 5.) Their _influence_. The Pharisees were strong in - the synagogues, where the scribes gave their - interpretations, and hence were powerful among the - people as leaders in religion. The Sadducees were the - smaller body, but influential from their wealth and - their social position, for the high priests and all - the priestly order belonged to them, and they were the - office-holding class, the court party. (Acts 4. 1, 2; - 5. 17.) - - 6.) Their _evils_. The evil of the Pharisees was their - tendency to make religion mere hypocritical formality, - so often rebuked by Christ. See Matt. 23. 2-7. The - evil of the Sadducees was their utter lack of moral - conviction, from worldliness and self-interest. See - their motive for putting Christ to death (John 11. - 47-50). - -3. Thus far we have noticed only Jews, but there were also in Palestine -many =Gentiles=, which was the name the Jews gave to all foreigners or -people of race other than themselves. These were of three classes, -called respectively: 1.) =Sinners=--That is, those who made no attempt -to observe Jewish usages. See Gal. 2. 15. The same name was given to the -Jews who did not undertake to keep the ceremonial law, without reference -to their moral character (Matt. 9. 10, 11). 2.) =The Devout.= Those who -believed in the Scriptures and worshiped God, but who had not been -received into the Jewish Church by circumcision. Such was Cornelius -(Acts 10. 1, 2). 3.) =Proselytes=--Such as renounced Gentilism, received -circumcision, and obeyed the Jewish law (Acts 6. 5; Matt. 23. 15). - -V. =The Language of Palestine.= - -1. Originally =Hebrew=; still read, in Christ's time, in the synagogue -but not well understood and requiring an interpreter. - -2. Mostly =Aramaic=, or =Syro-Chaldaic=--that is, Chaldaic with Syrian -admixture; the common dialect of the people, and undoubtedly spoken by -Christ. See instances in Mark 7. 34; 15. 34. This is the language -referred to in John 19. 20, 21, and Acts 22. 2, as "Hebrew." - -3. The language of polite literature in all countries was =Greek=; -strongly opposed by the Pharisees, but employed by the Jews of the -Dispersion, and used in the courts of Herod and Pilate (Acts 21. 37). - -4. The official language was =Latin=, that of the Roman Government, but -not used by the Jews, and not generally understood by them. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Origin.=--1. Sem. 2. Abr. 3. Isa. 4. Isr. (12 t.) - 5. Jud (Jews). 6. "Remn." - - II. =Traits.=--1. Rel. 2. Exc. 3. Cons. 4. Asp. "Mess." 5. Mor. - - III. =Mission.=--1. Per. kno. G. 2. Rec. tra. hi. rev. 3. Pro. - Gos. wo. - - IV. =Jews Ti. Chr.=--1. Bran. Pal. Dis. 2. Sec. Phar. Sadd. - 1.) Nam. 2.) Aim. 3.) Spir. 4.) Bel. 5.) Inf. 6.) Evils. - 3. Gen. 1.) Sin. 2.) "Dev." 3.) Pro. - - V. =Lang.=--1. Heb. 2. Ara. (Syr.-Chal.). 3. Gre. 4. Lat. - - -Questions for Review - - To what people did Jesus Christ belong? From what - great family of races did that people spring? What - were the traits of this race? Who was the ancestor of - the Jews, and what were his traits of character? How - were the Jews gradually selected from among the - descendants of Abraham? To which of the twelve tribes - did most of the Jews belong? What was "the remnant" in - Old Testament history? Name five traits of the Jews as - a people. What was the mission of the Jewish people? - What were the two great branches of the Jews in the - time of Christ? What were their two sects? What were - the differences between these sects? Who were the - Gentiles? Into what three classes were they divided? - What four languages were found among the Jews in the - time of Christ? - - - - -THIRD STUDY - -The Life of Christ - - -The central figure in all the Bible is Jesus Christ. Note his importance -in the Old Testament (John 5. 39; Luke 24. 27; Acts 10. 43). Note his -prominence in all true gospel teaching (1 Cor. 2. 2). Note his relation -to every man (John 1. 9.) (Rev. Ver.) We have, then, an interest in -Jesus Christ deeper than in any other man who ever lived. - -I. Let us notice some =General Aspects of his Life=. - -1. It was a =short= life. This man, who has influenced the world more -than any other, lived less than thirty-five years. His age at the -beginning of his ministry we learn from Luke 3. 23; and the duration of -his ministry was not more than three years and a half at the longest. - -2. It was a life =passed wholly in Palestine=. Only once do we read of -his journeying near any other country, and it is not probable that he -went beyond its borders (Mark 7. 24). The only times of direct contact -with Gentiles are mentioned (Mark 7. 25, 26; John 12. 20-22). He never -enjoyed the benefits of foreign travel, of communion with learned men in -the great cities, of studies at the universities of Athens or -Alexandria. All his knowledge came from within. - -3. It was a life =among the common people=. He lived in a despised -province (John 7. 41, 52). He came from a despised town (John 1. 46). He -was a working mechanic (Mark 6. 3). He received only a common education -(John 7. 15). His manner of life during his ministry (Matt. 8. 20). Yet -out of these lowly surroundings grew up the one exalted character, the -one perfect life, in all human history. - -4. It was an =active= life. The first thirty years may have been spent -in quiet preparation, but the three years of his ministry were very -busy. See pictures in Mark 1. 36-38; 2. 1-4; 6. 31-34. Notice the -hyperbole in John 21. 25, which is not to be taken literally. But if -the whole life of Jesus were related with the minuteness of the day -between the sunset of the Last Supper and that of the burial the -narration would require one hundred and eighty-five books as large as -the Bible. - -II. Let us arrange the events of Christ's life in chronological order, -grouping them into =Seven Periods=. - -1. The first period is that of =The Thirty Years of Preparation=, of -which we notice the following facts: - - 1.) It begins with his Birth (Luke 2. 7), and ends - with his Temptation (Matt. 4. 1). - - 2.) It is related mainly by Luke (Luke 1-4) with some - facts in Matthew (Matt. 1. 2; 4. 1-11), and a brief - mention of its closing events in Mark (Mark 1. 9-13). - - 3.) It was passed mainly in Galilee, though with - isolated events in Judea, in Egypt (Matt. 2. 14, 15), - and in Peræa. See John 1. 28. - - 4.) It was the longest of all the periods, embracing - nine-tenths of his life; yet it is the one having the - fewest incidents recorded; and of eighteen years in it - absolutely no events are known. - -2. Next is =The Year of Obscurity=. In this and the two succeeding -periods the year is not a precise epoch, and may have been a little less -or a little more. - - 1.) It begins with the first followers (John 1. - 35-37), and ends with the return to Galilee (John 4. - 43, 44). - - 2.) It is related only by John, who, of all the gospel - writers, records the visit of Jesus to Judea and - Jerusalem. - - 3.) It was passed principally in Judea, though with - visits to Galilee, and on the way a visit to Samaria. - - 4.) It is justly called a "year of obscurity," for we - know but little concerning either its aims, its - events, or its results. It was accompanied with - miracles (John 3. 2; 4. 45). It attracted attention - (John 3. 26; 4. 1). Yet at its close we find that the - followers of Jesus were few, and he went to Galilee to - begin his ministry anew. - -3. =The Year of Popularity=, in marked contrast with the preceding -period. - - 1.) It begins with the Rejection at Nazareth (Luke 4. - 14-30), and ends with the Discourse on the Bread of - Life (John 6. 25-71), a day or two after the miracle - of Feeding the Five Thousand. - - 2.) It is related by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with - some additional incidents by John. - - 3.) The scene of the Saviour's ministry was in - Galilee, which he traversed extensively during this - year. One visit to Jerusalem is related by John (John - 5. 1, 2). - - 4.) It was a year of great activity, spent in - incessant journeys, preaching, and works of mercy, and - the most popular period of the Saviour's life, when - the crowds were greatest and the people seemed ready - to accept Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. Yet at its - close, as before, he was left alone with his twelve - disciples (John 6. 66-68). - -4. Another period we find in =The Year of Opposition=, again contrasted -with the year before it. - - 1.) It begins with the Retirement to Phoenicia (Mark - 7. 24) and ends with the Anointing by Mary (John 12. - 1-3). - - 2.) It is recorded in all the gospels in almost equal - measure, Luke giving the most complete account of the - ministry in Peræa, and John, as usual, relating the - visit to Judea. - - 3.) This period is peculiar in the fact that in it - Jesus visited all the five provinces of Palestine. We - find him in Decapolis (which was a part of the Bashan - district) (Mark 7. 31); passing through Galilee (Mark - 9. 30); also through Samaria (Luke 9. 51, 52); in - Peræa (Mark 10. 1), and in Judea (John 11. 7). - - 4.) This part of the Saviour's life has been variously - characterized as "a ministry of sorrow and - humiliation," "a year of instruction," and "a period - of retirement." All are correct, for during this, the - last year of his life, Jesus sought to be alone with - his disciples, and in order to escape the crowds - visited places where he was unknown. He aimed to - instruct his disciples in the deeper truths of the - gospel, to prepare their minds for his approaching - death and for their mission as apostles (Matt. 16. - 21). - -5. We now approach the close of Christ's life on earth, and the -narration is more detailed as the cross comes nearer to view. Our next -period is =The Week of the Passion=. - - 1.) Beginning with the Triumphal Entry on the Sunday - before the Passover (John 21. 12, 13), it ends with - the Agony in the Garden about midnight on Thursday - (Matt. 26. 36); thus embracing strictly but five days. - - 2.) It is related in all the gospels, John alone - adding the teaching given at the Last Supper (John - 13-17). - - 3.) All the events of this period took place in or - near Jerusalem. - - 4.) This was the last call of Christ to the Jews of - Jerusalem, and his final rebuke for their rejection of - his ministry. - -6. =The Day of the Crucifixion.= The most important day in all earth's -history was that when Jesus died upon the cross. It is also the day -whose events are narrated more fully than any other in the Bible annals. -Therefore we study it apart from the rest of the week as a separate -period. - - 1.) It begins with the Arrest (Matt. 26. 47), soon - after midnight, Friday A. M., the day of the Passover, - and ends at about sunset of the same day with the - Burial (Matt. 27. 59, 60). - - 2.) Each gospel adds its portion to the account, that - of John, an eye-witness of all the events, being the - most complete. - - 3.) The events took place in Jerusalem; but few, if - any, of the localities are known with certainty. - - 4.) In the scenes of this day we see Jesus as the - suffering Saviour, bearing the sins of the world. - -7. Last of all come =The Forty Days of Resurrection=. - - 1.) From the Resurrection, early on the first Easter - Sunday (Matt. 28. 1-8), to the Ascension, forty days - afterward (Acts 1. 1-3). - - 2.) All the gospels give accounts of the appearances - of the risen Saviour, but Luke alone tells the story - of his Ascension (Luke 24. 50, 51; Acts 1. 9-11). - - 3.) The manifestations of Christ after his - Resurrection took place in and near Jerusalem, near - the village of Emmaus (Luke 24. 13), and in Galilee - (Matt. 28. 16; John 21. 1). - - 4.) During this period the visible revelation of - Christ was not constant, but occasional; to his - disciples only, never to his enemies; and of a - spiritual body, which was freed from the restraints of - the flesh (Mark 16. 12; Luke 24. 31; John 20. 19). - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Gen. Asp.= 1. Sh. 2. In Pal. 3 Am. com. peo. 4. Ac. - - II. =Sev. Per.= - - 1. =Th. Ye. Prep.= 1) Bir-Temp. 2) Lu. Mat. Mar. 3) Gal. - 4) Long. few inc. - - 2. =Ye. Obs.= 1) Fir. Foll.-Re. Gal. 2) Jno. 3) Jud. 4) Obs. - - 3. =Ye. Pop.= 1) Re. Naz-Dis. B. L. 2) M. M. L. 3) Gal. 4) Act. - - 4. =Ye. Opp.= 1) Re. Ph.-An. Ma. 2) All Gos. 3) All Prov. - 4) Instruc. - - 5. =We. Pass.= 1) Tri. En.-Ag. Gar. 2) All Gos. 3) Jer. - 4) Las. Ca. - - 6. =Day Cru.= 1) Arr.-Bur. 2) All Gos. 3) Jer. 4) Suff. Sav. - - 7. =For. Da. Res.= 1) Res.-Asc. 2) All Gos. 3) Jud. Gal. - 4) Spir. bod. - - -Questions for Review - - In what respects is Jesus Christ the central figure in - the Bible? How long was Christ's life on the earth? - Where was it passed? Among what class of people did - Jesus live? How do we know that Jesus led an active - life? What is the first of the seven periods into - which his life is divided? With what events does the - first period begin and end? Which gospel relates the - most of this period? Where was it mainly passed? How - long was it? What is the second period called? What - are its first and last events? By whom is it related? - Where was it passed? What were its results? What is - the third period called? With what events did it begin - and end? By what evangelists is it related? In what - province was it passed? What is the fourth period - called? With what events did it begin and end? What - provinces were visited during this period? What were - the traits of Christ's ministry at this time? What is - the fifth period called? How long was it? What in this - period is related by but one evangelist? Where did its - events take place? What is the sixth period called? - How long was it? With what events did it begin and - end? Which account is most complete? What is the - seventh and last period called? What were its first - and last events? Which gospel alone relates the - ascension? What were the traits of Jesus during those - days? - - - - -FOURTH STUDY - -The Thirty Years of Preparation - -From the Birth of Jesus to His Temptation. - - -We have before us the longest of all the divisions in the history of -Jesus, embracing thirty of his thirty-three years of life, and the one -concerning which we know the least. - -I. Let us study the =Places= connected with this period. These we group -according to locality, and not in the order of their events. Beginning -in the north and traveling southward we note the following places: - -1. =Nazareth, his early home=, in Galilee, due west of the southern -point of the Sea of Galilee. Here Joseph and Mary lived before the birth -of Jesus (Luke 2. 39); here Jesus was brought up (Luke 4. 16); and here -he was living up to the time of his baptism (Mark 1. 9). - -2. =Bethabara= (Rev. Ver., Bethany), =the place of his baptism=. This -was in the Jordan valley, south of the Sea of Galilee. (John 1. 28). - -3. =The wilderness, the place of his temptation.= (Matt. 4. 1.) This was -probably the rocky desolate region of Judea, near the head of the Dead -Sea. - -4. =Jerusalem, the place of the Temple=; the Jewish capital, due west of -the northern point of the Dead Sea. Find three visits of Jesus to the -temple during this period. 1.) In his infancy (Luke 2. 22). 2.) In his -youth (Luke 2. 42). 3.) In his manhood (Luke 4. 9). - -5. =Bethlehem, the place of his birth.= (Matt. 2. 1). This was six miles -south of Jerusalem, in Judea. - -6. =Egypt, the place of his refuge.= (Matt. 2. 14). This was the land -south-west of Palestine, where Jesus was taken in his infancy in order -to escape from King Herod. - -Let the student 1.) Draw a map showing these places. 2.) Memorize the -list. 3.) With each place name its event in the life of Jesus. 4.) Find -other events of Scripture history connected with these places. - -II. Let us arrange in order the =Events= of this period. 1. =The -annunciation of his birth.= 1.) To Mary (Luke 1. 26-38). 2.) To Joseph -(Matt. 1. 20, 21). 3.) To Simeon (Luke 2. 25, 26). 4.) To the shepherds -(Luke 2. 8-11). - -2. =The birth at Bethlehem.= Note the purpose for which Joseph and Mary -went to Bethlehem (Luke 2. 1-4). The circumstances of his birth (Luke 2. -6, 7). - -3. =The welcome to the child.= 1.) On the night of his birth (Luke 2. -15). 2.) A few days later (Matt. 2. 1, 11). 3.) In the temple (Luke 2. -25-28, 36, 38). - -4. =The refuge in Egypt= (Matt. 2. 13-15). This may have been for a few -weeks, a few months, or for a few years. - -5. =The childhood at Nazareth= (Matt. 2. 22, 23; Luke 2. 39, 40). By -what route would the journey from Egypt be made? - -6. =The visit to the temple.= Read the account in Luke 2. 41-52, and -notice: 1.) The age of Jesus. 2.) The object of the journey. 3.) -Probable route. 4.) Where he tarried and why. 5.) The objects of his -interest. 6.) Traits of his character shown. - -7. =The silent years.= From the age of twelve to that of thirty no -events are named. His home was still at Nazareth (John 1. 45). - -8. =The woodworker at Nazareth.= From the fact that Joseph is not -referred to after the visit to the temple it may be presumed that he -died before the ministry of Jesus began. He had been a "carpenter" -(Matt. 13. 35); although the word means, more precisely, "a skilled -worker in wood," and may refer to the making of almost anything except -houses, which were not built of wood. Jesus followed the same trade -(Mark 6. 3) and, as the oldest son, supported his widowed mother and -younger brothers and sisters (Mark 6. 3). - -9. =The baptism in Jordan.= Compare the four accounts (Matt. 3. 13-17; -Mark 1. 9-11; Luke 3. 21, 22; John 1. 28-34); and find: 1.) The place. -2.) The age of Jesus. 3.) The baptizer. 4.) The divine manifestation. - -10. =The temptation in the wilderness.= This followed immediately upon -the baptism, and was a preparation for his ministry (Matt. 4. 1-11; Mark -1. 12, 13; Luke 4. 1-13). Note: 1.) The place. 2.) The personality of -the tempter. 3.) The three forms of temptation. 4.) How repelled. 5.) -The result. - -Let the student, 1.) Memorize these nine events in their order. 2.) Read -the account of each in the gospels. 3.) Recall where each took place. -4.) Notice what other persons besides Jesus are named in the period (for -example, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, Anna, Herod, etc.) and each one's part in -the events. - -[Illustration: _JOURNEYS OF 30 YEARS OF PREPARATION_] - -III. Draw the map of Palestine, locating upon it the live places named; -and then indicate the following =Journeys= of the period: 1. From -Bethlehem to Jerusalem (for the presentation in the temple) and return. -2. From Bethlehem to Egypt (flight from Herod). 3. From Egypt to -Nazareth. 4. From Nazareth to Jerusalem and return (visit to temple). 5. -From Nazareth to Bethabara (baptism). 6. Bethabara to the wilderness -(temptation). - -IV. Let us now study the =External Conditions= of Christ's life during -this period. - -1. =The family.= The royal line of both Joseph and Mary (Matt. 1. 1; -Luke 1. 27, 32). Their obscure social condition (Matt. 13. 54, 55). In -all probability they belonged to the better class of self-supporting -workers: for Joseph followed a trade. - -2. =The house.= Probably like those of working people in Palestine; -built of clay, one story high, containing but one room with no window, -but lighted through the door; whitewashed on the outside; floor of -earth. - -3. =The furniture.= A couch that could be rolled up (Mark 2. 12). A -lamp, a lamp-stand, "the bushel" (used as seat, table, and dish (Matt. -5. 15). Hand-mill for grinding (Deut. 24. 6; Matt. 24. 41). Probably -neither chair, table, nor bedstead. - -4. =Education.= Jesus received only the common schooling, not a college -education (John 7. 15). Contrast with the early advantages of Paul (Acts -22. 3). Every synagogue had a school taught by "the minister." See Luke -4. 20. He was not a priest, nor even a scribe, but properly the curator -or sexton of the synagogue, and all the teaching was the reading of the -Old Testament. - -5. =Religious training.= - - 1.) There was the influence of a godly man and woman. - Joseph, "a just man," living in fellowship with God. - (Matt. 1. 19, 20). The character of Mary (Luke 1. 38; - 2. 19, 51). - - 2.) The instruction in the Scriptures at home (Deut. - 6. 7.) - - 3.) The daily prayers, morning and evening, always - observed (Matt. 6. 5, 6). - - 4.) The Sabbath rest (Mark 2. 27). - - 5.) The worship of the synagogue (Luke 4. 16; Mark 6. - 2.) - - 6.) The great feasts, celebrated each year at - Jerusalem--Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles--which - Joseph and Mary attended (Luke 2. 41). - -Under these influences Jesus grew up to manhood. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Pla.= 1. Naz. ea. h. 2. Beth. pl. bap. 3. Wil. pl. temp. - 4. Jer. pl. Tem. 5. Beth. pl. bir. 6. Eg. pl. ref. - - II. =Even.= 1. Ann. bir. 2. Bir. Beth. 3. Wel. ch. 4. Ref. Eg. - 5. Chi. Naz. 6. Vis. Tem. 7. Sil. ye. 8. Wo. Naz. 9. Bap. - Jor. 10. Tem. wil. - - III. =Jour.= 1. B. J. R. 2. B. E. 3. E. N. 4. N. J. R. 5. N. C. - 6. B. W. - - IV. =Ext. Con.= 1. Fam. 2. Hou. 3. Furn. 4. Edu. 5. Rel. tra. - - -Questions for Review - - Where did the mother of Jesus live before her - marriage? At what place was Jesus baptized? Where did - the temptation take place? What three visits did Jesus - make to Jerusalem before his ministry? To what country - was Jesus taken as a refuge from Herod? Name six - places connected with this period and a fact about - each. Name four announcements made to different people - of the coming of Jesus. For what purpose did Joseph - and Mary go to Bethlehem just before the birth of - Jesus? Who came to see Jesus at Bethlehem. Who gave - him welcome in the temple during his infancy? How old - was Jesus when he first visited the temple? What part - of his life is known as "the silent years"? What trade - did Jesus follow when he became a man? What took place - at the baptism of Jesus? State nine events in the - first thirty years of Jesus's life. State a fact in - the life of Jesus with which each of the following - persons was connected: Joseph, Simeon, Herod, John the - Baptist, Gabriel, wise men, "the doctors of the law," - shepherds. How do we know that Joseph and Mary were - poor people? To what distinguished family did they - belong? In what kind of a house did they probably - dwell? What articles of furniture did the house - contain? What education did Jesus receive? Who was the - teacher of the school? What were the religious - influences around the youth of Jesus? What feasts did - he attend? - - - - -FIFTH STUDY - -The Year of Obscurity - -From the First Followers of Jesus to His Return to Galilee. - - -I. =Preliminary Notes= on the period. - -1. =Sources of Information.= Our only account of this period is -contained in =John's Gospel=. Read carefully John 1. 19 to 4. 54 for all -the facts on record. - -2. =Time.= The Saviour came from the temptation in the wilderness either -late in February or early in March, A. D. 27, and he began his ministry -in Galilee in May, A. D. 28; so that this period embraced nearly -=fifteen months=. (Edersheim. According to Andrews it ended in March, -and was a year in duration). - -3. =Locality.= Most of this year was passed in =Judea=, though there is -mention of one journey to =Galilee= soon after the beginning (John 1. -43), and of another at the close (John 4. 3). - -4. =Aim.= It is probable that Jesus began his ministry in Judea, the -leading province, in order to give to the leaders of the nation the -=first opportunity= of accepting him as the Messiah of Israel. Not until -Jerusalem and Judea had rejected him did he turn to the people of -Galilee. - -II. =Places.= - -1. =Bethabara= (or Bethany, as in Rev. Ver.) (John 1. 28). Here occurred -the meeting of Jesus with his first followers (John 1. 37). - -2. =Cana=, the place of the first miracle (John 2. 1). This was in -Galilee, not far from Nazareth. - -3. =Capernaum=, named only as a place of a brief visit by Jesus at this -time, but later more prominent in the history (John 2. 12). Situated on -the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee. - -4. =Sychar=, the place of the Samaritan ministry (John 4. 5, 40). This -was formerly supposed to be the well-known city of Shechem, but is now -more accurately fixed at _Askar_, a small village near to Jacob's well. - -5. =Jerusalem.= During this period two events took place in -Jerusalem--the cleansing of the temple (John 2. 14, 15), and the -conversation with Nicodemus (John 3. 1-21). - -[Illustration: _YEAR OF OBSCURITY._] - -III. =Journeys.= We begin in the wilderness of the temptation. 1. From -the wilderness to Bethabara. 2. From Bethabara to Cana. 3. From Cana to -Capernaum. 4. From Capernaum to Jerusalem and Judea. 5. From Judea to -Sychar, and thence to Cana. - -IV. We place in order next the =Events= of the Saviour's life during -this period. - -1. =The first followers.= Read John 1. 35-51 and ascertain the names of -four, with hints of two others; for one of two in ver. 40 was John, and -the language in ver. 41 implies that each sought his own brother. Notice -what traits of character each disciple showed. In this little company, -the band out of which grew the Christian Church, we find: 1.) A man who -brought people one by one to Jesus. 2.) A deep, spiritually-minded -mystic. 3.) A born leader. 4.) A plain, simple-minded believer. 5.) A -man of pure, spotless character. What a combination of qualities for the -founding of a church! - -2. =The first miracle= (John 2. 1-11). In this miracle we find an apt -symbol of what Christ came to do among men. He found water, and he -turned it into living, spirit-quickening wine. - -3. =The visit to Capernaum= (John 2. 12). Why he went we have no means -of knowing, and it is idle to speculate. - -4. =The first Passover= (John 2. 13). The mention of these passovers is -important, for they enable us to know how long was the ministry of -Jesus, and they give us dates for its events. This was the first -passover of his ministry, not of his life. - -5. =Cleansing the Temple= (John 2. 14-17). This was the first public act -of his ministry in which he claimed the authority of Messiah in the -house of God. See the prophecy, Mal. 3. 1-3. At the close of his -ministry he found that the same evils had crept again into the temple, -and purged it a second time (Matt. 21. 12). - -6. =Conversation with Nicodemus= (John 3. 1-21). This conversation was -remarkable: 1.) From the rank and character of the man (Vers. 3, 10). -2.) From the theme (Ver. 3.) 3). From its results (John 7. 50; 19. 39). - -7. =Ministry in Judea= (John 3. 22.) 1.) Its precise place is unknown. -2.) Its relation to John the Baptist (John 3. 26). 3.) Its success (John -4. 1). - -8. =Ministry in Samaria= (John 4. 4-42). 1.) What led to it. (Ver. 4.) -2.) Where it took place. (Ver. 5.) 3.) How it began. (Vers. 6, 7.) 4.) -Its first convert, a remarkable character, of aptness in speech, -penetration, and power to influence others. (Vers. 9, 15, 20, 25, 28, -30, 39.) Compare her brightness with the dullness of Nicodemus. 5.) Its -length. (Ver. 40.) 6.) Its results: (Vers. 41,42.) This ministry is a -most interesting episode in the life of Jesus. - -9. =Return to Galilee= (John 4. 43). 1.) Reason for the journey (John 4. -1-3). 2.) Another reason (Mark 1. 14). 3.) Still another reason (John 4. -44, 45)--that is, he had no honor in his own country until he had -obtained it in Judea. - -10. =Healing the nobleman's son= (John 4. 46-54). 1.) Where Jesus was. -(Ver. 46.) 2.) Who the man was. (Ver. 46)--literally, "a king's man, -courtier." Is his name given in Luke 8. 30? 3.) His spirit, earnestness, -persistence, faith. (Vers. 48-50.) 4.) His reward. (Vers. 51, 52.) 5.) -Result of the miracle. (Ver. 53.) - -Let the student, 1.) Commit this series to memory. 2.) Study the facts -in relation to each by searching out the references. 3.) Recall the -facts in connection with each event. 4.) Make a list of eight men and -two women who were connected with these events and recall what is -related of each person. - -V. Let us now consider the =General Traits of the Ministry of Christ= -during this period. - -1. It was =preparatory=. So far as we can perceive, the plans of -Christ's kingdom were not as yet revealed, and no general proclamation -of it was made. Yet he clearly revealed himself to a chosen few as the -Messiah of Israel (John 1. 41, 45: 4. 25, 26). - -2. =It was connected with John the Baptist.= The two streams of John's -ministry and Christ's ministry run together during this preparatory -ministry. John introduced Jesus (John 1. 29-36). The two worked at the -same time, in the same way, and not far apart (John 3. 22-24). Both -Jesus and John refused to be put into a relation of rivalry, either by -their friends (John 3. 25-30) or by their enemies (John 4. 1-3). - -3. It was =individual=--that is, to individuals rather than to masses of -people. We read of no such multitudes as in the succeeding period, but -we find six conversations of Jesus with single persons or small groups. -He sought to gather a few choice disciples rather than many adherents. - -4. It was a =teaching= ministry. There were miracles (John 2. 23; 3. 2), -but they were not made prominent; and the immediate followers of Jesus -were won by what they saw in him and heard from him rather than by -wonders wrought by him. - -VI. Lastly, we ascertain the =Results= of the Saviour's ministry during -this period. - -1. It gave him =prominence before the people=. The popular attention was -arrested, and there was a transient, superficial acceptance by the many; -but Jesus knew the hearts of men too well to trust them (John 2. 23, 24; -3. 26). - -2. It led to his =rejection by the rulers=. Though this is not stated it -is hinted at in the controversies of the Jewish leaders (John 2. 18); in -the conclusion of the gospel writer (John 3. 18-20), and in the -reference to the Pharisees (John 4. 1). From this hour the attitude of -the capital and the ruling minds was hostile to Jesus. They missed the -one great opportunity in their nation's history. - -3. It drew around him =chosen followers=. From this time there was a -company of disciples with Jesus. They returned to their homes in Galilee -for a time, but were soon called to leave all and accompany their -master. To some of them we find three separate calls (John 1. 37-42; -Matt. 4. 18-22 more than a year later, and Mark 3. 13, 14, later still). - -4. =It prepared for his ministry in Galilee.= The fame of Christ's acts -in Judea went before him to Galilee, awakened curiosity, and gave him a -ready reception on his return (John 4. 45). We shall find in the next -period great multitudes thronging after Jesus as the result of his -ministry in Judea. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Pre. Not.= 1. =Sour. Inf.= Jno. 2. =Ti.= 15 m. 3. =Loc.= - Jud. 4. =Aim.= Fir. opp. - - II. =Pla.= 1. Beth. 2. Can. 3. Cap. 4. Syc. 5. Jer. - - III. =Jour.= 1. W. B. 2. B. C. 3. C. C. 4. C. J. & J. - 5. J. S. & C. - - IV. =Even.= 1. Fir. Foll. 2. Fir. Mir. 3. Vis. Cap. 4. Fir. Pass. - 5. Cle. Tem. 6. Con. Nic. 7. Min. Jud. 8. Min. Sam. 9. Ret. - Gal. 10. Heal. Nob. Son. - - V. =Gen. Tra.= 1. Prep. 2. Con. J. Bap. 3. Ind. 4. Tea. - - VI. =Res.= 1. Prom. 2. Rej. rul. 3. Cho. fol. 4. Prep. Min. Gal. - - -Questions for Students - - What book is our only source of information for this - period? How long was the period? Where was it mostly - passed? What was Christ's aim at this time? Name the - five places of the period, and an event at each. Give - in order the ten events of this period. Who were the - first six followers of Jesus? What was his first - miracle, and where wrought? Where did Jesus go for his - first passover? Name two events that took place at - this visit. Where did Jesus preach for a time? What - led him to another province? Whom did he meet there, - and at what place? How long did he stay in the - province of Samaria? What were his reasons for - returning to Galilee? What miracle did he work on his - return? What were the circumstances of this miracle? - What were the general traits of Christ's ministry - during this period? What were the results of his - ministry? How did it prepare the way for his work in - Galilee? - - - - -SIXTH STUDY - -The Year of Popularity - -From the Rejection at Nazareth to the Discourse on the Bread of Life - - -I. =General Aspects of the Ministry of Christ during the Period.= - -1. =Its Time.= It was either a little less or a little more than a year, -according to different authorities. According to Dr. Edersheim it -extended from May, A. D. 28, to April, A. D. 29; according to Dr. -Andrews, from March, A. D. 28, to April, A. D. 29. - -2. =Its Locality.= The principal sphere of Christ's activity during this -year was Galilee, though he made one visit to Jerusalem (John 5. 1). - -3. =Its Aim.= The purpose of Jesus during this year seems to have been -to proclaim the new kingdom of God as widely as possible, and to make -men acquainted with its principles. The theme of his preaching is given -in Matt. 4. 17. The deeper themes of the Gospel were reserved for a -later time and a select body of hearers; and those aspects were -presented which all men could at once comprehend, as the teaching in the -Sermon on the Mount. - -4. =Its Activity.= No other year in the Saviour's life was crowded so -thickly with journeys and labors. See its summary in Matt. 4. 23-25. We -can trace eight distinct journeys from Capernaum to various regions -during this year. - -5. =Its Divisions.= The number of events left on record makes a -subdivision of this period necessary, and we find a convenient place at -the Sermon on the Mount, which marks a point of departure in the -Saviour's ministry. The =Early Galilean Ministry= extends from the -rejection at Nazareth to the Sermon on the Mount, and the =Later -Galilean Ministry= from the Sermon on the Mount to the discourse on the -Bread of Life. During the earlier section the ministry was personal and -the range was less extended; during the later Jesus sent his apostles -forth to labor, and his own journeys were longer and in new fields. - -II. =The Places.= Though the Saviour visited many places during this -year only seven have been named in the gospels. These are: - -1. =Capernaum=, his home during the period (Matt. 4. 15). From this -place he went forth on all of his preaching tours, and to it he -returned. Its privilege (Matt. 11. 23, 24). It was situated on the -northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. - -2. =Nazareth.= Twice in this period Jesus was at this place: at its -beginning (Luke 4. 16), and again in the middle of the year (Matt. 13. -54). On both occasions he was rejected by the people (Luke 4. 28, 29; -Matt. 13. 57). - -3. =Nain.= This was a city southwest of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus -restored a young man to life (Luke 7. 11). - -4. =The Mountain.= A few miles from Capernaum and west of the Sea of -Galilee is a mountain (probably Kurun Hattin, "the horns of Hattin") -where was delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5. 1). - -5. =Bethsaida=, a place on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, -east of the river Jordan. Near this was wrought the miracle of Feeding -the Five Thousand (Mark 6. 45). - -6. =Gergesa.= A place on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, called -also =Gerasa= (Mark 5. 1; Luke 8. 26. Rev. Ver.). - -7. =Jerusalem.= We read of one visit to the capital during this period -(John 5. 1). - -III. =The Early Galilean Ministry.= - -1.) =The Journeys.= Combining the accounts in the four gospels we find -that the journeys were the following: - -2.) =The Settlement at Capernaum= (Cana to Nazareth and Capernaum). From -Cana, where Jesus was at the close of the preceding period, he went to -Nazareth (Luke 4. 16), probably intending to begin his ministry there; -but being rejected went down to Capernaum and made it the headquarters -of his ministry (Luke 4. 30, 31). - -3.) =Tour in Eastern Galilee= (Capernaum, Eastern Galilee, and return). -From Capernaum Jesus went forth on a preaching tour through the villages -near the Sea of Galilee (Luke 4. 43, 44). - -4.) =A Visit to Jerusalem= (Capernaum to Jerusalem and return). Mention -is made in John 5. 1 of a feast in Jerusalem which Jesus attended, but -it is uncertain whether Passover, Tabernacles, or Purim is meant. - -5.) =The Mountain Journey= (Capernaum to the mountain and return). For -the purpose of quiet meditation and the call of his apostles Jesus went -to a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. There he chose the twelve and -gave to them and the multitudes around the Sermon on the Mount (Mark 3. -13, 14; Matt. 5. 1). - -[Illustration: _YEAR OF POPULARITY - -PART ONE_] - -IV. =Events of the Early Galilean Ministry.= - -1.) With the first Journey, the _Settlement at Capernaum_, we connect -the following events: - - 1. =The Rejection at Nazareth= (Luke 4. 16-30). - - 2. =The First Disciples Called= (Luke 5. 1-11). They - had already been followers of Jesus, but now were - called upon to leave their homes and become his - disciples. - - 3. =Miracles at Capernaum= (Mark 1. 21-34). The gospel - writers select the scenes of one day and show many - miracles, in the synagogue, at Peter's house, and in - the street. - -2.) With the Second Journey, the _Tour in Eastern Galilee_, we find two -events named: - - 4. =Healing of the Leper= (Mark 1. 40-45). This took - place during the journey. - - 5. =Healing the Paralytic= (Mark 2. 1-12). This took - place after the return to Capernaum. - -3.) With the Third Journey, the _Visit to Jerusalem_, we note two -events: - - 6. =The Miracle at Bethesda= (John 5. 1-16). Read this - in the Rev. Ver. and note what is omitted. Observe - also what resulted from this miracle in Jerusalem - (John 5. 16-19). - - 7. =The Withered Hand= (Mark 3. 1-6). This probably - took place at Capernaum, soon after the return from - Jerusalem. - -4.) With the Fourth, the _Mountain Journey_, we note two events: - - 8. =The Call of the Twelve= (Mark 3. 7-19). This was - at the mountain. - - 9. =Sermon on the Mount= (Matt. 5-7). This sermon is - omitted in Mark and abbreviated in Luke, but reported - fully in Matthew. - - -To the Teacher - - 1. Let the outline of the lesson be committed to - memory. - - 2. Let one scholar draw the maps in presence of the - class, another insert the places, a third indicate and - name the journeys. - - 3. Then let one scholar name all the events with the - first journey; another the events of the second - journey, etc. - - 4. Let a scholar be called upon to tell the story of - each one of the nine events in the period. - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART ONE - - I. =Gen. Asp.= 1. Ti. 2. Loc. 3. Aim. 4. Act. 5. Div. - - II. =Pla.= 1. Cap. 2. Naz. 3. Nai. 4. Moun. 5. Beth. 6. Ger. - 7. Jer. - - III. =Ear. Gal. Min. Jour.= 1. Set. Cap. 2. To. Ea. Gal. 3. Vis. - Jer. 4. Moun. Jour. - - IV. =Events. Ear. Gal. Min.= - _Jour. 1._ 1. Rej. Naz. 2. Fir. Dis. Cal. 3. Mir. Cap. - _Jour. 2._ 4. Heal Lep. 5. Heal Par. - _Jour. 3._ 6. Mir. Beth. 7. With. Ha. - _Jour. 4._ 8. Ca. Tw. 9. Ser. Mo. - - -Questions for Review - -PART ONE - - How long was this period? Where was it passed? What - was the aim of Jesus during this year? What are its - two subdivisions? Name seven places visited by Jesus - during this period. Name four journeys during the - early part of this period. What three events are - connected with the settlement at Capernaum? What two - events are named in connection with the tour in - eastern Galilee? What two events are given with the - visit to Jerusalem? What two events are named with the - mountain journey? - - -PART TWO - -We now take up the second part of the Year of Popularity, from the -Sermon on the Mount to the Discourse on the Bread of Life. - -V. =The Journeys of the Later Galilean Ministry.= - -1. =Tour in Southern Galilee= (Capernaum to Nain and return). From -Capernaum Jesus led his disciples southward as far as Nain (Luke 7. 1, -11). There he wrought a miracle, and on the journey homeward preached in -various places (Luke 8. 1). - -2. =The Voyage to Gergesa.= (Capernaum to Gergesa and return.) With his -disciples Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8. 22), stilling -the tempest on the way. They landed at Gergesa, in the country of the -Gadarenes (Luke 8. 26)--that is, not far from the well-known city of -Gadara, which was twenty miles from the Sea of Galilee. Here the -Gadarene demoniac was restored, but the people were unwilling to receive -Jesus, so he sailed back to Capernaum (Matt. 9. 1.) - -[Illustration: _YEAR OF POPULARITY - -PART TWO._] - -3. =Tour in Central Galilee= (Capernaum to Nazareth and return). The -object of this journey was a second visit to Nazareth (Mark 6. 1), but, -like the first, it was unsuccessful; so Jesus left "his own country" and -preached in the villages of central Galilee (Mark 6. 6). - -4. =Retirement to Bethsaida= (Capernaum, Bethsaida, and return). In -order to obtain needed rest and seclusion Jesus and his disciples sailed -across the lake to the unsettled country near Bethsaida (Mark 6. 31, -32). Here he wrought the miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand, recrossed -the lake in the night, and a day or two afterward gave his last -discourse of the Galilean ministry. - -Let the pupil draw the same map as with Part One, but omitting the -journeys of that part; and place upon the maps the journeys of the later -Galilean ministry. - - -VI. =The Events of the Later Galilean Ministry.= - -1.) With the First Journey, the _Tour in Southern Galilee_: - - 1.) =The Widow's Son Raised= (Luke 7. 11-16). This - took place at Nain, southwest of the Sea of Galilee. - - 2.) =Washing the Saviour's Feet= (Luke 7. 36-50). This - event is to be carefully distinguished from the - "anointing by Mary," much later in the history. - -These two events are related only by Luke. - -2.) With the Second Journey, the _Voyage to Gergesa_: - - 3.) =Parables by the Sea= (Mark 4. 1-34; also in Matt. - 13. 1-52). These were given just before the journey. - - 4.) =Stilling the Tempest= (Mark 4. 1-35-41). - - 5.) =The Gadarene Demoniac Restored= (Mark 5. 1-20). - - 6.) =Jairus's Daughter Raised= (Mark 5. 21-43). Two - miracles wrought after the return from the Gadarene - country. - -3.) With the third Journey, the _Tour in Central Galilee_. - - 7.) =Second Rejection at Nazareth= (Mark 6. 1-6). - Compare with this the account of his former rejection, - and note the differences. - - 8.) =Sending out the Twelve= (Mark 6. 7-13). Read the - longer report of the charge to the Twelve in Matt. 10. - -4.) With the Fourth Journey, the _Retirement to Bethsaida_: - - 9.) =Feeding the Five Thousand= (Mark 6. 31-44). This - and the following are the only miracles related in all - the four gospels. Compare their accounts. - - 10.) =Walking on the Sea= (Mark 6. 45-52). Note the - additions in Matt. 14. 22-33). - - 11.) =Discourse on the Bread of Life= (John 6. 24-59). - This marked a crisis in his ministry, for it - proclaimed a spiritual application of the miracle, and - not a "kingdom of meat and drink," as men were - expecting. Note the results (John 6. 60-68). Thus at - the close of his Galilean ministry--as before at the - close of his Judean ministry--the Saviour was left - alone with his few disciples. - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART TWO - - V. =Jour. Lat. Gal. Min.= 1. To. Gal. 2. Voy. Ger. 3. To. Cen. Gal. - 4. Ret. Beth. - - VI. =Ev. Lat. Gal. Min.=-- - _Jour. 1._ 1. Wid. So. Rai. 2. Wash. Sav. Fe. - _Jour. 2._ 3. Par. Sea. 4. Still Tem. 5. Gad. Dem. Res. 6. Jai. - Dau. Ra. - _Jour. 3._ 7. Sec. Rej. Naz. 8. Sen. Twel. - _Jour. 4._ 9. Fe. Fi. Th. 10 Wal. Sea. 11. Dis. Br. Li. - - -Questions for Review - -PART TWO - -[Review the Questions with Part One.] - - How many journeys are named with the later Galilean - ministry? What was the first journey of the later - Galilean ministry? The second journey? The third? The - fourth? What two events took place with the tour in - southern Galilee? What four events with the Gadarene - voyage? What two events with the tour in Central - Galilee? What three events with the retirement to - Bethsaida? - - - - -SEVENTH STUDY - -The Year of Opposition - -From the Retirement to Phoenicia to the Anointing by Mary - - -PART ONE - -I. =General Aspects of the Period.= - -1. =It was a year, lacking one week.= Jesus did not attend the third -passover of his ministry. We find him at this time still in Galilee, and -soon afterward leaving Galilee for "the coasts of Tyre and Sidon" (John -7. 1-3; Mark 7. 24). Nearly a year later, on the week before the fourth -passover, we find Jesus at Bethany, where the anointing by Mary took -place (John 12. 1, 2). Between these two passovers came the year of -opposition. - -2. =It was a year of wandering.= During this period we notice that Jesus -was in constant motion, staying only a little while at each place, and -in succession visiting all the five provinces of Palestine. Notice the -province referred to in each of the following references: John 7. 1; -Mark 7. 31; Mark 8. 27; Luke 9. 51, 52; Mark 10. 1; John 10. 40. - -3. =It was a year of retirement.= We do not find that Jesus sought the -multitudes during this year, though in new places he was sought by them -(Luke 11. 29; 12. 1). He seems to have chosen most of the time a -secluded life, preferring to be alone with his disciples. See instances -in Mark 7. 24, 32, 33, 36; 8. 22, 23, 26; 9. 30. - -4. =It was a year of instruction.= He chose to be alone with his -disciples, knowing that he was rapidly nearing the close of his life on -earth; and he wished to instruct his chosen followers in the deeper -truths of the gospel before he should be taken from them. His teaching -in this period presented the spiritual side of truth and the doctrines -of the cross. Notice how often during this year he foretold his own -death (Mark 8. 31; 9. 31, 32; 10. 32-34; John 12. 7, 8). - -5. =It was a year of opposition.= Nearly all the people had now -forsaken Jesus and turned against him. Note the attitude of the -Pharisees. (Matt 12. 23, 24, 38, 39; 23. 23.) The Sadducees, who were -the office-holding class, are mainly referred to in John 11. 47, 48, 53. -The attitude of the people. (John 6. 66.) Jesus was now rejected by the -rulers, the leaders of the religious class, and by the people. - -II. =The Localities of the Period.= Beside the five provinces, Judea, -Samaria, Galilee, Bashan and Peræa, two other lands or districts are -named: - -1. =Phoenicia=, called in the gospels "the borders of Tyre and Sidon," -narrow strip of territory between Mount Lebanon and the Mediterranean -Sea, northwest of Palestine. - -2. =Decapolis.= The word means "ten cities," and refers to a region, -partly in Bashan and partly in Peræa, wherein were ten important cities, -not Jewish but Gentile. - -In addition to the above we meet with names of eight cities: - -3. =Cæsarea Philippi=, at the foot of Mount Hermon, in the province of -Bashan. - -4. =Bethsaida=, on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. - -5. =Capernaum=, on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. - -6. =Bethabara=, in the Jordan Valley, east of the river, south of the -Sea of Galilee. - -7. =Jericho=, in the Jordan Valley, west of the river, near the head of -the Dead Sea. - -8. =Jerusalem=, the capital. - -9. =Bethany=, two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the -Mount of Olives. - -10. =Ephraim=, or Ephron, fourteen miles north of Jerusalem, among the -mountains. - -III. =The Journeys and Events of the Period.= The information upon this -year is meager, and it is impossible to arrange its places and facts -with absolute certainty. No other period is so uncertain in the order of -its events as this. We trace in this period nine journeys; and with each -journey call attention to the most important events connected with it. -The first journey begins at Capernaum. - -1. =A Visit to Phoenicia.= (From Capernaum to Phoenicia.) (Matt. 15. -21). This was the only land outside of Palestine visited by Jesus, and -it is uncertain how far he entered within its limits. He sought -retirement and opportunity of instructing his disciples (Mark 7. 24). - -On this journey was wrought the miracle on the =Syrophenician Woman's -Daughter= (Mark 7. 25, 26), in which Jesus showed his disciples that -Gentiles may have true faith. - -[Illustration: _YEAR OF OPPOSITION._] - -2. =A Visit to Decapolis.= Finding seclusion impossible he went around -Galilee to Decapolis, east of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 7. 31). - -Here two miracles were wrought: 1.) =Healing the Deaf Man.= Notice its -peculiarities in Mark 7. 32-37. 2.) =Feeding the Four Thousand= (Mark 8. -1-9). Notice its differences from a former miracle in the preceding -period. - -3. =A Visit to Cæsarea Philippi.= (Decapolis to Dalmanutha, Bethsaida, -and Cæsarea Philippi.) Trace the route from Mark 8. 10, 22, 27. - -During this journey occurred four events: 1.) =Healing the Blind Man= -(Mark 8. 22-26). This was at Bethsaida. 2.) =Peter's Confession= (Matt. -16. 13-20). 3.) =The Transfiguration= (Mark 9. 2-8). 4.) =Healing the -Demoniac Boy= (Mark 9. 14-29). These three events were at Cæsarea -Philippi. - -4. =A Visit to Capernaum.= (Cæsarea Philippi to Capernaum.) (Mark 9. -33). Notice that his coming was unattended by the crowds of former times -(Mark 9. 33). This visit is noteworthy as his farewell to the city which -had been his home. - -On this visit took place the touching incident of the =Child in the -Midst= (Mark 9. 36, 37). - - -PART TWO - -5. =A Visit to Jerusalem.= (Capernaum, through Samaria, to Jerusalem.) -See Luke 9. 51, 52. His visit to the capital was for the purpose of -attending the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7. 2, 10, 14) and he seems to -have remained until the Feast of Dedication, two months later. - -In connection with this visit note, 1.) =The Rejection by Samaritans= -(Luke 9. 52-56). 2.) =Mary and Martha= (Luke 10. 38-42). 3.) =The Pool -of Siloam= (John 9. 1-7). 4.) =The Good Shepherd= (John 10. 1-18). - -6. =A Visit to Bethabara.= (Jerusalem to Bethabara.) From the Feast of -Dedication Jesus went down to Bethabara, evidently with the purpose of -beginning a ministry in Peræa (John 10. 39, 40). - -With this journey we place =Sending out the Seventy= (Luke 10. 1). These -messengers were sent out to prepare for the visit of Jesus to a new -province. - -7. =A Visit to Bethany= (John 11. 1, 7.) From Bethabara Jesus was -suddenly called to Bethany, near Jerusalem (John 11. 18). - -With this visit we place the =Raising of Lazarus= (John 11. 1-46), a -miracle narrated only by John, and told because it led directly to the -conspiracy against the life of Jesus (John 11. 47, 48). - -8. =A Visit to Peræa.= (From Bethany to Ephraim and Peræa.) Trace the -journey from John 11. 54, and Mark 10. 1. Jesus stayed some months in -Peræa, preaching to his people. - -Many events might be given with this Peræan ministry, of which we name -only, 1.) =Blessing the Children= (Mark 10. 13-16). 2.) =The Rich Young -Ruler= (Mark 10. 17-25). 3.) =Parable of the Prodigal Son= (Luke 15. -11-32). - -9. =A Second Visit to Bethany.= (From Peræa, through Jericho, to -Bethany.) Notice the journey in Mark 10. 32, 46; John 12. 1. - -With this journey notice the events, 1.) =The Healing of Bartimæus= -(Mark 10. 46, 52). 2.) =The Visit to Zacchæus= (Luke 19. 1-10). 3.) =The -Anointing by Mary= (John 12. 1-8). This brings the life of Christ within -one week of the Crucifixion, and completes the period. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Gen. Asp.= 1. Year. 2. Wan. 3. Ret. 4. Ins. 5. Opp. - - II. =Loc. Per.= La. Ph. Dec. Cit. C. P. B. C. B. J. J. B. E. - - III. =Jour.= 1. =Vis. Phoe.= 1.) Syr. Wom. Dau. - 2. =Vis. Dec.= 1.) He. De. M. 2.) Fe. Fou. Thou. - 3. =Vis. Ces. Phil.= 1.) Hea. Bl. M. 2.) Pet. Con. 3.) Trans. - 4.) Hea. Dem. B. - 4. =Vis. Cap.= 1.) Ch. Mid. - 5. =Vis. Jer.= 1.) Rej. Sam. 2.) M. and M. 3.) P. Sil. - 4.) G. Sh. - 6. =Vis. Beth.= 1.) Sen. 70. - 7. =Vis. Beth.= 1.) Rai. Laz. - 8. =Vis. Per.= 1.) Bl. Ch. 2.) R. Yo. Ru. 3.) Par. Prod. So. - 9. =Sec. Vis. Beth.= 1.) Hea. Bar. 2.) Vis. Zac. - 3.) Anoin. Ma. - - -Review Questions - - With what event does the Year of Opposition begin? - With what does it end? How long was it? Where was it - passed? How did it differ from the preceding year? Why - did Jesus seek retirement at this time? What was the - feeling of the people toward Jesus? What land outside - of Palestine was visited by Jesus? What miracle was - wrought during this visit? Where was the Second - Journey of this Period? What two miracles were wrought - at this time? What was the Third Journey? Name four - events connected with this journey. What was the - Fourth Journey? The Fifth Journey? Name four events - with this journey. Where did Jesus go for the Sixth - Journey? Whom did he send out at this time, and for - what purpose? What was the place and what the purpose - of the Seventh Journey? Where was the Eighth Journey? - What took place with this journey? What was the Ninth - Journey? Name three events of this journey. - - - - -EIGHTH STUDY - -The Week of the Passion - -From the Triumphal Entry Until the Agony in the Garden - - -I. =General View of the Period.= - -1. Our studies have now reached the close of the Saviour's ministry and -have brought us to his =last visit to Jerusalem=. This period presents -the last appeal of Jesus to the Jewish people and his final -conversations with his disciples before his death. - -2. Strictly speaking, "the week of the passion" or suffering of Jesus -should include all the events from his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on -Sunday until his burial on Friday evening. But the events of the day of -his crucifixion were so many and so important as to make that day a -period by itself, and we therefore consider at present only =five days=, -from the Sunday morning to the Thursday night of the Jewish Passover, -the night before the Saviour's crucifixion. - -3. All its events took place in or =near Jerusalem=. On each morning -Jesus went from Bethany, where he remained at night with his friends, -the household of Mary and Martha; and on each evening except the last he -returned to Bethany. The days were mostly spent in Jerusalem. - -II. In the study of this period we note the following =Places=: - -1. =Bethany=, a small village on the eastern slope of the Mount of -Olives. It was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11. 1). Its -distance from Jerusalem (John 11. 18). The lodging place of Jesus at -this time (Matt. 21. 17). - -2. =The Temple= in Jerusalem. Here Jesus passed most of the time during -the first three days of this week in discussion with the Jews (Luke 21. -37). The part of the temple in which Jesus taught (John 8. 20; Mark 12. -41). This was the Court of the Women, called "the treasury" because of -boxes for contributions upon its walls. It was inside the larger Court -of the Gentiles, and was about two hundred and thirty feet square, open -above to the sky, but with galleries around. - -3. =The Supper room.= See Mark 14. 13-17. The place is unknown; but -there is on Mount Zion a locality pointed out by tradition which may or -may not be correct. This was probably the "upper room" used as a meeting -place after the Resurrection and Ascension (John 20. 19; Acts 1. 13; 2. -1). - -4. =The Mount of Olives.= This is a range of hills east of Jerusalem and -separated from the Temple by the Valley of the Kedron (John 18. 1). Its -distance from the city (Acts 1. 12). Here began the Triumphal Entry -(Luke 19. 37). From this height Jesus gave his prophecy of the -destruction of the city (Mark 13. 3, 4). - -5. =The Garden of Gethsemane.= The word means "oil-press," and suggests -that it was an olive orchard on the western slope of the Mount of Olives -(Mark 14. 26, 32). A garden is still shown which may be the true -locality of the Agony. - -Let the student draw a map of Jerusalem and its surroundings and locate -upon it the above places, not failing to search out the references and -associate the events with their localities. - -III. We draw on our map and fix in our memory the following =Journeys=: - -1. =On Sunday, the First Journey; from Bethany to the Temple and -Return.= On the first day of the week Jesus left Bethany, entered in -triumphal procession into Jerusalem, looked around on the Temple, and at -evening returned to Bethany. - -2. =On Monday, the Second Journey; from Bethany to the Temple and -Return.= Early in the morning, without waiting for breakfast, Jesus left -Bethany (Mark 11. 12), and crossed the ridge of the Mount of Olives, on -the way cursing the barren fig tree. He cleansed the Temple of its -traders, and at evening returned again to Bethany (Mark 11. 19). - -3. =On Tuesday, the Third Journey; from Bethany to the Temple and -Return.= This was the last day of Christ's public teaching, closing with -a terrible denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees. Toward evening he -went out of the Temple for the last time, sat upon the Mount of Olives -with his disciples, and gave to them his prediction of the destruction -of the city (Mark 13. 1-4). - -4. =On Thursday afternoon, the Fourth Journey; from Bethany to the -Supper room.= Take notice that no journey or event is named by any -evangelist as taking place on Wednesday. Probably the day was passed in -seclusion and meditation, for no conversations with disciples are -recorded. On Thursday afternoon Jesus with his disciples left Bethany -and walked over the mountain and the valley to Jerusalem (Mark 14. 16, -17), where they celebrated the passover and partook of the Last Supper -together. Afterward came the long conversations recorded in John 13 to -17. - -5. =On Thursday, at about midnight, the Fifth Journey; from the Supper -room to Gethsemane.= The Saviour and his eleven disciples went from the -supper room into the silent streets of Jerusalem, through the gate, and -into the valley of Kedron. They crossed the brook and entered the Garden -of Gethsemane, where the Agony took place, and immediately after it the -Arrest (John 18. 1). - -IV. We now pass in order the =Events= of these five days: - -1. =The Triumphal Entry.= (Sunday.) (Mark 11. 1-10.) Compare the -accounts and note the additions made by John. (John 12. 12-16.) - -2. =The Barren Fig tree.= (Monday.) (Mark 11. 12-14.) This was not a -wanton or petulant act of cursing. The tree was a vivid picture of the -Jewish state, bearing leaves but no fruit, and the miracle was wrought -as a warning of impending doom. - -3. =Cleansing the Temple.= (Monday.) (Mark 11. 15-17.) Once before, in -the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had purged the Temple (John 2. -13-16). But the former abuses had crept in again, and Christ again -proclaimed his authority in his Father's house. - -4. =The Last Discourses.= (Tuesday.) (Mark 11. 27; 12. 44.) On this day -Jesus met and vanquished in debate successively the rulers (Mark 11. -27-33); the Pharisees (Mark 12. 1-12; Matt. 21. 45); the Herodians (Mark -12. 13-17); the Sadducees (Mark 12. 18-27); and the scribes (Mark 12. -28-37). He closed his ministry with a rebuke to the scribes and -Pharisees (Matt. 23. 1-39); and after commending the gift of the widow -(Mark 12. 41-44) went out of the Temple, never to return (Mark 13. 1, -2.) - -5. =The Prophecy of the Last Things.= (Tuesday.) In the afternoon of -that day Jesus sat with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, and -looking down upon the city gave a prophecy to his disciples, mingling -the predictions of the city's overthrow and of the end of the world -(Mark 13. 1-37). In Matthew are added two parables--the Ten Virgins -(Matt. 25. 1-13), and the Talents (Matt. 25. 14-30), and also the -description of the Last Judgment (Matt. 25. 31-46). - -6. =The Retirement at Bethany.= (Wednesday.) Inasmuch as none of the -gospels mention any event of Wednesday we assume that the day was passed -in retirement. - -7. =The Last Supper.= (Thursday.) On the afternoon of Thursday Jesus -went to Jerusalem with the Twelve, partook of the Passover, and at its -close instituted the Lord's Supper (Mark 14. 12-31). - -8. =The Last Conversation.= (Thursday evening.) (John 14 to 18.) After -the Supper the long conversation took place recorded in full by John, -and scarcely mentioned in the other gospels. - -9. =The Agony in the Garden.= (Thursday, midnight.) Late at night Jesus -crossed the brook Kedron and entered the Garden of Gethsemane, where the -Agony came upon him (Mark 14. 32-42). - - -Blackboard Outline - -THE WEEK OF THE PASSION - - I. =Gen. Vi.= 1. La. Vis. Jer. 2. Fi. Da. 3. Ne. Jer. - - II. =Pla.= 1. Beth. 2. Tem. 3. Sup.-ro. 4. Mo. Oli. 5. Gar. Geth. - - III. =Jour.= 1. (Sun.) Be. Tem. Re. 2. (Mon.) Be. Tem. Re. 3. (Tu.) - Be. Tem. Re. 4. (Thu.) Be. Sup.-ro. 5. (Thu.) Sup.-ro. Geth. - - IV. =Events.= 1. Tri. Ent. (Sun.) 2. Bar. Fig. tr. (Mon.) 3. Cl. - Tem. (Mon.) 4. La. Dis. (Tue.) 5. Pro. La. Th. (Tue.) 6. Ret. - Beth. (Wed.) 7. La. Sup. (Thu.) 8. La. Con. (Thu.) 9. Ag. - Gar. (Thu.) - - -Questions for Review - - Where did the events of this period take place? - Between what days did they occur? In what village did - Jesus pass most of the nights of this week? Where was - the Last Supper partaken? Where did Jesus begin his - triumphal entry into the city? What journey took place - on the Sunday of this week? On Monday? On Tuesday? On - Thursday afternoon? Name the events of Sunday. Of - Monday. Of Tuesday. Of Wednesday. Of Thursday. - - - - -NINTH STUDY - -The Day of the Crucifixion - -From the Betrayal to the Burial of Jesus - - -I. =General View of the Period.= - -1. This period embraces the events of but =one day= in the life of -Jesus. It was the day following the Passover Day, and therefore the -fifteenth of the month Nisan, in the Jewish year. See Num. 28. 16. - -The betrayal of Jesus took place a little after midnight, on Friday -morning, and the burial about sunset on the same day; so that the -transactions of the period include about eighteen hours. - -2. It was, however, =an eventful day= in the life of Jesus. No day in -all Bible story is narrated with the fullness of this day. Nearly -one-twelfth of the matter in the four gospels is occupied with the -account of this one day. If the whole story of Christ's life were -written out with equal completeness to this one day's record it would -require more than four hundred volumes as large as the New Testament. - -3. It was an =important day=; the most important in the history of the -world. Notice in the epistles how much more is said of the death of -Christ than of his life. See 1 Cor. 2. 2; Gal. 6. 14; 1 John 1. 7. -Because of its eventfulness and importance we should give it careful -study and place in order its events as a separate period in the life of -Jesus Christ. - -II. =The Places.= All these are in or near Jerusalem; but none of them -can be identified with certainty. Yet it is well to know the traditional -localities and to fix them upon the map of the city. There are five -places named in the story of this day. - -1. =The Garden of Gethsemane.= Here Jesus was arrested, immediately -after the agony (Mark 14. 43). See the mention of this locality in the -last study. - -2. =The High Priest's House= (Mark 14. 53, 54). The high priest at that -time was Caiaphas, but his father-in-law, Annas, who had been deposed by -the Romans, was still regarded by the Jews as the legitimate priest, -and possessed great authority. There was no special "palace" of the high -priest, and Annas and Caiaphas may have lived in the same group of -buildings. The place is located by tradition on Mount Zion, near that of -the supper room. - -3. =Pilate's Palace= (Mark 15. 1-16). The Roman capital of Judea was not -in Jerusalem, but at Cæsarea, where the procurator resided (Acts 23. 23, -24). But it was customary for the governor to visit Jerusalem at the -time of Passover, in order to quell any disturbance at that time, when -the city was thronged. Pilate may have made his headquarters in -Jerusalem either in the castle of Antonia, north of the temple (referred -to in Acts 21. 34, and elsewhere), or in the palace of Herod the Great -on the northwest corner of Mount Zion, the place now occupied by the -(so-called) Tower of David. The latter locality is accepted by the best -of the recent authorities. Here Jesus was brought for his trial and -sentence by Pontius Pilate. - -4. =Herod's Palace.= At that time Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and -Peræa (Luke 3. 1), the slayer of John the Baptist, was present in -Jerusalem attending the Passover, and to him Jesus was sent by Pilate -(Luke 23. 7). His abiding place was probably the old Maccabean palace, -about midway between the temple and Pilate's headquarters. - -5. =Calvary or Golgotha.= See Luke 23. 33 and Mark 15. 22 for the two -names, one of which is Greek, the other Hebrew, both meaning -"skull-like" or "the place of skulls." All positively known about this -place is that it was outside the wall, but near the city (John 19. 20). -Two localities are given: the traditional one, north of Zion and west of -the temple, now occupied by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; the other, -recently coming into notice and accepted by many scholars, a hill on the -north of the city, containing a great cave known as the "Grotto of -Jeremiah." We adopt the latter place as Calvary, although the evidence -is by no means certain. The place of the cross and that of the burial -were in the same locality (John 19. 41, 42). - -It would be well for the student to draw a rough diagram showing these -places in their general relation to each other, as above. - -III. We notice the =Journeys of Jesus= on the day of his crucifixion. - -1. =From Gethsemane to the High Priest's House.= From the Garden of -Gethsemane Jesus was taken to the high priest's house for examination -before Annas and Caiaphas (Luke 22. 54.) - -2. =From the High Priest's House to Pilate's Palace.= After examination -before the high priests and the Jewish council Jesus was led to Pilate -for another trial (Luke 23. 1). - -[Illustration] - -3. =From Pilate's Palace to Herod's Palace and return.= Pilate sent -Jesus to Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee; but Herod was unwilling to -pass judgment upon him and sent him back (Luke 23. 7-11). - -4. =From Pilate's Palace to Calvary.= At this second appearance before -Pilate Jesus was condemned to death, and was taken to Calvary, outside -the wall. Here he was crucified and after his death was buried (John 19. -16, 17, 41). - -Let the student draw on the diagram a line representing each of these -journeys and recall the events associated with them. - -In Jerusalem, at the present time, there is a street known as Via -Dolorosa, "the Sorrowful Way," over which Jesus is believed to have -carried his cross from Pilate's judgment hall to Calvary. But in our -view both Pilate's judgment hall and Calvary are wrongly located by -tradition, and therefore this path cannot be the true "way of the -cross." - -IV. =The Events.= We may group all the transactions of this momentous -day around eleven leading events: - -1. =The Betrayal= (Mark 14. 43-50). This was in the Garden of -Gethsemane, a little after midnight, and, therefore, on Friday, the 15th -of Nisan. See the more detailed account in John 18. 1-11. - -2. =Jesus before Annas= (John 18. 12, 13). This was a preliminary -examination, and not official in its character. - -3. =Jesus before Caiaphas= (John 18. 24). Read the account of the event -in Mark 14. 53-72. By comparing the four accounts we find that there was -first an examination before the high priest and such of the council as -could be gathered (Mark 14. 55), and then later a trial before the -entire Sanhedrin, or body of the elders (Luke 22. 66), at which Jesus -was condemned to death. Peter's denial took place in the house of the -high priest (John 18. 24, 25). - -4. =Jesus before Pilate.= The Jews had no power to sentence to death, -and hence were compelled to bring Jesus before Pilate (John 18. 28-32). -Notice that the Jews condemned Jesus on one ground, but accused him -before Pilate on another (Matt. 26. 65, 66; Luke 23. 2). The dialogue of -Pilate with Jesus is given in John 18. 29-37. Pilate declared Christ's -innocence and proposed that he should be released, but the people still -demanded that he should be put to death. - -5. =Jesus before Herod.= Pilate was unwilling to take the responsibility -either of putting to death an innocent man or of offending the Jews by -releasing him. He therefore sent him to Herod. But Herod also refused to -judge the case and after mocking Jesus sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23. -6-11). - -6. =Jesus Condemned to Death.= After Jesus was brought back Pilate still -endeavored to save his life. But instead of setting him free at once as -an innocent man he proposed to release him as an act of good feeling at -the Passover festival. The Jews chose Barabbas and rejected Jesus; and -at last Pilate gave unwilling sentence that Jesus should be crucified. -He was then delivered to the soldiers to be mocked and tortured (Luke -23. 13-25). - -7. =Jesus Bearing his Cross.= On the way from Pilate's palace to Calvary -Jesus was compelled to carry one of the beams of his own cross (John 19. -17). A part of the way his cross was carried by a man named Simon, of -Cyrene, in Africa (Mark 15. 21). - -8. =Jesus on the Cross.= At Calvary Jesus was fastened to the cross by -nails through his hands and feet (Luke 23. 33; John 20. 25). He was -crucified at nine o'clock in the morning and lived until three o'clock -in the afternoon (Mark 15. 25-34). The stupefying potion offered to him -before he was crucified (Mark 15. 23). Note the four versions of the -superscription (Matt. 27. 37; Mark 15. 26; Luke 23. 38; John 19. 19). -The witnesses (John 19. 25). - -9. =The Seven Words from the Cross.= The first word (Luke 23. 34). The -second word (John 19. 26, 27). The third word (Luke 23. 43). The fourth -word (Matt. 27. 46). The fifth word (John 19. 28). The sixth word (John -19. 30). The seventh word (Luke 23. 46). - -10. =The Death on the Cross.= The fact (Mark 15. 37). A remarkable -testimony (Mark 15. 39). A remarkable event (Matt. 27. 51-53). An -evidence of his death (John 19. 32-35). - -11. =The Burial.= Why the body was taken away (John 19. 31). How it was -obtained (John 19. 38). The preparation (John 19. 39, 40). The place of -burial (Matt. 27. 59, 60). The witnesses (Matt. 27. 61). The sealing of -the tomb (Matt. 27. 62-66). - - -Blackboard Outline - -DAY OF CRUCIFIXION - - I. =Gen. Vie.= 1. On. Da. 2. Ev. Da. 3. Imp. Da. - - II. =Pla.= 1. Gar. Geth. 2. H. P. Ho. 3. Pil. Pal. 4. Her. Pal. - 5. Cal. Gol. - - III. =Jour.= 1. Geth. H.-p. Ho. 2. H.-p Ho. Pil. Pal. 3. Pil. Pal. - Her. Pal. Re. 4. Pil. Pal. Calv. - - IV. =Events.= 1. Betr. 2. J. bef. Ann. 3. J. bef. Cai. 4. J. bef. - Pil. 5. J. bef. Her. 6. J. Con. Dea. 7. J. Bear. Cro. 8. J. - on Cro. 9. Sev. Wo. Cro. 10. De. Cro. 11. Bur. - - -Questions for Review - - How long was this period? What was its date in the - Jewish year? What shows that it was an eventful day? - Why was this the most important day in the world's - history? What are the five places named in this - period? State the probable location of each place. - Name four journeys of this period. Name eleven events - of this period. Before what rulers was Jesus brought - for examination or trial? State the seven utterances - of Jesus on the cross. What took place at the moment - of Jesus's death? Why was the body buried so soon? Why - was the tomb sealed? Who witnessed the burial? - - - - -TENTH STUDY - -The Forty Days of Resurrection - -From the Resurrection to the Ascension of Christ - - -I. =The Necessity of Christ's Resurrection.= Strange as the resurrection -may appear to men in general, and unexpected as it was to the disciples -of Jesus, it was the necessary completion of his work on earth. - -1. It was necessary =from the nature of Christ=. A divine man, it was -impossible that he should be held in the grave (Acts 2. 24). His -resurrection showed that he was the Son of God (Rom. 1. 4). - -2. It was necessary =for the fulfillment of prophecy=. Jesus himself -declared that the prophecies pointed to his resurrection (Luke 24. 45, -46). The apostles constantly appealed to the Old Testament prophecies -(Acts 13. 34, 35; 26. 22, 23; 1 Cor. 15. 4). - -3. It was necessary for the =work of redemption=. He lived as our -example, and he must appear before God as our high priest and mediator -(Rom. 4. 25; 8. 34; 1 Cor. 15. 17). - -4. It was necessary for the =faith of the disciples=. If Christ had not -risen the world would never have heard of his life and the church would -never have existed (1 Cor. 15. 19, 20; 1 Pet. 1. 3). - -5. It was necessary to =attest Christ's authority=. But for the -resurrection the name of Jesus could have possessed no more weight than -any other name. Raised from the dead he has all power (Matt. 28. 18; -Acts 13. 33; 17. 31). - -6. It was necessary as a =pledge of our resurrection=. If Christ rose we -too shall rise (Acts 26. 23; 1 Cor. 15. 12, 20-23). - -II. =The Fact of Christ's Resurrection.= - -1. =It was proved by the testimony of witnesses.= See Acts 1. 3; 2. 32. -The conduct of the disciples before and after the resurrection was in -itself a proof. Before they were in sorrow (Mark 16. 10; Luke 24. 17). -Afterward they were glad (Luke 24. 52; John 20. 20). The Christian -Church to-day is the best evidence; for without the resurrection it -could never have been established. - -2. =It was effected by the power of God.= (Acts 3. 15; Rom. 8. 11; Eph. -1. 20). Jesus speaks of his own power in connection with this (John 2. -19; 10. 18). The Holy Spirit is also mentioned as raising Christ from -the dead (1 Peter 3. 18). - -3. It took place =on the first day of the week=. (Mark 16. 9). In -commemoration of this event the first day of the week was observed by -the early Church (Acts 20. 7; 1 Cor. 16. 2). The name given to this day -(Rev. 1. 10). - -4. It took place on =the third day after his death=. The body of Jesus -was in the grave between thirty and thirty-six hours--from sunset on -Friday to daybreak on Sunday. But in the Jewish notation of time this -was three days (Luke 24. 46; Acts 10. 40; 1 Cor. 15. 4). - -III. =The Ten Appearances of Jesus after his Resurrection.= It is not -easy, perhaps not possible, to harmonize precisely all the accounts in -the gospels and in 1 Cor. 15. 4-7. But the best authorities unite in the -following order of the manifestations of Christ between the resurrection -and the ascension: - -1. =To Mary Magdalene= (Mark 16. 9). This was at the sepulcher, very -soon after the resurrection. Several women went to the sepulcher, found -it open, and were told by an angel that Jesus had risen. They went to -bear the news to the disciples (Mark 16. 1-8; Matt. 28. 1-8; Luke 24. -1-10). Mary Magdalene returned after the rest had gone and saw the risen -Lord (John 20. 1-18). Notice that this Mary is to be carefully -distinguished from Mary of Bethany, John 11. 2, and from the unnamed -woman in Luke 7. 37. - -2. =To the other women= (Matt. 28. 9). This was near the sepulcher, a -few minutes later than the first appearance. The names of these women -(Mark 16. 1; Luke 24. 10). - -3. =To two disciples= (Luke 24. 13-32). The place where Jesus was -revealed (Luke 24. 13). The name of Luke's probable informant (Luke 24. -18). - -4. =To Peter= (Luke 24. 33, 34; 1 Cor. 15. 5). This was in Jerusalem. -What took place at this meeting has not been revealed. - -5. =To ten disciples= (Luke 24. 36-43). Another account in John 20. -19-25. This was in the upper room in Jerusalem, where the Last Supper -had been partaken, and it was on the evening of the day of -resurrection. - -6. =To eleven disciples= (John 20. 26-29). This was in the same place a -week later. - -7. =To seven disciples= at the Sea of Galilee (John 21. 1-22). At this -interview Peter was reinstated in his apostleship. - -8. =To five hundred disciples= (1 Cor. 15. 6). This was the official -manifestation of Christ appointed before his death (Matt. 26. 32; 28. -16). It took place "on the mountain" (Rev. Ver.), probably where the -Sermon on the Mount was preached. At this time the great commission was -given (Matt. 28. 18-20). - -9. =To James= (1 Cor. 15. 7). Nothing is known about this meeting. The -relationship of James to Jesus (Mark 6. 3; Gal. 1. 19). Allusions to him -in Acts 15. 13; 21. 18. His epistle (James 1. 1). Probably this -appearance was in Jerusalem (Acts 1. 14). - -10. =The Ascension= (Luke 24. 50-53; Acts 1. 9). This was at Bethany, on -the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives (Acts 1. 12). The promise at -his departure (Acts 1. 10, 11). - -This list of appearances should be carefully memorized and the place of -each noted on the map, with its circumstances and events. - -IV. =The Traits of the Risen Christ.= There were some respects in which -Jesus after his resurrection was the same as he had been before; but -there were also some essential differences. - -1. =He was the very same Jesus.= It was not a spirit, a disembodied -ghost, which appeared to the disciples. He possessed personal identity, -and was the living one whom the disciples had known before. See Luke 24. -39, 40; John 20. 27. - -2. =He appeared only occasionally.= He did not come to remain with his -people, for it was better for them that he should go away (John 16. 7). -He manifested himself after his resurrection often enough to strengthen -faith, but not enough to lead his disciples to lean upon his presence. - -3. =He appeared to his disciples only= (Acts 10. 40, 41). Why he did not -appear to unbelievers (Luke 16. 31). His personal ministry was ended, -and henceforth he was to speak to men through his messengers (2 Cor. 5. -19, 20). - -4. =He possessed a spiritual body.= There is a spiritual body (1 Cor. -15. 40-44). Christ possessed such a body, uncontrolled by physical law, -but dominated by the spirit. He came and went at will (Luke 24. 36; John -20. 19). He withheld himself from recognition or permitted it as he -chose (Luke 24. 15, 16; 24. 30, 31; John 20. 14-16; 21. 4-7). With us -the body limits the spirit; with him the spirit controlled the body. - -5. =He recognized individuals= after his resurrection. The grave had not -blotted out his memory of the past nor of his personal regard for -people. He called his friends by name after his resurrection (Matt. 28. -10; John 20. 16; 20. 26; 21. 15). He showed the same spirit of -affection, of tenderness, and of patience with the mistakes of his -followers as he had shown during his earthly life. His gentleness toward -a sorrowing woman (John 20. 11-15). His kindness toward a doubting -disciple (John 20. 24-29). His forgiveness of a denying disciple (John -21. 15-19). Such were the traits which he bore away from earth, and such -are the traits which he bears still on his throne. - - -Blackboard Outline - -THE FORTY DAYS OF RESURRECTION - - I. =Nec. Chr. Res.= 1. Nat. Ch. 2. Ful. pro. 3. Wo. red. 4. Fai. - dis. 5. Att. Chr. auth. 6. Pl. ou. res. - - II. =Fac. Chr. Res.= 1. Pro. tes. wit. 2. Eff. pow. G. 3. Fir. da. - we. 4. Th. d. af. de. - - III. =Ten. App. Je. af. Res.= 1. Ma. Mag. [Sep.] 2. Oth. wom. [Sep.] - 3. Tw. dis. [Emm.] 4. Pet. [Jer.] 5. Ten dis. [Jer.] 6. Elev. - dis. [Jer.] 7. Sev. dis. [Sea Gal.] 8. Fiv. hun. dis. - [Mt. Gal.] 9. Jas. [Jer.] 10. Asc. [Beth.] - - IV. =Tra. Ris. Chr.= 1. Ver. sa. Jes. 2. Ap. on occ. 3. To dis. - on. 4. Pos. spir. bod. 5. Rec. ind. - - -Questions for Review - - Why was the resurrection of Jesus Christ a necessity? - What proves the fact of the resurrection? How was the - resurrection effected? When did it take place? How - long after the death of Jesus was his resurrection? - How many times did Jesus appear after his - resurrection? To whom did he appear first? What were - the circumstances of this appearance? What were the - five appearances on the day of resurrection? Name the - instances when Jesus appeared during the forty days - after the resurrection day. What were the traits of - the risen Christ? What was the nature of his body - after his resurrection? - - - - -ELEVENTH STUDY - -The New Testament World - - -We have seen that the life of Jesus Christ while on earth was limited to -the land of Palestine. But in a few years the church founded by his -apostles overstepped the boundaries of that land; and its scope became -world-wide. Therefore as we begin the history of the Early Church it -becomes necessary for us to study =the New Testament World=. - -Comparing the maps before us with that of the Old Testament World we -find that in the four centuries between the events of the Old and New -Testaments the dominion of the world passed from Asia to Europe, and -Jerusalem, which had been in the center, became one of the cities upon -the extreme east. Hence our map moves with the course of the empire -westward a thousand miles. - -I. We draw the outlines of the most important =Seas=. These are: - -1. The =Mediterranean Sea=, from its eastern limits as far west as -Italy. Voyages on it are referred to in Acts 9. 30; 13. 4; 21. 1, 2; 27. -3. - -2. The =Sea of Galilee=, associated with the life of Christ. Find its -three different names in Matt. 15. 29; John 6. 1; Luke 5. 1. - -3. The =Dead Sea=, not named in the New Testament. - -4. The =Black Sea=, north of Asia Minor. - -5. The =Ægean Sea=, between Asia Minor and Greece. Voyages upon it (Acts -16. 11; 18. 18; 20. 13-15). - -6. The =Adriatic Sea=, between Greece and Italy (Acts 27. 27). - -II. In these seas are many =Islands=, of which we name five of the most -noteworthy in New Testament history: - -1. =Cyprus=, in the northeast corner of the Mediterranean (Acts 4. 36; -13. 4). - -2. =Crete=, south of the Ægean Sea, between Asia Minor and Greece (Acts -27. 7; Titus 1. 5). - -3. =Patmos=, in the Ægean Sea, not far from Ephesus (Rev. 1. 9). - -4. =Sicily=, southwest of Italy (Acts 28. 12). - -5. =Melita=, now Malta, south of Sicily (Acts 28. 1). - -III. We locate the different =Provinces=, arranging them in four groups. - -[Illustration: MAP OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WORLD] - -1. Those on the continent of =Europe= are: 1.) =Thrace.= 2.) =Macedonia= -(Acts 14. 9, 10; 20. 1-3). 3.) =Greece=, also called =Achaia= (Acts 18. -12; 20. 3). 4.) =Illyricum= (Rom. 15. 19). 5.) =Italy= (Acts 27. 1). - -2. Those on the continent of =Africa= are: 1.) =Africa Proper.= 2.) -=Libya= (Acts 2. 10) 3.) =Egypt= (Matt. 2. 13). - -3. Those on the continent of =Asia=, exclusive of Asia Minor, are: 1.) -=Arabia=, perhaps referring to the desert region southeast of Palestine -(Gal. 1. 17). 2.) =Judea=, the Jewish name for all Palestine, in the New -Testament period (Luke 1. 5). 3.) =Phoenicia= (Mark 7. 24; Acts 15. 3; -21. 2). 4.) =Syria=, north of Palestine (Acts 15. 41; 20. 3). - -4. The provinces in =Asia Minor= are so frequently mentioned in the Acts -and Epistles that it is necessary for the student to learn their names -and locations. We divide the fourteen provinces into four groups. - - (_a_) Three on the Black Sea, beginning on the east. - 1.) =Pontus= (Acts 18. 2). 2.) =Paphlagonia.= 3.) - =Bithynia= (Peter 1. 1). - - (_b_) Three on the Ægean Sea, beginning on the north. - 4.) =Mysia= (Acts 16. 7). 5.) =Lydia.= 6.) =Caria.= - These three provinces together formed the district - known as "Asia" (Acts 2. 9; 19. 10). - - (_c_) Three on the Mediterranean Sea, beginning on the - west. 7.) =Lycia= (Acts 27. 5). 8.) =Pamphylia= (Acts - 13. 13). 9.) =Cilicia= (Acts 21. 39). - - (_d_) Five in the interior. 10.) On the north, - =Galatia= (Gal. 1. 2). 11.) On the east, =Cappadocia= - (Acts 2. 9). 12.) On the southeast, =Lycaonia= (Acts - 14. 6). 13.) On the southwest, =Pisidia= (Acts 13. - 14). 14.) On the west =Phrygia= (Acts 16. 6). - -IV. We notice the twelve most important =Places=. - -1. =Alexandria=, the commercial metropolis of Egypt (Acts 18. 24). - -2. =Jerusalem=, the religious capital of the Jewish world (Matt. 4. 5; -Luke 24. 47). - -3. =Cæsarea=, the Roman capital of Judea (Acts 10. 1; 23. 23, 24). - -4. =Damascus=, in the southern part of Syria (Acts 19. 3). - -5. =Antioch=, the capital of Syria, in the north (Acts 11. 26; 13. 1). - -6. =Tarsus=, the birthplace of St. Paul, in Cilicia (Acts 22. 3). - -7. =Ephesus=, the metropolis of Asia Minor, in the province of Lydia -(Acts 19. 1). - -8. =Philippi=, in Macedonia, where the gospel was first preached in -Europe (Acts 16. 12). - -9. =Thessalonica=, the principal city in Macedonia (Acts 17. 1; Thess 1. -1). - -10. =Athens=, the literary center of Greece (Acts 17. 16). - -11. =Corinth=, the political capital of Greece (Acts 18. 1-12). - -12. =Rome=, the imperial city (Acts 28. 16; Rom. 1. 7). - -Other lands and places are referred to as Elam, Parthia, and Media, all -east of the Euphrates river (Acts 2. 9). Ethiopia, south of Egypt in -Africa (Acts 8. 27), and Babylon on the Euphrates (1 Peter 5. 13); but -these places are outside the general history of the church. - - -Hints to the Teacher and Her Class. Eleventh Study - - In teaching this lesson let the conductor sketch the - outline of the map upon the board and drill upon the - seas; then draw and name the islands; then drill upon - the provinces, etc. Review until the lesson is learned - by all the class. - - The student should search all the references and be - able to state the events connected with each locality. - - It would be well for the student to find additional - Scripture references to all the localities. - - Let each student practice the drawing of the map at - home, until he can draw it without copy. Then, in - presence of the class, let one student draw on the - blackboard in presence of the class the boundary lines - of the continents; or one the boundary line in Asia; - another in Europe; and a third in Africa. Then let - another draw and name the islands; and others locate - and name the provinces in Asia, Europe, and Africa; - and finally let the twelve cities be located and - named. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Se.= Med. Gal. De. Bl. Æg. Adr. - - II. =Isl.= Cyp. Cre. Pat. Sic. Mel. - - III. =Prov.= 1. =Eur.= Thr. Mac. Gre. (Ach.) Ill. It. 2. =Afr.= - Af.-Pr. Lib. Eg. 3. =Asi.= Ar. Jud. Phoe. Syr. 4. =As. Min.= - (_a_) Pon. Paph. Bit. (_b_) Mys. Lyd. Car. (_c_) Lyc. Pam. Cil. - (_d_) Gal. Cap. Lyc. Pi. Ph. - - IV. =Pla.= Alex. Jer. Cæs. Dam. Ant. Tar. Eph. Phi. Thes. Ath. Cor. - Ro. - - -Questions for Review - - What difference is to be noted between the map of the - Old Testament world and that of the New? Name six seas - in the New Testament world. State the location of - each of these seas. Name five islands in the New - Testament world. Give the location of each island. - Name in order the provinces in Europe in the New - Testament world. Name the provinces in Africa. Name - the provinces in Asia, exclusive of Asia Minor. Name - the provinces of Asia Minor bordering on the Black - Sea. Name the provinces on the Ægean Sea. Name the - provinces on the Mediterranean Sea. Name and locate - each of the interior provinces. What city of the New - Testament world was in Africa? What cities were in - Judea and Syria? What cities were in Asia Minor? What - cities were in Europe? - - - - -TWELFTH STUDY - -The Synagogue - - -Before beginning the history of the Early Church, we must study one -institution which formed an important link between the Old Testament and -the New; and more than any other institution prepared the way for the -gospel throughout the Jewish world. That institution was the synagogue. - -I. =Its Origin.= The synagogue arose during the captivity, when the -Temple was in ruins and the sacrifices were in abeyance. In the land of -captivity the people of God met for worship and fellowship, and out of -their meeting grew the synagogue, a word meaning "a coming together." It -is believed that the institution was organized as a part of the Jewish -system by Ezra, B. C. 440. - -II. =Its Universality.= There was but one temple, standing on Mount -Moriah, and only those who journeyed thither could attend its services. -But the synagogue was in every place where the Jews dwelt, both in -Palestine and throughout the world. Wherever ten Jewish heads of -families could be found there a synagogue would be established. There -were four hundred and sixty synagogues in Jerusalem; and every -nationality of Jews had its own (Acts 6. 9). - -III. =The Place of Meeting.= This might be a building erected for the -purpose, or a hired room, or even a place in the open air (Acts 16. 13). -This meeting place was employed for secular as well as religious uses. -Courts were held in it, and sentence was administered (Acts 22. 19), and -sometimes a school for teaching the law was held in it. Thus the -synagogue became a center of local influence. - -IV. =Its Arrangement.= Every ancient synagogue contained: - -1. _An_ "_ark_," which was the chest for the sacred rolls, and stood in -the end of the building toward Jerusalem. - -2. _Chief seats_, elevated, near and around the "ark," for the elders -and leading men (Matt. 23. 6). - -3. A desk for the reader standing upon a platform. - -4. Places for the worshipers, carefully graded according to rank, the -Gentile visitors having seats near the door of entrance. - -5. A lattice gallery where women could worship without being seen. - -V. =Its Officers.= These were: - -1. Three _rulers of the synagogue_, who directed the worship, managed -the business details, and possessed a limited judicial authority over -the Jews in the district (Mark 4. 22; Acts 13. 15). One of these was the -presiding officer, and called "_the_ ruler." - -2. The _chazzan_ (Luke 4. 20, "the minister"), who united the functions -of clerk, schoolmaster, sexton, and constable to administer sentence on -offenders. - -3. The _batlanim_, "men of ease," seven men who were chosen to act as a -legal congregation, were pledged to be present at the regular services, -and sometimes received a small fee for being present. - -VI. =Its Services.= These were held on Saturday, Monday, and Thursday, -and were conducted by the members in turn, several taking part in each -service. They consisted of: - -1. Forms of prayer, conducted by a leader, with the responses by the -worshipers. - -2. Reading of selections from the law and the prophets, according to an -appointed order (Acts 15. 21). The reading was in Hebrew, but it was -translated, verse by verse, into the language of the people, whether -Greek or Aramaic. - -3. Exposition or comment upon the Scripture, in which any member might -take part (Luke 4. 20, 21; Acts 13. 15, 16). - -VII. =Its Influence.= It is easy to perceive how widely and how -powerfully the results of such an institution would reach. - -1. It perpetuated the worship of God and united the worshipers. - -2. It supplied a more thoughtful and spiritual worship than the -elaborate ritual of the Temple. - -3. It promoted the study of the Old Testament Scriptures and made them -thoroughly familiar to every Jew. - -4. It attracted the devout and intelligent among the Gentiles, many of -whom became worshipers of God and were known as "proselytes of the gate" -(Acts 10. 1, 2). - -VIII. =Its Preparation for the Gospel.= It is evident that the apostles -and early Christian teachers were greatly aided by the synagogue. - -1. It furnished a _place_; for everywhere the church began in the -synagogue, even though it soon left it (Acts 13. 5; 18. 4; 19. 8). - -2. It prepared a _people_; for the synagogue was attended by the earnest -and thoughtful, both of Jews and Gentiles, who were thus made ready for -the higher truths of the gospel (Acts 13. 42, 43). - -3. It supplied a _plan of service_; for it is evident that the early -Christian worship was modeled, not on the ritual of the Temple, but on -the simpler forms of the synagogue. - -4. It gave a _system of organization_; for the Government of the early -church was similar to, and doubtless suggested by, that of the -synagogue. - - -Blackboard Outline - - I. =Ori.= Cap. Ez. B. C. 440. - - II. =Univ.= 10 fam. 460 Jer. - - III. =Pl. Meet.= Buil. ro. op. air. sec. us. - - IV. =Arr.= 1. Ark. 2. Ch. sea. 3. Desk. 4. Pla. wor. 5. Gal. - - V. =Off.= 1. Rul. 2. Chaz. 3. Batl. - - VI. =Serv.= 1. Pr. 2. Read. Ser. 3. Exp. - - VII. =Inf.= 1. Per. wor. 2. Spir. wor. 3. St. O. T. 4. Attr. Gen. - - VIII. =Prep. Gosp.= 1. Pla. 2. Peo. 3. Ser. 4. Org. - - -Review Questions - - Between what two institutions was the synagogue a link - of connection? How did the synagogue originate? Who - gave it definite organization? Wherein did it differ - from the temple and its services? Where were - synagogues formed? How many were in Jerusalem? What - buildings and places were used for the synagogue - service? To what secular uses were these buildings - put? What were the arrangements of the synagogue? - Where did the women worship? What was "the ark" in the - synagogue? Who were the officers? What was the - _chazzan_? Who were the _batlanim_? What were the - services of the synagogue? What influence did the - synagogue exert? Whom did the synagogue benefit - outside of the Jews? How did the synagogue prepare the - way for the gospel? - - - - -THIRTEENTH STUDY - -The Church in Judea - - -PART ONE - -From the Ascension of Christ A. D. 30, to the Appointment of the Seven -A. D. 35. - -We now enter upon the second great subject in New Testament history, the -Early Church. This will include the annals of the church from the -Ascension of Christ, A. D. 30, to the end of the apostolic age, A. D. -100. This epoch of seventy years is divided into four periods: - -1. _The church in Judea_, from the Ascension of Christ, A. D. 30, to the -Appointment of the Seven, A. D. 35. - -2. _The church in Transition_, from the Appointment of the Seven, A. D. -35, to the Council at Jerusalem, A. D. 50. - -3. _The church among the Gentiles_, from the Council at Jerusalem, A. D. -50, to the death of St. Paul, A. D. 68. - -4. _The End of the Age_, from the death of St. Paul to the death of St. -John, about A. D. 100. It should be noted that all of these dates are -uncertain and historians are not agreed with reference to them. - -Of these four periods we take up the first, the church in Judea, or "The -church of the First Days;" a space of about five years. During this time -the work of the church was confined wholly to the Jewish people, and -apparently to the immediate region of Jerusalem. - -I. We notice the =Events of this Period=. - -1. =The followers of Christ= immediately after the Ascension; a company -of people believing in Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. - - 1.) _Their number_ was 120 (Acts 1. 15). They were - mostly from Galilee (Acts 2. 7). They were all the - organized church at that time, although throughout the - land were thousands more ready to unite with them. - - 2.) _Their meeting place_ was "the upper room" (Acts - 1. 13), on Mount Zion, probably the room where the - "Last Supper" was held. Some think that this may have - been the house of Mary the mother of Mark, referred to - in Acts 12. 1, 2. - - 3.) _Their religious condition_ between the Ascension - and Pentecost was probably that of belief in Jesus as - the King of Israel, but with the conception of an - earthly kingdom (Acts 1. 6). They were waiting with - prayer for divine direction (Acts 1. 14). - -2. =The Outpouring of the Spirit= came upon this company on the day of -Pentecost, ten days after the Ascension, fifty days after the -Crucifixion. The spirit descended upon them all in the form of "tongues -of fire." - -1.) _Physical effect._ This was "the gift of tongues," a mysterious -influence (Acts 2. 2, 3). This was not a power to speak foreign -languages at will; but probably a strange divine speech, sounding to -everyone who heard it as though it were the language of his own people -(Acts 2. 8). - -2.) _Mental effect._ There came to these disciples a revelation, once -and for all, of Christ's kingdom, not as a political state, but as a -spiritual institution; a society of believers of which Jesus in glory is -the invisible yet real head. - -3.) _Spiritual effect._ This was the personal presence of the Holy -Spirit with each member; an indwelling life given not merely to the -apostles, but to each and every disciple; a divine enthusiasm, giving -guidance, enlightenment, power. Nor was that divine life limited to that -company. It has dwelt ever since in the church of Christ, and in each -member of the church, (1 Cor. 3. 16; 6. 19). - -3. =The Testimony of the Gospel.= 1.) The first effect of this new -endowment of the Holy Spirit was a strong testimony to the gospel of -Christ; a proclamation of _Jesus as the Messiah King_; and this -testimony was the conquering weapon of the church. 2.) This testimony -was given by _all_ the members. It is a mistake to suppose that the -church settled down in Jerusalem with Peter as its pastor and preacher. -Peter was the leader, but not the ruler of the church. Find four -addresses of Peter sketched in Acts 2-5; not "sermons" after the modern -method, but ardent declarations of Jesus as the Messiah; and similar -testimonies were given by all the members everywhere, in synagogues, in -houses, publicly and privately. - -4. =The Apostolic Miracles.= 1.) At the opening of the history of the -church we read of a _number of miracles_. a) A lame man healed. (Acts 3. -1-10). b) A miracle of judgment (Acts 5. 1-10). c) More miracles of -healing (Acts 5. 12-16). 2.) We can see the _purpose of these_ miracles -and how they were needed by the church in the day of its weakness. (a) -They attracted _attention_ to the gospel. (b) They gave _authority_ to -the apostles as teachers. (c) They were _illustrations_ of the spiritual -work of the gospel; i. e., healing of the lame man a type of salvation. - -5. =The Persecution of the Apostles.= It was inevitable that the -preaching of the apostles and the growing prominence of the church -should arouse opposition from the men who a few months before had -crucified Jesus. A persecution was begun, at first upon Peter and John, -then upon all the apostles. It was not sharp, murderous, crushing out -the church. The apostles were first threatened (Acts 4. 17), then -imprisoned (Acts 5. 18), then scourged (Acts 5. 40). The persecution -only attracted greater notice to the gospel, and led to increasing -numbers of believers. - -6. =The Growth of the Church= went on through all these experiences. -Beginning with 120, on the day of Pentecost 3,000 were received by -baptism (Acts 2. 41). There was a daily growth after (Acts 2. 47). Soon -the number grew to 5,000, besides women and children (Acts 4. 4). -Another increase is named in Acts 5. 14; also again in Acts 6. 7. - -7. The last event in this period was =the Appointment of the Seven=. -Read the account in Acts 6. 1-7. Notice for the first time in this -history a reference to the two great classes of Jews. 1.) _Hebrews_, -Jews whose ancestors had lived in Palestine, and who spoke the Hebrew -tongue, though with Syriac admixture. 2.) _Grecian Jews_ (frequently -called Hellenists). Jews descended from exiles who had remained abroad -in foreign lands, otherwise "Jews of the Dispersion." Everywhere except -in Palestine these foreign Jews were far more numerous than the Hebrews, -and they were also the richer and more intelligent. They spoke the Greek -language. - -Note also that the seven men named in this account are nowhere spoken of -as "deacons." From Acts 21. 8 we learn that they were called "the -seven." They were not an order in the church, but a committee appointed -for a service. - - -Blackboard Outline - - Per. 1. Ch. Jud. 2. Ch. Trans. 3. Ch. am. Gen. 4. E. A. - - =Ch. in Jud.= 1. =Ev. Per.= - 1. =Foll. Ch.= 1.) Num. 2.) Meet-pl. 3.) Rel. Con. - 2. =Out Sp.= 1.) Phys. eff. 2.) Men. eff. 3.) Spir. eff. - 3. =Tes. Gosp.= 1.) Jes. Mess. K. 2.) By all. - 4. =Ap. Mir.= 1.) Num. mir. 2.) Pur. Att. Auth. Illus. - 5. =Per. Ap.= - 6. =Gro. Ch.= 120, 3,000, 5,000. "Multitude." - 7. =App. Sev.= Heb. Gre. (Hellen.) - - -Review Questions. Part One - - How long a period is embraced in the history of the - New Testament church? Name four periods in the - history, and the events with which each begins and - ends. How long a time is embraced in the first period? - By what name is the first period called? State in - order the seven events in the first period. What was - the number of Christ's followers in Jerusalem - immediately after his Ascension? Where did they meet? - What was their religious condition? What took place - ten days after the Ascension of Christ? On what day - did this outpouring occur? What were the physical - effects of this outpouring? What were the mental - effects? What were the spiritual effects? What - testimony was given by the apostles and church? How - many addresses of Peter at this time are mentioned? - What miracles were wrought? How did these miracles - benefit the church? What persecution arose? What was - the nature of this persecution? Against whom was it - directed? Did it harm the church? What is said of the - growth of the church during this epoch? Who were "the - seven"? How were they chosen? For what were they - appointed? What two classes of Jesus are named? Define - each class. - - -PART TWO - -II. Having studied the history we now look at the =General Aspects of -the Pentecostal Church=. - -1. =Its locality=: entirely in Judea, and apparently in and around -Jerusalem. There is no mention during this early period of churches in -Galilee, although most of the earliest members were Galileans (Acts 1. -11; 2. 7). Individual believers doubtless were to be found throughout -the land, but outside of Jerusalem they were not yet gathered together -in assemblies and not yet endowed with the Spirit. - -2. =Its membership= was composed wholly of Jews. As yet not a single -Gentile had been received, and apparently there was no thought of -Gentile believers. Christianity began as a Jewish society. Three classes -of Jews were embraced in its membership: 1.) _Hebrews_, or Palestinian -Jews. 2.) _Grecians_ or Hellenists, Jews of the Dispersion. 3.) -_Proselytes_, or Gentiles who had embraced Judaism and received -circumcision (Acts 6. 5). - -3. =The qualifications for membership= were: 1.) _Repentance_, which -meant not so much sorrow as decision for Christ. 2.) _Faith in Jesus_ as -Christ; i. e., submission to Jesus as the true King of Israel. 3.) -_Baptism_ in the name of Jesus the Christ as the outward form of -consecration. - -4. =The spirit of the Pentecostal Church.= 1.) In theory, and for the -most part in fact, every member _possessed the Holy Spirit_, an -abounding, directing spiritual life. Every member was conscious of the -immediate presence of God, and lived in this fellowship. 2.) This -inspired a _Christian fellowship_, the love of the brotherhood. 3.) As a -result of this divine and human fellowship came _liberal giving_ to each -other's needs. There was a voluntary and limited "community of goods," -the rich giving freely to aid the poor; which led to some insincere -imitation. See the contrast of Barnabas and Ananias (Acts 4. 34-37; 5. -1-11). - -5. =Doctrines.= The doctrinal aspects of Christianity at that early -period were less prominent than its spirit. As yet there was no such -theological system as arose later. Three great doctrines were held -fervently: 1.) _The resurrection of Jesus_; that he had risen and was -living. 2.) _The Messiahship of Jesus_; that he was the prince of the -true spiritual kingdom of Israel. 3.) _The return of Jesus as Christ_; -that he would soon come again to earth. - -6. =Worship and institutions.= These were: 1.) _The temple worship_ -attended by the disciples of Christ as by all worshiping Jews (Acts 2. -46; 3. 1). 2.) _The synagogue services_, twice each week; held -everywhere throughout the city; with Scripture reading, prayer and -testimony. 3.) "_The upper room_" was for a time the headquarters of the -church; but Solomon's porch in the temple soon took its place (Acts 5. -12). 4.) "Breaking bread," which was the Holy Communion or the Lord's -Supper; at that time observed not in public assemblies but as a family -ordinance, at home (Acts 2. 42, 46). 5.) _The baptism_ of new members. - -7. =Government.= Scarcely any government or discipline was needed in a -church where the Spirit of God was recognized as dwelling in each -member. The apostles were revered as leaders, but were not exactly -rulers over the body of believers. "The Seven" (Acts 6. 3) were not -officials or "deacons," but laymen charged with specific duties. - -8. =Literature.= 1.) _The Old Testament_; familiar to all, read in the -synagogue, was seen now in a new light and with new meaning. 2.) _The -teachings of Jesus_, as yet unwritten, were in the memory of most of the -members who had heard his words; and especially in the memory of the -apostles; but no books of the New Testament were by this time in -writing. - -9. =Leaders of the church.= 1.) Throughout this period _Peter_ stands at -the front as the ruling spirit of the church, by his endowments of mind, -and especially by his promptness in word and act. 2.) With him stands -_John_ (Acts 3. 1; 4. 19). 3.) _Barnabas_ won notice by his liberality -and gifts of preaching (Acts 4. 36, 37). His name means "the speaker" or -"the preacher." 4.) At the end of the period _Stephen_ comes into -notice. - - -Blackboard Outline - - II. =Gen. Asp. Pen. Ch.= - 1. =Loc.= Jud. Jer. - 2. =Mem.= Jews. 1.) Heb. 2.) Gre. Hel. 3.) Pros. - 3. =Qual. Mem.= 1.) Rep. 2.) Fai. 3.) Bap. - 4. =Spir.= 1.) Poss. H. S. 2.) Chr. fell. 3.) Lib. giv. - 5. =Doc.= 1.) Res. Jes. 2.) Mess. Jes. 3.) Ret. Jes. - 6. =Worsh. and Inst.= 1.) Tem. 2.) Syn. 3.) "Up. ro" 4.) "Bre. - br." 5.) Bap. - 7. =Gov.= Sp. Apos. Sev. - 8. =Lit.= 1.) O. T. 2.) Tea. Jes. - 9. =Lead.= 1.) Pet. 2.) Jo. 3.) Bar. 4.) Ste. - - -Review Questions. Part Two - - Where was the church located during the Pentecostal - period? Were there churches or members in Galilee? To - what race did all the members belong? What were the - three classes in its membership? Who were Hebrews? Who - were Grecians? By what other name were they called? - Who were the "proselytes"? What were the requisites - for membership in the church? What is said of the - spirit of this church? How did this spirit lead the - members to regard each other? What is said of their - gifts to each other? Were doctrines made prominent in - the church? What three doctrines were held by the - members? What institutions of worship were maintained? - What other institutions were observed? What is meant - by "breaking bread"? Where was this service held? What - is said as to the government of the church? What was - the position of the apostles? What were "the seven"? - What literature did the church possess at this time? - What knowledge did they have of the teachings of - Jesus? Who were the leaders of the church in this - period? - - - - -FOURTEENTH STUDY - -The Church in Transition - -From the Appointment of the Seven, A. D. 35, to the Council at -Jerusalem, A. D. 50. - - -We enter upon the study of a brief period, only fifteen years, but of -supreme importance and of vast results to the world; a period, too, in -which we have the deepest interest, for if its events had never taken -place Christianity would have been only a Jewish sect and we would not -be members of it. - -1. At its opening, 35 A. D., the church was in and around Jerusalem -only; and every member was a Jew, bound by the restrictions of the -Jewish law and ceremony. There was no thought that the church would ever -include Gentiles except as Gentiles might first become proselytes to -Judaism. - -2. At its close, 50 A. D., we see a church planted all around the -northeastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea; and, what is even more -remarkable, a church wherein Jews and Gentiles were worshiping together -on terms of equality. A wonderful transition this! - -I. Let us draw =the Map of the Lands= occupied by the church during -those fifteen years. 1. Draw the coast line of the Mediterranean Sea. 2. -The island of Cyprus. 3. The lands east of the Mediterranean Sea. Judea -(or Palestine), Syria, Phoenicia. 4. The lands north of the -Mediterranean Sea, in Asia Minor, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia. -5. The places: Jerusalem, Joppa, Cæsarea and Samaria in Judea, Damascus -and Antioch in Syria, Tarsus in Cilicia, Antioch in Pisidia, Lystra and -Derbe in Lycaonia. - -II. Let us carefully note the =Progress of Events= in this remarkable -evolution of the church. - -1. =The Preaching of Stephen.= Stephen was a Hellenist, or a Jew of -foreign origin. He was the man who first had the vision of a church -wider than the bounds of Judaism; and he proclaimed this great truth. -See evidences of this in: - - 1.) The new and bitter _enmity_ which his teaching - aroused (Acts 6. 12). - - 2.) The _accusation_ against him, which contained a - half truth (Acts 6. 11, 13, 14). - - 3.) The _prominence_ of the man, and his discourse, - the longest public discourse reported in the New - Testament, except the Sermon on the Mount (Acts 7. - 1-53). - - 4.) The _logical aim_ of his address: to show that the - Jews had shown themselves unworthy of their trust, - implying that it would be given to others. This sermon - was never finished, being broken up by the riotous - acts of the council. - -2. =Saul's Persecution= (Acts 8. 1-3). We shall study this man's early -history later. (See page 96). He was intense and furious in his loyalty -to Judaism, and undertook to crush out the gospel of Christ by violent -measures. See Acts 22. 4; 26. 10, 11; Gal. 1. 13. 1.) As a result the -Pentecostal church was broken up and its members were scattered. 2.) -But, as another effect, these disciples who were scattered went -everywhere preaching (Acts 8. 4). These "preachers" were not the -apostles; they were lay-members; not delivering sermons, but testifying -in country synagogues and in homes the gospel of Christ. 3.) Another -result followed, churches sprang up throughout Judea (Acts 9. 31), -Samaria (Acts 8. 14), and Syria (Acts 9. 2, 10; Acts 11. 19). Thus Saul -by his persecution unconsciously aided the spread of the gospel. - -3. =The Gospel in Samaria= (Acts 8. 5-8). One of these disciples, Philip -(not the apostle, but one of the "seven" Acts 6. 5), went to Samaria, -and there preached with great success. A significant event, showing -breadth of view and victory over prejudice. See John 4. 9. The -Samaritans were regarded, not exactly as Gentiles, but as irregular and -inferior, and despised even more than Gentiles. Still more significant, -the Samaritan church was recognized by the apostles and received the -gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8. 14-17). Note also that, after his work -in Samaria, Philip went down to the coast and established a chain of -churches from Azotus to Cæsarea (Acts 8. 40). - -4. =Peter's Vision= (Acts 10. 1-48), and the events accompanying it, was -the next step in the forward movement of the church. The leading apostle -and most prominent man in the church, under direction of the Spirit, -journeys thirty miles to preach to a little company of Gentiles; the -Spirit falls upon them, another Pentecost; and Peter baptizes them. -Here, then, is a genuine church of Gentiles founded by an apostle; the -first fruits of a great harvest. - -5. The next step is even more momentous in its results, =the Conversion -of Saul= (Acts 9. 1-19). It seems to be a sudden conversion, but one -expression (Acts 9. 5) shows that Saul had been struggling against -conviction. His enmity had not been so greatly against "Jesus as Christ" -as against "Christ for all the world" i. e., the gospel as preached by -Stephen; and when converted he went fully over to Stephen's view, and -became Stephen's successor, with even larger vision. Note the order of -events in Saul's early ministry. 1.) Preaching in Damascus (Acts 9. -20-22). 2.) Retirement to Arabia (Gal. 1. 17). This may mean almost -anywhere to the east or south of Palestine. In our opinion, he went -thither not to meditate nor to study theology, but to preach in the -cities between Palestine and the desert. 3.) Again preaching in Damascus -(Gal. 1. 17). His escape (Acts 9. 23-25). 4.) Visit to Jerusalem (Acts -9. 26-28). Whom he met on this visit (Gal. 1. 8, 19). The event which -led to his departure from Jerusalem (Acts 22. 17-21). 5.) His return to -his birthplace (Acts 9. 29, 30. Gal. 1. 21). Let the student draw on the -map all the journeys of Saul, beginning with his journey from Jerusalem -to Damascus before his conversion. - -VI. =The Church at Antioch.= (Acts 11. 19-30). Antioch was the third -city of the Roman empire; capital of Syria, of which Judea was a -dependency. Its many Jews had their synagogues, each with its "court of -the Gentiles," where the Gentile worshipers sat during the services. In -the story of this church note 1.) Its unnamed founders (Acts 11. 19). -2.) Its membership of both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 11. 20). See American -Revised Version. 3.) Its prominence (Acts 11. 22-26). 4.) Its liberality -(Acts 11. 27-30). 5.) Some of its workers (Acts 13. 1). 6.) Note how -Saul came to be associated with this church (Acts 11. 25, 26). - -VII. =The First Missionary Journey= (Acts 13. 1-4). Another step in -advance was taken when two missionaries went out to plant churches of -both Jews and Gentiles. 1.) They were called by the Holy Spirit (ver. -2). 2.) Approved by the church (Ver. 3). 3.) Their method; whenever -possible beginning with the synagogue, where they would have access both -to devout Jews and devout Gentiles (Acts 13. 5). 4.) The lands visited. -Cyprus (Acts 13. 4-6). Pisidia (Acts 13. 14). Lycaonia (Acts 14. 6). On -the return journey, Pamphylia (Acts 14. 24, 25). Let the student draw -the maps showing the lands and places, and the route of the journey. One -province in the southern tier was left unvisited, Cilicia, because Paul -had already preached there (Gal. 1. 21-23). - -[Illustration] - -VIII. =The Council at Jerusalem= (Acts 15). Of course such a spread of -the gospel among the Gentiles would be very unwelcome to narrow Jewish -believers. Their complaint and demand (Acts 15. 1, 2). Who attended the -Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15. 2-4). Who took prominent part in it -(Acts 15. 7, 13). The conclusion of the Council (Acts 15. 27-29). - -The great question was now settled. Jews and Gentiles were standing at -last on equality in the church, and the great transition from a Jewish -church to a church for all the world was accomplished. - - -Hints to the Teacher and the Student - - 1. Read carefully in the book of Acts from the 8th to - the 15th chapter, inclusive. - - 2. Draw the map first from copy, then without copy; - not seeking for accuracy, but aiming rather for - correct relation of the lands to each other. - - 3. Study each section of the lesson; look up every - reference, and note its relation to the general - subject. Master the eight points in the outline - thoroughly. - - 4. Draw on the map (or, better, on a series of maps) - the following journeys: 1.) Philip's journeys. Acts 8. - 2.) Peter's journeys. Acts 8 and 10. 3.) Saul's early - journeys. 4.) The journey of Saul and Barnabas. 5.) - The journeys in connection with the council at - Jerusalem, going and returning. - - 5. Let the teacher call upon the scholars to tell as a - story each of the eight points in the lesson, not from - the text-book but from the book of Acts; each story by - a student in turn. - - -Blackboard Outline - - =Ch. in Trans.= 1.) Op. 2.) Clo. - I. =Map.= Lands. Cy. Ju. Syr. Ph. Cil. Pam. Pi. Lyc. Places. Jer. - Jop. Cæs. Dam. Ant. Tar. An (Pi) Lys. Der. - - II. =Prog. of Ev.= 1. =Pre. Ste.= 1.) En. 2.) Acc. 3.) Prom. - 4.) Log. ai. - 2. =Sau. Per.= Res. 1.) Pen. Ch. bro. up. 2.) Dis. everyw. prea. - 3.) Chur. spr. up. - 3. =Gosp. in Sam.= Phil. - 4. =Pet. Vis.= Pet. and Corn. - 5. =Conv. Sau.= Sau. ear. Min. 1.) Dam. 2.) Ara. 3.) Dam. - 4.) Jeru. 5.) Tar. - 6. =Ch. at. Ant.= 1.) Foun. 2.) Mem. 3.) Prom. 4.) Lib. - 5.) Work. 6.) Sau. asso. - 7. =Fir. Miss. Jour.= 1.) Cal. 2.) App. 3.) Meth. 4.) Lands. - C. P. L. P. - 8. =Coun. at Jer.= - - -Review Questions - - With what events did the period of transition begin - and end? How long was it? What was the state of the - church when it opened? What was the state of the - church when it closed? Name an island and seven lands - connected with this period. Name ten places connected - with the period. State the eight great events in the - history of the church at this time. What preacher - introduced this epoch? How do we know that he preached - salvation for the Gentiles? What man's persecution at - this time proved a help to the church? Tell the story - of this persecution. What three results followed it? - Who formed the church in Samaria? Who were the - Samaritans? How was the church recognized? Tell the - story of a remarkable vision on a housetop. To what - did that vision lead? Tell the story of a persecutor's - conversion to Christ. Where did this conversion take - place? What were the events in Saul's life that - followed this conversion? What important church arose - in Syria? Who were its founders? Who constituted its - membership? Who were its leaders? What facts showed - its prominence and influence? How came Saul to be - associated with this church? Who went out as - missionaries? Who went with them as helper? What - became of this young man? What was their method of - work? What lands did they visit? In what cities did - they found churches? What led to the council at - Jerusalem? Who attended the council? Who spoke in it? - What were its conclusions? How did this end the period - of transition in the church? - - - - -FIFTEENTH STUDY - -The Church Twenty Years After the Ascension - - -We have now studied the two earliest periods in the history of the -Christian church and have come to the year 50 A. D., twenty years after -the Ascension of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit on the first -Pentecost. Let us look over the field and see what at that time was the -state of the church. - -I. =Its Extent.= Let the student draw again the map given with the last -lesson, and locate upon it the following =lands=: 1. Judea (Palestine). -2. Syria. 3. Phoenicia. 4. Cyprus. 5. Cilicia. 6. Pamphylia. 7. Pisidia. -8. Lycaonia. In all these lands churches were established and at work. - -II. =Its Membership.= The members of the church consisted of two classes -of people, widely apart by nature, but brought together by the gospel: - -1. There were churches where all the members were =Jews=, as in Judea. -These were all faithful to the regulations of the Jewish ceremonial law, -and many of them almost bigoted in their opinions concerning it (Acts -15. 1, 5). - -2. There were other churches, as in Lycaonia, where all or nearly all -the members were =Gentiles= (Acts 14. 6-13). In these the Jewish rules -were unrecognized, almost unknown. - -3. Between these two extremes was the great body of churches of =both -Jews and Gentiles=. The two classes worshiped together; Jews remaining -Jews, and Gentiles remaining Gentiles; but probably received the Lord's -Supper apart, as it was as yet a house-service, not held at the public -meetings. - -4. While in most churches there was harmony, on both sides there were -some radical members; but especially among the Jews. These were the -=Judaizers=; men who sought to compel all the disciples to receive -circumcision, obey the ceremonial law and make the Christian church -subordinate to Jewish ritualism. These were the enemies of Paul to the -end of his ministry, perverting the Gentile churches and opposing the -apostle's work. - -III. =Its Leaders.= Three names stand out prominently at this time: 1. -=Paul=, as the leader of the church in its world-wide plans, the apostle -to the Gentiles (Gal. 2. 7). 2. =James=, as leader of the Jewish but not -Judaizing elements (Acts 13. 13, 19). This was not James the apostle, -for he had been put to death some time before this (Acts 12. 2); but -James "the brother of the Lord" (Gal. 1. 19). He was the head of the -church in Jerusalem and author of the Epistle of James. 3. =Peter=, who -stood in friendly relation to both parties in the church, although his -conduct was not always perfectly consistent with regard to Jewish -regulations (Acts 11. 2, 3; Gal. 2. 11-14). Between these three leaders -there was a clear understanding and no strong division of spirit, -although they might not agree in all points. 4. Other leaders in this -period were =Philip= (Acts 8. 40; 21. 8). =Barnabas=, =Silas= of -Jerusalem and Antioch (Acts 15. 22, 32, 40), and =Titus= (Gal. 2. 1-4). - -IV. =Its Government.= In our time the church is often a highly wrought -organization, with articles of faith, orders, and officials of various -grades. We are apt to assume such a condition in the early church. But -at the time of which we speak there was very little organization or -machinery; and there was little need of any, for a special reason: -_Every member was under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit_, living -in fellowship with God, without mediation of priest or church. Yet we -find certain officers named in the church: - -1. =Apostles=, originally "the twelve," but changes arose and others -were called by the title, for example, Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14. 14); -James (Gal. 1. 19). The work of the apostles was not primarily -government, but inspired testimony to Jesus as the Christ (Acts 1. 22; -6. 4); nowhere in Acts are the apostles represented as ruling the church -(Acts 15. 6, 22). - -2. =Elders= (Acts 11. 30; 14. 23; 15. 4). These were analogous to the -same officers in the synagogue, from which the plan of the local -churches was taken. - -3. =Prophets= (Acts 11. 27, 28; Acts 13. 1; Acts 15. 32). Men who spoke -out of direct fellowship with the Lord, and under inspiration of the -Spirit; sometimes, though not always, giving predictions of future -events. - -4. =Teachers= (Acts 13. 1). Men who gave instruction in the Christian -character; probably largely from recollection or knowledge of the -teaching of Christ. The difference between "prophesy" and "teaching" was -that the former was the more spontaneous and the latter the more -educative in the principles of the gospel. - -V. =Its Doctrinal Views.= These remained substantially as in the first -period. There was little tendency toward intellectual questionings while -the church remained under Jewish influence. The discussion was rather -regarding Jewish ceremonial regulations. The Messiahship, Resurrection -and Return of Jesus were still the prominent teaching of the period. - -VI. =Its Moral Standards.= The church is now face to face with the -heathen world and all its abominable vices. Heathen moralists -continually made excuse for the immorality which was so generally -practiced. But Christianity made no compromise; set forth the high -standard of the gospel, with the character of Christ as its ideal. This -high standard unswervingly maintained was one secret of the church's -power and growth. Notice, a little later than this period, in St. Paul's -writings, the strong ethical spirit. - -VII. =Its Meeting-places.= As yet "churches" or buildings for worship -were not erected. The disciples met with the Jews in the synagogue or -established synagogues of their own (James 2. 2). Often they met, even -later than this period, in the upper rooms of private houses (Acts 20. -8; Rom. 16. 3-5; Philem. 2). - -VIII. =Its Literature.= This was still the =Old Testament= only; no book -of the New Testament having been written as early as 50 A. D. These -writings were familiar to all the Jewish members, and almost equally -familiar to the Gentiles who attended the synagogue. Was there an "oral -gospel" in existence? Probably not in any set, authorized form; but -repeated as the narration of teachings and works of Jesus. The tendency -would naturally be for these teachings to settle into a few accepted -forms or "gospels." - -IX. Wherein did =the Unity of the Church= consist? Not in organization, -nor government, nor doctrinal statement; but in a =common spiritual -life=. They were of one heart and one mind, loved each other, -contributed to each other's needs (Acts 11. 29; Gal. 2. 10), visited -each other's churches (Acts 11. 22, 27, 30; 13. 25; 15. 27, 32). This -was, and is, true church unity. - - -Blackboard Outline - - =Ch. 20 Ye. af. Asc.= - - I. =Ext.= Ja. Sy. Ph. Cy. Cil. Pam. Pi. Lyc. - - II. =Mem.= 1. Je. 2. Gen. 3. Both J. and G. 4. "Judai." - - III. =Lead.= 1. Pau. 2. Jam. 3. Pet. 4. Phi. 5. Bar. - 6. Sil. 7. Tit. - - IV. =Gov.= (Dir. Guid. H. S). 1. Aps. 2. El. 3. Pro. 4. Tea. - - V. =Doc. Vie.= Mes. Res. Ret. Jes. - - VI. =Mor. Stan.= "No comp." - - VII. =Meet. Pla.= Syn. "Up. roo." - - VIII. =Lit.= O. T. "Or. gosp." - - IX. =Uni.= Com. spir. lif. - - -Review Questions - - What stage in the church's progress do we now - consider? In what lands was the church established at - this time? What two classes of people constituted its - membership? How did these two classes worship - together? What service was observed in the homes of - members? Who were the Judaizers? What harm did they - do? Name the three great leaders at this time. Who was - James? Give an instance when Peter was not entirely - consistent in his conduct. Name four other leaders and - a fact about each. Why did the church of that time - need very little government? Name four kinds of - officers in the church. What was the special work of - the apostles? Where did the elders originate? With - what churches are elders named in this period? What - were the prophets in the church? Name some who are - called prophets in this period. What was the work of - teachers in the church? Were doctrinal studies or - discussions prominent at this time? What were the - three prominent doctrines of the church? Why do the - moral standards of the church come into prominence at - this time? What were those standards? Where did the - Christians hold their meetings? What was the - literature of the church at this time? What do you - understand by "the oral gospel?" Was such a gospel in - existence? Wherein did the unity of the church - consist? How was this unity shown? - - - - -SIXTEENTH STUDY - -The Preparation of Paul for his Work - - -PART ONE - -Before we enter upon the study of "The church among the Gentiles," our -next period, there is a preliminary topic to be considered. The only -record which we possess of the period before us, the Book of Acts, not -only represents Paul as the leading worker for the gospel, but it even -omits all reports of the work of other apostles and evangelists. There -must have been other workers: Peter, Barnabas, Philip, and other workers -were still living, and must have been active in founding churches; but -their work is not mentioned. We find mention of churches which Paul had -not founded (Acts 21. 3, 7; Acts 28. 13, 14, 15). Paul stands before us -as the leading and the typical worker in the gospel. We will therefore -take for our theme, =The Preparation and Methods of Paul=. - -At A. D. 50 Paul is now at Antioch, about fifty years old, having been -born probably about four years after Jesus Christ. His first missionary -journey has taken place, and he is now about to enter upon his second -missionary journey. Let us notice some of his advantages for leadership -in the gospel. - -I. He was =a Jew=. (See Phil. 3. 5; Rom. 11. 1). The leader in this -movement must be a Jew. 1. Because as a Jew he would have a _training_ -in Bible knowledge, and in the _faith_ of a coming Messiah such as no -Gentile could possess. 2. Moreover the work in nearly all places must -begin in the synagogue. (See Acts 17. 1; 2. 10; 18. 1, 4; 19. 1, 8). And -only a Jew could take part in its services. - -II. He was a =Trained and Recognized Rabbi=: an accredited teacher of -the law; "a college man" with the prestige of scholarship won in the -school of Gamaliel, the greatest Jewish master of that age (Acts 5. 34; -Acts 22. 3). Such a teacher would be welcome in any synagogue. In this -respect contrast Paul with Peter and the other apostles (Acts 4. 13). - -III. He was a =Hellenist=, or "Grecian Jew;" i. e., a Jew of the -Dispersion; by birth and environment broader than the Jews of Jerusalem, -who rarely came in contact with Gentiles. He was a traveler acquainted -with the world; spoke Greek as fluently as Hebrew, an absolute necessity -for preaching to Gentiles (Acts 21. 37, 40). He spoke to the Greek -philosophers in their own tongue and after their own manner. Contrast -Acts 17. 22 with Acts 22. 1. Tradition says that Peter, when at Rome, -used an interpreter in preaching to the church. Paul's ability to speak -at least two languages gave him a great advantage. - -IV. Another advantage was that he was by birth a =Roman Citizen= (Acts -16. 37. Acts 22. 25-28). This privilege, at that time rare among those -outside of Italy, gave the apostle safety, immunity from imprisonment by -the local rulers, and the right to a trial before a Roman judge, with -appeal to the emperor. James was put to death, and Peter thrown into -prison by King Herod (Acts 12. 2-4); but Paul was by his citizenship -undoubtedly saved more than once from torture and from death. - -V. He was a divinely-called =Apostle=. When he spoke it was with all the -fervor and authority of one who had seen the Lord and had received a -special command from the lips of the ascended Christ to bear testimony -to his gospel. His call came with his conversion (Acts 26. 12-19). He -claimed the authority of an apostle (Gal. 1. 1; 1 Cor. 9. 1). Notice -that in his letters Paul always places "apostles" before "prophets" -(Eph. 2. 20; 3. 5; 4. 11), as holding the higher office in the church. - -VI. He possessed rare =Natural Endowments= for his work. - -1. He was a man of _sympathy_, warm-hearted and tender; making strong -friendships, drawing men after him. Note how in every place he found -friends (Acts 19. 31; 20. 4; 27. 3, 43). - -2. He was a _preacher_ of power. He was a master of the art of public -speaking; and people would always listen to him with the deepest -interest (Acts 17. 22-31. Acts 22. 1-2. Acts 26. 1-26). - -3. He was a _theologian_. He saw the great truths of the gospel in -clearer light than any of his co-workers. Under the guidance of the -Spirit he formulated a system of doctrine (Gal. 1. 11, 12), which he -sometimes called "my gospel" (Rom. 2. 16; 2 Tim. 2. 8). This "gospel -according to Paul," presented in his great epistles, came to be the -theology of the church, and so remains. - -4. He possessed rare _tact_ in dealing with men; knew how to adapt his -methods to people of varied races and views. His manner of preaching at -Athens was very different from that in Jerusalem. Note 1 Cor. 9. 19-22. - -5. He was a _natural leader_ of men; ready to take responsibilities, -quick to decide, yet thoughtful of others. He possessed the ruling -spirit, yet was no imperious, self-willed man. People were as ready to -follow as he was to lead. - -6. He was a _tireless worker_; indomitable and undiscouraged, caring -little for hardship (2 Cor. 11. 23-28), although he seems to have been -delicate in health. See allusions 2 Cor. 12. 7-10. Gal. 4. 13. Notice -the field of his labors, in the middle of his ministry (Rom. 15. 19). -Notice too his plans for regions more distant (Rom. 15. 24). - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART ONE - - =Pau. Prep. & Meth.= - - I. =Je.= 1. Train. fai. 2. Part in Syn. - - II. =Trai. Rec. Rab.= Sch. of Gam. - - III. =Hell.= "Gre. J." Trav. Gre. Lang. - - IV. =Rom. cit.= - - V. =Apos.= - - VI. =Nat. Endow.= 1. Sym. 2. Pre. 3. Theol. 4. Tac. 5. Nat. - lead. 6. Tir. Work. - - -Review Questions - -PART ONE - - What prominence does the book of Acts give to Paul in - the period of the church among the Gentiles? How do we - know that there were other workers at that time? Name - some of these other workers. What churches are named - which could not have been founded by Paul? What was - Paul's age at the opening of this period? What were - some advantages which Paul possessed for his work? - What were the advantages of his birth and training as - a Jew? What education did he receive, and wherein was - it a help to him? To what great branch of the Jews did - Paul belong? How was this fact an advantage in his - work? Of what nation was he a citizen? Name instances - when this fact was of avail to Paul. With what - authority could Paul speak? Whence came this - authority? What were some of Paul's natural endowments - for his ministry? What does Paul mean by the - expression, "my gospel"? What showed his industry as a - worker? - - -PART TWO - -VII. We must also study Paul's =Methods of Work=. These were varied -greatly according to circumstances, but in them we may note certain -principles. - -1. _He took fellow workers_ with him. Notice his companions on his first -journey. Acts 13. 2-5. On his second journey. Acts 15. 40; 16. 1-3. What -other companion is indicated in the word "we" in Acts 16. 10? On his -third journey. Acts 19. 22, 29. Other companions on this journey. Acts -20. 4, 5. This method gave 1.) _Mutual encouragement_. Paul was social, -loved companionship; was sometimes melancholy when alone (Acts 17. 15, -16; 2 Cor. 2. 12, 13; 2 Cor. 7. 5, 6). 2.) _Power in co-operation_; two -can do much more than twice as much as one. 3.) There was also -_training_ for younger workers, whom Paul always took with him; e. g., -Mark, Timothy, and perhaps Titus. - -2. _He chose the cities_; and of these the largest and most important -centers of population. Antioch, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus, Rome. -Paul was, in training and tastes, a man of the city, not of the country. -He took great interest in men, but apparently none in nature. Contrast -Paul in this respect with Christ, most of whose illustrations were drawn -from nature. One result of Paul's choice of the cities was the wide and -rapid diffusion of the gospel. The cities became Christian long before -the country-places. The word "pagan" literally means "countryman," but -it came to mean a worshiper of idols. See the effect of Paul's two years -in Ephesus (Acts 19. 10). "The seven churches of Asia" (Rev. 1. 11) were -the outgrowth of Paul's work in Ephesus. - -3. _He supported himself by his trade._ His occupation. Acts 18. 3. -References to his self-support in different places. 1 Cor. 4. 12; 1 -Thess. 2. 9; Acts 20. 34; Paul's was a "self-supporting mission," -because there was no society to support him and he would not lay the -burden upon those just converted. But although he asked no -contributions, he accepted them when tendered. Phil. 4. 15; 16. 18. - -4. _He began in the synagogue._ In every large city there were Jewish -synagogues; and in these Paul could speak as an accepted Rabbi. Note how -constantly he made use of the synagogue. Acts 13. 4, 5. Acts 14. 1. Acts -17. 1. Acts 18. 4, 19. This method gave him access to the worshiping -Scripture-loving _Jews_, to whom he felt called to give the gospel first -(Rom. 1. 16). But it also gave him access to the thoughtful, serious -_Gentiles_ who were seeking after God; and from this class came many of -the early Christians. Notice that in Paul's opening address in Antioch -in Pisidia he addressed both these classes (Acts 13. 16). The synagogue -among the Jews of the dispersion was a great aid to the gospel. - -5. He formed _acquaintance with rulers_ and influential men in many -places; in so many that it cannot have been accidental, but must have -been a part of his plan. Examine the following references, and note -names and places: Acts 13. 7. Acts 17. 34. Rom. 16. 23. Acts 19. 31. -Acts 28. 7. These friendships were often of great service to Paul, -especially when opposed by his own people. - -6. _He used the pen_ as well as the voice. He wrote many letters, not so -much to spread the gospel as to strengthen and instruct the churches -which he had planted. A number of his letters to churches and to -individuals have been preserved; but it is evident that some have been -lost (1 Cor. 5. 9. Col. 4. 16). - -7. He strengthened his work by frequently _revisiting his churches_. -Notice a re-visitation on his first journey (Acts 14. 21). The same -churches visited again on his second journey (Acts 16. 1-4). Again on -his third journey he passed through the same places (Acts 19. 1). A -re-visitation of the European churches (Acts 20. 1, 2). - -VIII. Note, lastly, =Paul's Enemies=; those who throughout his journeys -opposed, fought, persecuted him. Almost everywhere his work stirred up -violent antagonisms. This came in different places from three sources: - -1. _The Jews_, whose opposition came not so much from his preaching -Jesus as the Messiah as from his willingness to receive Gentiles into -the church. He was regarded as breaking down the distinctions between -Jew and Gentile. Note instances of persecution from this source (Acts -13. 45, 50. Acts 14. 1, 2. Acts 14. 19. Acts 17. 5. Acts 21. 27). - -2. _The Judaizing Christians_; professed disciples who were opposed to -Gentile membership in the church (Acts 15. 1, 5. Acts 21. 20, 21. Phil. -1. 14-17). As the years passed the proportion of Jews to Gentiles in the -church became less and less, and this party diminished in power. - -3. _The Gentiles._ In only two places do we find persecution stirred up -against Paul by Gentiles without suggestion by Jews. Note the places and -circumstances in Acts 16. 16-24. Acts 19 23-30. In each instance private -interests caused the trouble. As yet there was no strife between -Christianity and the imperial government. But Paul saw the trials -impending, and not far distant, and he forewarned his churches of -sharper persecution soon to come (Thess. 2. 3-10. Acts 20. 29. Phil. 1. -28-30). - - -Blackboard Outline - -Part Two - - VII. =Pau. Meth. Wor.= 1. Fell. work. 2. Ch. cit. 3. Sup. by tra. - 4. Beg. syn. 5. Acq. w. ral. 6. Us. pen. 7. Rev. chu. - - VIII. =Pau. Ene.= 1. Je. 2. Jud. Chr. 3. Gen. - - -Review Questions. Part Two - - Name seven facts about Paul's methods of work in the - gospel. Who were his companions on his first, second, - and third journeys? What were the benefits of having - fellow-workers? Name some cities where Paul labored - longest. How is Paul contrasted in this respect with - Jesus Christ? What was the effect of beginning the - work in the great cities? How was Paul supported while - preaching? Why did he follow that plan? In what place - did Paul begin his work wherever possible? Whom did he - reach in that method? Name some rulers and influential - people in different places who were friends of Paul. - What use of the pen did Paul make in his ministry? - Show how he frequently revisited his churches. What - three classes of people were enemies of Paul in his - work? Name instances when the Jews opposed him. What - was their reason for their opposition? What opposition - did he meet from fellow-Christians? At what places was - he persecuted by Gentiles? What was the attitude of - the Roman government at that time toward Christianity? - - - - -SEVENTEENTH STUDY - -The Church among the Gentiles - -From the Council at Jerusalem, A. D. 50, To the Death of St. Paul, A. D. -68. - - -PART ONE - -The history of this period of eighteen years, as contained in the book -of Acts, is limited to the labors of St. Paul, who was pre-eminently the -apostle to the Gentiles (2 Tim. 1. 11). - -I. Let us draw the =map of the lands= embraced in the later journeys of -the apostle Paul. - -1. _The Lands_: 1.) Asia Minor. 2.) Thrace. 3.) Macedonia. 4.) Greece or -Achaia. 5.) Italy. 6.) Africa, not visited by Paul. 7.) Palestine or -Judea. 8.) Syria. - -2. _The Localities._ 1.) Jerusalem. 2.) Antioch. 3.) Ephesus. 4.) Troas. -5.) Philippi. 6.) Thessalonica. 7.) Berea. 8.) Athens. 9.) Corinth. 10.) -Rome. - -II. =Paul's Second Missionary Journey.= The gospel in Europe (A. D. -51-53). Notice: - -1. _His companions_: the quarrel with Barnabas and separation (Acts 15. -36-39). Barnabas at this point drops out of the record. Silas, Timothy, -and later Luke, accompany Paul (Acts 15. 40; 16. 1; 16. 10). Luke's -profession, perhaps therein helping the apostle (Col. 4. 14). - -2. _Asia Minor revisited._ Note and locate the provinces through which -they passed, starting from Antioch: 1.) Cilicia (Acts 15. 41). 2.) -Lycaonia (Acts 16. 1, 3.) Probably Pisidia (Acts 16. 4). 4.) Galatia. -5.) Phrygia (Acts 16. 6). Through Mysia to Troas (Acts 16. 8). Locate -these provinces on the map. - -3. _The Gospel in Europe._ Note the events which led to the voyage -across the Ægean Sea (Acts 16. 9). Trace the route on the map--from what -city? to what city? The three cities in Macedonia (Acts 16. 12; 17. 1; -17. 10). The two cities in Greece (Acts 17. 15; 18. 1). Note the long -stay in Corinth (Acts 18. 11); the largest city in Greece and the -commercial metropolis, at that time far more important than Athens. - -Review and locate the five cities in Europe thus far visited, P. T. B. -A. C., and recall the peculiar events at each place. - -4. _The two Epistles to the Thessalonians_ were written while Paul was -at Corinth, perhaps 52 and 53 A. D. These are the earliest extant -writings of Paul, and the earliest books of the New Testament. Two -subjects are presented in both letters: 1.) General precepts concerning -_Christian character_. 2.) The _second coming of Christ_. - -5. _A visit to Ephesus_, the chief city of Asia Minor (Acts 18. 18, 19). -Notice what would be the direct route from Corinth. Paul's stay at this -time was short, but with promise of a speedy return. - -6. _Return to Antioch._ The route, from Ephesus to Cæsarea, thence to -the mother church at Jerusalem; thence 250 miles either by land via -Damascus, or by water via Cæsarea (Acts 18. 22). The great result of the -second missionary journey was the planting of the gospel in Europe. The -churches founded were composed of both Jews and Gentiles, with the -latter largely in the majority. - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART ONE - - I. =Map.= 1. Lands. 1.) A. M. 2.) Th. 3.) Mac. 4.) Gre. 5.) It. - 6.) Af. 7.) Pal. 8.) Syr. - 2. =Pla.= 1.) Jer. 2.) Ant. 3.) Eph. 4.) Tro. 5.) Phi. - 6.) Thes. 7.) Ber. 8.) Ath. 9.) Cor. - - II. =Pau. Sec. Miss. Jour.= 1. Comp. S. T. L. - 2. _As. Min. Rev._ 1.) Cil. 2.) Ly. 3.) Pi. 4.) Gal. 5.) Ph. - 6.) My. T. - 3. _Gos. in Eur._ Tro. Phil. Thess. Ber. Ath. Cor. - 4. _Ep. Thess._ 1.) Chr. Char. 2.) Chr. sec. com. - 5. _Vis. Eph._ - 6. _Ret. Ant._ Result-Gosp. Eur. - - -Review Questions. Part One - - What lands in Asia are named with this lesson on the - map? What lands in Europe? What localities in - Palestine and Syria? Localities in Asia Minor? - Localities in Europe? Who were Paul's companions on - his second missionary journey? What places of his - earlier journey were revisited at this time? What new - places did he visit in Asia Minor? What event called - Paul to go to Europe? In what city in Europe did Paul - first preach the gospel? How was his work in that city - interrupted? What other places in Macedonia did he - visit? In which of these places did he find the people - "more noble"? What cities in Greece did he visit? In - which city did he stay for a long time, and for what - reason? What letters were written during this journey? - From what place was each written? What was the subject - or purpose of each epistle? What large city in Asia - Minor was the last one visited on this journey? At - what places did Paul stop on his return journey? Where - did his journey end? What was the great result of this - journey? - - -PART TWO - -II. =Paul's Third Missionary Journey= (A. D. 54-58). His companions are -named in Acts 19. 22. The latter seems to have been a man of importance -from Corinth (Rom. 16. 23). We trace the journey, starting, as both the -former journeys, from Antioch: - -1. _From Antioch to Ephesus_ (Acts 18. 23). He went through Galatia and -Phrygia, visiting churches already founded. Some think that this -indicates a fourth visit to Lycaonia and Pisidia, as those lands were -loosely regarded as belonging to Galatia; but this is not certain. - -2. _Three years in Ephesus._ (Acts 19. 1-20.) In this metropolis of Asia -Minor Paul made a stay longer than in any other place during his -ministry. As results, churches arose in all that region: Colossæ (Col. -2. 2; 2. 1), Hierapolis (Col. 4. 13), and "the seven churches of Asia" -(Rev. 1. 11). - -3. _Macedonia and Greece revisited._ We can tell what places he would -visit in this journey through former fields, although they are not -named--the four or five cities wherein he had already planted churches: -Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea (Athens?), Corinth. One of his errands on -this journey, not mentioned in Acts, is frequently referred to in the -epistles of this period, his _collection for the poor Christians in -Judea_. See Rom. 15. 26, 27. 1 Cor. 16. 1-3. 2 Cor. 9. 1-4. Probably the -care of these funds was one reason for the large number of disciples -accompanying Paul on his return journey (Acts 20. 4). - -4. _Epistles of this Period._ These were the following: - - 1.) _First Corinthians_, written from Ephesus, perhaps - about 57 A. D. Its occasion (1 Cor. 1. 11, 12). Its - purpose, to set forth a true church-life. - - 2.) _Second Corinthians_ (57 A. D.), probably written - from Macedonia. (2 Cor. 7. 5; 8. 1); its purpose, - mainly a defense of Paul's apostolic authority. - - 3.) _Galatians_, also probably from Macedonia (57 A. - D). Its occasion, the influence of Judaizing teachers - on Paul's churches in Galatia (Gal. 1. 6, 7). - "Galatia" may refer to the regions in Lycaonia and - Pisidia (according to Ramsay); but most expositors - refer it to Galatia Proper, north of those provinces. - The theme of this book is "Salvation by faith _only_." - - 4.) _Romans_ was written from Corinth perhaps in 58 A. - D. See Rom. 16. 1, a reference to the seaport of - Corinth. Its subject is "Justification by Faith." - Notice how important were the writings of this period. - -5. _The return journey_ (Acts 20. 6-21, 17). Note the route and places, -which should be traced on the map. 1.) Philippi (Acts 20. 6). 2.) Troas -(Acts 20. 6-13). What took place at Troas? 3.) Voyage to Miletus (Acts -20. 14, 15). 4.) At Miletus, a touching address (Acts 20. 17-38). 5.) -Voyage to Tyre (Acts 21. 1-6). 6.) Ptolemais (Acts 21. 7). 7.) Cæsarea -(Acts 21. 8-15.) A remarkable meeting. 8.) Jerusalem (Acts 21. 17). -Paul's errand to Jerusalem was to present the contribution of the -Gentile churches; seeking to reconcile them with the mother church in -Jerusalem, which was exceedingly bigoted in its zeal for the law (Acts -21. 20, 21). - -6. =Paul's arrest and imprisonment= (Acts 21. 27-34). Our purpose is not -to narrate the personal life of St. Paul but to show the development of -the Christian church, therefore we do not enter into the details of his -experience. He was arrested in Jerusalem, and placed in the castle of -Antonia for his protection (Acts 21. 24); subsequently taken to Cæsarea -(Acts 23. 25-35). Here he remained in prison two years (Acts 24. 27). -During this time Paul was placed on trial at least four times: 1.) -Before the Jewish council of the Sanhedrim. (Acts 23. 1-10.) 2.) Before -the Roman governor or procurator Felix. (Acts 24:. 1-22.) 3.) Before -Festus, the successor of Felix. (Acts 25. 1-12.) 4.) Before Agrippa, the -ethnarch of the Bashan district, called by courtesy "King Agrippa." -(Acts 26. 1-32.) - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART TWO - - III. =Pau. Thir. Miss. Jour.= (54-58). Comp. Tim. Eras. - 1. _Ant. to Eph._ Gal. Phr. - 2. _Thr. Ye. Eph._ Res. Col. Hier. "Sev. Ch. As." - 3. _Mac. Gre. Rev._ Phil. Thes. Ber. (Ath.?) Cor. Coll. for Jud. - 4. _Ep. Per._ 1.) 1 Cor. Eph. 57. Tr. Ch. Lif. 2.) 2 Cor. 57. - Mac. P. ap. auth. 3.) Gal. Mac. 57. "Jud. tea." "Salv. fai. - on." 4.) Rom. Cor. 58. "Jus. by fai." - 5. _Ret. Jour._ 1.) Ph. 2.) Tro. 3.) Voy. Mil. 4.) Mil. - 5.) Voy. Tyr. 6.) Ptol. 7.) Cæs. 8.) Jer. - 6. _Pau. Arr. & Imp._ Jer. Cæs. - - -Review Questions, Part Two - - Who were companions of Paul on his third journey? From - what city did he start? Through what lands did he - first pass? What great city was his principal field of - labor? In what neighboring cities did churches arise - as a result? What provinces in Europe, and what cities - in them, did he revisit? What was one of his important - errands on this journey? Who accompanied Paul on his - return? What letters were written while Paul was on - this journey? Name the place from which each of these - epistles was written. State the approximate date of - each letter. What was the purpose or theme of each - letter? Name some of the places where Paul stopped on - his return journey. What took place at Troas? What - took place at Miletus? Whom did Paul meet at Cæsarea? - What was Paul's destination? What was his purpose in - visiting the mother church? What happened to Paul at - Jerusalem? To what place was he afterwards taken? How - long was he a prisoner in that place? - - -PART THREE - -IV. =Paul's Fourth Journey= (Acts 27 and 28). Although made by a -prisoner, some of the time wearing a chain (Acts 26. 29; 28. 20), the -journey to Rome was a missionary journey, in many respects like Paul's -other journeys. To visit Rome had long been his desire and expectation -(Acts 19. 21. Rom. 1. 15. Rom. 15. 23, 24). His companions on the -journey, Luke, Aristarchus (Acts 27. 1, 2), and probably Timothy. - -1. On the voyage he was able to bring the _gospel to the island of -Malta_ (Acts 28. 7-10). - -2. Arriving at _Rome_ (Acts 28. 16) he took up his work as nearly as -possible according to his _regular method_. 1.) He found a _home_ and -_employment_ (Acts 28. 16). 2.) As he could not go to the synagogue he -_sent for the chief Jews_ and preached the gospel to them (Acts 28. -17-24). 3.) He then turned to the Gentiles (Acts 28. 28-31). 4.) Some -_results_ of his ministry in Rome (Phil 1. 12-18). - -3. _The Epistles of Paul's Imprisonment at Rome._ The order of these is -uncertain, but they belong rather to the close of the period than to its -opening. - - 1.) _Ephesians_; called by S. T. Coleridge "the - divinest composition of man;" written A. D. 62; its - subject, "The mystical union of Christ and his - church." - - 2.) _Philippians_; the most affectionate of all Paul's - letters; written A. D. 62; its subject "The character - of Christ's followers." - - 3.) _Colossians_; written to a church that Paul had - never seen; about A. D. 62; subject, "Christ the Head - of the Church." - - 4.) _Philemon_: a personal letter to a friend at - Colossæ concerning a _runaway slave_ Onesimus, whom - Paul sent back, "no longer a slave, but a brother - beloved." - -V. =Paul's Later Years.= The record is uncertain, and almost unknown. It -is probable, though not certain, that Paul was set free about 63 A. D. - -1. _His years of liberty._ 63 to 67 A. D. Shall we speak of a _fifth -journey_? We find hints or expectations of his being at Colossæ (Philem. -22); Miletus (2 Tim. 4. 13); Nicopolis, north of Greece, on the Adriatic -Sea (Titus 3. 12). Tradition states that at this place he was arrested, -and sent from it a second time to Rome. - -2. _His last epistles._ It is not certain that all the "pastoral -epistles" were written by Paul. 1.) They are unlike his other writings -in their style. 2.) His doctrinal views are not prominent in them. Yet -on the whole, they show a reasonable probability of Paul's authorship. - - 1.) _First Timothy_ was written during the period of - liberty, between 63 and 66 A. D., as a book of - _counsels to a minister_, Timothy, in charge of the - church at Ephesus. - - 2.) _Titus_, about the same time and for the same - purpose; to Titus, in charge of churches on the island - of Crete. - - 3.) _Second Timothy_, from Rome, during Paul's second - and last imprisonment; a letter of farewell counsels - to his "son Timothy." Strictly speaking this book - should be named under the next subject. - -VI. =The First Imperial Persecution.= The Christians were becoming -numerous in Rome, as well as throughout the empire; and a conflict was -sure to arise with the Roman government. The first persecution came soon -after the burning of Rome, A. D. 64, which Nero charged falsely upon the -Christians. Thousands were put to death, although the persecution was -mainly limited to the capital. The _martyrdom of St. Paul_, probably of -St. Peter also, took place about 68 A. D. at Rome. - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART THREE - - IV. =Pau. Fou. Jour.= Pris. Comp. Lu. Aris. Tim. - 1. Gos. Mal. - 2. Ro. 1.) Ho. Emp. 2.) Sent. Ch. Je. 3.) Tur. Gen. 4.) Res. min. - 3. Ep. Pau. Imp. 1.) Eph. "Mys. Un. Ch. and Ch." 2.) Phil. "Char. - Chr. fol." 3.) Col. "Chr. Hea. Ch." 4.) Philem. Run. Sla. - - V. =Pau. Lat. Ye.= 1. Yea. Lib. Col. Mil. Nicop. 2. Las. Ep. - 1.) 1 Tim. 2.) Tit. 3.) 2 Tim. - - VI. =Fir. Imp. Per.= Mart. Pau. 68 A. D. - - -Review Questions. Part Three - - Under what circumstances did Paul make his fourth - journey? Who were his companions? Where did he preach - the gospel on his journey? How did he follow his - regular method, as far as possible, at Rome? What were - some results of his ministry in Rome? What epistles - were written at Rome? What is the subject of these - epistles? How long was Paul at liberty after his first - imprisonment? What places did he probably visit during - those years? What were the last three epistles written - by Paul? What is the subject of each epistle? How did - the first imperial persecution of the Christians - arise? Who probably suffered martyrdom at this time? - - - - -EIGHTEENTH STUDY - -The End of the Age - -From the Death of St. Paul, A. D. 68, to the Death of St. John, 100 A. -D. - - -PART ONE - -We come now to our last period, an _age of shadows_, of which we know -very little, and wish that we knew more. The curtain of New Testament -history falls while St. Paul is still a prisoner at Rome, five years -before the supposed date of his death. From that time, A. D. 63, to -about A. D. 125 there is very little history, and none in the New -Testament; we are left to hints, traditions, and conjectures. - -A question which we would like to answer is, What became of the -_companions_ of St. Paul: such men as Timothy (Heb. 13. 23), Titus (2 -Tim. 4. 10), Apollos (Titus 3. 13), Luke (2 Tim. 4. 11)? All of these -were living and working at the close of Paul's life; but there is no -report of their life and labors after that event. - -Another perplexing fact is that when the curtain rises at about 125 A. -D. it shows us a very _different church_ from that of St. Paul's day: a -church completely organized, with bishops in almost absolute control; -and sects quarreling over controversies apparently unknown when St. Paul -wrote his letters. - -While Peter and Paul were living the church had wise and statesmanlike -leaders, who directed its energies. But when these great men died -"second-rate men" were left in control and they were not equal to the -demand of the new time; and the church drifted into disputes, which grew -into divisions. Let us notice the few known =Events of this Period=. - -I. =The Fall of Jerusalem=: epoch-making, not only to Jewish but also to -Christian history. - -1. The _rebellion of the Jews_ against the Roman power began in 68 A. -D.; hopeless from the beginning--for how could one small state measure -swords with the empire of the civilized world? The city of Jerusalem was -taken and destroyed 70 A. D., and with it fell forever the Jewish -state. - -2. The _siege had been predicted_ in the gospels (Matt. 24. 15-18; Mark -13. 14), and was expected by the disciples of Christ. The _Christians_ -in Jerusalem and Judea _withdrew_ to _Pella_ in the Jordan valley; but -their numbers were not large, showing that Jewish Christianity must have -declined since A. D. 58 (see Acts 21. 20), while Gentile Christianity -had increased. After the destruction of Jerusalem Jewish Christianity -remained for 200 years a feeble and declining sect, hated by their own -people as traitors, and despised by Gentile Christians because they -still observed the Jewish law. - -3. The effect of the fall of Jerusalem was to draw a sharp line of -_division between Jews and Christians_. Before, the two classes had been -closely related, and confused in the popular mind. Thenceforth the two -streams ran further and further apart, and have continued apart even to -our own time. All Jewish rites ceased in the church, Christians could no -longer be Jews; and after 125 A. D. Jews could no longer be Christians -without renouncing Judaism. The church was now thoroughly a Gentile, -non-Jewish church. Note in the gospel of John how "the Jews" are -everywhere named as enemies of Christ (John 5. 16; 7. 1; 11. 8; 18. 36); -and yet the author of this book was himself a Jew by birth and training; -but at the time of writing he had ceased to be a Jew. - -II. =St. John at Ephesus.= Ephesus, at the western end of Asia Minor, -was now the leading city of Christianity. It is probable that the -apostle John passed the last thirty years of his life in that city. He -was revered as the _last of the apostles_; but he was not a statesman or -man of affairs; rather a mystic and man of meditation. It is supposed -that he died about 100 A. D. but the date is not certain. - -III. =The Rise of the Heresies.= 1. This was the inevitable _result of -the Greek mind_ working on the simple doctrines of the gospel. The -Christian doctrine was Jewish; and the Jewish mind was not given to -subtle intellectual questions. But when Christianity ceased to be Jewish -and began to Gentile it was dominated by the Greek spirit of restless -inquiry. Asia Minor was the home of wild, uncontrolled thinking. Sects -almost without number appeared, wrangled, and divided over every article -of the creed. The more mysterious the question, the more apart from -practical life and from human interest, the more fascinating became the -study. - -2. Two great classes of sects embraced many minor groups. - -1.) _The Ebionites._ Strict Jews, who sought to make Christianity a -branch of Pharisaism, keeping the Jewish law. 2.) _The Gnostics._ People -with peculiar views concerning the nature of God, heavenly beings, the -nature of Christ. - -3. The _results_ of these controversies were both good and evil. 1.) -_Good_ in that the clashing of ideas aided in _fixing_ in permanent form -the true _doctrines_ of the church. 2.) But far more _evil_; for the -energies of the members were absorbed in debate and controversy; the -spiritual life of the church greatly declined; the aim ceased to be -devotion to Christ, but was now orthodoxy in belief. Christianity became -a creed, instead of an inner spiritual life. - -IV. =The Second Imperial Persecution=; under the emperor Domitian, son -of Titus, about A. D. 95. This was far more widely extended than the -former persecution under Nero; and it was followed by a long series of -persecutions, wherein untold thousands of Christians were put to death. -The inevitable conflict had come between Christianity and the Roman -empire, and it lasted two hundred years; but at its close the cross was -triumphant over the Roman eagles. It is not difficult to see the -_causes_ of this _struggle_: - -1. _Heathenism was hospitable_, welcoming new gods and goddesses, while -_Christianity was exclusive_, opposing with all its might every other -form of worship. - -2. _Idol-worship_ and its services were _interwoven_ with all the _life -of the people_; personal, family, social, political. Temples, statues, -festivals were constantly in evidence; on all occasions there were rites -of worship. But here was a growing multitude of people who stood aloof -from these exercises. It was not strange that these people were regarded -as enemies of society and of the state. - -3. Certain forms of religion were allowed in the Roman empire, but all -new forms were forbidden. _Judaism was a permitted_ religion. As long as -Christianity was looked upon as a branch of Judaism, it was allowed. But -after the fall of Jerusalem it stood alone, an unlicensed form of -worship, hence under suspicion; suspicion readily becoming enmity. - -4. _The worship of the emperor_ was the one most prevalent throughout -the empire. A statue of the reigning emperor stood in every city, and it -was a test of loyalty to offer libations of incense before it. This -worship is doubtless referred to in an enigmatic manner in such -passages as 2 Thess. 2. 3, 4. Rev. 13. 1, 4, 8, 18. This worship was -refused by the Christians, who were for that reason regarded as -disloyal. - -From these causes persecution after persecution arose; hundreds of -thousands perished; yet in spite of the persecution, the church grew -rapidly. - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART ONE - - =En. Ag.= Ag. shad. Comp. Paul. Diff. Ch. 125 A. D. "Sec. ra. m." - - I. =Fa. Jer.= 1.) Reb. A. D. 68-70. 2.) Siege pred. Chr. with. - Pel. 3.) Eff. div. Je. Chr. - - II. =Jhn. Eph.= Last. Ap. 100 A. D. - - III. =Ris. Her.= 1. Gre. min. 2. Eb. Gnos. 3. Res. 1.) G. 2.) Ev. - - IV. =Sec. Imp. Per.= Dom. 95. Caus. 1. Heath. hosp. 2. Id. wor. int. - li. 3. Jud. per. rel. Chr. unlic. 4. Wor. Emp. - - -Review Questions - - What is said of the period after the death of St. - Paul? Between what years is there very little history? - What companions of St. Paul were living at the time of - his death? What became of these men? Wherein was the - church of a later period different from that of the - earlier time? What reason is assigned for these - changes? Name the four principal events in the period - under consideration. When did the rebellion of the - Jews against the Roman empire begin? What was the - result of this rebellion? What became of the - Christians in Jerusalem at the opening of the Jewish - war? What was the after history of Jewish - Christianity? What was the effect of the fall of - Jerusalem on the relations between Christianity and - Judaism? Who was the last of the twelve apostles on - the earth? Where did he live? What was his character? - What is said as to his death? What divisions in the - church arose at this period? Of what were these - divisions the result? What country was the home of the - heresies? Who were the Ebionites? Who were the - Gnostics? What good result came from these - controversies? What evil result followed them? What - persecution arose during this period? At what time? - Under what emperor did the persecution begin? How did - it compare with the earlier persecution under Nero? - What general causes may be given for the series of - imperial persecutions of the Christians? Wherein was - heathenism hospitable, and Christianity exclusive? How - was idolatry interwoven with the affairs of life? How - was this fact adverse to the Christians? How did - Christianity come to be looked on with suspicion in - the empire? How did the worship of the emperor affect - the Christians? What is this worship called in the New - Testament? Did these persecutions stop the progress of - the church? - - -PART TWO - -Let us consider the =condition of the church= at the end of the first -century, seventy years after the Ascension of our Lord. - -I. =Its Numbers= cannot be definitely stated; but the church was very -large, and growing with marvelous rapidity. Sources of information: 1.) -_The catacombs_; cemeteries under and around Rome where Christians only -were buried, and wherein they met in times of persecution; occupied -between 100 and 400 A. D.; containing in three centuries two million -graves of Christians. 2.) A letter of Pliny, Roman governor of -Bithynia-Pontus in Asia Minor, 112 A. D., stating that "the temples were -almost deserted," "an incredible number of professors." Evidences point -to the church, A. D. 100, having already a large proportion of the -population of the Roman empire. - -II. =Its Membership.= 1. Once the church had been entirely Jewish; then -it became Jewish and Gentile; now it was almost everywhere a Gentile -church, with a few Jewish members, most of whom had abandoned Jewish -rites and rules and were regarded by the Jews as "apostates." - -2. _Its social condition_ was varied. It is a mistake to suppose that at -any time the early church was composed mainly of slaves and the poorest -classes. Such there were; but there were also men of wealth, of high -rank, and of great influence. There is reason to believe that some -relatives of the emperor, previous to 100 A. D. were banished on account -of their Christian profession. The gospel had by this time permeated all -classes. - -III. =Its Organization.= We observe in this respect a remarkable change -since the period of St. Paul's ministry. Everywhere the church was -hardening into an _ecclesiastical system ruled by bishops_. Bishops are -first mentioned late in St. Paul's ministry (Acts 20. 28; Rev. Ver. -Phil. 1. 1; 1 Tim. 3. 1-7); but it is evident that the word at that time -meant no more than "elder;" otherwise the elders of Ephesus would not -have been called "bishops" in Acts 20.28. But in an autocratic state the -church would naturally become autocratic in its arrangement, ruled from -above rather than from below. By 125 A. D. bishops were in control -everywhere. - -IV. =Its Institutions.= Two of these require notice. 1. _The Lord's -Supper._ We have seen how this began as a service in the home, like the -Jewish Passover, out of which it grew (Acts 2. 46). But among Gentile -churches the custom arose of celebrating it at a public meeting, as a -supper to which each member brought some share of provision. See 1 Cor. -11. 20-30, an account of abuses that had arisen. By the end of the first -century the supper had become a service held at the meeting place of the -Christians, but not in public. All except members of the church were -excluded from this service, which was held as a "mystery." - -2. _The Lord's Day._ The observance of the first day of the week grew -gradually, and with its growth the recognition of the Jewish sabbath -declined. Note the development indicated in 1 Cor. 16. 2; Acts 20. 7; -Rev. 1. 10. As the church became entirely a Gentile institution "the -Lord's day" took the place of the Jewish sabbath. - -V. =Its Doctrinal System.= The _theology of St. Paul_, as set forth in -Romans and Ephesians, was now accepted as the doctrine of the church. -Notice that St. Peter (1 Pet. 1. 18-21) states the great Pauline -principle of justification by faith through the blood of Christ. - -VI. =Its Literature.= By 100 A. D. all the books of the New Testament -were written, though not all of them were everywhere accepted as -authoritative. In some places there were questions about Hebrews, 2 -Peter and Revelation; the latter because local in its address, and so -recent in origin as not to be known everywhere. But the gospels (except -John, which was about 95 A. D. in its date), the Acts and nearly all the -epistles were read in all the churches as possessing an inspired -authority. Note that, in 2 Peter, Paul's writings are placed on a par -with "the other Scriptures," which must refer to the Old Testament. - -VII. =Its Spiritual Life.= It must be admitted that there had been a -decline in the fervency of the Christian life in the church. Its moral -standards were still high; but spiritual gifts had become less -noticeable; the rule of bishops and councils and the controversies over -doctrines were weakening the fervor of spirituality. Note the difference -in spirit and tone between the writings of the New Testament and those -of the early church-fathers in the second century. - - -Blackboard Outline - -PART TWO - - =Cond. of Ch.= 100 =A. D.= - - I. =Num.= 1.) Cat. 2.) Let. Plin. - - II. =Mem.= 1.) Gen. few Je. 2.) Soc. cond. all class. - - III. =Org.= Ecc. Sys. ru. b. Bish. - - IV. =Inst.= Lor. Sup. Lor. D. - - V. =Doc. Sys.= Theo. Pau. - - VI. =Lit.= N. T. - - VII. =Spir. Lif.= Dec. - - -Review Questions. Part Two - - What is the estimate of the number of members in the - church at the end of the first century? What evidence - of this is found in the Catacombs of Rome? What - evidence is given by a letter? Who wrote this letter, - and when was it written? Was the church at this time - Jewish or Gentile? What was the relation of Jewish - believers to the church? Of what social elements was - the church composed? How was the church organized at - this time? What references to "bishops" are found in - the New Testament, and what do they indicate? How did - the bishops grow to be rulers in the church? What two - institutions of the church are referred to? How was - the Lord's Supper observed in the earliest church? - What changes arose in the method of administration? - How did the first day of the week come to be - recognized in the church? What was the doctrinal - system of this time? What was the literature of the - church? What books were at first questioned? What was - the spiritual condition of the church as compared with - earlier periods? What may have caused the decline in - spiritual fervor? - - -THE END - - - - -THE - -Ten Minute Series OF Supplemental Lessons - -FOR - -The Sunday School, - -BY - -LORANUS E. HITCHCOCK. - - -The necessity of some instruction in the Bible in order to supply the -deficiencies which are unavoidable to any system of uniform lessons, is -realized in every Sunday school. The International Lessons can only give -detached portions of Scripture, and a supplemental lesson must be added -to impart a general knowledge of the book as a whole. - -The full course of study includes five series of lessons, adapted to be -used in any denomination. - - I. The Life of Jesus. - II. Studies about the Bible. - III. Bible Geography. - IV. Bible History. - V. History of the Christian Church. - -Two additional series of special interest to the Methodist Episcopal -Church have been prepared, namely: - - VI. History of the Methodist Episcopal Church. - VII. Government of the Methodist Episcopal Church. - -These lessons are arranged for use as graded studies for scholars ten -years of age and upward. - -Each series contains thirty-six lessons, which can easily be learned in -the course of a year, even if the study be suspended during the summer -months. - - Sample Set, 7 numbers, 35 cents. - Price of each, per dozen, 50 cents; by mail, 59 cents. - - New York: EATON & MAINS. Cincinnati: JENNINGS & GRAHAM. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Text uses both Maccabean and -Maccabæan once. - -Page 7, "17" changed to "19" (Study, page 19) - -Page 9, "9, 10" changed to "11, 12" (given on pages 11, 12) - -Page 17, "he" changed to "the" (the legate) - -Page 18, "Perea" changed to "Peræa" (place in Peræa and three) - -Page 25, "thrty-five" changed to "thirty-five" (less than thirty-five -years) - -Page 30, "1.)" added to text. (this period. 1.) In his infancy) - -Page 36, comma changed to hyphen. Original read: (Nicodemus (John 3. 1, -21)) - -Page 41, number "1.)" was used for the first two items under heading -III. The items were renumbered consecutively. - -Page 46, "Gaililee" changed to "Galilee" (southwest of the Sea of -Galilee) - -Page 48, "refences" changed to "references" (of the following -references) - -Page 49, "provincess" changed to "provinces" (Beside the five provinces) - -Page 51, "occured" changed to "occurred" (this journey occurred four) - -Page 51, "visit" changed to "Visit" (A Visit to Bethany) - -Page 52, "Question" changed to "Questions" (Review Questions) - -Page 72, "Aegean" changed to "Ægean" (the Ægean Sea. Name the) - -Page 75, "sugested" changed to "suggested" (and doubtless suggested by) - -Page 75, "synagoguge" changed to "synagogue" (synagogue service? To -what) - -Page 77, "Jersualem" changed to "Jerusalem" (in Jerusalem with Peter) - -Page 97, "13. 5, 4. changed to "13. 4, 5." (13. 4, 5. Acts) - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Outline Studies in the New Testament -for Bible Teachers, by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLINE STUDIES--NEW TESTAMENT *** - -***** This file should be named 41602-8.txt or 41602-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/6/0/41602/ - -Produced by Emmy, Mark C. Orton and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |