INTRODUCTION, BIBLICAL. The Greek word elaa-perpj, in the sense of an introduction to a science, occurs only in later Greek, and was first used to denote an introduction to the right under standing of the Bible, by a Greek called Adrian, who lived in the fifth century after Christ. ' tkaptd.Pon eicra-yoryi? Tijc -ypaq5ijs is a small book, the object of which is to assist readers who are unacquainted with Biblical phraseology in rightly understanding peculiar words and expressions. It was first edited by David IIceschel, under the title of Adriani Isagoge Sacram Scripturam Grace cunt ScholizIt, Augustx Vindobonai, 16o2, 4to. This work is reprinted in the London edition of the Critici..S'acri, tom. viii.; and in the Frankfort edition, tom. vi. Before Adrian, the want of similar works had already been felt, and hooks of a corresponding tendency were in circulation, but they did not bear the title of Elacrywy4. Melito of Sardis, who lived in the latter half of the al century, wrote a book under the title of KNEls, being a key both to the Old and to the N. T. The so-called Aafes, which were written at a later period, are books of a similar description. Some of these A*Is have been printed in Matthaii's Moment Testanzentum Grave, and in Boissonade's Anccdota Grace', tom. iii., Parisiis 1831. These are merely linguistic introductions ; but there was soon felt the want of works which might solve other questions ; such as, for instance, what are the principles which should guide us in Biblical interpretation. The Donatist Ticonius wrote, about the year 3So, Regulo ad investigandam invenienefam Intelli gentiam Scripturarunt &Wein. St. Augustine, in his work De Doctrind Christiand (iii. 3o2), says concerning these seven rules, that the author's in tention was by means of them to open the secret sense of Holy Writ, quasi clavibus,' as if it were 6.,11 keys.
There arose also a question concerning the ex tent of Holy Writ—that is to say, what belonged, and what did not belong, to Holy Writ ; and also respecting the contents of the separate Biblical books, and the order in which they should follow each other, etc.
About A.D. 550, Cassiodorus wrote his institn ticnes DivIna'. He mentions in this work, under the name of Introductores Diviner Scripture'', five authors who had been engaged in Biblical investiga tions, and in his tenth chapter speaks of them thus : —Ad introductores scripturm sollicita mente redeamus, id est Ticotinum Dona tistam, Sanctum AUGUSTINUM de doctrina Chris tiana, ADRIANUM, EUCIIERIUM, et JuNILLum, quos sedula curiositate collegi, ut, quibus erat similis intentio, in uno corpore adunati codices clauderentur.
Henceforward the title, Introdactio in Scripizeram Sacranz, was established, and remained current for all work5 in which were solved questions introduc tory to the study of the Bible. In the Western, or Latin church, during a thousand years, scarcely any addition was made to the collection of Cassi odorus; while in the Eastern, or Greek church, only two works written during this long period de serve to be mentioned, both bearing the title E131,01P Tcp Mar -ypaMs. One of these works was falsely ascribed to Athanasius, and the other as falsely to Chrysostom.
At the commencement of the ifith.century, the Dominican friar Santes Pagninus, who died in 1541, published his Isagoge, by means of which he intended to revive the Biblical knowledge of Jerome and St. Augustine. This work, considering the time of its appearance, was a great step in ad vance. Its title is, Santis Peunini _Incense's Isa ,o,ce ad Sacra: Literas, libcr zenicus, Colonix i54o, fol.
The work of the Dominican friar Sixtus of Sienna, who died in 1599, is of greater importance, although it is manifestly written tinder the influence of the Inquisition, which had just been restored, and is perceptibly shackled by the decrees of the Council of Trent. Sixtus had the intention, worthy of an inquisitor, to expurgate from Christian litera ture every heretical element. The Index Librorunz Prohibitorum, vvhich was then first published, had the same object; but Sixtus furnished also a list of books to be used by a true Catholic Christian for the right understanding of Holy Writ, as well as the principles which should guide a Roman Catholic in criticism and interpretation. The title of his work is, Bibliotheca Sancta ab A. F. Sixto, Senensi, ordinis pradicatorum, ex pracipuis Catho lico Ecclesia aim/crib/is collecta, el in veto libros ciegesta, Venetiis 1566. This book is dedicated to the Cardinal Ghisleri, who ascended the papal throne in 1566, under the name of Pius V.: it has frequently been reprinted.