The Holy Bible 3
Since the date last named, no dispute as to the authenticity of the New Testament has claimed much attention. The present is too late a time and the separating distance too vast to encourage the reopening of the question. The New Testament must be accepted for what it claims to be; and though, perhaps, many precious parts have been suppressed or lost, while some corruptions of the texts may have crept in, and errors have been inadvertently introduced through the incapacity of translators, the volume as a whole must be admitted as authentic and credible, and as an essential part of the Holy Scriptures.
Classification of the New Testament-The New Testament comprises twenty-seven books, conveniently classified as:
Historical………………………………………. 5
Didactic………………………………………. 21
Prophetic………………………………………..1
The Historical Books include the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The authors of these works are spoken of as the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; to Luke is ascribed the authorship of the Acts.
The Didactic Books comprise the epistles; and these we may arrange thus: (1) The Epistles of Paul, comprising (a) his doctrinal letters addressed to Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Hebrews; (b) his pastoral communications to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. (2) The General Epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude.
The Prophetic Works, consisting of the Revelation of John, also known as the Apocalypse.
The Bible As a Whole
Early Versions of the Bible-Many versions of the Old Testament and of the combined Testaments have appeared at different times. The Hebrew text with the Samaritan duplication of the Pentateuch, and the Greek translation, or the Septuagint, have been already noted with mention of the Peshito. Revisions and modified translations competed for favor with the Septuagint during the early ages of the Christian era; Theodotian, Aquila, and Symmachus each issued a new version. One of the first translations into Latin was the Italic Version, probably prepared in the second century; this was later improved and amended, and became known as the Vulgate; and this is still held by the Roman Catholic church to be the authentic version. This includes both Old and New Testaments.
Many Modern Versions in English, some fragmentary, others complete, have appeared since the beginning of the thirteenth century. About A.D. 1380, Wycliffe presented an English translation of the New Testament, made from the Vulgate; the Old Testament was afterward added. About A.D. 1525, Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament appeared; this was included in Coverdale’s Bible, printed in 1535, which constituted the first version of the complete Bible in English. Matthew’s Bible dates from 1537; Taverner’s Bible from 1539, and Cranmer’s Great Bible from the same year. In 1560 the Geneva Bible appeared; in 1568 the Bishops’ Bible, the first English version having chapter and verse divisions; and in 1611 the Authorized English Version, or King James’ translation, this being a new translation of Old and New Testaments from the Hebrew and Greek, made by forty-seven scholars at the command of King James I. This has superseded all earlier versions, and is the form now in current use among Protestants. But even this was found to contain many and serious blemishes; and in 1885 a Revised Version was issued, which, however, has not yet been accorded general acceptance.
Genuineness and Authenticity of the Bible-However interesting and instructive these historical and literary data of the Hebrew scriptures may be, the consideration of such is subordinate to that of the authenticity of the books; for as we, in common with the rest of the Christian world, have accepted them as the word of God, it is eminently proper that we should inquire into the genuineness of the records upon which our faith is so largely founded. All evidences furnished by the Bible itself, such as its language, historical details, and the consistency of its contents, unite in supporting its claim to genuineness as the actual works of the authors to whom the separate parts are ascribed. In a multitude of instances comparisons are easy between the Biblical record and history not scriptural, particularly in regard to biography and genealogy; and, in such cases, general agreement has been found. Further evidence appears in the individuality maintained by each writer, resulting in a marked diversity of style; while the unity pervading the whole declares the operation of some guiding influence throughout the ages of the record’s growth; and this can be nothing less than the power of inspiration, which operated upon all who were accepted as instruments in the divine hand to prepare this book of books. Tradition, history, literary analysis, and above and beyond all these, the test of prayerful research and truth-seeking investigation, unite to prove the authenticity of this volume of scripture, and to point the way, defined within its covers, leading men back to the Eternal Presence.
Book of Mormon Testimony Regarding the Bible-The Latter-day Saints accept the Book of Mormon as a volume of sacred scripture, which, like the Bible, embodies the word of God. In the next chapter the Book of Mormon will receive especial attention; but it may be profitable to refer here to the collateral evidence furnished by that work regarding the authenticity of the Jewish scriptures, and of the general integrity of these latter in their present form. According to the Book of Mormon record, the Prophet Lehi, with his family and some others, left Jerusalem by the command of God 600 B.C., during the first year of King Zedekiah’s reign. Before departing from the land of their nativity, the travelers secured certain records, which were engraved on plates of brass. Among these writings were a history of the Jews and some of the scriptures then accepted as authentic.
Lehi examined the records: “And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents; And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah; And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.” This direct reference to the Pentateuch and to certain of the Jewish prophets is valuable external evidence concerning the authenticity of those parts of the Biblical record.
Nephi, son of Lehi, learned in vision of the future of God’s plan regarding the human family; and saw that a book of great worth, containing the word of God and the covenants of the Lord with Israel, would go forth from the Jews to the Gentiles. It is further stated that Lehi’s company, who, as we shall see, were led across the waters to the western continent, whereon they established themselves and afterward grew to be a numerous and powerful people, were accustomed to study the scriptures engraved on the plates of brass; and, moreover, their scribes embodied long quotations therefrom in their own growing record. So much for Book of Mormon recognition of the Old Testament, or at least of such parts of the Jewish canon as had been completed when Lehi’s migrating colony left Jerusalem, during the ministry of the Prophet Jeremiah.
But further, concerning the New Testament scriptures this voice from the West is not silent. In prophetic vision many of the Nephite prophets saw and then foretold the ministry of Christ in the meridian of time, and recorded predictions concerning the principal events of the Savior’s life and death, all with striking fidelity and detail. This testimony is recorded of Nephi, Benjamin, who was both prophet and king, Abinadi, Samuel the converted Lamanite, and others. In addition to these and many more prophecies regarding the mission of Jesus Christ, all of which agree with the New Testament record of their fulfilment, we find in the Book of Mormon an account of the risen Lord’s ministrations among the Nephite people, during which He established with them His Church, after the pattern recorded in the New Testament; and, moreover, He gave them instructions in words almost identical with those of His teachings among the Jews in the East.