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the Progressiveness of the Divine revela tion. Starting with the early dawn in Gen esis, there is a gradual development of light and truth until we reach the noon day in Christ. ~ OUTSTANDING TRUTHS Once again we may look at the great outstanding truths of Scripture, as they are brought before us in the various parts. ‘Thus, if we pay attention to Israel, we nat urally find ourselves concerned with histor ical truth. If we Study the sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament, we are ^concerned with redemptive truth. If we ponder the various utterances and Books of the Prophets, we are face to face with ''prophetic truth.. If we give attention to the life and conduct of the people and notice the various aspects of morality enjoined and ordered, we become occupied with practical truth. So also in connec tion with the New Testament the various aspects are equally clear. In all this, whether with the Old Testament or the New, we may study with great advantage and profit, what may be called dispensa tio n ! truth, expressive of the various ways and times in which God has revealed His will to man ’from the earliest days in Gen esis to the closing scenes in the Revelation. 2 . The Microscopic Method. This means attention to the details of Scripture instead of large sections or long periods, (a) Passages will naturally claim first atten tion, and as one out of many illustrations of the value of carefill study of small sec tions, attention may be given to Psalm 63 with its 'fourfold emphasis on “my soul” in verses 1, 5, 8 and 9, expressive of four different aspects or stages of the believer’s life, (b) From passages it is.possible to descend to verses and very often a verse will yield a remarkable fulness of teaching when thoroughly considered. Thus in Acts 26:18 we see the whole Christian life starting with forgiveness and extending through sanctification to the glory that is to follow, (c) Biographies are often most profitable, not merely those which are recorded at great length, but also those of
which very little is said. In the latter cases careful arrangement and comparison of passages will often -yield illumination. For example, it is not always noticed that the various texts connected with ' Mary, the mother of our Lord, show five connected stages in her spiritual growth. The Apos tle Barnabas can also be studied along*five lines. The characters of men like Nico- demus with a very scanty record can, nev ertheless, be clearly seen in' relation to Christ when the passages are put together, (d) The study of Bible phrase is also most fruitful, as illustrating this microscopic method. As one instance, the title “God of Peace” is often found in various connec tions and shows something of the fulness of the Divine character. In the foiirth Gospel the words “In Myv Name” or “In His Name” will be found full of meaning. These are only bare illustrations of a wealth of teaching, (e) Then the words of Scripture are fraught with remarkable power. No one could study the various passages where' “grace” or “love” occur without obtaining remarkable insight into the truth of God. Then, too, a careful consideration of “justification” will reveal the sevenfold aspect of Scripture on this subject. Those who happen to know their Greek Testament will find word-studies of immense value, e.g., the word “boast” occurs in seven different connections and Shows the profound distinction between the boasting which is wrong and impossible and the boasting which is right and justifiable. One thing more .should be said in con nection with these methods of study, namely, that we shall find it worth while to use our peri in' making notes, for this will at once clear our thought and help us to record the results of our work. Let it be said again that nothing less than thor ough mastery will suffice, if we are to know our Bible. It has often been said that while justification is by faith, a knowledge of our Bible can only come by works. II. The Bible should be studied as unlike any o th er book. Hitherto -we have been concerned with
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