Review the questions with PART ONE of this lesson. What are the first and second classes of literature in the Bible? What is the third class? Wherein does He'brew poetry differ from Eng'lish verse? What three kinds of poetry are found in the Old Testament? Give examples under each kind. What is the fourth class of literature in the Bible? Name some instances under this class. Are the discourses of the Bible in prose or in poetry? What is the fifth class of biblical literature? By what other name is this class known? Give two examples of this class, and state the differences between them. What is the sixth literary department in the Bible? What is the meaning of the word "prophecy"? In what form, prose or poetry, did the prophets speak? What are the seven kinds of prophecy found in the Bible? Define each kind. Give illustrations of each class. SEVENTEENTH STUDY How We Got Our Bible PART ONE I. =Name.= Here is a volume which we call "The Holy Bible." The word "bible" means "books"--_biblia_, plural of Greek _biblion_, "book." So the Bible is "The Sacred Book," and by its very name calls attention to the fact that it is not one book, but many: 39 books in the Old Testament, 27 in the New--66 books in the Bible. Its composite nature is not less important for us to keep in mind than its unity. Especially is this true of the Old Testament, of which we speak mainly in this lesson. II. =Origin.= How came these books into being? This is a question of the "higher criticism"--that is, the study of subjects back of and above those belonging to the meaning of the text; not higher because more important, but higher because pertaining to an earlier period. Certain conclusions, however, may be accepted. 1. Much of the contents of the Bible, especially of the Old Testament, was given _orally_, through stories, songs, and poems recited, through prophetic discourses, and through traditions handed down from generation to generation--a method of instruction universal before books were printed. 2. These oral teachings were _written_, some at the time when they were given, others later, sometimes after generations of oral repetition. The writing of different portions of the Bible was carried on at various times, in various places, and by various writers; perhaps through 1,600 years, and by more than 40 writers, most of whom have remained unknown. In the writing and rewriting He'brew scholars of Old Testament times did not hesitate to modify the older works as they saw reasons for so doing. We respect the "works of authors," and would not alter the language of Chaucer or Milton or Macaulay; but He'brew prophets and scribes in early times cared more for the contents than for the authorship of their sacred books.