CHAPTER V. The Institution of the Prophetical Office. PERIOD VI. THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH TO THE CLOSE OF THE CANONICAL PERIOD. CHAPTER I. The Various Captivities. CHAPTER II. The Comparative Religious Spirit. CHAPTER III. The Captivity Ended. CHAPTER IV. The Canonical Books. Samaritan Pentateuch. CHAPTER V. What Was Scripture? The Septuagint. CHAPTER VI. The Origin of the Talmud. CHAPTER VII. Concluding Remarks. PERIOD VII. THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA. CHAPTER I. From the Birth of Christ to his Public Ministry. CHAPTER II. The Public Ministry of our Saviour. CHAPTER III. From the First Passover to the Second. CHAPTER IV. From the Second Passover to the Third. CHAPTER V. The Third Passover. CHAPTER VI. The Beginning of the Christian Church. CHAPTER VII. The Gospel for Gentiles as well as Jews. Paul’s First Mission. CHAPTER VIII. The Second and Third Missionary Tours of Paul. CHAPTER IX. Paul at Rome. The Seven Churches. Colosse and Hierapolis. BIBLICAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY. PERIOD I. THE ANTE-DILUVIAN ERA. CHAPTER I. CREATION: CHRONOLOGY AND ITS SOURCES. =1. The first book= of the Bible, which is Genesis, begins with a history of the Creation. The words “In the beginning,” with which it opens, give us no chronological data by which we are able to form any estimate of the time. Seven divisions, called “days,” have special appointments assigned to each in that which is usually called “the work of creation,” including the appointment of a day of rest. Before the beginning of the days there existed a state of chaos, the earth being “without form and void” and darkness being upon the face of the waters. The first act was the calling into being LIGHT The appointment of Day and Night closed the work of the first day. The separation of the waters beneath “the firmament,” or expanse, from those above “the firmament” constituted the work of the second day. The formation of dry land, called earth, and the appearance of vegetable growth, called grass, herbs, and trees, occurred on the third day. On the fourth day lights appeared in “the firmament,” or expanse, and on the fifth day the first animal life moved in the waters and birds in the air, the latter called “winged fowl.” On the sixth day the earth brought forth living creatures, “cattle, creeping things, and beasts;” and finally man was created, made after God’s image, with dominion over all that had been here created. The seventh day was set apart as a day of rest, a day of which it is said, “God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.” Gen. 2:3.