This book is now available as an eBook, published 15th August 2023.<\/p>\n
The first instalment of Through the Bible <\/em>by Eugene Halliday was published in St Michael\u2019s Church Magazine in July, 1980, and continued in monthly instalments without a break, until Part 78 in December, 1986. As Eugene Halliday died in July 1987, it is possible that Through the Bible<\/em> was his last major piece of writing.<\/p>\n The complete series of 78 instalments was subsequently edited by David Mahlowe and published in four hardback editions as Volume 7 of the Collected Works of Eugene Halliday<\/em> (The Melchisedec Press, 1994 \u2013 1997).<\/p>\n Eugene Halliday employed an hermeneutic approach in writing Through the Bible<\/em>. He spoke in his lectures of four levels of interpretation: literal, allegorical, homiletic (moral) and mystical.1<\/sup> He said, many times, that \u201cThe Bible is a book in code\u201d, by which he meant that it was not to be taken literally.2<\/sup><\/p>\n Halliday defined \u2018love\u2019 as \u2018working for the development of the potential of being. \u201cGod is love, and love is the will to act for the development of all beings.\u201d3<\/sup> and his Through the Bible<\/em> can be taken as a guide to aid his own, as well as his readers\u2019, personal development.<\/p>\n At the opening of Through the Bible,<\/em> Eugene Halliday sets out his purpose for studying the books of the Bible, which is, \u201cTo clarify for ourselves our own significance and ultimate destiny within the universal plan which these scriptures outline for us.\u201d4 <\/sup>He then begins at the beginning, by defining the meaning of \u2018beginning\u20195<\/sup><\/p>\n Throughout this series, Eugene Halliday gives his interpretations for the meaning of various stories within the Bible; The Garden of Eden; The Fall; Cain and Abel; the stories of Noah and Abraham; the Parables and life of Jesus. He defines and interprets terms such as \u2018love\u2019 and \u2018joy\u20196<\/sup>; and also explains the relationship of time and eternity.7<\/sup> He touches on subjects which are highly topical today, relating scientific ideas to the understanding of the relationship between spirit, mind and matter8 <\/sup> ; and also on parallels in other religions. For example, he explains how Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Christians find a path, \u201cTo regain our lost unity of Will.\u201d9<\/sup><\/p>\n Halliday ends with an explanation that \u201cThe books of the Bible have been written … in order to show man, as in a mirror, what kind of being he is, and what kind of being he may become. … Human beings are capable of all deeds of good and evil\u201d10<\/sup>. He then gives definitions of the meaning of the terms \u2018good\u2019 and \u2018evil\u2019 \u2013 \u201cThe good is that which leads us towards more wholeness. The evil is that which leads us to disintegration\u201d10<\/sup> and informs us of our potential for choice.<\/p>\n Through the Bible<\/em> could be said to be a summation of Eugene Halliday\u2019s own ideas and teaching; but by \u2018own\u2019 he would surely say, \u2018owed to the Absolute\u2019.11<\/sup><\/p>\n Hephzibah Yohannan, May 2011<\/p>\n NOTES: <\/strong><\/p>\n 1<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Existence of God<\/em>, MP3 audio lecture by Eugene Halliday, available on the Eugene Halliday Archive<\/a> (click on \u2018Audio\u2019); date 1981 or a little later (Ishval recorded lecture No. 95). (Time position on MP3: 45 minutes, 20 seconds)<\/p>\n 2 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Author’s personal recollection of Halliday speaking<\/p>\n 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Page 99, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book III, ISBN 1-872240-14-3, Melchisedec Press, 1996<\/p>\n 4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Page 1, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book I, ISBN 1-872240-10-0, Melchisedec Press, 1994<\/p>\n 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Page 2, ibid.<\/p>\n 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Pages 125-127, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book II, ISBN 1-872240-13-5, Melchisedec Press, 1995<\/p>\n 7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Pages 1-3, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book III, ISBN 1-872240-14-3, Melchisedec Press, 1996<\/p>\n 8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Pages 17-18, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book III, ISBN 1-872240-14-3, Melchisedec Press, 1996<\/p>\n 9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Page 67, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book IV, ISBN 1-872240-15-1, Melchisedec Press, 1997<\/p>\n 10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Page 195, Through the Bible<\/em>, Book IV, ISBN-1-872240-15-1, Melchisedec Press, 1994<\/p>\n 11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Author’s personal recollection<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This book is now available as an eBook, published 15th August 2023. The first instalment of Through the Bible by Eugene Halliday was published in St Michael\u2019s Church Magazine in July, 1980, and continued in monthly instalments without a break, until Part 78 in December, 1986. As Eugene Halliday died in July 1987, it is … Continue reading Through the Bible – an Introduction<\/span>