The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-05
For the Central Presbyterian.
inspired Scripture"
2Tim. iii: l6.

WIZ Signs HlmSel1 N. II. ID. is one OF
the few who have undertaken to defend
the translation which the Revisers have
eiyen of Tim. iii: 16. The opinion of
the scholar whose viov of this translation
he has given US, is entitled to profound
respect. Our purpose at this writing is
not to call this opinion in question 1--WE
are not competent for such task). but to
glance at the conclusion which "R. r. H."
draws from the scriptural usage of the
words graphic and graphai.
He presents clear and detailed ac-
count of what this usage is. He tells us
that this Greek noun in the singular or
plural, is employed forty-miae times in
the New Testament; that the plural
forms are found seventeen times and
the singular thirty-ta0o times. He de-
clares further that in "thirty out of
these tharty-ta0o cases it fixes its own
meaning by referring directly to one or
more specially quoted passages from the
Old Testament. Thus we are brought
down to two instances only in which the
word when used in the singular does not
fix its own meaning and contfae that mean
ing to the inspired Scriptures" He then
shows that in one of these two cases, viz:
2 Peter i: 90, the same reference is forced
upon the word by the context.
He is thus left to deal with the word
in Tim. iii: 16. He says there is moth
ing In the context here to indicate what
meaning shall be given. Having come
thus far with him and carefully noted his
well-defned premises, we expect him to
state his conclusion thus: Inasmuch as
this word has certain definite meaning
I'M torty-etght out of the torty-nt,ae in
stances in which it is used, therefore we
are compelled in this one case where its
meaning is not defined, to the belief that
its Specification here agrees with that
which it has in the other forty-eight
cases" But he draws from these premi-
ses exactly the opposite conclusion. AS
he states it,. Therefore, by these facts of
collateral usage, we are brought logically
to the conclusion that as in forty-ei0ht out
OF Jort9'-na7ae cases, the word graphic and
its plural fixed by the CONTEXT, their own
reference to inspired Scripture, and that
as Tim. iii: 16 is the only instance in
which such restriction is not thus fixed,
the restriction was not there intended"
Now it has always seemed to us per-
tectly legitimate mode of augmentation
to interpret the meaning of word in a
disputed passage by its obvious signifca-
ton In other passages coming from the
same writer or others who employed the
term IN the same way. Presbyterians
know how to use this argument. For
example, we have dispute with the
Prelatists about the signifcancy of the
term "presbyterio,e" in Tim. iy: ID.
they affirming that it means the "office
of the Presbyter," we declaring that it
signifies presbytery. And in support
OF our position we advance, with no
small confidence, the fact that in the only
other passages in which the word is
found In the Scripture, it confessedly
denotes the Sanhedrim, 4. e a COLLEGE Of
elders. Why can r. R. H." affirm SO
confidently that, q" PaSa graphic, does not
include the writings Of Homer, Hero
dotus, etc? Because he really applies
the principle for which we plead, and
recognizes that such an understanding of
the words would run directly counter to
the usage of the sacred writer's. Of
course, there are other good reasons for
rejecting this most general reference of
" PaSa graphic" But it is at least one
valid argument against it that the con-
text In other places where "graphe" is
used makes it impossible to extend the
reference to the works of Homer, and
therefore he would Justly argue with us
that such reference would be mad
missable here. There is no better es-
tablished principle of Interpretation than
this, that where the meaning of term
in given place is uncertain, we must
compare other passages from the same
writer in which this term occurs, and if
it is discovered that this writer has
fixed usage in regard to this word. the
mind leaps Immediately to the conclusion
that it is strongly probable that the
phrase is employed in the obscure passage
in that sense which the author inyaria-
bly, gives to it. Now he tells us that the
forms of graphe are found fortv-7,ine
times in the New Testament. He as
sures us that in forty-eigM of these there
can be no doubt that reference is had to
inspired writings Is it not iust-al-
most a necessary inference that, unless
the context proves the contrary, the
toTty-9alnth instance is not an exception
to the general ruler Paul EMPLOYS the
term eleven times with this clear and
specific reference; therefore in the tOelfth
case, where the context surely does not
compel US to alter the sense, "R. r. H"
saws 1--WE are brouobt 1oo;oo11,, b. A.