Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 6, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 39.

Our Bible Reading

The Holy Scriptures

How Much Do They Comprise?

1. By what terms does Jesus designate the Old Testament Scriptures?

“The law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms.” Luke 24: 44.

“And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Verse 27.

2. What did He say to the Jews about the Scriptures?

“Ye search the Scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of Me.” John 5: 39.

3. How does Paul, when writing to Timothy, refer to them?

“From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

NOTE.— The Holy Scriptures, or Holy Writings, of the Jews consisted of the Old Testament books which we have to-day. They divided them into the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa (Holy Writings), sometimes called the Psalms, because the Psalms is the first book in the latter division. The Law includes the first five books of the Bible; the Prophets, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea to Malachi inclusive; the Holy Writings Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Chronicles. These, as the above scriptures and many others clearly show, were approved and indorsed by our Lord and His apostles.

4. What promise did Jesus give His apostles as to their teaching?

“But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” John 14: 26. Also 16:13-15.

5. What does Paul say of the apostolic writings?

“Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth.” 1 Cor. 2:13.

6. How does the apostle Peter class the writings of Paul?

“Even as our beloved brother Paul . . . wrote unto you; as also in ALL HIS EPISTLES, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsteadfast wrest, as they do also THE OTHER SCRIPTURES, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15, 16.

NOTE.— In this text the apostle Peter classes the writings of the apostle Paul among the “other Scriptures,” the Old Testament Scriptures. And the words of the apostle Paul place the New Testament writings with the Holy Scriptures.