Foreword

Many persons who claim the most honorable of names, Christian, are unacquainted with the history of the sole authority upon which their faith is built. In a sense they know the Bible. But they are ignorant of the glorious record of its life down through the ages, and they fail to appreciate its superb beauty of expression.

It is the hope of the author that, through the reading of this book, some may be stimulated to further study of the Word of God; that they may realize how unique is its historical background; that they may comprehend its literary supremacy; and that, through these things, they may reach a stepping stone to an understanding of its spiritual content. Intended chiefly as a rapid survey, these pages aim to present as concisely as possible a large number of facts gathered from sources not generally accessible to the average reader of the Bible.

Vill FOREWORD

To the Rev. Ford C. Ottman, D.D., the author wishes to express appreciation for helpful criticism of manuscript and proof. Stony Brook, N. Y.,

March, 1924.