One volume contains a monumental work on the Biblical history of the Old and New Testaments by the outstanding Russian biblical scholar, professor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy Alexander Pavlovich Lopukhin (1852-1904). In his book, which went through 20 editions until 1917, he collected and analyzed all the biblical-chronological, archaeological, historical and ethnographic material available by the end of the 19th century.

Lopukhin A.P. Biblical history of the Old and New Testaments. Complete edition in one volume

M: "Publishing house ALPHA-BOOK", 2009. - 1215 s: ill. - (Complete edition in one volume).

ISBN 978-5-9922-0271-7

THE TEXT IS PRINTED ACCORDING TO THE EDITION:

Lopukhin A. I. Guide to the Biblical History of the Old Testament, St. Petersburg, 1888. "Edition of the bookseller I. L. Tuluzov."

Lopukhin A.P. Guide to the Bible History of the New Testament, St. Petersburg, 1889. “Edition of the bookseller I.L. Tuluzov.”

Illustrations by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld

A. P. Lopukhin intended his work to be read “in general”, for the widest range of people, since, in his opinion, “biblical history can become an inexhaustible source of moral and higher historical education for any person more or less capable of a serious mental life ".

The illustrations in the book are engravings by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld.

Preface to the first edition of L.P. Lopukhin "A GUIDE TO THE BIBLICAL HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT"

An extraordinary movement is currently taking place in historical science, precisely thanks to those amazing discoveries that are being made in the forgotten ashes of the historical life of the ancient peoples of the East. Since that happy hour, when historians, not limited to a pen, took up spades and shovels and began to dig up the debris of the ruins in the valleys of the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates, as well as in other countries of the historical East, a whole world of new historical knowledge has opened up before the eyes of researchers: pale and the meager pages of the history of the ancient peoples were extremely animated and expanded, even the existence of new, hitherto completely unknown peoples and monarchies, the knowledge of which shed new light on the whole fate of ancient mankind, was discovered.

But these extraordinary discoveries took on even greater significance because they were in close relation to Biblical history, and not only shed much new light into it, elucidating its often darkest pages, but also provided an almost miraculous confirmation of many biblical events and facts. which hitherto could be criticized with impunity by skepticism. This circumstance extremely revived interest in Biblical history, which has ceased to be a dry specialty of theologians, and now attracts the attention of both secular learned historians and the entire educated society of all civilized peoples.

This interest is also noticeable in our country, but, unfortunately, in our country it has not yet gone beyond the narrow confines of the circle of specialists, and for our society, in fact, until now there is literally not a single publicly available book that could serve as a guide or introduction to this profoundly interesting and a highly instructive field of knowledge. The satisfaction of this, in our opinion, urgent need is partly what this book has in mind.

In its main parts, it was compiled several years ago and was intended only as a summary for our personal study in the field of biblical-historical knowledge, which is in contact with our specialty (“History of the Ancient World”). But the consciousness of the deep need indicated above prompted us to process this abstract in such a way that it could satisfy this need in the slightest degree, precisely by giving a coherent and lively course of Biblical history, introducing into it the main features from the inexhaustible wealth of the latest biblical historical research.

It is clear that within the framework that was outlined for this guide, the aforementioned studies could not find an independent place in it, and we really limited ourselves to only introducing some features of them, but we hope that readers will notice their presence at every more or less important biblical historical event, and you will see for yourself how much light the latest discoveries shed in the field of history and how much fresh interest they give to the most well-known facts and events.

We intend our "guide" for reading in general, but we would especially like it to find access to the milieu of student youth. It is our deep conviction that Biblical history can become an inexhaustible source of moral and higher historical education for any person more or less capable of a serious mental life. Every history is an educator of the mind and heart and a teacher of wisdom, but Biblical history in this respect stands above all other stories, because its subject is the central points of the spiritual life of mankind, and in it the deepest laws of world-historical development are revealed.

It can most clearly show that in the history of peoples there is nothing accidental and arbitrary, that any attempt to "make history" is senseless and harmful, because everything awaits and demands the "fulfillment of times", which can neither be brought nearer nor put off. At the same time, it presents a series of deep life experiences of the greatest characters, who, by their virtues and no less by their vices, widely open the door to the very depths of a person’s spiritual life and thereby teach the deepest lessons for anyone with a sufficiently lively moral sense to perceive such amazing experiences.

PERIOD ONE From Creation to the Flood

I. THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

The world, considered in its external beauty and internal harmony, is a marvelous creation, amazing by the harmony of its parts and the wonderful variety of its forms. In all its immensity, it moves correctly like a majestic clock wound by a great and skillful master.

And just as when looking at a watch, the thought of the master who made and started it involuntarily appears, so when considering the world in its correct and harmonious movement, the mind involuntarily comes to the thought of that Culprit to whom it owes its existence and wondrous dispensation. That the world is not eternal and has its own beginning, this is clearly proved, first of all, by the common belief of the peoples, among whom all the most ancient tradition about the beginning of all things is preserved. Then, a study of the course of the historical life of mankind, especially of its most ancient peoples, shows that historical life itself has a very limited extent and soon passes into the prehistoric era, which constitutes the childhood of mankind, which in turn necessarily presupposes a birth or beginning.

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The course of development of the sciences and arts also points to the same, which again leads us to the primitive state when they only began. Finally, the latest sciences (geology and paleontology), through the study of the layers of the earth's crust and the remains contained in them, irrefutably and clearly prove that the globe gradually formed in its surface, and there was a time when there was absolutely no life on it, and he himself was in a formless state.

Thus, the beginning of the world is undoubted, even if in the form of a formless, primitive substance, from which all its forms gradually formed. But where did this primitive substance itself come from? This question has long occupied human thought, but it was powerless to resolve it without higher help, and in the pagan world the greatest sages and founders of religions were unable to rise above the idea that this primitive substance existed from eternity, and from it God created something. or arranged the world, being only in this way the creator or organizer of the world, but not in the proper sense its Creator.

Then the Divine Revelation, contained in the books of Holy Scripture, appeared to the aid of the human mind, and it simply and clearly proclaimed the great mystery of being, to comprehend which the sages of all times and peoples vainly tried to comprehend. This mystery is revealed on the first page of the book of Genesis, which begins the Biblical history of the world and mankind.

“In the beginning God created heaven and earth,” says the chronicler, St. prophet Moses. These few words express the immensely deep truth that everything that exists in heaven and on earth, and therefore also primitive matter, has its beginning, and everything was created by God, who alone is eternal and existed in pre-temporal existence, and, moreover, was created from nothing, as the very verb bara used to express the word "created" means.

God is the only Creator of the universe, and without Him nothing could have happened. Approving this idea, the chronicler thereby rejected all other ways of explaining the origin of the world, i.e., that the world could not have come about either by chance, or from spontaneous generation, or from the struggle of good and evil principles (as the pagan sages taught, and after them the newest wisdom), but only from the free decision of the will of the almighty God, who deigned from non-existence to call the world to temporary existence.

This decision arose solely from the love and goodness of the Creator, with the aim of giving the creature the opportunity to enjoy these greatest properties of His being. And so “He,” in the words of the divinely inspired psalmist, “said and it happened, He commanded and it appeared” everything (Psalm XXXII, 9). His instrument in creation was His Word (“said and it was done”), which is the original Word, the Son of God, through whom “everything began to be, and without Him nothing began to be that began to be.

The book of the famous Russian theologian, biblical scholar and translator A.P. Lopukhin first saw the light in 1887 and has since gone through more than 20 editions. Thanks to the depth of understanding of the biblical story, its content does not lose its significance today. Having collected and analyzed rich theological, exegetical, chronological, archaeological, historical and ethnographic material, the author reveals the historical significance of the events described in the Bible. He proves that the biblical stories have a real historical basis.

Conceived as a work that promotes the popularization of theological science and spiritual enlightenment, the book is written in an accessible language.

The work was published in 1887 by AST. On our site you can download the book "Bible History of the Old Testament" in fb2, rtf, epub, pdf, txt format or read online. Here, before reading, you can also refer to the reviews of readers who are already familiar with the book, and find out their opinion. In the online store of our partner you can buy and read the book in paper form.

Sacred Biblical history should take the first place among the historical sciences, since it is a story about the thousand-year relationship between the infinite God and man created by Him. This is a chronicle of how humanity accumulated the invaluable experience of Divine Revelation and God-knowledge.
The joyful and tragic events that took place about two thousand years ago in Jerusalem and its environs forever changed the course of world history. On the very outskirts of the Roman Empire, the Son of God appeared to ordinary fishermen and tax collectors and revealed to them the truth, the light of which transformed the world.
In the first volume of "Bible History" included studies on Old Testament events. The book was prepared on the basis of the classic work of the outstanding Russian biblical scholar, writer and theologian Alexander Pavlovich Lopukhin.
In the second volume of the Bible History » included studies on the books of the New Testament.
The publication was prepared on the basis of the classic work of the outstanding Russian biblical scholar, writer and theologian Alexander Pavlovich Lopukhin.

“The events captured on the pages of the Bible not only have the value of important historical evidence, but also carry a huge religious meaning, comprehending which we gain the ability to properly build our relationship with God and our neighbors.”

“To read the Bible correctly means to be able to distinguish between the Divine and the human in it. All attacks on the Bible, be they atheistic or so-called historical-critical, were based on the fact that people did not know how to read the Bible, confusing the human, changeable and fallible factor with the Divine presence, which is beyond any human criticism.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia KIRILL

CONTENT

BOOK 1. OLD TESTAMENT.

Preface to the first edition of the book by A. P. Lopukhin
"A GUIDE TO THE BIBLICAL HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT"

PERIOD ONE
From Creation to the Flood

I. Creation of the world
II. Creation of the first people and their blissful life in paradise
III. The Fall and Its Consequences, Location of Paradise
IV. Sons and immediate descendants of Adam. Cain and Abel. Two directions in the life of antediluvian mankind. The longevity of the patriarchs. Chronology

PERIOD TWO
From the Flood to Abraham

V. The Flood
VI. Descendants of Noah. Genealogy of peoples. The Babylonian Pandemonium and the Scattering of the Nations. Beginning of idolatry

PERIOD THREE
From the election of Abraham to the death of Joseph and the conclusion of the patriarchal age

VII. Abraham's choice. His migration to the land of Canaan and his life in this country. God's covenant with Abraham and the promise of a son
VIII. Epiphany at the Oak of Mamri. The destruction of cities in the valley of Siddim. The Supreme Test of Abraham's Faith and the Last Days of His Life
IX. Isaac and his sons
X. Jacob
XI. Joseph
XII. The internal and external state of the chosen family during the patriarchal era. Worship and rituals. Morals and lifestyle. Board, industry and education
XIII. True religion is outside the chosen race. Job. The religious state of the pagan peoples. Chronology

PERIOD FOUR
From the death of Joseph to the death of Moses

XIV. Israelis in Egypt
XV. Moses, his upbringing in Egypt and his stay in the land of Midian. His call at Mount Horeb
XVI. Intercession before the Pharaoh and Egyptian executions. Preparing for the Exodus. Easter
XVII. Exodus from Egypt. Crossing the Red Sea
XVIII. The Israelites Wandering in the Desert to Sinai
XIX. History of the gift of the Sinai legislation. Golden Taurus. Tabernacle. Priesthood. numbering of the people
XX. The events of 38 years of wandering in the desert. Conquest of the East Jordanian country. The last orders and exhortations of Moses; his prophetic blessing of the people and demise
XXI. Law of Moses. Theocracy. Tabernacle and related institutions
XXII. Decrees of Mosaic legislation regarding civil life. Education. God inspired books. Chronology

PERIOD FIVE
From the Conquest of the Promised Land to the Establishment of Kingship

XXIII. Promised land. Its external position and nature. Population, its language, religion and civil status
XXIV. Joshua, the conquest of the Promised Land and its division. Religious Animation of the Israeli People

Judges times
XXV. The deviations of the Israelites into idolatry and their conversion to God during the disasters that befell them. Deborah and Barak
XXVI. Gideon and Jephthah
XXVII. Samson
XXVIII. The Religious and Moral State of the Israelites in the Time of the Judges. . History of Ruth
XXIX. Eli - High Priest and Judge
XXX. Samuel is a prophet and judge. School of the Prophets. Education. Chronology

PERIOD SIX
From the anointing of the king to the division of the Jewish kingdom

XXXI. Saul's anointing for kingship. first years of his reign. Rejection of Saul and anointing of David
XXXII. Saul and David. The defeat of Goliath and the rise of David at court. Persecution on him. Saul's demise
XXXIII. Reign of David. Conquest of Jerusalem. Transfer of the Ark of the Covenant, victorious wars and the idea of ​​building a temple
XXXIV. Continuation of the reign of David. His power and fall. Absalom and his rebellion
XXXV. The last years of David's reign. Numbering the people and punishment. David's final orders and death
XXXVI. The reign of Solomon. The wisdom of the young king, his greatness and power. Construction and consecration of the temple
XXXVII. Solomon at the height of his glory. Queen of Sheba. Solomon's fall and death
XXXVIII. The internal state of the Israelite people in the time of the kings. Religion and worship. Enlightenment and inspired books. Chronology

PERIOD SEVENTH
From the division of the kingdom to the destruction of Solomon's temple by the Babylonians

XXXIX. The division of the kingdom. Its causes and significance. Jeroboam and the religious schism he caused
XL. Weakness and wickedness of Rehoboamai Abijah, the kings of Judah, and the pious reign of Asa and Jehoshaphat
XLI. The kings of Israel Ahab and Ahaziah, the complete establishment of idolatry under them in the kingdom of Israel. Prophet Elijah. The Harmful Consequences of Jehoshaphat's Alliance with the Kings of Israel
XLII. Ahab's successors. Prophet Elisha. Naaman the Syrian. The destruction of the house of Ahab
XLIII. King of Israel Jehu and his successors. Prophet Jonah. The fall of the kingdom of Israel and the dispersion of the ten tribes. Righteous Tobit
XLIV. The kings of the Jews, Jehoash, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh. Prophet Isaiah. The reforming work of King Josiah
XLV. Fall of the Kingdom of Judah. Prophet Jeremiah. The death of Jerusalem. Captivity of Babylon
XLVI. The internal state of the chosen people in the VII period. condition of the surrounding nations. Chronology

PERIOD EIGHT
The time of the Babylonian captivity

XLVII. External and religious state of the Jews. Prophetic activity of Ezekiel. Prophet Daniel
XLVIII. Fall of Babylon. The position of the Jews under Cyrus. Manifesto for the release of prisoners. Chronology

PERIOD NINE
State of the Old Testament Church from Ezra to the Nativity of Christ

XLIX. The return of the Jews from captivity. Creation of the second temple. Activities of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Last Prophets. The fate of the Jews who remained within the kingdom of Persia: the story of Esther and Mordecai
L. The state of the Jews under Greek rule. The time of the Maccabees and their deeds for the church and the state. Jews under Roman rule. Reign of Herod
L.I. Religious and moral state of the Jews upon their return from captivity. Sects. Worship. Governing body. Chronology
LII. Jews of the dispersion. The state of the pagan world. Common expectation of the Savior

APPS
I. Days of Creation
II. Bible chronology
III. Flood legends
IV. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
V. Hungry years in Egypt
VI. Camps in the desert
VII. Manna
VIII. Balaam
IX. Solstice under Joshua
X. Biblical time reckoning
XI. Bible scales and money
XII. Measures of length
XIII. Measures of loose and liquid bodies
XIV. Synchronistic table of the most important events from the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt

BOOK 2. THE NEW TESTAMENT.

DEPARTMENT ONE
Incarnation of God the Word. Nativity, infancy and adolescence of Jesus Christ

I. The eternal word. Righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth. Annunciation of St. Virgin Mary. Birth of John the Baptist
II. Nativity. Circumcision of the Lord. Meeting of the Lord Jesus in the temple. Adoration of the Magi. Escape of St. Families in Egypt and return to Nazareth
III. Life of St. Families in Nazareth. Twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem. The rise of Jesus

SECTION TWO
The Entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into the Work of Open Service for the Salvation of the Human Race

IV. Sermon of John the Baptist in the desert. Baptism of Jesus Christ. Removing him into the wilderness and temptation from the devil
V. Testimony of John the Baptist about himself and about Jesus Christ. The first followers of Jesus Christ. The first miracle of Christ at a marriage in the city of Cana

DEPARTMENT THREE
The Works and Teachings of Jesus Christ from the First to the Second Passover

VI. In Judea. The expulsion of merchants from the temple. Conversation between Jesus Christ and Nicodemus. The last testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus Christ
VII. Sojourn of Jesus Christ in Samaria. His conversation with the Samaritan woman
VIII. In Galilee. Healing of the son of a courtier by Christ. Sermon at the Nazareth Synagogue
IX. Wonderful fishing on the Galilee lake. Healing of the possessed and paralyzed and many others in Capernaum. The call to the apostleship of the publican Matthew

DEPARTMENT FOUR
The Works and Teachings of Jesus Christ from the Second to the Third Easter

X. In Jerusalem. Healing the paralytic at the sheep's pool. Clashes with the Pharisees over the plucking of grain by the disciples on the Sabbath. Dry Hand Healing
XI. Service in Galilee and around the Lake of Galilee. Choice of the twelve apostles. The Sermon on the Mount and the Essence of New Testament Legislation
XII. Healing of a leper and centurion's servant. Resurrection of the son of the Nain widow. Embassy of John the Baptist. Forgiveness of a sinner in the house of Simon the Pharisee
XIII. A new way of teaching - parables. Parables about the sower, about the mustard seed, about the wheat and the tares. Taming the storm on the lake. Healing of the possessed Gadara
XIV. Healing of a woman suffering from bleeding, and resurrection of the daughter of Jairus. Departure of the twelve apostles to preach. Martyrdom of John the Baptist
XV. The return of the disciples from the sermon. The miraculous feeding of five thousand people with five loaves. Walking of Christ on the waters and his conversation in the Capernaum synagogue about the sacrament of communion

DEPARTMENT FIVE
The deeds and teachings of Jesus Christ from the third Easter until his solemn entry into Jerusalem

XVI. Conversation of Jesus Christ about the meaning of fatherly traditions. Healing of the possessed daughter of the Canaanite. Miracles in the Transjordan Region
XVII. Confession of App. Peter and the prediction of the Lord Jesus about the suffering and death awaiting him in Jerusalem. Transfiguration
XVIII. Healing of a demon-possessed, deaf-mute youth. Miraculous receipt of a coin to pay tribute to the temple. The teaching of Jesus Christ about the judgment of the Church and the forgiveness of offenses. The Parable of the Merciful King and the Merciless Creditor
XIX. On the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. Inhospitality of the Samaritans. Embassy of the Seventy. Parable of the Good Samaritan. Visit of Martha and Mary. Lord's Prayer
XX. In Jerusalem. Sermon of Jesus Christ at mid-afternoon and the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Healing the Blind
XXI. In Galilee and on the way to Jerusalem by the country beyond the Jordan. Parables and miracles
XXII. In Jerusalem. Testimony of Jesus Christ on the feast of the renovation of the temple about his consubstantiality with God the Father
XXIII. In the Jordanian country. Blessing of children. Rich young man. The Parable of Equal Wage to Workers in the Vineyard. The news of the illness of Lazarus and the departure of Christ to Judea
XXIV. In Judea. Resurrection of Lazarus. Determination of the Sanhedrin against Jesus Christ. The foreshadowing of death on the cross. Salome's request. The Healing of the Blind in Jericho and the Conversion of Zacchaeus. Anointing the Feet of Jesus Christ with Myrrh at the Supper in Bethany

DEPARTMENT SIX
The Last Days of the Earthly Life of the Lord Jesus Christ

XXV. The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and the deeds, parables and conversations that followed it. Answers to the crafty interrogation of the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes
XXVI. The last denunciation by Jesus Christ of the scribes and Pharisees. Praise to the diligence of the widow. Conversation with the disciples about the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, about the end of the world and the second coming. Parables of ten virgins and talents. Doomsday Image
XXVII. Determination of the Sanhedrin on the capture of Christ by cunning; betrayal of Judas. Washing of the feet, the Last Supper and farewell conversation with the disciples. Prayer of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and its capture by soldiers
XXVIII. The trial of Christ at the high priests Anna and Caiaphas. Peter's denial and repentance. Jesus Christ at the trial of Pilate and Herod; scourging him and condemning him to death by Pilate. The death of Judas, as well as other perpetrators of the crime
XXIX. Crucifixion, suffering on the cross, death and burial of Jesus Christ
XXX. Resurrection of Christ. Apparitions of the Risen Christ. Ascension to heaven

SECTION SEVEN
Church in Palestine before the scattering of Christians from Jerusalem

XXXI. Election of Matthias as an apostle. Pentecost and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The First Converts and the State of the Primate Church
XXXII. Healing of the lame in the temple. A warning from the Sanhedrin. Communication of estates. Ananias and Sapphira. Persecution. The Seven Deacons and Their Zeal for the Propagation of the Gospel
XXXIII. Archdeacon Stephen, his sermon and martyrdom. The persecution of the disciples and their scattering from Jerusalem. Spreading the Gospel. Philip preaching in Samaria. Simon the sorcerer. Conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch. The state of the church towards the end of the reign of Tiberius

DIVISION EIGHTH
The Church among the Gentiles from the Conversion of Saul to His Martyrdom in Rome

XXXIV. Conversion of Saul. Initiation of him to the face of the apostles and a special purpose
XXXV. Appeal of Cornelius ap. Peter. Preaching to the Gentiles at Antioch and the First Gentile Church. Persecution in Jerusalem and martyrdom of St. Jacob
XXXVI. Arrival of Saul in Antioch. Help for Jerusalem Christians. Departure of Barnabas and Saul to preach to the Gentiles. The first missionary journey Paul. Cathedral of Jerusalem
XXXVII. The second missionary journey of St. Paul. The Beginning of the Gospel in Europe
XXXVIII. Ap. Paul in Athens. His speech is in the Areopagus. Life and preaching in Corinth. First messages
XXXIX. Third missionary journey Paul. Stay in Ephesus. Epistles to the Galatians and Corinthians. Revolt in Ephesus
XL. On the way to Macedonia. Second Epistle to the Corinthians. In Corinth. Epistle to the Romans. State of the Roman Church
XLI. On the way to Jerusalem. Sunday Liturgy in Troas. Conversation in Miletus with Ephesian presbyters. In Tire and Caesarea
XLII. Ap. Paul in Jerusalem. Riot in the temple. The arrest of the apostle and his departure to Caesarea. Felix and his trial
XLIII. Proceedings of the case Paul before Festus. Ap. Paul and Agrippa II. Appeal to Caesar. Journey to Rome and shipwreck
XLIV. Ap. Paul in Rome. Biennial bonds. Epistles written from Rome to the Philippino, Colossian, Ephesian, and Philemon. Deliverance of the Apostle and the Epistle to the Hebrews
XLV. App activity. Paul upon his release from his first bonds. Visit to the East. Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus. Travel to Spain. New Arrest in Ephesus, Second Bonds in Rome, and Martyrdom

DEPARTMENT NINE
End of the Apostolic Age

XLVI. Apostolic activity and martyrdom of St. Peter. Cathedral epistles. Peter. Activities of the Other Apostles
XLVII. Revolt of the Jews and destruction of Jerusalem. The significance of this event in the history of the church
XLVIII. Removal of Christians from Jerusalem before the siege of it. Ap. John, his life and work
XLIX. Sacred Books of the New Testament. Historical, educational and apocalypse books
L. The Primate Church and Its Institutions. Worship of the First Christians
L.I. Life of the First Christians. Purity and sanctity of family life. The position of women and children. Slaves and gentlemen. Love for neighbor
LII. The struggle of paganism with Christianity and the triumph of the church

APPS
Additional Notes on Selected Issues in the Biblical History of the New Testament

I. Civil History of the Jews from the Birth of Christ to the Destruction of Jerusalem
II. Year of the birth of Christ
III. Prefect Quirinius and the census of the Jewish people
IV. Publicans
V. The death of Judas the traitor
VI. New Testament measures of length
VII. New Testament money
VIII. Table of sequential New Testament history according to the Four Gospels
IX. Chronology of the most important events of the New Testament history

View other works of the professor

The book of A.P. Lopukhin, which went through about 20 editions until 1917, does not lose its relevance even today thanks to an unusually deep understanding of Biblical history. The author reveals to us the historical significance of the facts set forth in the Bible, proves that the biblical stories about the creation of man, the fall, the flood, the confusion of languages ​​have a real historical basis. The book provides many explanations of life, realities, traditions of the time when the Bible was created, which help to understand the depth and meaning of the Bible Scripture. The author intended his work for a wide audience, so the language of presentation is easy and simple to understand.

The book is supplied with a large number of color and black-and-white illustrations.

Preface to the first edition

BIBLICAL HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

PERIOD ONE. FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO THE FLOOD
I. Creation of the world (9) II. The Creation of the First Humans and Their Blessed Life in Paradise (13) III. The Fall and its consequences. Location of Paradise (15) IV. Sons and immediate descendants of Adam. Cain and Abel. Two directions in the life of antediluvian mankind. The longevity of the patriarchs. Timekeeping (18)

PERIOD TWO. FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM
V. Flood (26) VI. Descendants of Noah. Genealogy of peoples. The Babylonian Pandemonium and the Scattering of the Nations. Beginning of Idolatry (31)

PERIOD THREE. FROM THE ELECTION OF ABRAHAM TO THE DEATH OF JOSEPH AND THE END OF THE PATRIARCHAL AGE
VII. Abraham's choice. His migration to the land of Canaan and his life in this country. God's covenant with Abraham and the promise of a son (37) VIII. Epiphany at the Oak of Mamre. The destruction of cities in the valley of Siddim. The supreme test of Abraham's faith and the last days of his life (42) IX. Isaac and his sons (48) X. Jacob (51) XI. Joseph (57) XII. The internal and external state of the chosen family during the patriarchal era. Worship and rituals. Morals and lifestyle. Government, industry and education (65) XIII. True religion is outside the chosen race. The new religious state of the pagan peoples. Timekeeping (68)

PERIOD FOUR. FROM THE DEATH OF JOSEPH TO THE DEATH OF MOSES - 73
XIV. Israelites in Egypt (73) XV. Moses, his upbringing in Egypt and his stay in the land of Midian. His calling at Mount Horeb (79) XVI. Intercession before the Pharaoh and Egyptian executions. Preparing for the Exodus. Easter (85) XVII. Exodus from Egypt. Crossing the Red Sea (90) XVIII. The wandering of the Israelites in the wilderness to Sin (96) XIX. History of the gift of the Sinai legislation. Golden Taurus. Tabernacle. Priesthood. The number of the people (100) XX. The events of 38 years of wandering in the desert. Conquest of the East Jordanian country. The last orders and exhortations of Moses; his prophetic blessing of the people and death (109) XXI. Law of Moses. Theocracy. Tabernacle and Institutions Related to It (118) XXII. Decrees of Mosaic legislation regarding civil life. Education. God inspired books. Timekeeping (126)

PERIOD FIVE. FROM THE CONQUERATION OF THE PROMISED LAND TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KINGDOM
XXIII. Promised land. Its external position and nature. Population, its language, religion and civil status (136) XXIV. Joshua Nun. The conquest of the Promised Land and its division. The Religious Animation of the Israelite People (142) XXV. The deviations of the Israelites into idolatry and their conversion to God during the disasters that befell them. Deborah and Barak (150) XXVI. Gideon and Jephthah (154) XXVII. Samson (160) XXVIII. The Religious and Moral State of the Israelites in the Time of the Judges. History of Ruth (164) XXIX. Eli - high priest and judge (167) XXX. Samuel is a prophet and judge. School of the Prophets. Education. Timekeeping (171)

PERIOD SIX. FROM THE ANOINTING OF THE KING TO THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM OF THE JEWISH

XXXI. Saul's anointing for kingship. first years of his reign. Rejection of Saul and anointing of David (175) XXXII. Saul and David. The defeat of Goliath and the rise of David at court. Persecution on him. The Demise of Saul (180) XXXIII. Reign of David. Conquest of Jerusalem. Transferring the ark of the covenant, victorious wars and the idea of ​​building a temple (187) XXXIV. Continuation of the reign of David. His power and fall. Absalom and his rebellion (192) XXXV. The last years of David's reign. Numbering the people and punishment. The last orders and death of David (198) XXXVI. The reign of Solomon. The wisdom of the young king, her greatness and power. Construction and consecration of the temple (202) XXXVII. Solomon at the height of his glory. Queen of Sheba. The fall of Solomon and his death (207) XXXVIII. The internal state of the Israelite people in the time of the kings. Religion and worship. Enlightenment and inspired books. Timekeeping (211)

PERIOD SEVENTH. FROM THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON BY THE BABYLONS
XXXIX. The division of the kingdom, its causes and significance. Jeroboam and the religious schism he produced (220) XL. The weakness and wickedness of Rehoboam and Abijah, the kings of the Jews, and the pious reign of Asa and Jehoshaphat (224) XLI. Kings of Israel Ahab and Ahaziah. The complete establishment of idolatry under them in the kingdom of Israel. Prophet Elijah. The Harmful Consequences of Jehoshaphat's Alliance with the Kings of Israel (228) XLII. Ahab's successors. Prophet Elisha. Naaman the Syrian. The destruction of the house of Ahab (235) XLIII. King of Israel Jehu and his successors. Prophet Jonah. The fall of the kingdom of Israel and the dispersion of the ten tribes. Righteous Tobit (240) XLIV. The kings of the Jews, Jehoash, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh. Prophet Isaiah. The reforming work of King Josiah (246) XLV. Fall of the Kingdom of Judah. Prophet Jeremiah. The death of Jerusalem. Captivity of Babylon (252) XLVI. The internal state of the chosen people in the VII period. condition of the surrounding nations. Timekeeping (257)

PERIOD EIGHT. THE TIMES OF THE BABYLON EXPOSURE - 261
XLVII. External and religious state of the Jews. Prophetic activity of Ezekiel. Prophet Daniel (261) XLVIII. Fall of Babylon. The position of the Jews under Cyrus. Manifesto for the release of prisoners. Timekeeping (265)

PERIOD NINTH. THE STATE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CHURCH FROM EZRA TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
XLIX. The return of the Jews from captivity. Creation of the second temple. Activities of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Last Prophets. The fate of the Jews who remained within the kingdom of Persia: the story of Esther and Mordecai (270) L. The state of the Jews under Greek rule. The time of the Maccabees and their deeds for the church and the state. Jews under Roman rule. The reign of Herod (275) A. The religious and moral state of the Jews upon their return from captivity. Sects. Worship. Governing body. Chronology (279) LII. Jews of the dispersion. The state of the pagan world. Common expectation of the Savior (284)

Applications of Additional Notes on Selected Questions from the Biblical History of the Old Testament

THE BIBLICAL HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

DEPARTMENT FIRST. INTRODUCTION OF GOD'S WORD. CHRISTMAS, INFANTITY AND ADOLESCENCE OF JESUS ​​CHRIST
I. The eternal word. Righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth. Annunciation Preev. Virgin Mary. Birth of John the Baptist (315) II. Nativity. Circumcision of the Lord. Meeting of the Lord Jesus in the temple. Adoration of the Magi. Escape of St. families to Egypt and return to Nazareth (321) III. Life of St. families in Nazareth. Twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem. Jesus Growth (328)

SECTION TWO. THE ENTRY OF THE LORD JESUS ​​CHRIST INTO THE OPEN MINISTRY FOR THE SALVATION OF THE HUMAN ROD – 333
IV. Sermon of John the Baptist in the desert. Baptism of Jesus Christ. His removal into the wilderness and temptation from the devil (333) V. Testimony of John the Baptist about himself and about Jesus Christ. The first followers of Jesus Christ. The first miracle of Christ at the marriage in the city of Cana (339)

SECTION THREE. THE WORKS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS ​​CHRIST FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND EASTER

VI. In Judea. The expulsion of merchants from the temple. Conversation between Jesus Christ and Nicodemus. The last testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus Christ (345) VII. Sojourn of Jesus Christ in Samaria. His conversation with the Samaritan woman (349) VIII. In Galilee. Healing of the son of a courtier by Christ. Sermon in the Nazareth Synagogue (354) IX. Wonderful fishing on the Galilee lake. Healing of the possessed and paralyzed and many others in Capernaum. The call to the apostolate of the publican Matthew (357)

DEPARTMENT FOUR. THE WORKS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS ​​CHRIST FROM THE SECOND TO THE THIRD EASTER
X. In Jerusalem. Healing the Paralytic at the Sheep Pool. Clashes with the Pharisees over the plucking of grain by the disciples on the Sabbath. Healing the withered (362) XI. Service in Galilee and around the Lake of Galilee. Choice of the twelve apostles. The Sermon on the Mount and the Essence of New Testament Legislation (367) XII. Healing of a leper and centurion's servant. Resurrection of the son of the Nain widow. Embassy of John the Baptist. Forgiveness of a sinner in the house of Simon the Pharisee (377) XIII. A new way of teaching - parables. Parables about the sower, about the mustard seed, about the wheat and the tares. Taming the storm on the lake. Healing of the Gadarene possessed (382) XIV. Healing of a woman suffering from bleeding, and resurrection of the daughter of Jairus. Departure of the twelve apostles to preach. Martyrdom of John the Baptist (388) XV. The return of the disciples from the sermon. The miraculous feeding of five thousand people with five loaves. Walking of Christ on the waters and his conversation in the Capernaum synagogue about the sacrament of communion (394)

DEPARTMENT FIVE. THE WORK AND DOCTRINE OF JESUS ​​CHRIST FROM THE THIRD EASTER TO HIS SOLEMN ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM
XVI. Conversation of Jesus Christ about the meaning of fatherly traditions. Healing of the possessed daughter of a Canaanite. Miracles in the Transjordan region (400) XVII. Confession of App. Peter and the prediction of the Lord Jesus about the suffering and death awaiting him in Jerusalem. Transfiguration of the Lord (402) XVIII. Healing of a demon-possessed deaf-mute youth. Miraculous receipt of a coin to pay tribute to the temple. The teaching of Jesus Christ about the judgment of the Church and the forgiveness of offenses. The Parable of the Merciful King and the Merciless Lender (406) XIX. On the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. Inhospitality of the Samaritans. Embassy of the Seventy. Parable of the Good Samaritan. Visit of Martha and Mary. Lord's Prayer (410) XX. In Jerusalem. The sermon of Jesus Christ at mid-afternoon and the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Healing of the Blind Man (414) XXI. In Galilee and on the way to Jerusalem by a country beyond the Jordan. Parables and Miracles (421) XXII. In Jerusalem. Testimony of Jesus Christ on the Feast of the Renewal of the Temple about his consubstantiality with God the Father (430) XXIII. In a Jordanian country. Blessing of children. Rich young man. The Parable of Equal Wage to Workers in the Vineyard. The news of the illness of Lazarus and the departure of Christ to Judea (432) XXIV. In Judea. Resurrection of Lazarus. Definition of the Sanhedrin against Jesus Christ. The foreshadowing of death on the cross. Salome's request. The Healing of the Blind in Jericho and the Conversion of Zacchaeus. Anointing the Feet of Jesus Christ with Myrrh at the Supper in Bethany (435)

DEPARTMENT SIX. THE LAST DAYS OF THE EARTH LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS ​​CHRIST

XXV. The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and the deeds, parables and conversations that followed it. Answers to the crafty interrogation of the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes (444) XXVI. The last denunciation by Jesus Christ of the scribes and Pharisees. Praise to the diligence of the widow. Conversation with the disciples about the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, about the end of the world and the second coming. Parables of ten virgins and talents. Image of the Last Judgment (453) XXVII. Definition of the Sanhedrin on the capture of Christ by cunning; betrayal of Judas. Washing the feet, the Last Supper and farewell conversation with the disciples. Prayer of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and its capture by soldiers (457) XXVIII. The trial of Christ at the high priests Anna and Caiaphas. Peter's denial and repentance. Jesus Christ at the trial of Pilate and Herod; scourging him and condemning him to death by Pilate. The death of Judas, as well as other perpetrators of the crime (464) XXIX. Crucifixion, suffering on the cross, death and burial of Jesus Christ (474) XXX. Resurrection of Christ. Apparitions of the Risen Christ. Ascension to Heaven (482)

SECTION SEVEN. THE CHURCH IN PALESTINE BEFORE THE DISPERSION OF THE CHRISTIANS FROM JERUSALEM
XXXI. Election of Matthias as an apostle. Pentecost and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The First Converts and the State of the Primate Church (493) XXXII. Healing of the lame in the temple. A warning from the Sanhedrin. Communication of estates. Ananias and Sapphira. Persecution. The Seven Deacons and Their Zeal for the Propagation of the Gospel (498) XXXIII. Archdeacon Stephen, his sermon and martyrdom. The persecution of the disciples and their scattering from Jerusalem. Spreading the Gospel. Philip preaching in Samaria. Simon the sorcerer. Conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch. State of the Church towards the end of the reign of Tiberius (503)

SECTION EIGHT. THE CHURCH AMONG THE GENTIANS FROM THE CONVERSION OF SAUL TO HIS MARTYRHY IN ROME
XXXIV. Conversion of Saul. His communion with the apostles and a special purpose (509) XXXV. Appeal of Cornelius ap. Peter. Preaching to the Gentiles at Antioch and the First Gentile Church. Persecution in Jerusalem and martyrdom of St. James (514) XXXVI. Arrival of Saul in Antioch. Help for Jerusalem Christians. Departure of Barnabas and Saul to preach to the Gentiles. The first missionary journey Paul. Council of Jerusalem (520) XXXVII. The second missionary journey of St. Paul. The beginning of the preaching of the Gospel in Europe (527) XXXVIII. Ap. Paul in Athens. His speech is in the Areopagus. Life and preaching in Corinth. First Epistles (531) XXXIX. Third missionary journey Paul. Stay in Ephesus. Epistles to the Galatians and Corinthians. Revolt in Ephesus (539) XL. On the way to Macedonia. Second Epistle to the Corinthians. In Corinth. Epistle to the Romans. State of the Roman Church (544) XLI. On the way to Jerusalem. Sunday Liturgy in Troas. Conversation in Miletus with Ephesian presbyters. At Tire and Caesarea (550) XLII. Ap. Paul in Jerusalem. Riot in the temple. The arrest of the apostle and his departure to Caesarea. Felix and his trial (553) XLIII. Proceedings of the case Paul before Festus. Ap. Paul and Agrippa II. Appeal to Caesar. Voyage to Rome and shipwreck (559) XLIV. Ap. Paul in Rome. Biennial bonds. Epistles written from Rome to the Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon. Deliverance of the Apostle and the Epistle to the Hebrews (568) XLV. App activity. Paul upon his release from his first bonds. Visit to the East. Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus. Travel to Spain. New arrest in Ephesus, second bonds in Rome and martyrdom (573)

SECTION NINE. THE END OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE
XLVI. Apostolic activity and martyrdom of St. Peter. Cathedral epistles. Peter. Activities of the Other Apostles (580) XLVII. Revolt of the Jews and destruction of Jerusalem. Significance of this event in the history of the Church (584) XLVIII. Removal of Christians from Jerusalem before the siege of it. Ap. John, his life and work (589) XLIX. Sacred Books of the New Testament. Historical, Educational and Apocalypse Books (594) L. The Primitive Church and Its Institutions. Worship of the First Christians (603) LI. Life of the First Christians. Purity and sanctity of family life. The position of women and children. Slaves and gentlemen. Love for neighbor (609) LII. The struggle of paganism with Christianity and the triumph of the Church (616)

Applications of Additional Notes on Selected Questions from the Biblical History of the New Testament

Buy the Orthodox book "Bible History. Explanatory Bible: Old and New Testament" (author Lopukhin A.P.), published by the publisher "EKSMO", in the online store of Orthodox literature at a low price with delivery in Moscow and Russia.

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An extraordinary movement is currently taking place in historical science, precisely thanks to those amazing discoveries that are being made in the forgotten ashes of the historical life of the ancient peoples of the East. Since that happy hour, when historians, not limited to a pen, took up spades and shovels and began to dig up the debris of the ruins in the valleys of the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates, as well as in other countries of the historical East, a whole world of new historical knowledge has opened up before the eyes of researchers: pale and the meager pages of the history of the ancient peoples were extremely animated and expanded, even the existence of new, hitherto completely unknown peoples and monarchies, the knowledge of which shed new light on the whole fate of ancient mankind, was discovered. But these extraordinary discoveries took on even more significance because they were in close relation to biblical history, and not only shed much new light into it, clarifying its often darkest pages, but also provided an almost miraculous confirmation of many biblical events and facts. which hitherto could be criticized with impunity by skepticism. This circumstance extremely revived interest in biblical history, which has ceased to be a dry specialty of theologians, and now attracts the attention of both secular learned historians and the entire educated society of all civilized peoples. This interest is also noticeable in our country; but, unfortunately, in our country he has not yet gone beyond the narrow confines of the circle of specialists, and for our society, in fact, there is literally no such book in the public domain that could serve as a guide or introduction to this deeply interesting and highly instructive field of knowledge. The satisfaction of this, in our opinion, urgent need, is partly what this book has in mind.

In its main parts, it was compiled several years ago and was intended only as a summary for our personal study in the field of biblical-historical knowledge, which is in contact with our specialty (“History of the Ancient World”). But the consciousness of the deep need indicated above prompted us to process this summary in such a way that it could satisfy this need in the slightest degree, precisely by giving a coherent and lively course of biblical history with the introduction of the main features from the inexhaustible wealth of the latest biblical historical research. It is clear that within the framework that was outlined for this manual, the aforementioned studies could not find an independent place in it, and we really limited ourselves to only introducing some features from them; but we hope that readers will notice their presence at every more or less important biblical historical event, and will see for themselves how much light the latest discoveries shed in the field of history and how much fresh interest they give to the most commonly known facts and events.

We intend our "guide" for reading in general, but we would especially like it to find access to the milieu of student youth. It is our deep conviction that biblical history can become an inexhaustible source of moral and higher historical education for any person more or less capable of a serious mental life. Every history is an educator of the mind and heart and a teacher of wisdom; but biblical history in this respect stands above all other stories, because its subject matter is the central points of the spiritual life of mankind, and in it the deepest laws of world-historical development are revealed. It can most clearly show that in the history of peoples there is nothing accidental and arbitrary, that any attempt to "make history" is senseless and harmful, because everything awaits and demands the "fulfillment of times", which can neither be brought nearer nor put off. At the same time, it presents a series of deep life experiences of the greatest characters, who, by their virtues and no less by their vices, widely open the door to the very depths of a person’s spiritual life and thereby teach the deepest lessons for anyone with a sufficiently lively moral sense to perceive such amazing experiences. Our “guide”, of course, has no pretensions to presenting biblical history from this particular side: understanding this side in it presupposes a preliminary acquaintance with the rudiments of biblical historical knowledge, and it is precisely these rudiments that we offer in our book, in the hope that it can serve as a guide to penetration into a deeper field of knowledge.

In a short time, a similar “Guide to the Biblical History of the New Testament” will follow.

Biblical history of the old testament

Period one

From Creation to the Flood

world creation

The world, considered in its external beauty and internal harmony, is a marvelous creation, amazing by the harmony of its parts and the wonderful variety of its forms. In all its immensity, it moves correctly like a majestic clock wound by a great and skillful master. And just as when looking at a watch, the thought of the master who made and started it involuntarily appears, so when considering the world in its correct and harmonious movement, the mind involuntarily comes to the thought of that Culprit to whom it owes its existence and wondrous dispensation. That the world is not eternal and has its own beginning is clearly proved, first of all, by the common belief of the peoples, among whom the most ancient tradition about the beginning of all things is preserved. Then, a study of the course of the historical life of mankind, especially of its most ancient peoples, shows that historical life itself has a very limited extent and soon passes into the prehistoric era, which constitutes the childhood of the human race, which in turn necessarily presupposes birth or beginning. The course of development of the sciences and arts also points to the same, which again leads us to the primitive state when they only began. Finally, the latest sciences (geology and paleontology), through the study of the layers of the earth's crust and the remains contained in them, irrefutably and clearly prove that the globe gradually formed in its surface, and there was a time when there was absolutely no life on it, and he himself was in a formless state. Thus, the beginning of the world is undoubted, even if in the form of a formless, primitive substance, from which all its forms gradually formed. But where did this primitive substance itself come from? This question has long occupied human thought, but it was powerless to resolve it without higher help, and in the pagan world the greatest sages and founders of religions were unable to rise above the idea that this primitive substance existed from eternity, and from it God created something. or arranged the world, being thus only the creator or organizer of the world, but not in the proper sense its Creator. Then the Divine Revelation, contained in the books of Holy Scripture, appeared to the aid of the human mind, and it simply and clearly proclaimed the great mystery of being, to comprehend which the sages of all times and peoples vainly tried to comprehend. This mystery is revealed on the first page of the book of Genesis, which begins the Biblical history of the world and mankind.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” says the writer of Genesis, St. prophet Moses. These few words express the immensely deep truth that everything that exists in heaven and on earth, and therefore also primitive matter, has its beginning, and everything was created by God, who alone is eternal and existed in pre-temporal existence, and, moreover, was created from nothing, as the very verb means bara used to express the word "created". God is the only Creator of the universe, and without Him nothing could have happened.