"Exegetical Analysis Of The Epistles With Notes"
"Exegetical Analysis of the Epistles With Notes" by I. B. Grubbs is the best work of its kind with which I am familiar. It was first published in 1893 and is now in the process of being reprinted by the "Gospel Guardian." The reprinting of this valuable book could hardly be more timely than now, when there is such widespread misunderstanding and plain wresting of the scriptures. Earnest hearts need all the aid available in "handling aright the Word of truth." We need to be able to recognize when the Word is being mishandled. That it can be mishandled is evident from the requirement that we handle it aright. Ignorance and willfulness are the two great sources of this sin. The two fold need to know that the New Testament is the will of God and to understand what the will of the Lord is as expressed therein is basic and current. This book has been a great help to me in both of these areas.
L B. Grubbs taught for a number of years in the College of the Bible and served in editorial capacities on the "Apostolic Times." He was a contemporary of McGarvey, being associated with him both in the College of the Bible and on the staff of the "Apostolic Times." McGarvey's judgment of the merits of the book must have been highly favorable. My reason for so thinking is the abundance of marginal notes referring to it which I have found in old class note books of McGarvey's students.
The first part of the book is a treatment of the science of hermeneutics in which the rules of Bible study are listed and discussed. This is followed by an analytical commentary on first and second Corinthians and Galatians. This commentary is an application of the rules discussed in the first section.
A brief quotation from the preface reveals Grubbs attitude toward the authority of the Word. "There is a sort of idolatrous worship offered at the shrine of scholarship that greatly interferes with mental independence in interpretation and the ready acceptance of conclusions that may be fully justified by the principles applicable to the case apart from the mere approbation of learned expositors."
"Exegetes should be consulted as aids and not quoted as authorities whatever may be their learning or the weight of their names."
In the body of the work the writer hits on the basic cause of misunderstanding of the scriptures. He writes, "In all cases freedom, from the bias of prejudice, partisan feeling and prepossession of every kind, is absolutely indispensable."
Prepublication price on the book is $2.00. This price will be in effect until November 15, 1956. After that date the price will be $2.50. Get your order and money in to the Gospel Guardian now. The book is already in the hands of the bindery and should be ready for mailing early in November.