Books of the Holy Bible

 

 

 

 

NEW TESTAMENT

 

 

ST. MATTHEW – St. Matthew before his conversion was a publican, whose business was to gather tolls, or taxes for the state. He was called from his office by our Lord to follow Him, which call he immediately obeyed, and became His faithful disciple.

This Gospel (which means "good tidings" or "good news" of our salvation by Jesus Christ) begins with Christ's genealogy, birth and flight into Egypt: proceeds to His baptism, temptations, and calling of His disciples; relates at large His sermons, disputes, and parables with the interpretations of them: records many of His famous works and miracles: and concludes with a large account of His passion, death, and Resurrection, and His solemn commission to His apostles.

ST. MARK – St. Mark is thought to have been a convert of St. Peter, and therefore called his son, 1 Peter, verse 13. In his Gospel he is exceeding brief; he treats principally the same subjects as St. Matthew, and in many places adds some remarkable circumstances, omitted by him: particularly with regard to the apostles after they were called. He is said to be the founder of the church of Alexandria, in Egypt and that he died there and was buried

ST. LUKE – St. Luke was a physician by profession, and a follower and an assistant of St. Paul. In his gospel he treats principally of Christ and his offices, and chiefly in an historical manner: and also supplies what was omitted by St. Matthew and St. Mark. The occasion of his writing may be seen in chapter 1, verses 1-4.

ST. JOHN – St. John was the beloved disciples of our Lord, and was usually present at Christ's chief miracles. He lived longest of all the apostles. In Domitian's time, he was banished to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Revelation: after which, under Nerva, he was recalled to Ephesus (being about ninety-seven years of age) where he wrote this Gospel: some say at the entreaty of the Christians at Asia, for the refutation of Ebion, Cerinthus, and others who denied the divinity of Christ. Having therefore read the other three Evangelists, he supplies some things which were wanting in them; fully treats of the divinity of Christ, and refutes those who denied his Godhead.

THE ACTS – This book, in which St. Luke records the actions of the Apostles, particularly of St. Peter and St. Paul (whose companion in travel he was) is as it were the center between the Gospels and the Epistles. It contains, after very brief recapitulation of the evangelical history, a continuation of the history of Christ, the event of his predictions, and a kind of supplement to what he had before spoken to his disciples, by the Holy Ghost now given to them. It also contains the seeds and first stamins of all those things which are enlarged upon in the Epistles.

ROMANS – That St. Paul wrote this epistle from Corinth we may learn from his commending to the Romans, Phebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea (chapter 16, verse 1) a port of Corinth, and from his mentioning the salutations of Gaius and Erastus, (chapter 16, verse 23) who were both Corinthians. Those to whom he wrote seem to have been chiefly foreigners, both Jews and Gentiles, whom business drew from other provinces, as appears both by his writing in Greek, and by his salutations of several former acquaintance. His chief design is to show:

1. That neither the Gentiles by the law of nature, nor the Jews by the law of Moses, could obtain justification before God; and that therefore, it was necessary for both to seek it from the free mercy of God by faith.

2. That God has an absolute right to shew mercy on what terms He pleases, and to withhold it from those who will not accept it on His own terms.

1 CORINTHIANS – Corinth was a city of Achaia, situate on the Isthmus which joins Peloponnesus, now called the Mores, to the rest of Greece. It was so advantageously situated for trade, that the inhabitants of it abounded in riches, which by too natural a consequence, led them into luxury, lewdness, and all manner of vice. The design of the apostle in this epistle is to beat down carnal wisdom and to exalt the powerful and simple preaching of Christ crucified; to instruct them in the doctrine of Christian liberty, of the sacraments of the Old and New Testament, of spiritual gifts, and of the resurrection of the dead.

2 CORINTHIANS – In this epistle, written from Macedonia, within a year after the former, St. Paul beautifully displays his tender affection toward the Corinthians, who were greatly moved by the seasonable severity of the former, and repeats several of the admonitions he had there given concerning his own; but in such a manner as to direct all he mentions of himself to their spiritual profit. The thread and connexon of the whole epistle is historical; other things are interwoven only by way of digression.

GALATIANS – This epistle is not written, as most of St. Paul's are, to the Christians of a particular city, but those of a whole country in Asia Minor, the metropolis of which was Ancyra. These readily embraced the Gospel; but after St. Paul had left them, certain men came among them, who (like those mentioned Acts 15) taught, That it was necessary to be circumcised, and to keep the Mosaic law. They affirmed, That all the other apostles taught thus: That St. Paul was inferior to them: And that even he sometimes practiced and recommended the law, though at other times he opposed it. – The first part therefore of this epistle is spent in vindicating himself and his doctrine: the second contains proofs from the Old Testament, that the law and all its ceremonies were abolished by Christ; and the third, practical inferences, closed with his usual benediction.

EPHESIANS – Ephesus was the chief city of that part of Asia, which was a Roman province. Here St. Paul preached for three years, and from hence the gospel was spread throughout the whole province. He begins this, as most of his epistles, with thanksgiving to God, for their embracing and adhering to the gospel. He shews the inestimable blessings and advantages they received thereby, as far above all the Jewish privileges, as all the wisdom and philosophy of the heathens. He proves that our Lord is the head of the whole church: of angels and spirits, the church triumphant; and of Jews and gentiles, now equally members of the church militant. In the three last chapters he exhorts them to various duties, civil and religious, personal and relative, suitable to their Christian character, privileges, assistance, and obligation.

PHILIPPIANS – Philippi was so called from Philip, the king of Macedonia, who much enlarged and beautified it. Afterwards it became a Roman colony, and the chief city of that part of Macedonia. Hither St. Paul was sent by a vision to preach; and here not long after his coming, he was shamefully entreated. Nevertheless, many were converted by him, during the short time of his abode there; by whose liberality he was more assisted than by any other church of his planting. And now they had sent large assistance to him (he being imprisoned in Rome) by Epaphroditus, by whom he returns them this epistle.

COLOSSIANS – Colosse was the city of the Greater Phrygia not far from Laodicea and Hierapolis. Though St. Paul preached in many parts of Phrygia, yet he had never been at this city. It received the gospel by the preaching of Epaphras, who was with St. Paul when he wrote this epistle. It seems the Colossians were now in danger of being seduced by those who strove to blend Judaism and heathen superstitions with Christianity. In opposition to them the apostle:

1. Commends the knowledge of Christ, as more excellent than all other, and so entire and perfect, that no other knowledge was necessary for a Christian. 

2. He shows that Christ is above all angels, who are only his servants and that being reconciled to God through him, we have free access to him in all our necessities.

1 THESSALONIANS – This is the first of all the epistles which St Paul wrote. Thessalonica was one of the chief cities of Macedonia. Hither Paul went after the persecution at Philippi. But he had not preached here long before the unbelieving Jews raised a tumult against him and Silvanus and Timotheus. On this the brethren sent them away to Berea. Thence St. Paul went by sea to Athens, and sent for Silvanus and Timotheus, to come speedily to him. But being in fear lest the Thessalonian converts should be moved from their steadfastness, after a short time he sent Timotheus to them, to know the state of the church. Timotheus returning, found the apostle at Corinth: from whence he sent them this epistle, about a year after he had been at Thessalonica. It contains exhortations to steadfastness, to a cheerful bearing of the cross, and to brotherly love, with divers comfortable directions.

2 THESSALONIANS – This epistle seems to have been written soon after the former, chiefly on occasion of some things therein, which had been misunderstood. Herein he:

1. Congratulates their constancy in the faith, and exhorts them to advance daily in grace and wisdom.

2. Reforms their mistakes concerning the coming of our Lord.

3. Recommends several Christian duties.

1 TIMOTHY – The mother of Timothy was a Jewess, but his father was a Gentile. He was converted to Christianity very early; and while he was yet but a youth, was taken by St. Paul to assist him in the work of the gospel, chiefly in watering the churches which he had planted. St. Paul had doubtless largely instructed him in private conversation for the due execution of so weighty an office. Yet to fix things more upon his mind, and to give him an opportunity of having recourse to them afterward, and communicating them to others, as there might be occasion; as also to learn divine directions in writings, for the use of the church and this ministers in all ages, he sent him this excellent pastoral letter, which contains a great variety of practical directions.

2 TIMOTHY – This epistle was probably wrote by St. Paul, during his second confinement at Rome, not long before his martyrdom. It is, as it were, the swan's dying song. But though it was wrote many years after the former, yet they are both of the same kind, and nearly resemble each other.

TITUS – Titus was converted from Heathenism by St. Paul (Galatians 2: 3) and, as it seems, very early; since the apostle counted him as a brother, at his first going into Macedonia. And he managed and settled the churches there, when St. Paul thought not good to go thither himself. He had now left him at Crete, to regulate the churches; to assist him wherein he wrote this epistle, as is generally believed, after the first, and before the second to Timothy. The tenor and style are much alike in this and those, and they cast much light on each other, and are worthy the serious attention of all Christian ministers and churches in all ages.

PHILEMON – Onesimus, servant to Philemon, an eminent person in Colosse, ran away from his master to Rome. Here he was converted to Christianity by St. Paul, who sent him back to his master with this letter. It seems, Philemon not only pardoned but gave him his liberty; seeing Ignatius makes mention of him as succeeding Timotheus at Ephesus.

HEBREWS – It is agreed by the general tenor of antiquity, that this epistle was written by St. Paul; whose other epistles were sent to the Gentile converts; this only to the Hebrews. And, indeed, all the Episcopies, except one, have Paul's name to the epistle. – The apostle observing that the Hebrews were falling from the faith into Judaism, by reason of the cruel persecutions which they suffered, takes occasion in this epistle to stir them up to steadfastness; particularly by the excellency of Christ's nature, person, and offices; by the degree of apostacy: by the power of faith, and by the reward of afflictions.

JAMES – This epistle is supposed to be written by James the son of Alpheus, the brother (or kinsman) of our Lord. It is called a General Epistle, because written not to a particular person or church, but to all the converted Israelites. Herein the apostle reproves that Antinomian spirit which had even then infected many, who had perverted the glorious doctrine of justification into an occasion of licentiousness. He also comforts the true believers under their sufferings and reminds them of the judgments that were approaching.

1 PETER – There is a wonderful weightiness, and yet liveliness and sweetness in the epistles of St. Peter. His design in both is, To stir up the minds of those to whom he writes, by way of remembrance, (2 Peter 3:1), and to guard them, not only against error, but also against doubting (chapter 5:12.) This he does by reminding them of that glorious grace, which God had vouchsafed them through the Gospel, by which believers are enabled to bring forth the fruits of faith, hope, love, and patience.

2 PETER – This epistle, wrote not long before St. Peter's death, and the destruction of Jerusalem, which the same design as the former, contains divers weighty directions, guards against impostors, describes the great day, and exhorts to perseverance.

1 JOHN – The great similitude, or rather sameness both of spirit and expression, which runs through St. John's Gospel, and all his epistles, is a clear evidence of their being written by the same person. In this epistle he speaks not to any particular church, but to all Christians of that age, and in them to the whole Christian church in all preceding ages. – Some have apprehended that it is not easy to discern the scope and method of this epistle. But if we examine it with simplicity, these may readily be discovered. St. John in this letter, or rather tract, (for he was present with part of those to whom he wrote) has this apparent aim. To confirm the happy and holy communion of the faithful with God and Christ by describing the marks of that blessed state.

2 JOHN – This epistle, which was written to some Christian matron and her religious children, contains an exhortation to persevere in faith and love, and a caution against false teachers.

3 JOHN – This epistle is inscribed to Gaius, wherein the apostle commends him for his zeal for the truth and his hospitality to the brethren; and advises him not to be discouraged at the perverse behavior of Diotrephes, but to follow the good example of Demetrius; and concludes with his usual salutations.

JUDE – This epistle greatly resembles the second of St. Peter, which St. Jude seems to have had in view when he wrote. Here are exhortations to contend for the faith, warnings and instructions for believers, and punishments denounced against the enemies of the church.

REVELATION – This book is written in the most accurate manner possible. It distinguishes the several things whereof it treats by seven epistles, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven phials; each of which seven is divided into four and three. Many things the book itself explains; as, the seven stars; the seven candlesticks; the Lamb, his seven horns and seven eyes, the incense; the dragon; the heads and horns of the beasts; the fine linen; the testimony of Jesus. And much light arises from comparing it with the ancient prophecies, and the predictions in the other books of the New Testament.

Herein our Lord has comprised what was wanting in those prophecies, touching the times which followed his ascension, and the end of the Jewish polity. Accordingly, it reaches from the Old Jerusalem to the New, reducing all things into one sum in the excellent order, and with a near resemblance to the ancient prophets. The introduction and conclusion agree with Daniel; the description of the man-child, and the promises to Sion, with Isaiah; the judgment of Babylon, with Jeremiah.

Again, the determination of time, with Daniel; the architecture of the holy city, with Ezekiel, the emblems of the horses, candlesticks, &c. with Zechariah. Many things largely described by the prophets are here summarily repeated, and frequently in the same words. And it is scarce possible for any that either love or fear God, not to feel their hearts extremely affected in reading many parts of this book, particularly the former and latter parts of it. 

The book of Revelation may be divided in the following manner:

- The 1st, 2nd and 3rd chapters contain the introduction

- The 4th and 5th, the proposition

- The 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, describe things which are already fulfilled

- The 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th, things which are now fulfilling

- The 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, things which will be shortly fulfilled, and

- The 20th, 21st, and 22nd, things at a greater distance.

 

END of the NEW TESTAMENT