The Bible Home Instructor, by A.N. Dugger
(assisted by P.A. Nugent and Herbert Miles). Originally published in 1919-1920.
Reprinted in 1989, and 1996 by Giving & Sharing.
Book Review: The Bible Home
Instructor
Perhaps
more than any other book, The Bible
Home Instructor has led to the advancement of the Church of God, Seventh
Day, and its doctrinal teachings. Conceived by Church of God leader Andrew N.
Dugger (1886-1975), its purpose was to convince people of the Church of God
doctrines and increase membership.
Zealously sold by religious colporteurs, the book led to the “surge of
the 1920s” when the Church of God, Seventh Day, advanced in many areas and
added a thousand or more members to the church in one year. The book was probably an outgrowth of a
shorter doctrinal compilation, called “The Bible Student's Assistant,”
published in the early 1900s.
A
grouping together of Bible testimony on numerous sacred subjects, the Instructor has over 200 illustrations, some of which are the
typical Protestant variety, others unique to the Church of God. There is the chart of Passion Week showing
the Wednesday Crucifixion (and Palm Sabbath, in contradiction to the Protestant
idea of Palm Sunday), on page 166. The
line drawings are unforgettable. They
show up again frequently in later Church of God literature.
Each of
the scores of Bible readings for the home is a capsule of one doctrinal
truth. There are a dozen or so
questions, followed by scripture references, often quoted. For example, the topic of “Conversion” has
29 questions, such as: “1. What is necessary to salvation? Matt. 18:3. 2. Is it the moral or the
physical nature that is changed by conversion? Rom. 8:6, 7. 3. What two steps are necessary to make this
change? Acts 20:20, 21. 4. Of what is it necessary to repent? Acts 3:19. 5. What is sin?
I John 3:4. 6. What does the Psalmist tell us is perfect, converting
the soul? Psa. 19:7, etc.” In this example, all the verses are quoted
without comment, as is the usual practice in the book. The Bible answers the questions.
Many
want to know how to conduct a family or group Bible study. There is no better object lesson than The Bible Home Instructor. In a group setting, have each person read a
question and the scripture answering it, adding comments if appropriate. This is sure to stimulate your Sabbath study
time.
Carefully
written, non-sensational and forthright, this book has continued to enlighten
thousands throughout the years. Until
the late 1960s, the Instructor continued to be sold by
Dugger’s Mount Zion Reporter in Jerusalem. Although we disagree with a few minor points
(such as prohibition of alcohol), The
Bible Home Instructor has taught thousands of Sabbath-keepers a great
many Bible truths. We continue to
publish it in order to preserve this rich historical legacy.