The Bible and Modern Criticism
by
F. Bettex,
D.D.,
Professor Emeritus, Stuttgart, Germany
Translated from the original German by David Heagle, D.D.
It is undeniable that the universe, including ourselves,
exists. Whence comes it all? For any clear-thinking mind there are only three
possibilities. Either the universe has existed always, it produced itself, or
it was created by a Divine, a Supreme Being.
THE UNIVERSE NOT ETERNAL
The eternity of the universe is most clearly
disproved by its evolution. From a scientific point of view that hypothesis is
now discredited and virtually abandoned. Astronomers, physicists, biologists,
philosophers, are beginning to recognize more and more, and men like Secchi,
Dubois-Reymond, Lord Kelvin, Dr. Klein and others, unanimously affirm that
creation has had a beginning. It always tends towards an entropy, that is,
toward a perfect equilibrium of its forces, a complete standstill; and the fact
that it has not yet reached such a condition is proof that it has not always
existed. Should creation, however, ever come to a standstill, it could never
again put itself in motion. It has had a beginning, and it will have an end.
That is demonstrated most clearly by its still unfinished evolution. Should
anyone say to us, of a growing tree or of a young child, that either of these
forms of life has existed forever, we would at once reply, Why has it not then
long ago, in the past eternity, grown up so as to reach the heaven of heavens?
In like manner, reasons that great astronomer, William Herschel, with regard to
the Milky-Way, that just as its breaking up into different parts shows that it
cannot always endure, so we have, in this same fact, proof that it has not
eternally existed.
GOD THE AUTHOR OF ALL
THINGS
There remains,
therefore, only this alternative: either the world produced itself, or it was
created. That all things came into existence spontaneously, and therefore that
we must suppose an origination of immeasurably great effects without any cause,
or believe that at some time a nothing, without either willing or knowing it,
and without the use of means, became a something-this is the most unreasonable
assumption that could possibly be attributed to a human being. How could
anything act before it existed? or a thing not yet created produce something?
There is nothing more unreasonable than the creed of the. unbeliever,
notwithstanding all his prating about the excellence of reason.
But if this
world did not produce itself, then it must have been created by some Higher
Power, some Cause of all causes, such as was that First Principle upon which
the dying Cicero called. Or, to use the words of Dr. Klein, that originating
cause must have been a "Supreme Intelligence that has at its command
unlimited creative power" (Kosmologische Briefe, p. 27). Hence what
that Intelligence does is both illimitable ante anfathomable, and it can at any
time either change this world or make a new one. It is therefore prima
facie silly for us, with our prodigiously narrow experience, to set any
kind of bounds to the Supreme Being; and a God who works no miracles and is the
slave of his own laws implanted in nature; such a God as the New Theology
preaches, is as much lacking in being a true Divinity as is the unconscious,
but all-wise "cosmic ether" of Spiller, or the "eternal
stuff" of other materialists. We conclude, then, that the universe was
created, or that God is the author of all things.
REVELATION IN NATURE
But now the
question arises whether God, who is both the Creator of all things and the
Father of spirits, has revealed Himself to his creatures, or to His own
children, the work of His hands. Such a question might surely provoke one's
laughter. For what is the ent_re universe? what is this created nature of which
we form a part? what is air? and water? and fire? what are all organized
beings, my body with its many parts put together in such a highly artistic and
inscrutable fashion; my soul with its infinite capabilities so little
understood by myself? What are all these matters but a progressive revelation
of God, given to us, as it were, in a series of concentric circles rising one
above another toward their Source? For this purpose it was that God created the
visible, so that through it we might perceive the invisible, and for this
purpose the whole creation was made, so that through it might be manifested the
invisible things of God, even his eternal power and godhead (Rom. 1:20).
Creation-is only the language of "the Word that was in the beginning, and
was with God, and was God, and by Whom all things were made" (John 1:1-3).
What does this Word declare? What else but the great infinite name of God the
Father, the primal source of all things, the name that must be hallowed? There
was a time, however, even before the world was, when there existed nothing but
God and his name. All the different works of creation are only letters in this
great name.
REVELATION IN
THE BIBLE
But there is another revelation which God has given of Himself to men-a more
definite and personal one. Thus, e. g., he declared Himself to Adam, and
through Enoch and Noah to the antediluvians, and again after the flood to other
generations through Noah and his sons. But because at the building of the tower
of Babel men turned stubbornly away from God, He gave them up to the thoughts
of their own heart, and selected one man, Abraham, to go out from his friends and
kindred, so that in his seed all the nations of the world might be blessed.
Then, first, out of Abraham came the people of Israel, to whom were committed
the oracles of God; and from this period began the history of the written Word.
Moses narrates the beginning of things, also records the law, and holy men of
God speak and write as they are moved by the Holy Spirit. That is inspiration-a
divine in-breathing.
But here a
distinction must be made. The Bible reports matters of history, and in doing so
includes many genealogies which were composed, first of all, not for us, but
for those most immediately concerned, and for the angels (1 Cor. 4:9). Also it
reports many sins and shameful deeds; for just as the sun first illuminates
himself and then sheds his radiance upon the ocean and the puddle, the eagle
and the worm, so the Bible undertakes to represent to us not only God, but also
man just as he is. In giving us these narratives it may be said, moreover, that
God, who numbers the very hairs of our head, exercised a providential control,
so that what was reported by His chosen men should be the real facts, and
nothing else. To what extent He inspired those men with the very words used by
them, it is not for us to know, but probably more fully than we suspect.
But when God,
after having communicated the law to Moses on Mount Sinai and in the
Tabernacle, communes with him as a friend with friend, and Moses writes
"all the words of this law in a book" (Dent. 28:58; 31 :24), then
Moses really becomes the pen of God. When God speaks to the prophets,
"Behold, I put my words in thy mouth," and "a?1 the words that
thou hearest thou shalt say to this people," then these prophets become
the very mouth of God. When Christ appears to John on Patmos, and says,
"To the angel of the church write these things," this is an instance
of verbal dictation.
But just here
we are amused at those weak-minded critics who, with hackneyed phrases, talk so
glibly about "mechanical instruments" and "mere verbal
dictation." Does then a self-revelation of the Almighty and a making known
of His counsels, a gracious act which exalts the human agent to be a co-worker
with Jehovah, annihilate personal freedom? Or does it not rather enlarge that
freedom, and lift it up to a higher and more joyous activity? Am I then a
"mechanical instrument" when with deep devotion and with enthusiasm I
repeat after Christ, word for word, the prayer which He taught his disciples?
The Bible is, consequently, a book which originated according to the will and
with the co-operation of God; and as such it is our guide to eternity,
conducting man, seemingly without a plan and yet with absolute certainty, all
the way from the first creation and from Paradise on to the second or higher
creation and to the New Jerusalem (Comp. Gen. 2:8-10 with Rev. 21 :1, 2).
PROOF OF THE
BIBLE'S INSPIRATION
How does the Bible prove itself to be a divinely inspired, heaven-given book, a
communication from a Father to His children, and thus a revelation?
First, by the
fact that, as does no other sacred book in the world, it condemns man and all
his works. It does not praise either his wisdom, his reason, his art, or any
progress that he has made; but it represents him as being in the sight of God,
a miserable sinner, incapable of doing anything good, and deserving only death
and endless perdition. Truly, a book which is able thus to speak, and in
consequence causes millions of men, troubled in conscience, to prostrate
themselves in the dust, crying, "God be merciful to me a sinner,"
must contain more than mere ordinary truth.
Secondly, the
Bible exalts itself far above all merely human books by its announcement of the
great incomprehensible mystery that, "God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son; that whosover believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Where is there a god among all the
heathen nations, be he Osiris, Brahma, Baal, Jupiter or Odin, that would have
promised those people that, by taking upon himself the sin of the world and
suffering its punishment, he would thus become a savior and redeemer to them?
Thirdly, the
Bible sets the seal of its divine origin upon itself by means of the
prophecies. Very appropriately does God inquire, through the prophet Isaiah,
"Who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me
since I established the ancient people? and the things that are coming and
shall come to pass, let them declare" (Isa Ch. 44:7). Or says again,
"I am God, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times,
things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My
pleasure; calling a ravenous bird from the east, and the man of My counsel from
afar country. Yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have
purposed, I will also do it" ( Isa Ch. 46 :10, 11) . Or, addressing
Pharaoh, "Where are thy wise men, and let them tell thee, and let them
know what the Lord of Hosts hath purposed upon Egypt" (Isa Ch. 19:12).
Again we say, where is there a god, or gods, a founder of religion, such as
Confucius, Buddha, or Mohammed, who could, with such cer, tainty, have
predicted the future of even his own people? Or where is there a statesman who
in these times can foretell what will be the condition of things in Europe one
hundred or even ten years from now? Nevertheless the prophecies of Moses and
his threatened judgments upon the Israelites have been literally fulfilled.
Literally also have been fulfilled, (although who at the time would have
believed it?) the prophecies respecting the destruction of those great ancient
cities, Babylon, Nineveh and Memphis. Who in these times would believe a like
prophecy respecting London, Paris, or New York? Moreover, in a literal way has
been fulfilled what the prophets David and Isaiah foresaw concerning the last
sufferings of Christ-His death on the cross, His drinking of vinegar, and the
casting of lots for His garments. And there are other prophecies which will
still be most literally fulfilled, such as the promises made to Israel, the
final judgment, and the end of the world. "For," as Habakkuk says,
"the vision is yet for an appointed time, and will not lie. Though it
tarry, wait for it; it will surely come" (Isa Ch. 2:3).
Furthermore,
the Bible has demonstrated its peculiar power by its influence with the
martyrs. Think of the hundreds of thousands who, at different times and among
different peoples, have sacrificed their all, their wives, their children, all
their possessions, and finally life itself, on account of this book. Think of
how they have, on the rack and at the stake, confessed the truth of the Bible,
and borne testimony to its power. However, O ye critics and despisers of God's
Word, if you will only write such a book and then die for it, we will believe
you.
Lastly, the
Bible shows itself every day to be a divinely given book by its beneficent
influence among all kinds oŁ people. It converts to a better life the ignorant
and the learned, the beggar on the street and the king upon his throne, yonder
poor woman dwelling in an attic, the greatest poet and the profoundest thinker,
civilized Europeans and uncultured savages. Despite all the scoffing and
derision of its enemies, it has been translated into hundreds of languages, and
has been preached by thousands of missionaries to millions of people. It makes
the proud humble and the dissolute virtuous; it consoles the unfortunate, and
teaches man how to live patiently and die triumphantly. No other book or
collection of books accomplishes for man the exceeding great benefits
accomplished by this book of truth.
MODERN CRITICISM
AND ITS RATIONALISTIC METHOD
In these times there has appeared a criticism which, constantly growing bolder
in its attacks upon this sacred book, now decrees, with all self-assurance and
confidence, that it is simply a human production. Besides other faults found
with it, it is declared to be full of errors, many of its books to be spurious,
written by unknown men at later dates than those assigned, etc., etc. But we
ask, upon what fundamental principle, what axiom, is this verdict of the
critics based? It is upon the idea that, as Renan expressed it, reason is
capable of judging all things, but is itself judged by nothing. That is surely
a proud dictum, but an empty one if its character is really noticed. To be
sure, God has given reason to man, so that, in his customary way of planting
and building, buying and selling, he may make a practical use of created nature
by which he is surrounded. But is reason, even as respects matters of this
life, in accord with itself ? By no means. For, if that were so, whence comes
all the strife and contention of men at home and abroad, in their places of
business and their public assemblies, in art and science, in legislation,
religion and philosophy? Does it not all proceed from the conflicts of reason?
The entire history of our race is the history of millions of men gifted with
reason who have been in perpetual conflict one with another. Is it with such
reason, then, that sentence is to be pronounced upon a divinely given book? A
purely rational revelation would certainly be a contradiction of terms;
besides, it would be wholly superfluous. But when reason undertakes to speak of
things entirely supernatural, invisible and eternal, it talks as a blind man
.does about colors, discoursing of matters concerning which it neither knows
nor can know anything; and thus it makes itself ridiculous. It has not ascended
up to heaven, neither has it descended into the deep; and therefore a purely
rational religion is no religion at all.
INCOMPETENCY OF
REASON FOR SPIRITUAL TRUTH
Reason alone has never inspired men with great sublime conceptions of spiritual
truth, whether in the way of discovery or invention; but usually it has at
first rejected and ridiculed such matters. And just so it is with these
rationalistic critics, they have no appreciation or understanding of the high
and sublime in God's Word. They understand neither the majesty of Isaiah, the
pathos of David's repentance, the audacity of Moses' prayers, the philosophic
depth of Ecclesiastes , nor the wisdom of Solomon which "uttereth her
voice in the streets." According to them ambitious priests, at a later
date than is commonly assigned, compiled all those books to which we have
alluded; also they wrote the Sinaitic law, and invented the whole story of
Moses' life. ("A magnificent fiction"-so one of the critics calls
that story.) But if all this is so, then we must believe that cunning
falsifiers, who were, however, so the critics say, devout men, genuine products
of their day (although it calls for notice that the age in which those devout
men lived, should, as was done to Christ, have persecuted and killed them,
when usually an age loves its own children) ; that is to say, we must believe
not only that shallow-minded men have uncovered for us eternal truths and the
most distant future, but also that vulgar, interested liars, have declared to
us the inexorable righteousness of a holy God! Of course, all that is nonsense;
no one can believe it.
But if these
critics discourse, as sometimes they do, with great self-assurance upon topics
such as the history of Israel, the peculiar work of the prophets, revelation,
inspiration, the essence of Christianity, the difference between the teachings
of Christ and those of Paul, anyone who intelligently reads what they say is
impressed with the idea that, although they display much ingenuity in their
efforts, after all they do not really understand the matters concerning which
they speak. In like manner they talk with much ingenuity and show of learning about
men with whom they have only a far-off acquaintance; and they discuss events in
the realm of the Spirit where they have had no personal experience. Thus they
both illustrate and prove the truth of the Scripture teaching that "the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." These critics
say that God, not being a man, cannot speak; consequently there is no word of
God! Also, God cannot manifest Himself in visible form; therefore all the
accounts of such epiphanies are mythical tales! Inspiration, they tell us, is
unthinkable; hence all representations of such acts are diseased imagination!
Of prophecy there is none; what purports to be such was written after the
events! Miracles are impossible; therefore all the reports of them, as given in
the Bible, are mere fictions! Men always seek, thus it is explained, their own
advantage and personal glory, and just so it was with those "prophets of
Israel." Such is what they call "impartial science,"
"unprejudiced research," "objective demonstration."
NOTHING NEW IN THESE "NEW" VIEWS
Moreover, these critics claim for their peculiar views that they are "new theology," and the "latest investigation." But that also is untrue. Even in the times of Christ the famous rabbi Hillel and his disciple Gamaliel substituted for the Mosaic law all manner of "traditions" (Matt. 15:2-9; 23:16-22). Since then other learned rabbis, such as Ben Akiba, Maimonides and others, have engaged in Bible criticism; not only casting doubts upon the genuineness of various books of the Old Testament, but also denying the miracles and talking learnedly about "myths." Even eighteen hundred years ago Celsus brought forward the same objections as those now raised by modern criticism; and in his weak and bungling production, the "Life of Jesus," David Strauss has in part repeated them. Also there have been other noted heretics, such as Arius (317 A. D.), who denied the divinity of Christ, and Pelagius in the fifth century, who rejected the doctrine of original sin. Indeed this exceedingly new theology adopts even the unbelief of those old Sadducees who said "there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit" (Acts 23:8), and whom Christ reproved with the words, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God" (Matt. 22:29). It certainly does not argue for the spiritual progress of our race, that such a threadbare and outworn unbelieving kind of science should again, in these days, deceive and even stultify thousands of people.
NO AGREEMENT AMONG
THE CRITICS
Do these
critics then, to ask the least of them, agree with one another? Far from it. To
be sure, they unanimously deny the inspiration of the Bible, the divinity of
Christ and of the Holy Spirit, the fall of man and the forgiveness of sins
through Christ; also prophecy and miracles, the resurrection of the dead, the
final judgment, heaven and hell. But when it comes to their pretendedly sure
results, not any two of them affirm the same things; and their numerous
publications create a flood of disputable, self-contradictory and mutually
destructive hypotheses. For example, the Jehovah of the Old Testament is made
to be some heathen god, either a nomadic or steppe god, the weather-god Jahu,
or the god of West-Semitism. It was David who first introduced this divinity;
and according to some authors the peculiar worship of this god was, with its
human sacrifices ( !), only a continuation of the Baal-Moloch worship! Of
Abraham it is sometimes affirmed that he never existed, but at other times that
he was a Canaanite chief, dwelling at Hebron. No! he is the myth of the Aurora;
and Sarah, or Scharratu, is the wife of the moon-god Sin, and so on. The twelve
sons of Jacob are very probably the twelve months of the year. As to Moses,
some teach there never was such a man, also that the ten commandments were
composed in the time of Manasseh. No! the more moderate writers say that Moses
is a historical character. It was in Midian that he learned about Jah, the
tribal god of the Kenites; and he determined with this divinity to liberate his
people. Elijah is simply a myth; or he was some unfortunate prophet who had
perhaps been struck by lightning. And so, too, this modern criticism knows for
sure that it was not Solomon, but a wholly unknown king, living after the time
of Ezra, who wrote Ecclesiastes; also that there never was a Daniel, but that
again some unknown author wrote the book bearing that name. Moreover, Kautsch
tells us that this book first made its appearance in January, 164 B. C., while
other critics are positive that it was in 165. Query: Why could not that
unknown author have been named Daniel?
So also
Wellhausen knows of twenty-two different authors-all of them, to be sure,
unknown-for the books of Moses, while Kuenen is satisfied with sixteen. The
noted English critic, Canon Cheyne, is said to have taken great pains to tear
the book of Isaiah's prophecies into one hundred and sixty pieces, all by
unknown writers; which pieces were scattered through ten different epochs
including four and a half centuries ("Modern Puritan," 1907, p. 400).
Likewise this critic knows that the first chapter of 1 Samuel originated with
an unknown writer living some five hundred years after the time of that
prophet; also that Hannah's glory-song, as found in 2 Kings, was written by some
other "unknown." That Eli ruled over Israel for forty years is,
"in all likelihood," the unauthentic statement of a later day
(Hastings' Bible Dictionary). Why so? we may ask.-The book of Deuteronomy was
written, we are told, in 561 B. C., and Ecclesiastes in 264 B.C.; and a German
critic, Budde, is certain that the book of job has somehow lost its last
chapter, and that fifty-nine verses of this book should be wholly expunged.
Such are a few illustrations of the way in which Holy Scripture is
treated by the criticism we are considering. But, surely, it would not require
much sagacity and intelligence for one, by applying such peculiar methods, say,
to Goethe's works, to demonstrate critically that a good share of those
productions, such as Erlkonig, Iphigenia, Gotz von Berlichingen, the
Wahlverwandschaften, Faust (Parts I. and IL), belong, if judged of by their
style of composition and their historical and philosophical views, to wholly
different epochs, and that they originated with many different authors.
Moreover, it could easily be shown that none of those authors lived in the
times when Napoleon Bonaparte revolutionized Europe, since his name is not
mentioned in any of the productions specified.
CRITICISM AS
APPLIED TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
Of course this
modern criticism does not stop short of the New Testament. This part of the
Bible, Harnack says, narrates for us incredible stories respecting the birth
and childhood of Christ. "Nevermore," he goes on to assert,
"shall we believe that he walked upon the sea and commanded the
storm." It stands to reason that He did not rise from the dead. The Fourth
Gospel is spurious, and so also is (according to late critical authority) the
Epistle to the Romans. The Book of Revelation is only the occasion for derisive
laughter on the part of these skeptical critics; and because it is so, the
curse mentioned in its last chapter is made applicable to them (vs. 18, 19).
Nevertheless, these men sin most seriously against Christ. In their view
the very Son of God, the Word that was in the beginning with God, and that was
God, and without Whom nothing exists, is only a fanatical young rabbi;
entangled in the peculiar views and superstitions of his people; and he died
upon the cross only because he misconceived of the character of his own mission
and the nature of his times. Jesus "is not indispensable to the
Gospel," so writes Harnack.
Now all this is
what is denominated Biblical criticism. It is a jumble of mere hypotheses,
imaginings and assertions, brought forward often without even the shadow of
proof, and with no real certainty. Still, in these times it represents itself
to thousands of nominal Christians and to hundreds of miserably deceived
theological students who are to become preachers of God's word, as being the "assured
results of the latest scientific research." May God have mercy, if such is
the case!
WHAT ARE THE
FRUITS OF THIS CRITICISM?
Now, if these
people were of the truth, and if they would only believe Him who says, "I
am the way, the truth and the life," they would not be under the necessity
of tediously working their way through the numerous publications (statistics
show that there appear in Europe and America annually some eight hundred of
these works) ; but they would find in His teaching a simple and sure means for
testing the character of these critical doctrines. "Ye shall know them by
their fruits," is what Christ says of the false teachers who came in His
name. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matt.
7:16). Are the fruits of modern criticism good? Where are the grapes or figs
that grow on this thornbush? Has not this criticism already robbed, and perhaps
forever, thousands of people of their first love, their undoubting faith, and
their joyous hope? Has it not sowed dissension, fostered pride and
self-conceit, and injured before all the world the authority of both the church
and its ministers? Has it not offended Christ's "little ones?" (Matt.
18:6, 7). And does it not every day furnish the enemies of God with opportunities
for deriding and scorning the truth? Where are the souls that it has led to
God-comforting, strengthening, purifying and sanctifying them? Where are the
individuals who even in the hour of death have continued to rejoice in the
benefits of this criticism?
In the study-room it ensnares, in lecture-halls it makes great pretenses,
for mere popular lectures it is still serviceable; but when the thunders of
God's power break in upon the soul, when despair at the loss of all one has
loved takes possession of the mind, when remembrance of a miserable lost life
or of past misdeeds is felt and realized, when one is on a sick-bed and death
approaches, and the soul, appreciating that it is now on the brink of eternity,
calls for a Saviorjust at this time when its help is most needed, this modern
religion utterly fails. In the year 1864, in Geneva, one of those modern
theologians was summoned to prepare for execution a young man who had committed
murder and robbery. But he candidly exclaimed, "Call some one else, I have
nothing to say to him." This incompetent criticism did not know of any
consolation for the sin-burdened soul; therefore an orthodox clergyman was
obtained. and the wretched man, murderer though he was, died reconciled to God
through the blood of Christ.
But suppose that all the teachings of this criticism were true, what
would it avail us? It would put us in a sad condition indeed. For then, sitting
beside ruined temples and broken-down altars, with no joy as respects the
hereafter, no hope of everlasting life, no God to help us, no forgiveness of
sins, feeling miserable, all desolate in our hearts and chaotic in our minds,
we should be utterly unable either to know or believe anything more. Can such a
view of the world, such a religion, which, as was said of Professor Harnack's
lectures in America, only destroys, removes and tears down, be true? No! If
this modern criticism is true, then away with all so-called Christianity, which
only deceives us with idle tales! Away with a religion which has nothing to offer
us but the commonplace teachings of morality! Away with faith! Away with hope!
Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!
THESE TEACHINGS
IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE
But let us hear what God's word has to say regarding this topic:
2 Pet. 1 :21-
"For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2 Tim. 3:16, 17- "All Scripture given by inspiration of God is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works."
Gal. 1 :11, 12-
"I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not
after man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus
Christ."
Rom. 1 :16.-
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth."
Acts 20:30- But "of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
2 Pet. 2:1- "There were false prophets also among the people, * * *
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them."
1 Cor. 1 :20, 21- "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is
the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
Col. 2:4-8.- "This I say, lest any man should beguile you with
enticing words," or "spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
1 Cor. 3:19.- "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with
God."
1 Cor. 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God."
1 Cor. 2:4.- "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
1 Cor. 2:12, 13- "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,
but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's
wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual."
Col. 1:21 and 2 Cor. 10:5- Therefore "you that were sometime
alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works," now "bring into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
Gal. 1-:9- "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach
any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed."
1 Cor. 15:17- "Whosoever says that Christ is not risen, his
faith is vain, he is yet in his sins."
2 John, vs. 7, 9, 10, 11- "For many deceivers are entered into the
world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a
deceiver and an antichrist. * * * Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you,
and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him
God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds."
Luke 11 :52- "Woe unto you lawyers! for ye have taken away the key
of knowledge; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye
hindered."
CONCLUSION
Let us then, by repudiating this modern criticism, show our condemnation of it.
What does it offer us? Nothing. What does it take away? Everything. Do we have
any use for it? No! It neither helps us in life nor comforts us in death; it
will not judge us in the world to come. For our Biblical faith we do not need
either the encomiums of men, nor the approbation of a few poor sinners. We will
not attempt to improve the Scriptures and adapt them to our liking, but we will
believe them. We will not criticize them, but we will ourselves be directed by
them. We will not exercise authority over them, but we will obey them. We will
trust Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. His word shall make us free.
Respice
finem, "consider the end"--that is what even the old Romans said.
True rationalism adjudges all---things from the standpoint of eternity; and it
asks of every religion, What can you do for me with regard to the great beyond?
What does this Biblical criticism offer us here? Only fog and mist, or, at
best, an endless state of indecision, something impersonal and inactive, just
like its god, whose very nature is inconceivable. "Eternal life,"
writes one of these modernists, "is only the infinitely weak vestige of
the present life." ( i) Here also the maxim proves itself true, "By
their fruits ye shall know them." Just as for our present life this
criticism offers us no consolation, no forgiveness of sins, no deliverance from
"the fear of death, through which we are all our lifetime subject to
bondage," so also it knows nothing respecting the great beyond-nothing
with regard to that new heaven and new earth wherein righteousness shall dwell,
nothing with regard to that golden city which shines with eternal light,
nothing with regard to a God who wipes away all tears from our eyes. It is
utterly ignorant of the glory of God, and on that account it stands condemned.
"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And
we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living
God" (John 6:68, 69). And He answered, "Behold, I come quickly: hold
that fast which thou hast ; that no man take thy crown" ( Rev. 3 :11) .
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