Geoffrey Hodson's The Hidden Wisdom of the Holy Bible is a Theosophical classic which sets forth and demonstrates the method of uncovering the teachings of the Ageless Wisdom concealed within the stories and metaphors of the Judeo-Christian Bible. In its four-volume format, however, Hodson's work is unwieldy and repetitious. Volumes II and III begin with identical chapters setting forth Hodson's rationale and methodology. Moreover, in the chapter by chapter and even verse by verse exegesis of Genesis and half of Exodus in Volumes II, III, and IV, many key themes and ideas are repeated. For example, the Eleusinian Mysteries as a source of esoteric knowledge are discussed in identical terms in both Volumes II and III.
As part of the ongoing effort of the Theosophical Publishing House 
to make the classics of Theosophical literature accessible to contemporary readers, we have prepared a two-volume abridgement of Hodson's work. This first volume retains much of the material in Hodson's original Volume I. Its purpose is to lay out and demonstrate succinctly Hodson's method of Biblical interpretation. Volume II of the series provides readers interested in further examples of Hodson's method with selections from his interpretations of key scriptural episodes, such as the Creation, the Flood, the Life of Joseph, and the Exodus, chosen from the material in the current Volumes II, III, and IV.
Care has been taken to modernize Hodson's style while remaining faithful to his method. Quotations from the King James edition of the Bible are now identified by chapter and verse in parenthesis in the text. Definitions of Theosophical terms formerly given in footnotes have been integrated into the text, and information about Hodson's sources formerly given in footnotes now appears in a Selected Bibliography at the back of the book. Hodson's spelling, punctuation, and usage have been modernized. In keeping with modern conventions, gender-specific terms such as man and mankind have been replaced by gender-neutral terms such as human being, humanity, and humankind. Masculine pronouns referring to the Deity have also been eliminated. Finally, some titles have been changed to modernize the usage or to make them more descriptive of the contents of parts and chapters.
It is our hope that this book, as well as other volumes in the Theosophical Heritage Classics series, will bring the Ageless Wisdom to a new audience of readers as well as to those who have always found sustenance in drinking from its deep well of spiritual truth.