VI. =Its Literature.= By 100 A. D. all the books of the New Testament were written, though not all of them were everywhere accepted as authoritative. In some places there were questions about Hebrews, 2 Peter and Revelation; the latter because local in its address, and so recent in origin as not to be known everywhere. But the gospels (except John, which was about 95 A. D. in its date), the Acts and nearly all the epistles were read in all the churches as possessing an inspired authority. Note that, in 2 Peter, Paul's writings are placed on a par with "the other Scriptures," which must refer to the Old Testament. VII. =Its Spiritual Life.= It must be admitted that there had been a decline in the fervency of the Christian life in the church. Its moral standards were still high; but spiritual gifts had become less noticeable; the rule of bishops and councils and the controversies over doctrines were weakening the fervor of spirituality. Note the difference in spirit and tone between the writings of the New Testament and those of the early church-fathers in the second century. Blackboard Outline PART TWO =Cond. of Ch.= 100 =A. D.= I. =Num.= 1.) Cat. 2.) Let. Plin. II. =Mem.= 1.) Gen. few Je. 2.) Soc. cond. all class. III. =Org.= Ecc. Sys. ru. b. Bish. IV. =Inst.= Lor. Sup. Lor. D. V. =Doc. Sys.= Theo. Pau. VI. =Lit.= N. T. VII. =Spir. Lif.= Dec. Review Questions. Part Two What is the estimate of the number of members in the church at the end of the first century? What evidence of this is found in the Catacombs of Rome? What evidence is given by a letter? Who wrote this letter, and when was it written? Was the church at this time Jewish or Gentile? What was the relation of Jewish believers to the church? Of what social elements was the church composed? How was the church organized at this time? What references to "bishops" are found in the New Testament, and what do they indicate? How did the bishops grow to be rulers in the church? What two institutions of the church are referred to? How was the Lord's Supper observed in the earliest church? What changes arose in the method of administration? How did the first day of the week come to be recognized in the church? What was the doctrinal system of this time? What was the literature of the church? What books were at first questioned? What was the spiritual condition of the church as compared with earlier periods? What may have caused the decline in spiritual fervor? THE END THE Ten Minute Series OF Supplemental Lessons FOR The Sunday School, BY LORANUS E. HITCHCOCK.