https://verbum.com/free-book-of-the-month
Thanks for the reminder John.
Don't forget to pick up the $.99 deal listed on the same page while you are at it.
This resource is unfamiliar to me. Is there anyone who can say why I would want to spend the .99 for the plus one?
What all does volume one cover?
You can find a very short biography of Andrew Breen here
Here is the Preface and TOC to the free volume:
Preface to the Second Edition
We live in an age of great activity. It is also an age wherein material progress and the love of worldly pleasure tend to enfeeble man’s hold on the supernatural world. It is most evident that there is a general movement away from the spiritual world. In non-Catholic thought the idea of a reduced Christianity is dominant. A mere natural religion recommends itself to many. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them because they are spiritually examined." [1 Cor. 2:14.] Instead of accepting religion as a mysterious message from Heaven, men make a religion that is not religious. A religion is sought that will not interfere with man’s worldly tastes and pleasures. Human reason is made the judge of all the works of God. Arianism is recrudescent under another name and formula. The mystery of Christ’s Divinity, the miracles of the Bible, the extraordinary action of God in the Revelation and Inspiration of the Scriptures are made the special objects of attack in this modern fashion of thought.
That which is most deplorable is that this tendency has in some degree invaded the minds of some Catholic scholars. Clear calls of warning come from Christ’s Vicar; the danger is grave. The demon of unbelief finds strong allies in the pride and rebellion of fallen human nature.
During the last twenty-five years the Church has waged a fierce battle in defense of the Holy Scriptures. In this fight her worst enemies are those of her own children, who, making dishonorable compromises with the Rationalists, the "true children and inheritors of the older heretics," make a breach in the walls which they have sworn to defend.
General Introduction teaches the art of studying Holy Scripture:
"Vie più che indarno da riva si parte,
Perchè non torna tal qual ei si muove,
Chi pesca per lo vero e non ha l’arte."
The study of Holy Scripture is proposed in that remarkable encyclical, "Providentissimus Deus," as the chief remedy against the evil doctrinal tendencies of our time. This study cannot be pursued without a competent knowledge of the questions which an Introduction to Holy Scripture treats. The very key to the present situation is a right idea of the Inspiration of Holy Scripture. Hence in this Second Edition of my work, I have devoted about one third of the volume to this great theme. I have endeavored in all things to be conservative. I have endeavored to present a fair examination of the different theories, and in judging of them, the authority of the Church has been the norm. My treatise on the Canon of the Old Testament may be judged excessively long, but I have contemplated this as a work of reference, in which completeness of treatment is required. My hope is that I may have, in some small degree, helped the Cause of Christ.
A. E. BREEN.
Rochester, N. Y.,
Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord, 1908.
CONTENTS
chapter
I. Revelation and Its Criterion
II. Extent of Inspiration
III. The Canon
IV. The Canon of the Old Testament
V. Ezra and His Influence
VI. The Alexandrian Canon
VII. The Canon of the Church
VIII. The Canon of the Old Testament of the Fourth Century
IX. The Canon of the Old Testament from the End of the Fifth Century to the Beginning of the Twelfth Century
X. The Canon of the Old Testament from the Beginning of the Thirteenth Century to the Council of Trent
XI. The Council of Trent
XII. The Canon of the New Testament
XIII. The New Testament of the Sects
XIV. The Apocryphal Books of Both Testaments
XV. The Lost Books of Both Testaments
XVI. The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament
XVII. The Greek Text
XVIII. The Uncial Codices
XIX. The Septuagint and Other Greek Versions
XX. Versions Derived from the Septuagint
XXI. The Targums
XXII. The Ancient Versions
XXIII. The Vulgate
XXIV. The Authorization of the Latin Vulgate
XXV. The Correction of the Vulgate
XXVI. The English Versions
XXVII. The Interpretation of Scripture
XXVIII. Jewish Interpretation
Index
Here is the Preface and TOC to the .99 cent volume:
Preface to Second Edition
When the author published the first edition of the present work, it was never contemplated that there should be a second edition. For that reason the first edition consisted of two thousand copies, and it was supposed that many of these would be among the author’s effects at his death.
But the success of the work was beyond hope. The edition was exhausted in the spring of 1907, and the Author was urged to publish a new edition.
Believing that the re-publication of the work will aid Christ’s cause, the author takes up the heavy task of revising it.
The general plan of the work is preserved. The Greek texts of the Four Gospels are arranged in the form of a harmony. A literal English translation accompanies the Greek text, and is arranged in the same way. By such method of arrangement the life of Christ, his words and deeds, become one connected narrative, and the statements of every Evangelist become fuller and clearer, being supplemented by the parallel passages of the others. Every important variant is given in the critical examination of the text, and the authorities are discussed.
On the text thus harmonized is built what the author hopes will prove a clear and comprehensive Commentary. Every question legitimately arising out of the Gospel narrative is treated at length. But while the author’s aim has been to give a critical commentary, special attention has been given to adapt the book to pulpit use. Hence the moral application of the events, words, and deeds is made a main feature of the work.
It has been the author’s principal aim to search out the literal sense of every passage, to ascertain the full significance of every element in the life of the Redeemer. But inasmuch as that divine life is not chronicled as a mere historical event, but as the perfect exemplar of every human life, moral reflections are drawn from every word and event in the Gospel narrative.
In the treatment of Hebrew names of the Old Testament, the plan, in general, has been to render them in the Commentary in accord with the Masoretic text, but in the translation of the Greek text of the New Testament, out of reverence for the original text, these names are generally rendered in conformity with the Greek.
The progress of Scriptural science during the last decade has made necessary a thorough revision, and this has been attempted by conservative methods.
Without doubt the author’s aim has been higher than the accomplishment, but he sends forth his book with the hope that it will be of some service in the great cause of religion.
Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, 1908.
Contents of the First Volume
Introductory
Luke 1:1–4
St. Luke’s Preamble 35–39
John 1:1–18
The Eternal Generation of the Word—The Word was made flesh—The Witness of John 39–71
Matt. 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38
The two Genealogies of Jesus 71–103
Luke 1:5–25
The Vision of Zachary—The Birth of John the Baptist 103–123
Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:26–27
The Birth of Jesus from the Virgin Mary 123–130
Luke 1:28–38
The Annunciation 130–148
Luke 1:39–45
The Visitation 148–154
Luke 1:46–56
The Magnificat 154–164
Luke 1:57–66
The Birth, Circumcision, and Naming of John the Baptist—Circumcision among other nations—The restoration of Zachary’s power of speech 164–172
Luke 1:67–80
The Canticle of Zachary—The dwelling of John the Baptist in the wilderness 172–184
Matt. 1:19–25
Perplexity of Joseph as evidences of the Blessed Virgin’s pregnancy—The Vision of the Angel—The Angel’s declaration of the Divinity of the Virgin’s Child—Isaiah’s Prophecy—The Obedience of Joseph—His Continency 184–205
Luke 2:1–7
The Census of Quirinius—The Journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem—The Birth of Jesus in the Manger 205–221
Luke 2:8–20
The Apparition of the Angel to the Shepherds—The Message of the Angel—Glory to God in the Highest—The Shepherds go to Bethlehem and find Jesus in the Manger 222–231
Luke 2:21–39
The Circumcision of Jesus—The Purification in the Temple—The Prophecy of Simeon—The Prophecy of Anna—The Return of the Holy Family to Nazareth 231–240
Matt. 2:1–12
The Visit of the Magi—Herod’s Perturbation and Wicked Design—The Wondrous Star—The Adoration of Jesus by the Magi—The Dream of the Magi 240–258
Matt. 2:13–23
The Flight into Egypt—The Slaughter of the Infants of Bethlehem—The Prophecy of Jeremiah—The Return from Egypt 258–278
Luke 2:40–52
The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple—Christ with the Doctors—The Finding in the Temple—The Boyhood of Jesus 279–295
Matt. 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–18
The Preaching of John in the Wilderness 295–331
Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22
The Baptism of Christ 331–338
Matt. 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13
The Fasting and Temptation of Christ 338–358
John 1:19–51
The Testimony of John the Baptist to the Embassy of the Pharisees—The Calling of John the Evangelist, Andrew, and Simon 358–380
John 2:1–11
The Marriage in Cana—The Miracle of the Water made Wine 380–392
John 2:12–25
The Expulsion of the Merchants and Money-Changers from the Temple—The Prediction of the Crucifixion 392–405
John 3:1–21
Jesus and Nicodemus—Baptism 406–431
John 3:22–36
John baptizes at Ænon—His Disciples complain of Jesus’ Ascendency—John’s Answer 431–445
Matt. 4:12; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 3:19–20
The Imprisonment of John the Baptist 445–449
Luke 4:14; John 4:1–3
Jesus departs for Galilee 449–452
John 4:4–42
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman—The Beginning of Faith in Samaria 452–487
John 4:43–45
The Arrival of Jesus in Galilee 487–489
John 4:46–54
The Healing of the Son of the King’s Officer at Capharnaum 489–496
Luke 4:15–30
Jesus in the Synagogue at Nazareth—The Prophecy of Isaiah—The Jews attempt to stone Jesus 496–524
Matt. 4:13–17
Jesus fixes his Domicile at Capharnaum—The Prophecy of Isaiah 524–527
Matt. 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11
The Discourse from the Boat of Simon on Lake Gennesaret—The Miraculous Draught of Fishes—The Calling of James and John 527–537
Mark 1:21–28; Luke 4:31–37
The Cure of the Demonized Man in the Synagogue at Capharnaum 537–550
Matt. 8:14–15; Mark 1:29–31; Luke 4:38–39
The Healing of Simon’s Mother-in Law 550–555
Matt. 8:16–17; Mark 1:32–34; Luke 4:40–41
The Healing of the Sick at Capharnaum 555–563
Matt. 4:23–25; Mark 1:35–39; Luke 4:42–44
The Teaching of Jesus in the Synagogues of Galilee 563–572
Matt. 8:2–4; Mark 1:40–45; Luke 5:12–16
The Healing of the Leper 572–584
Matt. 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26
The Healing of the Palsied Man let down through the Roof at Capharnaum 584–612
Matt. 9:9; Mark 2:13–14; Luke 5:27–28
The Calling of Matthew 612–617
Matt. 9:10–13; Mark 2:15–17; Luke 5:29–32
The Banquet in the House of Levi 617–628
Matt. 9:14–17; Mark 2:18–22; Luke 5:33–39
The Objections of the Pharisees—The Response of Jesus 628–645
John 5:1–16
The Healing of the Sick Man at the Pool of Bethesda 645–667
John 5:17–47
The divine Personality of Christ—His relation to the Father 667–710
Having posted those examples, I would say that his Diary from his trip to the Holy Land, nearly 50 years before the discovery of the DSS is the most intellectually satisfying.
https://www.logos.com/product/32359/a-diary-of-my-life-in-the-holy-land
Lots of pictures and diagrams and personal reflections from the 1900. Really good stuff.
Thanks, John.
[Y]
