The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-01-05
THE BIBLE.

THE BIBLE.
By T. ]. NJ.
l. Oyfgia.-The word is of Greek
origin, and signified a book, pri-
marily, the reed papyrus. This
name was given to the collection
of writings held sacred by the Jews
and Christians in the 9th century,
by Chrysoslom, previous to which
time called Scriptures" Sacred
Scriptures" divine Scriptures
and each separate portion having
its own name. The "Old Tesla
ment," called the "Law" the Claw
and the Prophets" etc, alse the
'Old Covenant" the s'Books of the
Old Covenant" was divided by the
Jews into three parts, viz, the law,
the prophets and the sacred writ
iAgs.
OF the New Testament, not q
fragment of the writings from the
hand ofan evangelist or an apostle,
survived the early generations
that used the manuscripts and
wore them out. The primitive
Christians, though setting, Q. .bish
value upon those productions, did
not feel the importance of laying
them sacredly aside. The greater
their value the more extensive
their circulation, and consequently
the briefer their existence. It was
first written on skins, and bark, in
roll, or parchment, in the Hebrew
language, "a dialect of the old
Phoenician tongue. When first
written, it was done with a reed
and ink, and was entirely devoid
of vowels, these being supplied by
the natural tongue.
Since the 9th century, there have
been no less than thirty-nine trans
lations of the Bible. Each of these
was made to suit the peculiar creed
of the translator, and hence,
changes, abrasions and interpola-
tions were the result, until it is
thought, many of the Bibles of the
middle ages bear little resemblance
to the original text.
III. Tedchiugs.-The Bible teach
es all that is necessary to be
known by the human family, that
may not be learned from the
study of nature. The teachings
of the Scriptures may be divided
into three classes: individual, do
nestle and social.
l. We are so constituted that we
sustain certain relations as indi-
viduals to each other and to God.
These relations give rise to certain
corresponding obligations. These
we learn from Ihe teachings of the
Scriptures. l. The relations which
we sustain te God. (a) He is our
Creator and Preserver. A few years
ago and we had no existence.
Nor is He under any obligation
whatever, to do all this for us, He
does it purely out of love: "Godis
love-" (b) The relation which we
sustain to God is that of dependent
creatures. We are at all times, and
under all circumstances dependent
on Him for the comfort and nee
essaries of this life, even for our
very existence. We are objects of
His constant care and protection.
And for all this, we are under the
most bidding obligations to Him.
2. The relations and obligations
which we sustain to each other.
BY a proper study of the Scrip
lures we will not fail to see these
on almost every page. In the Old
Testament they are most promi-
nAnflx- for1rrhf IN the Tnn TA,nxan1
ments. In the New Testament
Christ taught us, very plainly, our
duty to each other, when He said,
Whatsoever We would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to
them" And again, when He said,
"Love thy neighbor as myself"
We surely cannot mistake the
meaning of these precepts. These
are teachings SO plain that the way
faring man, though a fool. may
not err therein.
2. Domestic teachings. Owing
to the present constitution, there
are certain domestic duties grow
ing out of the peculiar relations
existing between parent and child.
These are Enthusiastically taught in
both volumes of the Bible. "Hon-
or thy father and thy mother"
Paul says: Children, obey your
parents; for this is well pleasing
unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke
not your children to anger, lest
they be discouraged"
3. Social teachings. Since society,
Communities, and nations are made
up ofindividuals and families, and
what is true of one is also true the
other, it follows, that what has
been said of families and individu-
ais, is also applicable to societies,
communities, and nations.
Ill Bcnefts.-What O blessed
state Of thing would exist if we on
ly observed the teachings of the
Bible; if We would only do unto
others as we would have them
do unto us. And since our actions
are usually presided by words,
they would be of the same nature;
and not only this, but even our
thoughts of others would be as we
would have them think of us. And
thus all manner Of evil would dis.
appear. All slandering, all back
billings, all envyings, all strifes,
broils, and, indeed, every known
form of evil would then be forgot
ten.
But since such is not the case,
nor may We hope forsuch a change
until the Millennium, still we may
draw some practical conclusions,
on the teachings OF the Bible, from
the past. When we look far back
through the dark ages of the world,
and see the vicissitudes of fortune
which have marked the rise and
fall of nations, and then, with an.
other view, take in that period
from the middle ages up TO the
present time, embracing the spread
Of the Bible, and its teachings, and
mark the consequent prosperity Of
those nations in which the Bible
has been most generally difiused,
and note the momem$ary glory,
aEd sudden and disastrous fate of
heather nations, we are forced to
admit that there is some benefit to
be derived from the Bible.
From it we learn the observance
of the sabbath day: Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy"
Even this command alone is of III
calculable benefit to us. Besides
being q day which is the source OF
peculiar blessings to u.s. morally
and religiossly, it is Q day which
furnishes us with strong and marx
ed physical advantages, and with
out which one of a similar kind, al,
least, our period of existence
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