Nave's Topics were originaly produced by Orville J. Nave, A.M., D.D., LL.D. while serving as a Chaplin in the United States Army. He referred to this work as the result of fourteen years of delightful and untiring study of the Word of God. Nave's topics were originally published in the early 1900's, and a photo-offset reproduction is currently published by Hendrickson, ISBN 0-917006-02-X. The title page states that this work consists of 20,000+ topics and subtopics, and 100,000 references to the Scriptures.
These topics were created from an existing electronic copy which was being sold commercially and contained so many errors as to render it nearly useless. After contacting the business in question, and discussing the copyrightability of Public Domain material, they concurred that the actual data, seperate from the program and format they created, is Public Domain. The text has since been passed through a series of programs searching for a variety of error patterns, as well as visual spot checking. It is believed the present material is greater than 99% clean, although a printed copy should be consulted if questions arise. Great care was taken to remove any non-original material, resulting in completely Public Domain data original to Dr. Nave.
The current format has been designed for programatic reference, placing 50 topics in a file, preceeding each topic with $$topic_number, surrounding the topic name with back-slashes, beginning each list of verse references with a # pound character, and terminating with a | vertical bar. References to other topics are prefixed with a � (ascii 175) double arrow followed by the topic number. It should be noted that it is possible to have the topic prefix followed by "(n/a)". This is due to a very small number of topic references which were unable to be resolved. These topics are:
These topics are not listed in the printed edition and it is not apparent what Dr. Nave intended. It should also be noted that a fair number of verse reference lists have the word "with" imbedded in order to tie one verse to the following verse(s).
The most current and correct copies of these files can be obtained from the following. If any errors are located, please ensure you have the latest files, and if so, we would appreciate being informed of the error.
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The object of this book is to bring together in cyclopedic form and under familiar headings all that the Bible contains on particular subjects. The subjects formulated are of practical value to every profession and to all who desire to consult the Bible.
The method pursued in preparing this Digest has been, first, to analyze topically each verse of the Bible, each series of verses, and each chapter and series of chapters; and, second, to group under suitable headings all the Scriptures related to the subjects found in the analysis. The first verse in the Bible may serve to illustrate: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. In the beginning. Some authorities interpret this phrase as meaning the beginning of time; therefore the author noted, Time, Beginning of, Gen. 1:1. Other authorities interpret it as referring to the beginning of the creation; therefore the author noted, Creation, Beginning of, Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created. The author noted, God, Creator, Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven. Note, Heaven, Creation of, Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Earth, Creation of, Gen. 1:1. This process was faithfully adhered to throughout the work.
Three classifications of Scripture verses have been published in America, two of which are erroneously styled a complete analysis of the Scriptures. Each author followed, with slight and unimportant modifications in arrangement, Mr. Matthew Talbot's classification of verses made in England one hundred years ago. Mr. Talbot's mode of treatment was to arrange all verses of the Bible, as best he might, under thirty general headings. When each verse had been assigned under the heading to which it, Seemed best adapted the work he undertook was complete. He used no verse more than once, regardless of the many different and distinct subjects it might contain. In was consequently a classification of verses rather than a topical analysis of matter. American publishers have followed this erroneous mode of treatment, and as a result the so-called analyses of the Scriptures hitherto offered to Bible students and Christian teachers have been unsatisfactory. This Digest is an analysis of the matter without regard to verse divisions except for convenience of reference. Verses, parts of verses, series of verses, and chapters are cited or quoted as often as they contain distinct subjects. Numerous verses are repeated from one to thirty times each, according to the number of subjects they contain and their position in extensive citations or extracts. The verse before referred to has been quoted or cited under five different and equally important headings, while other analyses quote it only once. The familiar verse, Rom. 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, is cited under nine headings; namely, Justification, Faith, Peace, Salvation by Faith, Jesus the Saviour, Atonement, Mediation, Propitiation, and Reconciliation, while in other analyses it is used by once, under Justification.
Passages variously interpreted by different religious schools or accepted authorities are cited under the subjects: they are claimed to support, without reference to the personal views of the author.
To provide against doubt that this Digest would be complete in its classification of matter respecting the principles and practice: of law, I secured the assistance of the Honorable John Welch, Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, U.S.A., and author of Welch's Index-Digest of Ohio Decisions. Judge Welch made a consecutive and analytical study of the Bible for his work, from the standpoint of a learned jurist and successful author, and his notes have incorporated with the author's. Lawyers, judges, legislators, and statesmen may, therefore, rely on this work as a complete and valuable handbook of the Bible for the purpose of their professions. All subjects relating to the principles and practice of law are classified under headings in common use.
Some subjects abound in the Scriptures to such an extent, and are used so frequently by religious teachers and others, that, were references only given in this work to the books, chapters, and verses containing them, the student would stagger at the thought of developing the topics. In order to make this class of subjects quickly and easily available the verses, or parts of verses, themselves are printed. This method of treatment might have been extended, but the size of a convenient volume had to be taken into consideration. [The Nave's Bible Guide omits all such verses. -ed.] Minor topics are mode almost equally available by the brief sub-topical divisions followed by references.
One of the most important, and it is believed valuable, features of this book is the elaborate system of cross references to kindred and antithetical subjects. Wide scope is thus given each subject by connecting it with those to which it is related.
Under the sub-topic, INSTANCES OF, are grouped all the illustrative facts that occur in the Scriptures relating to each subject. It also contains numerous and elaborate Bible readings, with a wide range of subjects.
An Index contains a handy reference to the pages and columns [Now subject names and subheading numbers in the Chapter Guide. - ed.] in which each verse of the Bible is quoted or referred to throughout the work, to enable anyone who may be studying any particular verse to find what topics the author noted in it, and with what Scriptures it is grouped.
It was no the object of the author in preparing this Digest to develop religious subjects only, but to note and classify everything found in the Scriptures. It is believed that it is approximately exhaustive. It is the result of fourteen years of delightful and untiring study of the word of God, aided by my wife, Anna Semans Nave, who has been an indefatigable assistant from the inception of the work. All pioneer works of an analytic character, as well as all noteworthy commentaries, have been consulted, in order to bring into it all useful materials to be found. Its preparation was inspired by the obvious deficiency of such helps in the use of the Scriptures. This deficiency was felt by the author in preparing sermons, lectures, and other forms of religious instruction. The quiet of army garrisons, apart form the rush and distraction of dense communities, has been favorable to its careful preparation. With the belief that it will contribute to make the Scriptures more quickly, easily, and fully available where particular subjects are under consideration, I offer it to the public. AUTHOR Fort McPherson, Ga.