The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-25
LESSON FOR JANUARY 2, 1887.
BY REV. ROBERT T. POLK.
THE BEGINNING,
Genesis i. 26-31; ii. 1871
TIE OLD TESTAMENT.

The Bible comprises the Old and New Tes-
taments. "We believe that the Holy Script
ures of the Old and New Testaments contain
revelation of the character of GOD, and OF
the duty, interest, and final destiny OF man"
Winchester Profession, Art. - The Old
Testament is record of the revelation of
COP through Israel, chosen race or nation.
The New Testament is the record of a reve-
lation through JESUS the CHRIST, "a man ap-
proved of GoD by mighty works and won
ders and signs which GoD did by him"
(Acts ii. 22). We do not regard these rec
ords as of equal value, but hold them to be
of relative importance and authority, as the
inspired sources of religious truth. The Old
Testament is the basis of the New. "GoD
having of old time spoken unto the fathers
in the prophets by divers portions and IN
divers manners, hath at the end of these
days spoken unto us in His Son" Hebrews
i. y. The Church of CHRIST is built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
CHRIST himself being the chief cornerstone
(Ephesians ii. 20) But JESUS said to the
Jews: ''Ye search the Scriptures the Old
TESTAMENT because We think that in them
We have eternal life; and these are they which
bear witness of me- John v. 39). He also
opened the understanding of his own disci-
pies that they might understand the Script
ure: "and beginning from Moses and from all
the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning himself
luke XIV 27) With firm faith in the truth OF
this testimony of our Lord, we turn again for
a season to the study of the Old Testament,
that we may discover and unfold the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of GoD which
they contain, and impress them upon our
hearts for instruction in righteousness, for
improvement and for doctrine, and that our
faith and hope may be confirmed in the "res-
toration of all things" declared by all the
holy prophets since the world began (Acts
iii. 21).
In general the Old Testament may be
divided into three parts. The Law, the
Prophets, and the Psalms, or Holy Writ
ings, the first and most important of which
is the Book of Psalms. The Law includes
the first five books, called the Pentateuch,
and contains the revelation of GoD in the in
situations of the commonwealth of Israel
the people of COP. The Prophets comprise
the prophetical books of history-Joshua,
Judges, Samuel and the Kings, and of pre-
diction-Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the
twelve minor prophets, and contains the reve-
Iation of GoD in His providence and govern
ment over Israel as His chosen nation. The
Holy Writings include all the other books of
the Old Testament, and contain the revela-
ton of COP in the personal and religious ex-
periences of the faithful. 1t comprises books
of history, and prophecy and poetry. In all
there are thirty-nine books contained IN the
Old Testament Scriptures, including some of
the Oldest writings known to be in existence
1t contains some of the sublimest poetry and
profoundest philosophy, as well as the most
important and interesting history of the
world. 1t was originally written in Hebrew,
afterwards translated into Greek, probably
by seventy learned men, after the Alexandra
an conquest, BIC. 331. 1t was this transla-
ton (the SeptuaginD that was principally
known and read at the time of our Saviour.
1t has been translated into more than one
hundred and fifty different languages. Our
latest English version is revision of all pre-
yious translations, after a careful compari-
son of them with the best authenticated
original text. 1t was completed in 1855,
having been made by fifty-two English and
thirty American scholars.