“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.

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2019-08-08
• Updated: 2019-08-08
• Copyright: CC BY 4.0