Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 19, Scripture-SUG

Scripture.
169
Contents
of that
book.
170
Often cited
by the ear¬
ly Chrifti-
ans.
I7 *
The epif-
tles.
172
General
plan of
them.
*73
Arranged
in chrono¬
logical or¬
der.
SCR [3+
t!ie tranfaftions which he relates. He appears to have
accompanied Paul from Troas to Philippi. He attend¬
ed him alfo to Jerufalem, and afterwards to Rome, where
he remained for two years. He is mentioned by Paul
in feveral of thofe epiftles which were written from
Rome, particularly in the 2d epiftle to Timothy, and in
the epiftle to Philemon.
This book contains the hiftory of the Chriftian church
for the fpace of about 28 or 30 years, from the time of
our Saviour’s afeenfion to Paul’s arrival at Rome in the
year 60 or 61. As it informs us that Paul refided two
years in Rome, it mull have been written after the year
63 ; and as the death of Paul is not mentioned, it is
probable it was eompofed before that event, which hap¬
pened A. D. 65.
The Adis of the Apoftles may be divided into feven
parts. 1. The account of our Saviour’s afeenfion, and
of the occurrences which happened on the firft Pente-
coll after that event, contained in chap. i. ii. 2. The
tranfadlions of the Chriifians of the circumcifion at
Jerufalem, in Judea, and Samaria, chap. iii.—ix. xi,
i — 2i. xii. 3. Tranfadtions in Caefarea, and the admif-
fion of the Gentiles, chap. x. 4. The firil circuit of Bar¬
nabas and Paul among the Gentiles', chap. xi. 22. xiii.
xiv. 5. Erabaffy to Jerufalem, and the firft council
held in that city, chap. xv. 6. Paul’s fecond journey,
chap. xvi.—xxi. 7. His arreftment, trial, appeal to
Caefar, and journey to Rome, chap. xxi. to the end of
the book.
The Adis of Apoftles are cited by Clemens Romanus,
by Polycarp, by Jurtin Martyr, thirty times by Irenseus,
and feven times by Clemens Alexandrinus.
All the efiential dodfrines and precepts of the Chrif¬
tian religion were certainly taught by our Saviour him
felf, and are contained in the gofpels. The epiftles may
be confidered as commentaries on the dodfrines of the
gofpel, addreffed to particular focieties, accommodated
to their refpedtive fituations •, intended to refute the
errors and falfe notions which prevailed among them,
and to inculcate thofe virtues in which they were moft
deficient.
The plan on which thefe Letters are written is,
firft, to decide the controverfy, or refute the erroneous
notions which had arifen in the fociety to which the
epiftle was addreffed : And, fecondly, to recommend
thofe duties which their falfe dodlrines might induce
them to negledl ; at the fame time inculcating in ge¬
neral exhortations the moft important precepts of Chrif¬
tian morality.
Of the epiftles fourteen were written by St Paul.
Thefe are not placed according to the order of tihae in
which they were compofed, but according to the fup-
pofed precedence of the focieties or perfons to whom
they were addreffed. It will be proper, therefore, to
exhibit here their chronological order according to Dr
Lardner.
A Table of St Paul's Eptstles, with the Places
where, and times when, written, according to Dr
Lardner.
SCR
Ep> fries
1 Thefialonians
2 Theflalonians
Galatians
{
Places.
Corinth
Corinth
Corinth or
Ephefus
Epiftles.
I Corinthians
1 Timothy
Titus
2 Corinthians
Romans
Ephefians
2 Timothy
Philippians
Coloflians
Philemon
Hebrews
Places.
Ephefus
Macedonia
C Macedonia
\ or near it
Macedonia
Corinth
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
C Rome or
£ Italy
A. D. Swiptutc,
the beginning of 53 -y——*
bef. the end of
about October
about February
about April
about May
bef. the end of
bef. the end of
bef. the end of
^j- in Spring of
56
57
58
61
61
62
62
62
63
A Table of the Catholic Epistles, and the Reve¬
lation, according to Dr Lardner.
Epiftle.
J ames
The two epiftles
of Peter
I John
2d and 3d of
John
Jude
Revelation
Place.
Judea
^ Rome
Ephefus
^ Ephefus
Unknown
C Patmos or
\ Ephefus
f
or beg. of
A. D.
61
62
about
y between
i and
}
64
80
80
90
64 or 65
95 or 96
*74
A. D.
52
52
1 near the end of 52
3 or beginning of 53
It is more difficult to underftand the epiftolary wri- Caufes of
tings than the gofpels j the caufe of which is evident, their obfeu-
Many things are omitted in a letter, or (lightly mention- nty-
ed, becaufe fuppofed to be known by the perfon to whom
it is addrefled. To a ftranger this will create much
difficulty. The bufinefs about which St Paul wrote was
certainly well known to his correfpondents •, but at this
diftance of time we can obtain no information concern¬
ing the occafion of his writing, of the chara&er and
circumftances of thofe perfons for whom his letters were
intended, except what can be gleaned from the writings
themfelves. It is no wonder, therefore, though many
allufions ffiould be obfeure. Befides, it is evident from
many paflages that he anfwers letters and queftions
which his correfpondents had fent him. If thefe had
been preferved, they would have thrown more light up¬
on many things than all the notes arid conjedlures of the
commentators.
The caufes of obfeurity which have been now men-Caufes of
tioned are common to all the writers of the epiftles j obfeurity
but there are fome peculiar to St Paul. 1. As he had PecilIiiff;t0
an acute and fertile mind, he feems to have written 3
with great rapidity, and without attending much to the
common rules of method and arrangement. To this
caufe we may aferibe his numerous and long parenthe-
fes. In the heat of argument he fometimes breaks off
abruptly to follow out fome new thought $ and when
he has exhaufted it, he returns from his digreflion with¬
out informing his readers •, fo that it requires great at¬
tention to retain the connexion. 2. His frequent change
of perfon, too, creates ambiguity : by the pronoun I he
fometimes means himfelf j fometimes any Chriftian j
fometimes a Jew, and fometimes any man. In ufing
the pronoun we he fometimes intends himfelf 5 fome¬
times comprehends his companions j fometimes the apof¬
tles :