Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning is a 1913 book by Thomas Troward that reads the Bible for its inner, symbolic meaning. Troward was an English judge who studied comparative religion, and his writing influenced New Thought and mystic Christianity. This study guide walks through all 14 chapters in plain language, then hands you a workbook to try the ideas on your own life.

Listen While You Study
The audiobook is available on Next Level Soul TV. Play a chapter, then come back here for the notes and the workbook prompt.
Key Takeaways
- Troward reads the Bible for hidden meaning, treating its stories as pictures of inner truths.
- The book moves in a clear order, from creation and the fall to forgiveness, giving, and antichrist.
- Law and freedom go together in his teaching. The author argues that understanding principles brings real liberty.
- Forgiveness and giving get their own chapters, so the book is practical as well as thoughtful.
- You can read it as one author’s view, and test each idea against your own experience.
The Book at a Glance
| Detail | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Author | Thomas Troward (1834 to 1916), English judge and writer |
| First published | 1913 |
| Chapters | 14 |
| Tradition | New Thought and mystic Christianity |
| Audiobook | Available on Next Level Soul TV |
What Is Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning About?
This book is a spiritual reading of the Bible. Troward, who spent years as a judge in India and studied world religions, looks beneath the surface of familiar stories. He asks what they might teach about mind, spirit, and the way life works. The guide describes his view and does not ask you to accept it.
The chapters follow the Bible’s own flow, from the creation and the fall to Moses, Jesus, the Temple, and the sacred name. Later chapters turn to the devil, law and liberty, forgiveness, giving, and antichrist. Each one offers a fresh angle you can reflect on in your own time.
The Board: 14 Chapters
Each square is a chapter. Tap one to jump to its study notes.
- 1Creation
- 2The Fall
- 3Israel
- 4Mission of Moses
- 5Mission of Jesus
- 6The Temple
- 7The Sacred Name
- 8The Devil
- 9Law of Liberty
- 10Jesus’ Teaching
- 11Sin Forgiven
- 12Forgiveness
- 13Divine Giving
- 14Antichrist
Chapter-by-Chapter Study Notes
These notes are our own summary, written to help you follow the book. Each one ends with a small practice you can try this week.
The Creation
Troward opens with the Bible’s first story. He appears to read it as a picture of how mind and spirit become form, not only as a record of long ago. The guide treats this as his starting key: ancient scripture may carry a hidden layer of meaning about how life unfolds. Expect him to ask what the story says about you, your thoughts, and the world you experience. Read it as his view, and decide for yourself what fits.
The Fall
This chapter turns to the story of the fall. Troward seems to read it as a lesson about how human awareness became divided and forgetful, rather than only as a story of blame. He is said to look for the inner meaning beneath the picture language. The guide keeps to that frame: the author teaches that the old stories describe states of mind. Notice what he says is lost, and what he says can be found again.
Israel
Here Troward looks at Israel. He appears to treat the nation’s story as a symbol as well as a history, a picture of a people and an idea working through time. The guide reads it as his lens on scripture, not as a claim about any modern group. Look for how he links outer events in the story to inner steps in a person’s growth. Hold his reading lightly and compare it with your own.
The Mission of Moses
This chapter centers on Moses and his role. Troward likely explores what Moses was sent to do and what that task shows about law, leadership, and spiritual understanding. The guide offers this as his reading, shaped by his interest in comparative religion. As you read, note how he ties one man’s calling to a wider principle. Ask what a mission means when you apply it to an ordinary life.
The Mission of Jesus
Now the focus moves to Jesus. Troward writes from a mystic Christian view, and the title points to the purpose he sees in that life. The guide describes his ideas without arguing for or against them. Expect him to place Jesus within the larger pattern he has been building from earlier chapters. Read it as one thoughtful author’s interpretation, and notice where it deepens or challenges what you already believe.
The Building of the Temple
The Temple is a rich image in the Bible, and Troward seems to treat its building as more than architecture. The guide frames it as his attempt to read the structure as a symbol of something being assembled within a person. Pay attention to how he links patient construction with inner preparation. As always, these are the author’s views, offered for reflection rather than as settled fact.
The Sacred Name
This chapter looks at the sacred name of God. Troward, who studied comparative religion, appears to explore why names carry weight in scripture and what a divine name might point to. The guide presents his reading as an invitation to think about the meaning of naming and being. Notice how he connects the idea of a name with identity and power. Take what resonates and set the rest aside.
The Devil
Troward takes up the figure of the devil. In keeping with his style, he likely asks what this symbol stands for rather than treating it only as a character. The guide reports his approach without endorsing it. Look for how he separates fear and confusion from the deeper good he teaches. Read carefully and keep an open but discerning mind, since this is a sensitive subject for many readers.
The Law of Liberty
The title joins two ideas that can seem opposed: law and freedom. Troward appears to argue that real freedom comes through understanding the principles that govern life, not by ignoring them. The guide presents this as his central balance. As you read, watch how he uses the word law. Ask what freedom would look like if you worked with those principles instead of against them.
The Teaching of Jesus
Here Troward turns from the person of Jesus to the teaching. The guide describes this as his effort to draw out the practical meaning he finds in the sayings and parables. He is said to read them as guidance for how thought and belief shape life. Treat it as his interpretation. Look for the sayings you know best, and see whether his reading adds a new angle.
The Forgiveness of Sin
This chapter takes up the forgiveness of sin. Troward appears to read sin and forgiveness in a practical, inner way, as a matter of how a person’s state of mind can change. The guide presents this as the author’s view. Look for how he links release of the past with a fresh start. Think about what you feel carries you back to old patterns, and what might help you move on.
Forgiveness
This chapter takes up forgiveness more widely. The guide uses the short title shown on Next Level Soul TV. Troward appears to treat forgiveness as a real force with effects, not only a polite gesture. Expect him to explore what it means to release a wrong and what changes when you do. These are the author’s views, offered for thought. Notice where the idea feels easy, and where it feels hard to practice.
The Divine Giving
This chapter explores giving. Troward seems to describe giving as a spiritual law, with the divine as the source and human life as the channel. The guide offers that as his teaching, not a promise of results. Watch how he links receiving with openness and trust. Consider what giving means beyond money, including time, attention, and kindness, and how it may shape the way you see abundance.
The Spirit of Antichrist
The final chapter takes on the idea of antichrist. Troward likely treats it as a spirit or attitude as much as a person, in line with his symbolic reading of scripture. The guide reports this without endorsing it. Look for how he closes the book by drawing the earlier themes together. Read it as his closing thoughts, and ask what you take from the whole journey.
Key Ideas in Plain Language
| Idea | What It Means | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden meaning | The author teaches that Bible stories carry an inner, symbolic layer beyond the plain tale. | 1, 2, 3 |
| Mind and form | He describes thought as the starting point of how things take shape. | 1, 2 |
| Divine name | The book explores what a sacred name might point to about identity and power. | 7 |
| Law and liberty | Troward argues that working with life’s principles brings freedom. | 9 |
| Inner reading of evil | He treats the devil and antichrist as symbols to be understood, not only feared. | 8, 14 |
| Teaching in practice | The author draws practical guidance from the sayings of Jesus. | 5, 10 |
| Forgiveness | He presents releasing the past as a real, practical step. | 11, 12 |
| Giving | The author describes giving as a way of living in trust and openness. | 13 |
| Inner building | The Temple is read as a picture of patient preparation within. | 6 |
Who This Book Is For
This guide is for curious beginners who want a calm, clear way into Troward’s work. It suits readers who enjoy New Thought, mystic Christianity, or symbolic readings of scripture. You do not need Bible training. If you prefer to listen, the guide keeps pace with the audiobook, and the workbook helps you pause, reflect, and try one small practice per chapter.
A 14-Day Way to Use It
- Days 1 to 4: Listen to or read one chapter a day, then read its short summary here.
- Days 5 to 9: Keep going, and do the small practice for each chapter before you move on.
- Days 10 to 13: Finish the remaining chapters and note the ideas that stayed with you.
- Day 14: Review your notes, pick the three ideas that matter most, and choose one to keep.
Your Workbook
Your answers save on this device as you type. They are not sent anywhere. Use the copy button to move them into your own notes.
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Sources and Further Reading
Go Deeper with NLS Mastery: The True Teachings of Jesus
Christ and Jesus are a central thread in this book, and many readers want to go deeper on that path. If you want to take that further, John Davis teaches it in The True Teachings of Jesus, part of NLS Mastery. Watch the course preview below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning about?
It is a spiritual reading of the Bible by Thomas Troward. The author looks for the inner, symbolic meaning behind well-known stories and teachings, and he explores what they may say about mind, spirit, forgiveness, and living well.
Who wrote Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning and when?
Thomas Troward wrote it. He was an English judge who served in Punjab and studied comparative religion. The book was published in 1913 by the Goodyear Book Concern in New York.
What kind of book is it?
It belongs to the New Thought and mystic Christian tradition. It is a reflective, interpretive work rather than a historical or academic study, so it is best read as one thoughtful author’s view of scripture.
How many chapters does it have and what are they?
It has 14 chapters. They run from The Creation, The Fall, and Israel through the missions of Moses and Jesus, the Temple, the Sacred Name, the Devil, and the Law of Liberty, to forgiveness, giving, and antichrist.
What does Troward mean by hidden meaning in the Bible?
The author teaches that Bible stories work as symbols. He suggests each one points to an inner truth about the mind and spirit, in addition to what it says on the surface. You can weigh this idea for yourself.
What does the book say about law and liberty?
Troward appears to argue that freedom comes from understanding the principles that govern life rather than ignoring them. The Law of Liberty chapter explores how law and freedom can work together instead of against each other.
How does Troward approach forgiveness?
He gives forgiveness more than one chapter. The author describes it as a practical force that can release a person from the past. The guide summarizes his view and invites you to test it in your own life.
How should a beginner read this book?
Take one chapter at a time. Read or listen, then use the summary here to check your understanding and do the small practice. Keep notes on what resonates, and treat the rest as ideas to consider.
Is Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning hard to read?
It can feel dense, because it was written in 1913 and the ideas are layered. Going chapter by chapter helps a lot. This guide gives plain-language summaries so you always have a steady place to return to.
How long does it take to finish?
That depends on your pace. This guide suggests a 14-day plan with one chapter a day. You can go faster or slower, and the workbook practices work well with either rhythm.
How does this study guide help?
It gives you a clear summary of each of the 14 chapters, a short list of key ideas, answers to common questions, and a small practice for every chapter. It helps you reflect rather than just read.
Where can I listen to the audiobook, and what should I read next?
The audiobook is available on Next Level Soul TV. For what to read next, look for other New Thought and mystic Christian works, or explore further writing about forgiveness and the meaning of Jesus’ teaching.
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