GUIDEBOOK to the NEW TESTAMENT Set up and Printed by EUREKA PRESS PTY
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GUIDEBOOK TO THE NEW TESTAMENT Set up and Printed by EUREKA PRESS PTY. LTD. SOUTH AUSTRALIA West Beach & Beveriey for LOGOS PUBLICATIONS 9 West Beach Road, West Beach, S.A. 5024 August, 1983 GCDDEBOOK TO THE TESTAMENT H. P. MANSFIELD HOW READEST THOU? it is one thing to read the Bible through, Another thing to learn and read and do. Some read it with desire to learn, and read But to their subject pay but little heed; Some read it as their duty every week, But no instruction from the Bible seek; While others read it with but little care, With no regard to how they read or where; Some read it as a History, to know How people lived two thousand years ago, Some read it to bring themselves into repute, By showing others how they can dispute; While others read because their neighbours do, To see how long it takes to read it through. Some read it for the wonders that are there, How David killed a lion and a bear; While others read it with uncommon care, Hoping to find some contradictions there. Some read as though it did not speak to them But to the people at Jerusalem. One reads it as a book of mysteries, And won't believe the very thing he sees; One reads with father's specs upon his head, And sees the thing just as his father said; Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed, Hence understanding but little as they read, For every passage in the book they bend To make it suit that all-important end. Some people read, as I have often thought, To teach the Book, instead of being taught; And some there are who read it out of spite, I fear there are but few who read it right. One thing I find, and you may find it too, The more you read, the more you find it true; But this to find, an open eye is needful, With often prayer, and humble heart all heedful; The man who reads with pride or inattention, Will only find full causes of dissension, The man who reads with modest penetration, Will find the joy of comfort and salvation. CONTENTS • How Readest Thou? 2 Foreword 4 A Dictionary Of Personalities Of The Gospel Records 5 The Plan Of The Four Gospel Records 55 A Harmony Of The Four Gospels 71 Memorise The Ministry Of The Master 93 The Olivet Prophecy 101 Dictionary of Personalities Of The Epistles 113 The Remaining Epistles And Books Of The New Testament 145 Places Of The New Testament 193 Themes From The New Testament 235 FOREWORD We have been commissioned to produce a book about the New Testament, packed with interesting and significant facts calculated to aid to the better under- standing of it. This is that book. Each section has been selected with care. The character sketches highlight the kind of people that were drawn into the Gospel net; the outlines of the Books of the New Testament provide a telescopic view of what they are all about, as a basis for further study; the harmony of the Gospels enable any event to be placed in its proper chronological sequence; the sketch maps can act as a ready reckoner to the events in the life of the Lord. Most of this material has been taken from the margin of our wide-margin Bible, and it could be that some of it is not altogether original. In that regard, to paraphrase an expression used by Paul, and give it an altogether different slant, "we are debtors both to the wise and the unwise." Some of the outlines of places mentioned in the New Testament have been prepared by young people and submitted to us for revision or editing. Only pressure of time has prevented us adding to this mater- ial, for the scope of interesting facts and features of the Scriptures is boundless. We trust and pray that the information now in the hands of the reader may assist to the better understand- ing of Yahweh's glorious word, and provide encourage- ment along the way that leads to life eternal. H. P. Mansfield, August, 1983 A DICTIONARY of PERSONALITIES of the GOSPEL RECORDS The records of men and women who came under the influence of the ministry of the Lord Jesus on earth, or who were connected with it in some way, make fascinating study. They reveal how the drama of the divine revelation penetrated into the lives of some individuals to mould them for the kingdom, whilst it made little impact on others. They provide examples that we should try to emulate, and others that we should avoid. They give warmth and color to the narrative of Scripture, so that it becomes a living record of the times. Another unique feature is the names of the men and women of the Bible. They had far greater signifi- cance then than they do today. Today a name is but a distinguishing caption; but then it had meaning. Thus Jacob's name was changed to Israel because his circumstances had altered: the supplanter (Jacob) had been elevated to a prince with God (Israel). Abram's name was changed to Abraham because the divine purpose with him had been extended to include all nations. Jesus was given his name because, as Joseph was told, "He will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). In providing this "Dictionary of Personalities Of The Gospel Record" we have considered the significance of the names of men and women as well as their charac- ters, and their circumstances as revealed in the four Gospel accounts. We present these short outlines as a basis for further thought and study on the part of the reader. By a little further research and thought he can make these characters live, and so derive far greater pleasure and profit from his reading of these Scrip- tures. A DICTIONARY OF PERSONALITIES OF THE GOSPELS ALEXANDER THE ANONYMOUS Alexander means The defender of men, and there are perhaps six men of this name mentioned in the New Testament. The Alexander of the Gospel record (Mark 15:21) is described as the father of Simon the Cyrenian who was visiting Jerusalem at the time. Cyrene was a Greek city in North Africa, and a number of Jews from that centre had established a synagogue in Jerusalem (Acts 6:9). Men of Cyrene early accepted the Truth, and helped to spread its message in foreign parts (Acts 11:20), so that one of the appointed teachers in the Ecclesia at Antioch was a Cyrenian: Lucius. There must be some reason why Alexander is named in Mark 15:21, and perhaps it is to identify him with the Alexander of Acts 19:33 who was present at the Ephesian tumult. In writing to Timothy (1 Tim. 1:20, 2 Tim. 4:14), Paul warned against a certain Alexander who had become an apostate, and as Timothy was in Ephesus when he received the first letter, it may be a reference to the same person as is mentioned in Mark and in Acts. If so, he was a prominent Jewish convert, who did well for a time, but afterwards turned from the faith. ALPHAEUS — THE TRANSIENT His name means transient, and he appears in the Gospel records mainly to identify others. Thus the father of Matthew was called Alphaeus (Mark 2:14), and so also was the father of James, another of the Apostles (Matt. 10:3), and of Joses his brother. As such, Alphaeus was also the husband of Mary their mother (Mark 15:40). ANDREW THE HELPFUL His name means Manliness. He was a brother of Peter, and one of the twelve apostles (Matt. 4:18, 10:2). He has the distinction of being the first disciple to be called (John 1:40), and immediately he brought his own brother to the newly found Messiah (John 1:41), though they did not, at that time, continue with Jesus as did Philip and Nathanael. Andrew seems to have been of a friendly disposition, and ever ready to help. It was Andrew who brought the lad with the loaves and fishes to Jesus, after which the Lord fed the 5,000 (John 6:8-9). It was to Andrew that the more timorous Philip turned when the Greeks ap- proached him with the request that they would like to meet Jesus (John 12:21, 22). His name is frequently coupled with that of Peter, and it seems that he was sent out in company with his brother when the dis- ciples went forth preaching two by two under the supervision of the Lord (Matt. 10:2). His quieter, friendlier, more restrained nature would have been an excellent foil to the more boisterous, impetuous attitude of Peter. Like that of Philip, Andrew is a Greek name. He was of Bethsaida of Galilee, a fisherman in partnership with Peter (Mk. 1:16) and the sons of Zebedee (Luke 5:10), and, originally, a disciple of John Baptist. As a disciple of Christ, he seems to have been on special terms of intimacy with the Lord (John 1:35-40, Mark 13:3), and probably this was due to his own earnest, friendly attitude. Tradition has it that his ministry, after the ascension of Christ, was in Asia, adjacent to the Euxine Sea. Here he labored with great diligence and much success in extending the Gospel message. But his very success excited the enmity of Aegenas, proconsul of Achaia, who ordered Andrew A DICTIONARY OF PERSONALITIES OF THE GOSPELS to cease his activities.