Biblical Essays
THE PRE-EMINENT BOOK OF ALL AGES
The word “Bible” comes, as is commonly known, from the Greek word biblos, which means book. In itself it is not a religious word. It is quite significant that on the very first page of the Greek version of the Old Testament uses this very word in the fourth verse of the second chapter, where we have the phrase biblos geneseos, which means the book of the generation. Our word Bible actually comes, not from the singular biblos, but from the plural form of the word biblia, and from this we learn that the book we call the Bible was originally given a title which meant not so much the book, but the books, for the Bible is truly a collection of different books, sixty-six of them. However, these sixty-six books, written over a period of two thousand years by Jews and Gentiles in Palestine, Asia Minor, Babylon, Egypt, and the wilderness of Sinai; by men of every conceivable type, containing every great form of literary expression – history, poetry, prophecy, biography, drama, etc. – yet make one coherent book, bound together by one faith, one hope, one doctrine, one Lord and Savior, one God, one way of approach to God through propitiatory blood.
When we read on the title page of our Bible that this book is “The Holy Bible,” we rightly infer that this volume is the Book of all the world. It is the Book of books – the indispensable Book. Prior to his death, the beloved Bible professor Dr. James E. Priest, wrote: “I have a library of many volumes, in which I live and work hours every day, but I can frankly say that though I appreciate these volumes, I could dispense with every one of them and still live richly, deeply, joyfully, and victoriously if I were allowed to keep just the Word of God.”
Even now in the 21st century, when book after book is published denying the truthfulness of the Bible, and many teachers publicly repudiate its divine authority, still, the Bible continues to be the most discussed, the most widely read, the most beloved, the most studied, the most exalted, the most glorified, the most honored book of all the many millions of different books found in the world.
A Witness to the Bible’s Supremacy
Years ago, Bliss Perry was considered by many as one of five greatest professors of English Literature in America. After graduating from Williams College in 1881, he continued his studies at the Universities of Berlin and Strassburg, and down through the years received honorary degrees from Princeton, Williams College, the University of Vermont, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, etc. For seven years he served as the Professor of English Literature at Williams College, then for seven years held a professorship in Princeton University. From 1889-1909, he was Editor of The Atlantic Monthly. In 1907 he returned to teaching. He served as Professor of English Literature at Harvard for twenty-three years. Dr. Perry wrote a number of volumes, including The American Mind, Carlyle, The American Spirit in Literature, EmersonToday, etc. For a quarter of a century he was General Editor of the Cambridge Editions of the Poets. He was the outstanding authority on Ralph Emerson in America.
In 1935, at the age of seventy-five, he wrote a fascinating book of reminiscences, with the very appropriate title, And Gladly Teach. Here, in chapter after chapter, Professor Perry referred to the joys and pleasures of reading and teaching the finest products of classic and English literature, introducing his readers to the great leaders of American literature during the last century, as well as to a great number of the finest products of British and American literary genius. Surely, any serious student of literature would acknowledge that if any man could speak with authority on what is best in literature, as well as what ought to be read, that man would be Professor Bliss Perry.
Almost at the end of the last chapter of his book of reminiscences, he made a remarkable statement which, if our country was still following God, should be printed on a wall-motto and hung in every class-room of English literature. It is a powerful testimony to the absolute uniqueness of the Word of God; so powerful that in its very utterance the criticism of many smaller men dies. Professor Bliss wrote: “I think I should never be bored on a desert island, and I have not cared much for lists of ‘desert island books.’ If I were to make a choice, however, I feel it would be reactionary, omitting books by living authors. I should certainly begin with the most fascinating book, or rather, library of books, ever put between covers: the Bible!”
