ON THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES (2)

My Dear Young Friends,

To continue the theme of Biblical inspiration, we may now think for a little of some, what we may term, external evidences of the perfection of the Sacred Writ — not that we require, nor should we in a sense desire, further evidence than that which the Lord has been graciously pleased to leave with us within the volume of the Book. Nevertheless, in His inscrutable wisdom, the Lord has from time to time been pleased to bring to light material which amply verifies, even to the most sceptical, the record of particular parts of the Bible.

Puny man has attacked the Scriptures from all angles. Some have infamously succeeded in raising serious doubts in the minds of other unstable souls, leading them ultimately, perhaps, to profess atheism, while others have merely (as they think) set out to disprove parts which do not appeal to their fleshly notions, retaining their “Christian good name,” and that, in not a few instances, in the high office of the Christian ministry. How utterly unreasonable! “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:15-18).

Scientists from time to time claim to have made such advances in knowledge that they can set at nought the teachings of the Bible concerning, for example, the creation. But it is a certain thing that such men vex themselves and labor in vain. Indeed, from time to time, tangible discoveries, which but add further proof to the authenticity of Scriptural history, are made: Archaeology, that study which is concerned with the material remains of man’s past, both as to the discovery of such, and their analysis and interpretation when found, has produced much evidence to confirm sacred history, this century alone. The conclusions of atheistic scientists have had to be revised in view of new matter brought to light.

Expeditions, such as those in which Sir Charles Marston, took a leading part, excavated very successfully in Palestine, for example, at the site of the city of Lachish. Exploratory work continues in present-day Israel. Several books have been published on the results of the archaeologists’ work, for example, the series by Sir Charles Marston, New Bible Evidence, The Bible is True and The Bible Comes Alive. The Dead Sea Scrolls, a number of Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts dating from the first and second centuries before Christ, and found within the last two decades, near the northwest corner of the Dead Sea, include a manuscript of the whole Book of Isaiah, and portions from almost every other book in the Old Testament. The finding of engravings, inscribed vessels, coins and other relics have all helped to endorse Biblical chronology.

The works left by ancient writers may also be mentioned. From a study of these, Dr. Bannerman, a nineteenth century Professor of Theology in the New College, Edinburgh, was able to say, “The opinion of the early Christian Church as to inspired Scripture did not differ from that of its Jewish contemporaries. From the time of Christ, downwards, and for centuries afterwards, there was hardly any difference of opinion as to the infallibility of the Bible and little comparatively, for a time, of the perilous attempts to define or limit by human speculations the methods through which the result was accomplished…. With the exception of a very small section of heretics, cast out by the very fact of their rejection of the infallible truth of Scripture there were none who, even in the extremities of argument or defeat, refused to be adjudged by its statements” (Bannerman on Inspiration, p. 122). Such early writers as Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian (all second century A.D.) and Origen (third century), believed wholeheartedly in the inerrancy of the Scriptures.

In the fourth century A.D., Cyril of Jerusalem wrote, “Let no man divide the Old from the New Testament, or say that the spirit in the one is different from the spirit in the other, else he offends against the Holy Ghost himself.” Earlier, Hippolytus wrote of the sacred penmen, “Be assured they did not speak in their own strength, nor out of their own minds, what they proclaimed; but first by the inspiration of the Word they were rightly imbued with wisdom, and then by visions they foretold the future; and then with a sure faith of the things, they declared and predicted what by the divine power was made manifest to them.” Justin Martyr said that he was so persuaded that there were no contradictions in Scripture, that where others would find some pretext to make such a claim, he would confess that he could not understand it rightly. In like manner, Augustine says with respect to the harmony between the Old and New Testaments, “The New Testament lies hid in the Old, and the Old Testament is manifested in the New.”

And so down through the ages to the present day the living Church of the living God has held firmly to her belief in the entire inspiration of the Holy Word. “Observe,” said the famous Reformer John Calvin, “that the same reverence that we have for God is due also to the Scripture, because it has pre-ceeded from Him alone, and has nothing of man mixed with it.”

So, my young friends, you have this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the Royal Law; These are the lively oracles of God.

To Be Continued

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span”, (9 feet, six inches). (I Samuel 17:4)

Excavations of the ancient city of Gath, apparently foundations of buildings. For many centuries its exact location was unknown. Gath was one of the five great cities of the Philistines, a warlike people who were a constant menace to Israelites. The giant Anakims, of whom Goliath was probably a remant lived there in the time of Joshua. The Philistines were finally subdued and Gath occupicd in the reign of David.

Courtesy Israel Office of Information

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