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THE KING’S BUSINESS
then do our utmost to gather the precise meaning and message of its contents. For this purpose we shall be well advised 'to read a book straight through at once in order to obtain a general view of it as a whole. Then it will be well to do the same again, without stopping unduly to attend to details. A third reading in this way will be most profitable, especially if at the same time we endeavor to make our own analysis of the Book. When we have endeavored to gain our own impression of what the Book is and contains, then, and not till then, we may compare the results of our reading with those of some writer. Thus, we may look at the analysis of a Book in the “Analyzed Bible” series by Dr. Campbell Morgan, or we might take the treatment found in “Synthetic Studies” or “The Christian Worker’s Commentary” by Dr. J. M. Gray. The Book method of Bible Study will in any case prove most fruitful. THE BOOK METHOD As suggesting what may be' done in this way, let us turn to the Book of Genesis. A general reading will at once show that there are two main divisions, the first cover ing chapters 1 to 11 and the second, chap ters 12 to SO. The former covers thous ands of years and may be summed up in five words: Creation, Corruption, Deluge, Deliverance, Dispersal. The remaining thirty-nine chapters deal in detail with the lives of a few men, and five may be said to cover practically the whole: Abraham, Isaac, Esau, Jacob, Joseph. From jthis mere outline it would be possible to pro ceed to the thorough study of the contents of the fascinating first Book of the Bible. Or take Isaiah. The first thirty-five chapters deal mainly with Assyria. Then come four chapters of history, followed by twenty-seven chapters dealing mainly with Babylonia. It is noteworthy how the first two chapters of the history (36 and 37) look back over the first period, while the other two chapters of the history (38 and 39) look forward over the second period. This summary can be further divided into
smaller sections, and the whole Book thereby be mastered. Look at Matthew’s Gospel. The key is to be found in two passages, each contain ing the phrase “From that, time” (4:17; 16:21). Everything before the former is introductory; then between the two we have our Lord’s preaching without a sin gle reference to His death; but from the time of the latter of these texts, He began to tell His disciples what would happen. Thus, we may think of Matthew’s Gospel as giving to us the preparation (1:1-4:16) ; the proclamation (4 :17-16:20) ; and the passion (16:21-28:20). John’s Gospel is also capable of thorough Study by itself. There are two main divis ions connected by the phrase “His own.” The former covers chapters 1-12, dealing with “His own” who did not receive Him (1:11). The latter covers chapters 13-21, dealing chiefly with “His own” who did receive Him (13:1). The Book of Acts' is also capable of thorough mastery by itself. There are two chief sections. The former with Jerusalem as the center (1-12) and the latter with Antioch (13-28). But it is interesting to notice that each of these is marked by sub divisions, indicative of periods in the his tory _of the Church when the writer was able to summarize results up to a certain pqint. Thus, in chapters' 1-12 we have summaries at 6:7; 9:31 and 12:24. In chapters 13-28 there are summaries at 16:5; 19:20 and 28:31. Then, too, it can be seen that the entire Book is built up on the ideas suggested by the geographical ex tension’ of the Church mentioned in 1:8. Nor is it possible to avoid noticing that the first, section of Acts includes five parts dealing with Peter, ending with his imprisonment, while the second section has also five parts dealing with Paul and ending with his imprisonment. The Epistle to the Ephesians is also helpfully studied along the lines of its two divisions, chapters 1-3 being concerned with doctrine, and chapters 4-6 with duty. Then Galatians is similarly capable of
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