of Malachi to the Birth of John the Baptist, a period
of about 400 years, there seems to have been no special revelation
from God. The _Apocrypha_ was composed in that period by various
authors. Although parts of it are appointed to be read as Lessons
in Church, yet it is not considered as inspired, and consequently
it does not belong to the Word of God. Our Church, in Art. vi.,
says that "the other books (viz., the Apocrypha) the Church doth
read for example of life and instruction of manners, but yet it
doth not apply them to establish any doctrine." The Church of Rome
receives the Apocrypha as Canonical.

We now pass on to consider the New Testament. It consists of 27
books, written by eight persons. They were all written in Greek,
unless perhaps St. Matthew's Gospel, which some critics hold was
originally written in Hebrew. The whole of the New Testament was
written before the end of the first century, and during the lifetime
of the Apostle John. The books were all received from the first as
inspired, except the Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistles of James and
Jude, 2nd of Peter, 2nd and 3rd of John, and the Book of the
Revelation; but all these were in early times accepted as Canonical.
It is still doubtful who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews.

The _Four Gospels_ are by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St.
John. Of these, the first three are called the Synoptical Gospels,
because they give a general view, and contain a brief account of
the chief events of our Saviour's life, His miracles and His
parables, from the same standpoint. St. John chiefly dwells on our
Lord's words and discourses. The word "Gospel" means "_good news_."

The Book of the _Acts of the Apostles_ is generally considered to
have been written by St. Luke (c.f. Acts 1.1 with Luke 1.1-4).

The Epistles were written by the authors whose names they bear
(except perhaps Hebrews). Seven of them are called _Catholic_,
which means addressed to the Church _generally_, or _universally_,
and not to particular persons or particular bodies of Christians.

The Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, is by St. John the Apostle.

The following is a chronological table of the books of the New
Testament, with their probable dates:--

Books Date
A.D.
S. Matt's 60
S. Mark's 64
S. Luke's 64
S. John's 70
The Acts 64
I. Thess. 52
II. Thess.