What two ways are there of studying the Bible?
What advantage is there for our purposes in the second method?
Give the nine names that divide the Old Testament times into periods of five centuries each.
What chronological peculiarity do we find in the Bible narrative?
Give some examples of this. (Pick out other instances of this yourself.)
What peculiarity do we find in the distribution of the miracles?
Name the four periods in which the narrative amplifies and at the same time the miracles multiply.
#Prelude.#--The story of creation (Gen. 1, 2). God was the author of all and no idolatry was to be permitted.
#First Period.#--Adam, the first man; sinned and fell (Gen. 3).
#Second Period.#--Noah, the head of a family, saved in the ark from a devastating flood; a new beginning for the human race, followed by another failure (Gen. 6, 7, 8). The tower of Babel (Gen. 11:4). Confusion of tongues (Gen. 11:5-9).
#Third Period.#--The chosen family, under Abraham, broadens to tribal life. The descent to Egypt (Gen. 46). Prosperity (Gen. 47:11), followed by oppression (Exod. 1:8-22). Moses the deliverer (Exod. 3:1-11). The march out of Egypt (Exod. 12). Legislation at Mount Sinai (Exod. 20). Entry into Canaan (Josh. 1-4). Times of the Judges. (Judg. 1 to 21).
#Fourth Period.#--Three kings in all Israel--Saul, David, Solomon (1 Sam. 10 to 1 Kings 12). The divided kingdom.
#Fifth Period.#--The captivity (2 Kings 25). The return. Ezra and Nehemiah.
#Leading Names.#--First and Second periods--Adam, Noah; Third period--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel; Fourth period--Saul, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea; Fifth period--Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
#TIME.#--From an unknown time to about 400 B. C.
#LANDS.#--Armenia, Chaldea, Palestine, Egypt, Persia.
#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--The Old Testament begins with a statement of the creation; tells of the introduction of man, "made in the image of God;" records the downfall of man and God's many efforts to redeem him; recites the incidents of God's dealings with chosen individuals, selected families and a particular nation; continues with this nation separated into two parts and held captive by a foreign power, and closes with the return of a part of Judah. With the entrance of sin came the promise of salvation through one who should come out of the chosen (Jewish) nation.