Uncle Austin and His Nephews: The Scripture Guide by James Waddel Alexander

James Waddel Alexander

American Sunday School Union Presbyterian 1838 / September 2019 Lutheran Library Publications Alexander, Bible Study", Catechism, Home School

Type

Book

“Those who read the Bible most, love it best. They find something new in it at every fresh perusal. They prefer it to all other books, and can say with David, ‘O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.’” — James Alexander.

James Waddel Alexander (1804-1859) was a Presbyterian Minister and Theologian. He was the son of Rev. Archibald Alexander.

Book Contents

Preface.
1. Introduction
2. Uncle Austin’s Study.
3. Egypt
4. Divisions of The Bible
5. The New Testament
6. Ancient writing and books
7. Ancient Writing And Books, Continued
8. Ancient Bibles
9. The authorized English version
10. Names of Scripture books
11. Acrostics in the Bible
12. Marginal explanations continued
13. The dedication to King James
14. Certain preliminary knowledge which is necessary in order to understand the Scriptures
15. Illustrations from Biblical Antiquities
16. Rules for the reading of Scripture
17. Rules for the reading of Scripture, continued
18. Rules for the reading of Scripture, continued

From the Preface

“When a copy of our English Bible is placed in the hand of an inquiring, but uninstructed young person, there naturally arise a number of interesting questions:

Is this the work of one, or of many hands?
Is it an original work, or a version?
At what times and in what tongue was it written?
Into what languages has it been translated?
What is the history of our common version?
How am I to interpret the division into books, chapters, and verses; the numerous marginal notes and the peculiarities of typography?
How may it be studied to the best advantage?

“These are inquiries which even children of inquisitive minds are prompt to make; and which even intelligent teachers are sometimes at a loss to satisfy. It is such questions that the following work professes to answer.

“There are numerous works on these subjects addressed to the learned; but they are beyond the reach of common readers… It is the earnest desire and prayer of the author, that these pages may be made the means of promoting the interests of true religion, by inducing some, at least, to read the best of books with increased profit and delight.