Note Most Bibles nowadays contain maps. The student should carefully study the Old Testament map in connection with the foregoing outline and locate all the places mentioned. He should also locate the chief mountains, as Mt. Carmel (near the coast), Mt. Tabor, Mt. Gilboa, Mts. Ebal and Gerizin (near Samaria and Shechem), Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Nebo (N. E. of Dead Sea), and Mt. Sinai or Horeb (to the S. W.). He should also locate the important towns and cities, such as Dan or Laish (in the extreme north), Jezreel, Dothan, Samaria, Shiloh and Bethel (in the central part), and Jericho, Gibeon, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron (in the south). Mr. Snow will supply copies of this Syllabus at 2 cents each, $1.50 per 100, or one set of samples of all documents for 10 cents. II. The Great Old Testament Narratives I. The Creation (Gen. i.). 2. The Garden of Eden (Gen. ii., 8-iv., 16). 3. The Flood (Gen. vi., 1-ix., 19). 4. Babel (Gen. xi., 1-9). 5. The "Call of Abraham" (Gen. xi., 27-xii., 9). 6. Abraham and Lot (Gen. xiii., also xv., also xviii., I-xix., 28). 7. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. xxiv.). 8. The Marriage of Isaac (Gen. xiv.). 9. Jacob and Esau (Gen. xxvii.xxxiii.). 10. Joseph and his Brethren (Gen. xxxvii., also xxxix.-xlvii.). II. Early Life of Moses (Exodus i. and 32. The Rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel xiv., 25-xviii., 33). 33. Rizpah (2 Samuel xxi., I-14). 34. The Greatness of Solomon (1 Kings ii, 1-12; 'i., I-xi., 13). 35. The Kingdom Divided (1 Kings xi., 41-xii., 33; also xiv., 21-31). Elijah (1 Kings xvi., 29-xix., 21). Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings xxi.; 36. 37. 38. also xxii., 29-40; also 2 Kings ix., 30-37). Elijah Translated (2 Kings ii., 1 12). 39. Elijah's Marvellous Achievements (2 Kings iv.-vii.). 40. The Wicked Athaliah (2 Kings xi.). 41. The Destruction of Sennacherib (2 Kings xviii., 13-xix., 37). 42. The Great Reform under Josiah (2 Kings xxii., 1-xxiii., 30). 43. The Call of Isaiah (Is. vi., 1-8). 44. The Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings XXV., I-21). 45. Daniel and His Three Friends (Dan. i.-iii.; also v. and vi.). 46. The Return from the Exile in the Time of Cyrus (about 530 B. C.) -Ezra i., 1-ii., 2; ii., 64-vi., 22). 47. Nehemiah Leads Back Another Group in Artaxerxes (about 450 B. C.)-(Nehemiah i.-vi.). 48. Esther, the Beautiful Queen (Esther i.-x.). 49. The Test of Job (Job i. and ii., also xlii.). 50. Jonah (Jonah i.-iv.). III. A Brief Outline of Hebrew History Before Christ The history of the Hebrews as a distine, a dozen centuries or more before Egypt and their establishment in Palestine, a dozen centuries or more before Christ. The first great period includes the era of settlement and conquest and extends up to the beginning of the kingdom under Saul (eleventh century B. C.). See Narratives 11-25. The second great period beginning with the accession of Saul includes the great reigns of David and Solomon, and extends to the division of the kingdom under Rehoboam and Jeroboam (tenth century B. C.). See Narratives 26-35. The third great period includes the reigns of nineteen kings in Israel (northern kingdom) until its overthrow by Sargon, King of Assyria (eighth century), and of twenty kings in Judah (southern kingdom), extending to the fall of Jerusalem and captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, in the sixth century. The great characters during this time Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea, are: Hezekiah, Isaiah, Micah, Josiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. See Narratives 36-44. The fourth great period includes the captivity of Judah (sixth century), the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the subsequent control of Palestine by the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, including the brilliant century. of independence under the Maccabees from about the middle of the second century until after the middle of the first century B. C. See Narratives 4548. The student would do well to consult a Bible Dictionary or an Ancient History for the chronology and for the relations existing between the Hebrews and the other great nations of antiquity. It is not always possible to be sure of the exact date of a given event, as the various authorities differ; but the student should grasp the historical periods and be able to assign each great event to its proper century. Any recognized system of chronology will be accepted. Various excellent Hebrew histories are easily obtainable. V. Memory Passages from the Old Testament NOTE. Learn any five of the following passages. Each of the passages selected should be carefully committed to memory, so as to become an abiding possession. I. The Ten Commandments, Exodus 2. From a speech of Moses, a speci- vi., 4-15. 3. The First Psalm. 4. The Twenty-third Psalm. 5. The Forty-sixth Psalm. (b) To the east of the Jordan: 1. Perea, extending from the river Arnon north somewhat beyond the river Jabbok. This region and Galilee were united under the rule of Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. 2. Decapolis, east of Galilee and stretching off to the southeast, a region of flourishing Greek cities. 3. The Tetrarchy of Philip, extending from opposite the Sea of Galilee north to Mt. Hermon (the probable scene of the Transfiguration). Among its cities were Bethsaida and Caesarea Philippi. Its ruler in Christ's time was 6. The One Hundred and Third Philip, another son of Herod Psalm. 7. Job xxviii., 12-28. 8. Proverbs iii., 1-26. 9. Isaiah xl., 18-31. 10. Isaiah lv. VI. Studies in the Life of Christ A. Political Divisions in Christ's Time The general landscape features in New Testament times are, of course, the same as those already outlined. (See I, above.) But the political divisions were entirely different. These were as follows: (a) To the west of the Jordan: 1. Judea, corresponding, in the main, to the old Kingdom of Judah and including such places as Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem, Bethany, Ephraim, Lydda, and Joppa. 2. Samaria, occupying the central part of the region around the ancient. city of Samaria, extending north to the river Kishon, and numbering among its cities Sychar and Caesarea. Judea and Samaria were under the proconsul Pontius Pilate. 3. Galilee, lying to the west of the lake of the same name and extending north to Phenecia (Tyre and Sidon). Among its points of interest were Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, Chorazin. Great. the NOTE. All these divisions and points of interest should be carefully located on the map. B. The Life of Christ The four evangelists differ somewhat in their accounts of the life of Christ. For this there are two causes: (1) John purposely omits to mention various facts recorded by the earlier writers, intending in his gospel to give additional information, rather than to repeat familiar matter. (Because of their general agreement the first three gospels are called the "synoptic gospels"). (2) The synoptic gospels do not always agree in the order of events; Matthew seems to prefer to treat his matter topically. For example, when recording parables he groups several together, apparently disregarding the exact chronology. See Matt. xiii. It is, therefore, somewhat difficult to determine the exact order of the events in Christ's life. In the outline given below we shall follow, in the main, the order found in Luke; here and there facts not recorded by him are inserted. Outline First Period: Childhood and Youth, up to and including the Temptation. Luke i.-iv., 13. Read also Matt. ii.-iv. Locate places mentioned. Second Period: The Beginnings of Christ's Active Ministry, or The Year of Obscurity. Read John ii.-iv. During this period, after his first miracle in Cana in Galilee, Jesus appears to have worked mainly in Judea. The event marking the close of this period seems to have been the imprisonment of John the Baptist. See Matt. iv., 12, 13; also Mark i., 14; also Mark vi., 1429. the time of the Passover. In this period should also be placed the visit to Bethany and the raising of Lazarus as recorded in John xi., 1-40, and the subsequent sojourn in Ephraim (John xi., 4S-54). Fifth Period: The Passion Week and the Forty Days. Read Luke xix., 11-xxiv., 53; also Acts i., 1-14. After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Sunday, Jesus evidently made His headquarters at Bethany, Third Period: The Period of Growing going each day to Jerusalem to teach Popularity. Read Luke iv., 14-ix., 50. During this period, which probably lasted considerably over a year, Jesus worked mainly in the neighborhood of the Sea of Galilee. Among the chief events to be remembered, in addition to the various miracles and parables, are the following: (1) The choosing of the twelve disciples, in connection with which doubtless occurred the Ser mon on the Mount (briefly recorded by Luke in chapter vi., 20-49, and more fully in Matthew v.-vii., which should be read). (2) Two journeys north for rest and privacy. The first-into Phenecia is not mentioned by Luke, but is described in Matthew xv., 2131; the second is described in Matthew xvi., 13-21. Here in Peter's confession was made a definite announcement of Jesus' Messiahship, after which He talked to His disciples of His approaching death. (3) The Transfiguration, probably on Mt. Hermon. Fourth Period: The Final Year of Ministry, or Period of Constantly Growing Opposition. Read Luke ix., 51-xix., 10. During this period, lasting doubtless for something less than a year, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, but not being welcomed in Samaria journeyed south by a route east of the Jordan (see Mark X., 1), reaching Jericho shortly before in the Temple (Luke xxi., 37). The bitterness of the hierarchy daily increased. On Thursday evening He celebrated the Passover and instituted the Lord's Supper, after which occurred His last extended conversation with His disciples. Read John xiv.-xvii. Then came the scene in Gethsemane, the arrest and the trials. Of these Luke mentions four. Before whom was each? The Crucifixion followed on Friday and the Resurrection on Sunday, after which occurred the various manifestations and the Ascension. VII. Studies in History of the Early Church. Note that the influence of Christianity soon extended beyond Palestine. Study in connection with the following outline a map of the Eastern Mediterranean, showing the various voyages of Paul. In the matter of dates there is not absolute agreement among the historians, and so none are given here. The student should, however, adopt some reasonable chronology and follow it consistently. 1. The Progress of the Church at Jerusalem. Read Acts i.-vii. Get clearly in mind the chief events: The manifestation of power on the Day of Pentecost: Peter's great sermon and its effect; the enthusiasm and de votion of the Church; the incident of Ananias and Sapphira; the beginnings of persecution; the appointment of the seven deacons, and the death of the first martyr, Stephen. 2. The First Missionary Work of the Church. Read Acts viii.-xii. Note that this work was due largely to the scattering of the early Christians by persecution. Note the work of Philip, the first foreign missionary; the conversion of Saul and his work in Arabia and Damascus (read Gal. i., 17, 18); also the work of Peter, and his vision at Joppa; the admission to fellowship of Cornelius, the Roman, and the widening vision of the Church; the spread of the Gospel to Antioch, the chief city of Asia, and the rapid increase of the Church in spite of persecution. Locate all places mentioned. 3. The Great Missionary Work of Paul. (1) Paul's First Missionary Journey. Read Acts xiii. and xiv. Follow the route of Paul and Barnabas from Antioch across Cyprus, and so on, to the mainland through Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, and back again by the same route to Attalia, whence they sailed to Antioch. Note carefully their experience in each city and the evidences of their success. (2) The Great Council at Jerusalem. Read Acts xv., I-35. This is very important, as at this time the Mother Church gave official sanction to the work among the Gentiles, an essential step toward making Christianity a world religion. (3) The Second Missionary Journey. Read Acts xv., 36-xviii., 22. Again follow the route of Paul and Silas as they proceeded overland from Antioch by the great Roman road through Tarsus, Paul's early home, and so on across the mountains to the Galatian cities visited on the first journey. Note that instead of going north into Bithynia, as apparently they had planned, they followed the caravan road to Troas, where Paul had the great vision which took him into Europe. Follow his route through Macedonia. Note that his general method of work in each city was to approach the Jews first and then to turn to the natives. Note his varied experiences, especially at Athens and at Corinth, where he remained a year and a half. Recall the friends he made during this trip and follow his return to Antioch via Ephesus and Cæsarea. (4) The Third Missionary Journey. Read Acts xviii., 23-xxi., 16. Note that as on the second journey Paul starts out by visiting Tarsus, Derbe, Iconium, etc., and then follows. the great caravan road direct to Ephesus, the chief commercial city on the Ægean, where the Gospel had already by Apollos. Follow his route, which been preached, somewhat imperfectly, doubtless took him to the scenes of his former work at Philippi and Thessalonica and thence south to Corinth, where he stayed three months. Observe that on his return he again visited his dear friends at Philippi (note his affection for this church as expressed in Phil. i., 1-5; and iv., 1), and spent a week at Troas, thence skirting the coast to Miletus, where he bade good-by to his Ephesian friends. Follow his entire route on the map to his landing places at Tyre and Cæsarea, whence he went to Jerusalem. (5) Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem and Appeal to Cæsar. Read Acts xxi., 17-xxviii. Note the circumstances of Paul's arrest, his address on the temple stairs, his address before the council, the plot against his life, his night ride to Cæsarea, his trial before Felix, his two |