The Bible Period by Period A Manual for the Study of the Bible by Periods — Context and Discussion

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In Category - Comparative Religion

Authors: Tidwell, Josiah Blake, 1870-1946 Digital Source: Project Gutenberg Gutenberg Release Year: 2005 First Publication Year: Not confirmed

Key Word: Bible -- Commentaries; Bible -- History of Biblical events; Bible -- Introductions Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

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Words 46,877

Reading time 204 min

Text sections 6

The source record for The Bible Period by Period A Manual for the Study of the Bible by Periods — Context and Discussion measures this digital text at 46,877 words, 3 hr 24 min estimated reading time, and 6 detected text sections.

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Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Bible -- Commentaries,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #15771

This editorial note examines Josiah Blake Tidwell's 1916 manual, focusing on his authorial choices in diction, dialogue, and description. It highlights his use of moral commentary, structural outlines, and pedagogical questions, offering a specific lens for reading the work.

Editorial Edition Score 4.7/5

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Title & short description10 pts
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Text length15 pts
Chapters / structure15 pts
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From the Creation to the Fall.

Problems solved. Creation of man. Man's hope and occupation. The temptation. The fall and punishment. The hope offered. Teachings of the story. Topics for discussion.

From the Fall to the Flood.

Cain and Abel. Cain and Seth, two races. The great wickedness. Noah God's chosen man. The Ark. The flood. The sacrifice and rainbow covenant. Confirmation of tradition and geology. Teachings of the period. Topics for discussion.

From the Flood to Abraham.

Noah's shame and prophecy. The Tower of Babel. The location of this tower. Specific purpose of the tower. Traditions of such a tower. The civilization of the ancient world. Two great empires of antiquity. Language and literature. Motive of their civilization. Lessons of the period. Topics for discussion.

From Abraham to Egypt.

Events of the period. Purpose of the narrative. Conditions of the times. Confirmations of Biblical records. Experiences of Abraham. The character of Abraham. The character and career of Isaac. Stories about Jacob. Stories about Joseph. Death of Jacob and Joseph. Social and religious conditions of the times. The book of Job. Lessons of the period. Topics for discussion.

Israel in Egypt. Moses the deliverer. The great deliverance. Crossing the Red Sea. Journey to Sinai. Lessons of the period. Topics.

From Sinai to Kadesh.

Mount Sinai. The Sinaitic covenant. Purpose of the Mosaic Law. Several parts of the law. Journey to Kadesh-Barnea. Twelve spies. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

From Kadesh to the Death of Moses.

The pathos of the forty years. Events of the forty years' wandering. Final scenes at Kadesh. From Kadesh to Jordan. Prophecies of Balaam. Last acts of Moses. Last scene on Moab. Significance of the work of Moses. Lessons of the period. Topics for discussion.

The facts of history recorded. The story in three parts. The land of Canaan. Crossing Jordan and fall of Jericho. The complete conquest of Canaan. Cruelty to the Canaanites. Character and work of Joshua. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

Characteristics of tie times. The Judges. Ruth the Moabite. Other nations. Outline of the narrative. Ethical and religious standards. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

Demand for a king. The principle of the kingdom. Saul, the first king. Saul's great achievements. Saul's decline. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

His reign over Judah. Reign over all Israel. His great sin and its bitter consequences. David's inspiring career. His last days. Psalms. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

Riddle of Solomon's character. His policies. Solomon's building enterprises. Solomon's writings. Nations surrounding Israel. Evidences of national decay. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

The division of the kingdom. Comparison of the two kingdoms. Kings of the Northern kingdom. Kings of Judah. Important events in the history of Israel. Principal events in the history of Judah. Relation between the two kingdoms. Messages of the prophets of this period. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

The Kingdom of Judah.

The kings of the period. Principal events of the period. Prophets of the period and their messages. Teachings of the period. False prophets. Great religious revivals of this period. Wealth and luxury. Contemporary nations. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

The Captivity of Judah.

The ten tribes lost. Judah led into captivity. The period of the captivity. The fugitives in Egypt. Exiles in Babylon. The prophets of the exile. Benefits of the captivity. Lessons of the period. Topics for discussion.

Scripture analysis. Predictions of the return. Rise of the Persian Power. The Decree of Cyrus. Three Expeditions to Jerusalem. Prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah. Prophecy of Malachi. Story of Esther. Synagogues and Synagogue worship. Significance of the period. Period lessons. Topics for discussion.

From Malachi to the Birth of Christ.

The close of Old Testament History. Persian period. Under the rule of Greek kings. Period of independence. The Roman period. Entire period. End of the Period. Topics for discussion.

From the birth to the Ascension of Jesus.

The story of the period. The childhood and youth of Jesus. The beginnings of Christ's Ministry. Early Judean ministry. Galilean Ministry. Perean Ministry. Final Ministry in Jerusalem. The forty days. Teaching of the period. Topics for discussion.

From the Ascension to the Church at Antioch.

The Book of Acts. Principal events of the period. Organization and control of the early church. Persecutions of the church. Growth and influence. Extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Teachings of the period. Topics for discussion.

From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem.

The changed situation. The divine call. Time and extent of Paul's journeys. First missionary journey. Second missionary journey. Third missionary journey. At Jerusalem. At Caesarea. Paul at Rome. Epistles of this period. Lessons of the period. Topics for discussion.

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Josiah Blake Tidwell’s The Bible Period by Period (1916) is a college-level manual that organizes biblical history into discrete periods, each accompanied by outlines and study questions. Tidwell’s authorial voice is distinctly moral and pedagogical: he interjects evaluative judgments—calling David’s sin with Bathsheba “one of the darkest crimes of all history”—and frames biblical events as lessons in conduct. His diction blends scholarly detachment with homiletic intensity, as when he describes David’s harem as exerting an “enervating influence.” This note examines three specific authorial choices: Tidwell’s use of moral commentary, his structural reliance on numbered lists, and his integration of study questions that direct the reader’s attention to doctrinal takeaways.

Moral Commentary as Authorial Signature

Tidwell does not merely narrate biblical events; he evaluates them with explicit moral language. In describing David’s adultery, he writes that David “fell from his exalted position to the level of an unprincipled eastern monarch,” a phrase that reveals Tidwell’s own cultural and ethical framework. He further asserts that “no crime today involves more sudden and terrible consequences” than adultery, a claim that blends historical observation with contemporary moralizing. This pattern recurs throughout the excerpts: Tidwell characterizes Abner’s act as “one of secession,” and he praises David’s domestic policy for recognizing “that the king was for the people and not the people for the king.” These judgments are not neutral; they reflect Tidwell’s conviction that the Bible provides direct guidance for “wise and worthy conduct.” Readers should note how Tidwell’s commentary shapes the interpretation of events, often presenting a single moral perspective rather than multiple possibilities.

Structural Choices: Outlines and Numbered Lists

Tidwell organizes his material into clear, enumerative structures. In the excerpt on David’s reign, he breaks down “the element of success and chief acts” into numbered points: (1) capture of Jerusalem, (2) foreign relations, (3) home relations and policies. Each point is then elaborated in a paragraph. This outline style is consistent with the manual’s stated purpose: to offer “a large number of topics for study and discussion” rather than extended prose. The numbered lists serve a pedagogical function, helping students memorize key facts. However, they also impose a tidy framework on complex narratives, reducing ambiguity. For instance, Tidwell lists David’s foreign policy as “one of conquest” without exploring the ethical implications of subduing other nations. The structure thus prioritizes clarity and memorization over critical analysis, a choice that shapes how the reader engages with the material.

Study Questions as Directed Reading

Each chapter concludes with questions that guide the student toward specific conclusions. While the excerpts do not include the full questions, Tidwell’s preface indicates that the manual is designed to help students “gain a working knowledge of the contents of Biblical history.” The questions likely prompt recall of outlined points and moral lessons. For example, after describing David’s sin, Tidwell might ask students to list its consequences, as he enumerates Nathan’s rebuke and the “bitter consequences.” This approach treats the Bible as a source of definitive instruction rather than a text open to interpretation. The questions reinforce Tidwell’s authorial authority, directing readers to accept his framing. Readers should consider how the question format limits exploration of alternative readings or historical-critical perspectives.

Diction and the Voice of the Instructor

Tidwell’s word choices reveal his dual role as scholar and preacher. He uses phrases like “beautifully described in the Scripture” and “shows what terrible remnants of sin there are in the hearts even of converted men,” the latter a quotation from another source that he endorses. His description of David’s guerrilla warfare in the “Cave of Adullam” and the “crushing blow” at Rephaim employs vivid, almost dramatic language. At the same time, he maintains a formal, instructional tone with terms like “ascendancy,” “treacherously killed,” and “utter failure.” This blend of elevated diction and moral intensity creates a voice that is both authoritative and personally invested. Tidwell’s choice to include a quotation from an unnamed source (“shows what terrible remnants…”) adds a layer of external validation, though he does not cite it. Readers should attend to how Tidwell’s language positions him as a trustworthy guide while subtly shaping emotional responses to the text.

Tidwell’s manual is best approached as a period-specific pedagogical tool rather than a neutral introduction. His moral commentary, outline structure, and directed questions all serve to present a unified, conservative interpretation of biblical history. Readers interested in the history of biblical education or early 20th-century Protestant thought will find this work revealing. For those seeking a more critical or diverse reading, it may be useful to compare Tidwell’s choices with contemporary scholarly approaches.

I keep thinking about how Tidwell frames the biblical writers’ assumptions as things to notice rather than questions to answer. That gentle patience reminds me of sitting with The religions of ancient Egypt and Babylonia — Context and Discussion, where the unfamiliar deities felt less strange and more like old neighbors whose habits I’d never asked about. Both books leave their worlds quietly open.

Elijah Sanchez

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4 out of 5 (4 User reviews )

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Lindsay Roberts - 1 month ago

The book's organizational framework is promising, but the execution falls short. The writing is dry and overly academic, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the theological interpretation is biased, ignoring alternative perspectives. A more engaging and balanced approach would have made it a better manual for modern readers.

Bryan Bobby Long - 1 month ago

This manual is a wonderful guide for systematic Bible study. It divides the Bible into historical periods, making it easy to grasp the overarching narrative and development of God's plan. The study questions and outlines are helpful for group study or personal reflection. Highly recommended for Bible teachers and serious students.

Krystal Lopez - 1 month ago

A useful resource for understanding the Bible's chronological flow. The period-based approach is effective, and the summaries are concise. However, some sections feel a bit outdated, and the lack of visual aids (maps, charts) reduces its effectiveness. Still, a valuable supplemental study tool.