“Compare particularly the words:  works (to work, Rom. 4:4), faith, to believe in Christ, or to believe absolutely, confession, righteousness, to be justified, to be chosen, the called, the chosen, the saints (for Christians), edification and to edify in a figurative sense, apostle, to publish the good tidings and to publish absolutely for Christian preaching, the adoption of baptisma, baptism, for Christian baptism, perhaps to break bread for the holy repast (the Agape with the communion), the world, the flesh, fleshly, in the known theological sense,” etc.  Winer’s Gram, of the New Test., sec. 3.

6.  From all the abovenamed causes the language of the New Testament received a form differing widely from the classic style, but admirably adapted to the high office assigned to it.  To those who study the New Testament in the original, the peculiarities of its language offer a wide and interesting field of inquiry.  But for the common reader the above hints will be sufficient.

CHAPTER XXV.

EXTERNAL FORM OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

1.  The writings of the New Testament fall into three main divisions; the historical, the epistolary, and the prophetical, the latter including only the Apocalypse.  This distinction is not to be understood in an absolute sense; since, as every reader knows, there are prophetical passages in the historical books, and both historical and prophetical in the epistles; but it gives with accuracy the general character of each division.  In outward form the Apocalypse is epistolary, being addressed, with the apostolic greeting, to the seven churches of Asia, and containing messages to each.  But its contents, after the first three chapters, are so wholly prophetical, that it is entitled to stand by itself in any general division.

2.  The order of these main divisions is natural and appropriate.  The gospel, as was remarked at the outset (Chap. 1, No. 1), is not a mere system of philosophy or ethics, but rests on a basis of historic facts.  On these its whole system of doctrines and duties is built; so that to destroy the foundation would be to destroy the superstructure also.  It is suitable, therefore, that the record of the facts should hold the first place.  The apostolic epistles, which unfold the doctrines and duties involved in the gospel, and make a practical application of them to all the manifold relations of life, naturally follow the historic record.  The mighty system of prophecies contained in the book of Revelation, which stretches over the whole future history of the church to the end of time, forms an appropriate close to the entire collection of writings.