The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-06-27
REVIEW OF THE QUARTER
LESSON XIII, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATiONAL SERIES, JUNE 80.

Importance of the Lessons Here Reviewed.
Alternative Possibilities of Happiness or
Misrepresentation and Population of Pal
estine-Roman Law.
The lessons for the second quarter Of this
year deal with the later teachings and most
momentous prophecy of Christ-that concern
ing the destruction of the Temple, the end of
the world and His second coming-and with
the last scenes of his life, and the thrilling
incidents attendant on his resurrection.
In all literature nothing is recorded that
will compare for one moment in interest with
these events. The statements are so import
ant that, if true, all other truths are by COM
parison unimportant;-,f false, all other false
hoods are by comparison harmless and insig
nificant If we could believe that the writers
of Che New Testament and their immediate
successors had fabricated this impressive mar
rative should at once be driven to tho
conclusion that far beyond all men that ever
lived, they discovered the art of making a
fulsehood far mere vital in its spirit aud
more powerful in its effects than truth, for
all the admitted truths recorded in profane
history have had less effect on the subsequent
course of the world, and today have less effect
upon the lives and consciences of men than
this simple narrative We should. in adopt
ing that theory, be compelled to the utterly
absurd conclusion that little band OF Jews,
most of them ignorant and nearly all poor,
had, with most marvellous ingenuity, with
skill in fiction surprising all the masters in
that art, fabricated story which revolution
lied the civilized world, forged a theology
which survived all forms of government, and
announced delusion which has fired the
hearts of hundreds Of millions Of people and
led them to despise danger and welcome
death Such theory is too preposterous for
discussion
On the other hand, cdmit the truth Of this
narration and what awful conceptions at
once rise to impress the mind: God, eternity,
sin moral accountability, retribution and Ii
ability to eternal woe, then an incarnated
Saviour, free salvation, redemption, resur-
rection eternal happiness The bare posi-
bility Of such alternative results should, even
OH the lowest principles of self love, awaken
every man to earnest inquiry. That there
are points in the prophecy not yet determined
and statements III the history not fully un-
derstood should not weigh for one moment
against the awful Importance of what is
clear The teachings of each lesson have
been noted in their turn, but it may bo well
to set forth few facts il history and Ian
guage which aid In making clear the mean
ing of the Gospel history.
First, it is to be noted that the four gos-
pels were written in the Greek language,
though there is evidence that Matthew first
composed his in Hebrew, and that they were
written after the Christians had become suf-
ficiently numerous to create a demand for
complete record, each gospel being devised to
meet the needs of a special class. These
classes arose as follows: The Jews had lost
the Hebrew language as popular speech,
and at the time Of Christ spoke the Syro-
Chaldaic; the country was ruled by the Ro-
mans, SO the language of the laws was Latin,
while the scholars of Palestine and adjoining
countries wrote in Greek The Romans had
conquered all the civilized world west of
Persia, including Greece, Egypt and Asia
Minor, whore the conquests of Alexander the
Great had made Greek common vehicle of
speech and writing The jews retained He
brew as their sacred language. Hence we
see that the Inscription over the head of
Christ upon the cross was in the Hebrew and
Greek and Latin, to be read by the priests
and the people in Jerusalem who were not
Jews as well as the residents
Thus, too, those cvangelists who wrote for
Gentiles often. add the interpretation of word
giving its name as the Jews had it in Hebrew
and then the Greek equivalent, which their
readers understood Golgotha i'll, Hebrew
was Calvaria il Latin. Mark, Luke and
Paul were Greek names, though borne by
Jews Simon, Levi, etc, were Hebrew
names, while in several cases the writer gives
She name one was known by in both Ian
euages, whether totally different name or
merely the same name translated Simon is
Hebrew Peter is Greek, from 'petros, f" a rock.
As might be expected from their age, nearly
all the towns retained their old Hebrew
names, as Nazareth, Bethlehem, Capernaum;
but towns recently built had Latin names, as
C@sarea, Philippi
The government was in like manner com
posite. 1t was the practice Of the Romans to
slaughter without mercy till country was
conquered, then grant universal amnesty,
try into the Roman service, interfere not at
all with religion and as little as possible with
local customs as long as government was re-
spected and the taxes paid. TIE Roman gov
ernors appointed for the conquered countries
were not only instructed but it was obviously
their best policy, to be considerate of local
preiudices, and they often yielded to what
| they considered folly or injustice because
they feared sedition of the people" Pi-
late, whose office included the functions of
| local governor and judge advocate, repeat
| edly interce,lod for Jesus and declared that
he found no fault in the man." nevertheless
| he gave Him up to the Jewish council, and
| they condenuel Him under Jewish law.
The interlocb of local aaI general law was
very similar t. that III British India and the
territories belonging 10 the United States:
| For all o!Tenses against the ordinary law the
| people retained their old courts and privi-
| leges, but if tho accused was Roman citi-
| zen or was charged with treason to Rome, he
| had to SO before the higher court. PLATE de
| clared that Jesus had done nothing that ito-
mans cared to punish, and as to tie rest lie
was wiiiI" To please tho Jews; but ST.
| Paul Inherited Roman citizenship from his
! father. 50 the local authorities dared not
leave him bound" nor ctull lc be put 70
! death t3ll he had hSd us tpHsal 70 Rome.
| Even when the inferior courts condemned
the Ronsalgs often executed the sentence, as
| in the case Jf Jesus; crueifxion was a Ro-
man methcl, as that Of tho Jews would have
been by stcning Despite Pilates anxiety to
| please the influential Jews his troubles CON
/ s,autly increased for they we're restive under
/ Roman rulpl, and h. finally ordered mas
sacre in $, maria, FOR e a!ch he was recalled
| to Roa:1. l.e vas found guilty and banislled
to Nis,ue, G.ui tfprrcrl, where he died
n.Ee yelFs after the cracilixion. His enc
/ .ttys iI 2u.nc HyeiVel that he committed sui
..-.' e.. consequence of his disgrace, and there
~ g.! tr..,.it.on that he sank into O hope
/ q. 81. ...ar.oiy, lived alone in hut on Ut
| .-... H.. finally drowned himself in tht