Chapters
EPIPHANY STUDIES
IN THE
SCRIPTURES
"The Path of the Just is as the Shining Light,
That Shineth More and More
Unto the Perfect Day."
SERIES XII
THE BIBLE
7,000 Edition
"Thy Word is Truth" (John 17:17).
——————
PAUL S. L. JOHNSON
PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. S. A.
1949
To the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
IN THE INTEREST OF
HIS CONSECRATED SAINTS,
WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION,
— AND OF —
"ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE LORD,"
"THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH,"
— AND OF —
THE GROANING CREATION, TRAVAILING AND WAITING FOR
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD,
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED.
_____________
"To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God," "Wherein He hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having
made known unto us the mystery of His will, accord-
ing to His good pleasure which He hath pur-
posed in Himself; that in the dispensation
of the fullness of the times He
might gather together in one
all things, under
Christ."
Eph. 3:4, 5, 9; 1:8–10.
_____________
COPYRIGHT 1949
BY PAUL S. L. JOHNSON
FOREWORD
IN THIS book it is designed to discuss the Bible as a subject. It is not its design to discuss the contents of the Bible as such. Rather, it is its design to set forth the teachings of the Bible as to itself. Along with those teachings a number of things more or less connected with the history of the Bible as the sacred writings of Christians will be treated. In other words, it is the purpose of this treatise on the Bible to elucidate the Bible's theory of the Bible as such. Accordingly, there will be treated herein such subjects as the generalities, literature, origin, canon, genuineness, credibility, revelation, inspiration, attributes, uses, etc., of the Bible. That such a discussion is in place is evident from the position that the Bible holds with God's people, as sole source of faith and main rule of practice. Moreover, the study of such subjects conduces to a proper understanding and appreciation of the Bible, and has, therefore, a sanctifying effect (John 17:17). Then, too, in our times, through a misuse of the proper study of Biblical Introduction by an infidelistic approach to, and engagement in that study, the unbelieving theories of Higher Criticism are undermining confidence in the genuineness, credibility and inspiration of the Bible as a revelation from God; and the Christian should be armed against such infidelity. But above all, as a means of honoring God in our own lives for His bestowment upon us of the priceless gift of the Bible, and as a means of helping others to glorify God for the same reason, such a study as is here proposed should be eminently assistful. And for its proper pursuit let each of us pray the Lord for such a spirit as will honor Him in the study, and as will be able to undertake and prosecute the study profitably; for without such a spirit study would be without honor to God and unprofitable to us.
The Bible is the collection of the Old and the New Testament writings, all of which are accepted by God's people as His authoritative revelation. This is a proper definition of the Bible; but sometimes the word is figuratively used to designate the sacred writings of others
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than God's people, e.g., the sacred books of the Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Babists, Mohammedans, etc., are often called the bibles of these. Such a use of the word we deem improper, since it is a word restrictive in use to the Christians' sacred writings. Sometimes the Jews use this word for the Old Testament, which they regard as the only authoritative Divine revelation. But even that use of the word is not fully justified, though the Old Testament is part of the Bible. We should restrict the word to the designation of both Testaments. Sometimes we hear people call the Old Testament the Old Bible, and the New Testament the New Bible. Both of these uses of the term are unfortunate. Our use of the word is restricted to designate the writings that constitute the Old Testament and the New Testament, as the embodiment and authoritative history of God's revelation of Himself and of His plan, given by Him through His Son, by means of certain of His servants to His Old Testament and New Testament peoples (Heb. 1:1, 2; 1 Pet. 1:11; 1 Cor. 8:6; Amos 3:7). For this collection of writings the instructed Christian claims a unique place, to which no other writings are entitled. Hence he gives them the reverence and obedience that he believes is fitting to bestow upon the utterances of Jehovah, the God of heaven and earth. That this study may be blessed by the Bible's Author is the prayer of the author and, it is desired, of the reader.
Your brother and servant,
PAUL S. L. JOHNSON.
Philadelphia, PA.,
September 14, 1945.
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE BIBLE'S GENERALITIES.
GENERAL BIBLE FACTS. GENERAL REMARKS ON IT AS LITERATURE. GENERAL REMARKS ON THE CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. GENERAL REMARKS ON THE CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 7
CHAPTER II.
THE BIBLE, A DIVINE REVELATION.
ITS NEED. INTERNAL PROOFS. ITS PLAN.WISDOM, POWER, JUSTICE AND LOVE PERMEATE THE PLAN. THE ATTRIBUTES OF ITS GOD. 103
CHAPTER III.
THE BIBLE, A DIVINE REVELATION (Continued).
CHRIST'S CHARACTER, OFFICES AND NATURES. PERMISSION OF EVIL. THE RANSOM. THE BIBLE'S EXCELLENCIES. 209
CHAPTER IV.
THE BIBLE, A DIVINE REVELATION (Continued).
MIRACLES. PROPHECY. EXPERIENCE. PRODUCTS. CIVILIZER. 347
CHAPTER V.
THE BIBLE, A DIVINE REVELATION (Concluded).
THE GREAT PYRAMID. ANALOGOUS TO COURSE AND CONSTITUTION OF NATURE. THE HEAVENS DECLARE GOD'S PLAN. PALESTINE DECLARES GOD'S PLAN. 451
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CHAPTER VI.
THE BIBLE'S INSPIRATION.
ITS DESCRIPTION. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. BIBLE PASSAGES. BIBLE FACTS. HIGHER CRITICISM. OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED. 529
CHAPTER VII.
THE BIBLE'S ATTRIBUTES AND USES.
ITS FOURTEEN ATTRIBUTES. ITS FOUR USES. 685
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