The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-17
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Direct Study of the Bible in
Theological Seminaries.

The writer believes that the direct
study of the Scriptures does not receive
that supreme attention in preparing for
the ministry which it deserves. 1t is for
those acquainted with Seminary life to
say, whether systematic theology is not,
if not speculatively regarded, yet prac-
tically treated in the schools of the pro-
phets as the greatest department of
knowledge, and that to which every other
must be made subsidiary and secondary !;
and it is for every reader of this paper
to judge whether the Church is not more
anxious to secure superior talent for the
chair of theology than for any other. But
it is hardly doubtful that many who will
be attracted as readers by the above head
ing will not only admit our allegation,
but hold that the proper place of syste-
matte theology in preparatory course
for the ministry is, and of right ought to
be, in every sense first.
1t is therefore here affirmed that a
knowledge of systematic theology is not
sufficient as an intellectual qualification
for the preacher. In order to become
assured of this, let the reader select some
practical topic of divine truth and try to
prepare discourse designed to apply the
same to the human heart, with only such
help as you may receive from system of
theology. You will find in your author
grand system of logical distractions,
which may be, scientifically considered,
very satisfactory but you will soon see
that it requires knowledge and skill
unknown to the theologian, as such, and
of far higher character than any he is re-
quired to possess in order to the full dis
charge of his function, to prepare the
truth of God for the people, and set it
before them as food for working faith,
and sustenance for active, faithful ODE
dience.
Besides, it seems to us, that the man
who has learned his creed only or chiefly
in the way of the systematic theologian' s
training can never be sure that his faith
is grounded on the testimony of God The
professor is more or less, necessarily, the
advocate of certain system, and hence
the words of Scripture as quoted by him
are at times apt to be colored" to suit
the foregone conclusion he would reach.
To be assured of the witnesses meaning,
we must hear him directly with our own
ears, or we must study the testimony di-
rectly ourselves.
But more. The mere student of the
ology, or he that makes it his chief study,
never knows that he has had before his
mind the whole truth. In order to this
the Bible must be studied as whole and
each integral part of it as whole. tits
comparatively but very few passages OF
Scripture that are quoted in system OF
divinity.
This suggests third consideration
Every pastor must find that the systems
of theology have not word to say OF
many evangelical topics of prime impor-
lance, and which it is simply necessary
to present frequently in the pulpit. 1t
would be easy to give examples, but it is
deemed wholly uncalled for. 1t is only
in the Scriptures that every important
truth is met.
Our last thought on the subject is The
direct study of the Scriptures, and OF the
art of expounding them, should be made
most prominent in course Of preparation
for the gospel ministry as means OF
at once securing orthodoxy and freshness
in the deliverances of our preachers.
There are many ways of presenting the
same truth. No book exemplifes this
statement so fully as the Bible. Other
things being equal, he who expounds the
Scriptures skillfully can attract by the
charm of variety those whom the man
who breaches from a theology would re-
pei by sameness and monotony. But
more making theology the chief study
must tend not only to keep the individual
preacher in one rut, but to make all the
preachers of the same school SO like each
other in the way of presenting the truth
as that when you have heard one you
have virtually heard all. A system OF
theology, as such, is human product,
and therefore is comparatively narrow
and narrowing. The Bible is divine
product, and is exceeding broad" and
is correspondingly broadening and ele-
waiting. It's variety in presenting truth
is as rich as the love Of variety, divinely
implanted in the heart Of man, is strong
and abiding.
This paper has not been written to
deny that systematic theology is neces-
sary in seminary training, but to affirm
that exposition is entitled to the highest
place in the students estimation, and
that, if distinction is to be made at all,
the Church should give her most gifted
sons to the work Of teaching the exposi-
fion If So1.ir,ft1ra ~, our fbeoIoo;oo1 49,;