me the use of his house at Burford, I am equally indebted. Mr. Rackham of the Community of the Resurrection, who has devoted unsparing pains to the revision and correction of the proof-sheets, has rendered a signal service both to the writer and to the readers of this book. R. L. O. WINTERBOURNE BASSETT, SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS Standpoint from which it is approached I. The belief in the Incarnation The Incarnation illustrates the divine use of media, and the divine self-accommodation to human capacities Special observations on the higher criticism- (1) Historical consistency of its results (2) Hindrances to their acceptance (2) The spiritual experience of Christians The doctrine of the Church: its bearing on our inquiry I. The Old Testament a history of redemption The story of the 'origins,' its character and purpose Special features of redemptive history- (2) The principle of limitation or severance Character of the historical narratives II. The Old Testament the history of a progressive revelation III. The Old Testament traces the history of a covenantal relation- The divine requirement involved in it IV. The Old Testament and the Messianic hope V. The Old Testament witnesses to a divine purpose for the indi- Growth of the sense of individuality. The teachings of spiritual experience and of national calamity Its correspondence with the five above-mentioned aspects Analogy of Scripture to physical nature The Old Testament an historical book. (1) Composite character of the narratives (2) Probable results of archaeological research. (3) The a priori credibility of miracle I. The patriarchal period relatively pre-historic The narratives historical in substance ΙΟΙ PAGE 133 134 General reflections Three elements in the prophetic theory of the history- (2) The importance of critical epochs (3) Method of divine deliverances The action of the Holy Spirit in Israel's history General summary NOTE A. The patriarchal narratives LECTURE IV. THE PROGRESSIVE SELF-REVELATION OF GOD. The continuity of revelation I. General features of Hebrew revelation considered as progressive The method justified in Christ The slaughter of the Canaanites II. The 'Name' of God progressively unfolded General names, 'El, 'Eloah, 'Elohim, 'El 'Elyon; their mean- ing and use |