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NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS CINCINNATI: JENNINGS & GRAHAM
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
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.