Through the Bible Book by Book Part Three

Myer Pearlman

• Publisher: Gospel Publishing House
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781607314257
• Topic: Theologie & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblischer Bezug

Through the Bible Book by Book is designed to promote a broad, overall knowledge of the contents of each book of the Bible. It is a timeless study tool for teachers of biblical truth. It has been a standard classroom text for more than seven decades in churches and schools, as well as an aid for personal Bible study. Readers will appreciate the brief overview of author and background information for each book of the Bible. It also breaks down each Bible book into an easy-to-follow outline for systematic study and memorization. A must-have for teachers and students. Volume 3 covers the New Testament from Matthew to Acts.

CHAPTER I

BOOKS OF THE
NEW TESTAMENT

Learn the following classification:

I.The Gospels, dealing with the manifestation of our salvation.

1.Matthew

2.Mark

3.Luke

4.John

II.The historical book, dealing with the propagation of our salvation.

1.The Acts

III.The doctrinal books, dealing with the explanation of our salvation. The Pauline Epistles

1.Romans

2.1 Corinthians

3.2 Corinthians

4.Galatians

5.Ephesians

6.Philippians

7.Colossians

8.1 Thessalonians

9.2 Thessalonians

10.1 Timothy

11.2 Timothy

12.Titus

13.Philemon

14.Hebrews

The General Epistles

1.James

2.1 Peter

3.2 Peter

4.1 John

5.2 John

6.3 John

7.Jude

IV.The prophetical book, dealing with the consummation of our salvation.

1.Revelation

THE FOUR GOSPELS

The first question that confronts us before commencing the study of the Gospels is, Why four Gospels? Why not two, three, or just one? This can best be answered by stating the fact that, in apostolic times, there were four representative classes of people—the Jews, the Romans, the Greeks, and that body taken from all three classes, the Church. Each one of the evangelists wrote for these respective classes, and adapted himself to their character, needs, and ideals. Matthew, knowing that the Jews were eagerly looking forward to the coming of the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, presents Jesus as that Messiah. Luke, writing to a cultured people—the Greeks, whose ideal was the perfect Man, makes his Gospel center around Christ as the expression of that ideal. Mark writes to the Romans, a people whose ideal was power and service, so he pictures Christ to them as the Mighty Conqueror. John has in mind the needs of Christians of all nations, so he presents the deeper truths of the Gospel, among which we may mention the teachings concerning the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The principle of adaptation referred to here was mentioned by Paul in 1 Cor. 9:19–21, and was illustrated in his ministry among Jew and Gentile. (Compare his message to the Jews in Acts 13:14–41, and that to the Greeks in 17:22–31.) This adaptation is a fine indication of a Divine design in the four Gospels.

In this connection we must remember that since humanity is just the same in one age as in another the message of the Gospels is addressed to mankind in general.

The foregoing facts reveal another reason for the writing of four Gospels; namely, that one gospel would not have been sufficient to present the many-sidedness of Christ’s person. Each of the evangelists views Him from a different aspect. Matthew presents Him as King, Mark as Conqueror (and Servant), Luke as Son of Man, and John as Son of God. This viewing of Christ is like the viewing of a huge building—only one side can be taken in at one time.

The fact that the evangelists wrote their records from different viewpoints will explain the differences between them, their omissions and additions, the occasional seeming contradiction, and their lack of chronological order. The writers did not attempt to produce a complete biography of Christ, but taking into consideration the needs and character of the people to whom they were writing, they selected just those incidents and discourses which would emphasize their particular message. For example, Matthew, writing for the Jew, makes everything in his Gospel—the selection of discourses and incidents, the omissions and additions, the grouping of events—serve to stress the fact of Jesus’ messiahship.

As an illustration of the way each evangelist emphasizes some particular aspect of Christ’s person, let us take the following: Four authors undertake to write a biography of a person who has acquired fame as a statesman, soldier and author. One might wish to emphasize his political career, so he would gather together records of his campaigns and speeches to incorporate in the biography. Another would lay stress on his literary successes, and would describe his different writings. The third, with the thought in view of emphasizing his prowess in the military world, would describe his promotions, his decorations, and the battles in which he distinguished himself. The fourth might wish to enhance his virtues as manifested in home-life, so he would relate those incidents that would tend to set him forth as the ideal parent, husband, or friend.

The first three Gospels are called synoptical, because they give us a synopsis (common view) of the same events and have a common plan. The Gospel of John is written on an entirely different plan from the other three.

The following are the points of difference between the Synoptics and the Gospel of John:

1. The Synoptics contain an evangelistic message for unspiritual men; John contains a spiritual message for Christians.

2. In the three, we are taken over the ground of His Galilean ministry; but in the fourth, over the ground of His Judean ministry mainly.

3. In the three, His more public life is displayed; but in the fourth, we are shown His private life.

4. In the three, we are impressed with His real and perfect humanity; in the fourth, with His true and awful deity.

MATTHEW

Theme. The central theme of this Gospel is, Jesus the Messiah-King. Matthew, writing to the Jews, and knowing their great hopes, sets forth Jesus as the One fulfilling the Old Testament Scriptures relative to the Messiah. By the use of numerous Old Testament quotations, he shows what the Messiah ought to be; by a record of the words and deeds of Jesus, he proves that He was that Messiah. The frequent recurrence of the words “kingdom” and “kingdom of heaven” reveals another important theme of Matthew’s Gospel. He sets forth the kingdom of heaven as promised in the Old Testament (Matt. 11:13), as proclaimed by John the Baptist and Jesus (3:2; 4:17), represented now by the Church (16:18, 19), and as triumphant at Jesus’ second coming (25:31, 34). Author. Reliable tradition credits Matthew with the writing of this book. Very little is said concerning him in the New Testament. We learn that he was a tax-gatherer under the Roman government but was called by the Lord to be a disciple and apostle. To Whom Written. To all mankind in general, but to the Jews in particular. That it was intended primarily for the Jew may be seen by the following facts:

1. The great number of Old Testament quotations—there are about 60. One preaching to the Jews would have to prove his doctrine from the ancient Scriptures. Matthew makes these quotations the very basis of his Gospel.

2. The first words of the book “The book of the generations of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham,” would suggest immediately to the Jew, those two covenants that contained promises of the Messiah—the Davidic and the Abrahamic. 2 Sam. 7:8–16; Gen. 12:1–3.

3. There is a complete absence of explanations of Jewish customs showing that he was writing to a people acquainted with them.

CONTENTS

I.Advent of the Messiah. Chaps. 1:1 to 4:11

II.Ministry of the Messiah. Chaps. 4:12 to 16:12

III.Claim of the Messiah. Chaps. 16:13 to 23:39

IV.Sacrifice of the Messiah. Chaps. 24 to 27

V.Triumph of the Messiah. Chap. 28

I.The Advent of the Messiah. Chaps. 1:1 to 4:11.

1.Genealogy (1:1–17)

2.Birth (1:18–25)

3.The Wise Men (2:1–12)

4.Flight to Egypt and Return (2:13–23)

5.Baptism of Jesus (Chap. 3)

6.Temptation of Jesus (4:1–11)

The Jews paid great attention to genealogies. Before a person could be ordained to the priesthood, he was required to prove his descent from Aaron. In the time of Ezra some were rejected because of their failure to prove their right to the priesthood. Matthew, setting forth Jesus as Messiah, is obliged to prove from the Old Testament that He is Son of David—the One having a right to be king of Israel. Ps. 132:11. This he does in the genealogy found in Chap. 1:1–17, which is that of Joseph.

The Old Testament teaches that Messiah is to be born of a virgin, and that He must be, not only the Son of David, but the Son of God. Isa. 9:6. Matthew then records the virgin birth of Christ to show how these scriptures were fulfilled in Him.

The Wise Men are believed to have been a priestly tribe of Medes, whose chief functions were the study of astrology and the interpretation of dreams. They are representative of that class of Gentiles who worship the true God according to all the light they have. They may have been led to look for Messiah’s coming by the testimony of the Jews living in their country.

Herod, though an able king, was a monster of cruelty. Knowing his own unpopularity and constantly fearing the loss of his throne, he ruthlessly destroyed any whom he suspected in the least of aspiring to rulership. This will explain his perturbation at the news of the birth of a king of the Jews, and his act of slaying the children of Bethlehem. His murderous plan to kill the infant Christ was thwarted by a Divine warning.

Chapter 3 records the ministry of John the Baptist. His ministry was to prepare the nation for the coming of the Messiah, by the rite of baptism, which rite was symbolical of the cleansing from sin to be effected by the death of Messiah. The question arises here, Wh...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Foreword
• Abbreviations for the Books of the Bible
• Contents
• Chapter I: Books of the New Testament
• Chapter II: Matthew (continued)
• Chapter III: Mark
• Chapter IV: Luke (continued)
• Chapter V: John 1 to 6
• Chapter VI: John 7 to 12
• Chapter VII: John 13 to 21
• Chapter VIII: Acts 1 to 5
• Chapter IX: Acts 6:1 to 12:23
• Chapter X: Acts 12:24 to 15:35
• Chapter XI: Acts 15:36 to 21:17
• Chapter XII: Acts 21:18 to 28:31
• Notes