Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Stone-Campbell Books Stone-Campbell Resources 1896 Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia Ashley S. Johnson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Religion Commons, and the Jewish Studies Commons Recommended Citation Johnson, Ashley S., "Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia" (1896). Stone-Campbell Books. 437. https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books/437 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Stone-Campbell Resources at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Stone-Campbell Books by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. •' CONDENSED /2/ 11/ir Biblieal ~yelop~dia .·, / 1 DESIGNED FOR ' TttOSE WHO HAVE BUT LITTLE I TIME FOR STUDY. BY ~SHLEv ·s. JOHNSON, LL. D. J..896 . PRHS OF I GUIDE PRINTINQ & Pueq&HINQ 0o. 1 ' LOUl8VILLE. Ky . 1 INTRODUCTION. ~S book is published ~n the interest of Bible j education in the highest and most important sense. It is designed for busy people who wish to increase their knowledge of the oracles of God. All the profits accruing from its sale are dedicated to the educat ion of pQor young mim, who wish to preach the gospel of Christ. This edition rounds out a grand total of one hundred and thirteen thousand copies of my various books. 'rhis is gratifying, for these books are bringing many to the full · light of the gospel, and the profits are maintaining a school ·that is open to pious young men who wish to preach, whether they have money or not. I solicit the reader's prayers and aid in the glorious work of leading men to the cross of Christ and th e life of trust ! THE A UTHOR . r KIMBERLIN HEIGHTS , TENN .. , OcT. r, 1896 . DEDICATION. To my wife, Emma E . Johnson, who , at my dictation, wrote this book , and to the students of the Correspondenee Bible College and S0chool of the Evangelists , past and present , everywhere , who are fighting the fight of the faith , whose faces I shall not see on earth, but whom I confidently expect to greet beyond the vail, this vo lume is affectionately inscribed . THE AUTHOR . CondensedBiblieal Cyelopedia. CREATION.(1) . Date. The date of creation can not ' be determined. The first statement of the book of Genesis places the time in 1·emote and impenetrable antiquity. (2). Creator. The writer of Genesis offers no proof of the existence of Jehovah or of the fact that all things were made by Him (Gen., 1: 1; 2; John, 1 :1-3; Col., I :15-17; .., Heb., 1 :10; 11 :3). (3). Light. The process of · creation had proba bly been going ori for , ages before light was created by the fiat of Jehovah (Gen., 1 : 1, 3 ; II. Cor., 4: 4). (4 ). Days of Creation. The fact .that the creati ve work had been going on for unnumbered ages, leads the reverent student to the conclusion that the "days" were ordinary periods of twenty-four hours each, and that each product of Almighty power was :finished and ap­ pointed to its sphere on its designated day. · The phrase "evening and morning" occurs six times in the first account of creation, and it can not be understood except . in the light of the above state­ ment. (5). Order of Creation. (a) Light, (b) :fir­ mament, (c) vegetation, (d) sun, moon and stars, (e) water animals and fowls, (d) land animals, man-woman! Observe the steady march from the lower to the higher, from the insensate to the intelligent, from the servitor to the sov_ereign. See the u.niverse by God's own hand touched to .bar- 6 CONDENSED BIBLICAL CYCLOP1'JDIA. mony; s~e the march of creative power to its culmination in the making of the companion for man, pure and innocent, the highest image of God, and hear the stars sing together and the sons of God shout for joy over the completion of the mighty and glorious work ! Du OF REST. On the seventh day, God having completed His creative work, rested, and blessed and sanctified the day (Gen., 2 :2, 3). There is no evidence that man was required at this time to keep the day. GARDEN OF EDEN. (1). Location. It is impos­ sible to locate the Garden of Delights . Even if the ravages of time had left a dim outline of its glories for a few centuries, everything would have been ., blotted out by the flood. The thoughtful student will readily conclude tbat it covered a large terri- tory. Its products were varied, and were those peculiar to every zone (Gen., 2: 8, 9). The portion of the garden over which Adam and Eve roamed in sinless bliss was doubtless in a tropical climate, for they liv.ed there without clothing (Gen., 1 :25), and the fig tree grew in primitive luxuriance (Gen., 3: 7). (2). Inhabitants. It appears that Adam was the first and lonely inhabitant of Eden. He was required to dress and keep it. To him the law involving life and death was given. All the inhabitants of earth and air passed before him and he named them all; ·but for him there was not found a suitable companion, and to meet this want the woman was created . and placed in the garden with him (Gen., 2: 8-23). (3). Law of Marriage,. When the woman was presented to the man the Lord declared, in view of the fact C'ONDENSED BiiiLICAL CYCLOPEDIA. if that she' was bone of his bone and flesh of hie fles·h, a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and they should be one flesh (Gen., 2:21-24). This law has never been repealed (Matt., 19: 1-9). THE TEMPTATION.(1). The Tempter. ·· The woman was approached by the serpent, Devil (Gen., 8: 1; Rev., 12: 9; 20: 2). (2). Mlans. He approached her by speaking in her own language and by falsely interpreting the _law of God (Gen., 8: 1-5; John, 8 :44). (8). Points Tempted. The woman was tempted in, (a) the lust of the flesh, (b) the lust ·of the eye, (c) and the pride of life (Gen., 8:1-6; I. John , 2:16). (4). Results . 'rhe woman was deceived (II. Cor,, 11: 8) ; the man was not (I. Tim., 2 :18-15), but the eating of the fruit brought the speedy sentence of death (Gen., 2 :16, 17; Rom., 5 :12-19). All the guilty parties were involved in the results. (5). General Results. (a) The serpent was doomed to disgrace and de­ struction; (b) the woman was doomed to sorrow in child-bearing and subserviency to her husband; (c) and the man was doomed to sorrow, disap- .pointment and hard labor (Gen., 8: 14-19). Be­ mote Results. (6). Man's will power was doubt­ less weakened by transgression, but he still had the power to partake of the tree of life and live forever (Gen., 8: 22-24). His memory was doubt­ less weakened by sin, but he remembered all the circumstances of the temptation and transgres­ sion (Gen., 8 :1-13). His reason was doubtless weakened by disobedience, but be was able to attempt to shift the responsibility from his should­ ers when confronted with the results of his crime 8 CONDENSEDBIBLICAL CYCLOPEJDIA. (Gen., 3 :12, 13). (7), · Important Fact. Sin, death and their terrible consequences were . brought about by, (a) hearing, (b) believing, (c) and yield- ing to a lie. Beware ! · GuARDAT EDEN'S ENTRANCE. Man was driven from the · Garden, and Cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way, were placed at the entrance to forever prevent his return (Gen., 3:22-24). PRIMITIVESACRIF10ES. It is evident th~t the Bible does not record all thart was communicated to man; however, the careful student sees that sacrjficial worship was a Divine revelation. The statements that Cain brought and Abel brought their respective sacrifices , may . indicate that there was a specific time and place where offer-­ ings were presented to God (Gen., 4: 1-4). In addition to · this, we learn that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith (Heb., 11 :4), and that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom., 10: 17); that Cain sinned (Gen., 4:7), and that sin is the transgression of the law (I. John, 3:'4). POPULATIONOF THE EARTH IN EARLY'l. 11MEs. Even in the days of Cain and Abel there were doubtless very many people whose names are not recorded. In the testimony of Moses we have this statement: "And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters (Gen., 5 :4)." Other evidences are, (a) Cain's fear of death at the hands of h.is fel­ lowmen, (b) God's recognition of the ground of this fear and the means used to protect him, ' (c) Cain had a wife (Gen., 4 :14-17). S~ OF ~D. The descendants of Seth were OONDENSED BIBLICAL GYOLOPEDIA. 9 called by the name of the Lord (Gen., 4: 25, 26). This is not true in reference to the descendants of Cain. The servants of Godin all ages have been called the sons of God (Job, 1:6; Rom., 8:14; I. John, 3 :2). The character of Seth's d.escend­ ants proves that .they were the sons of God (Gen., 5 :3.-29; 6 :9; 7: 1). The character of Cain's de­ scendal}ts proves that they were not the sons of God, for Cain himself was a murderer, fugitive and vagabond (Gen., 4: 8-14), and his descend­ ants were polygamists and murderers (Gen., 4 :17-23).· DAUGHTERSOF MEN.