The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-07-20
DIFFICULTIES OF THE BIBLE.

One of the most common and plaus-
ible objections to the Bible is that there
are so many difficulties in it, SO many
things that no one can understand and
explain and harmonic with each other.
Of what use is a revelation, it is asked,
if the things revealed are not brought
down within the grasp of our under
standing? Nay, what is the propriety
of calling that a revelation which does
not reveal, make clear, the doctrines
that it aims to teachp In order to be
what its friends say that it is, the Bible
should have cleared up everything of
which, it treats, leaving nothing dark or
mysterious. At first sight this may
seem fair and reasonable objection. 1t
has given a skeptic no little support and
comfort. 1t has too often perplexed
and annoyed the believer. But two or
three things in connection with it are
worthy of every ones consideration and
remembrance.
In the first place, these difficulties do
not obscure its teachings on personal
duty. On every point pertaining to the
publication of character and the regu-
1ation of conduct, the Scriptures speak
with entire distinctness. If one wishes
TO learn what God would have him do
in his daily intercourse with men, or
what spirit He would have him exercise
toward himself; if he studies the Bible
as the physician studies his materia
medica, that he may learn what his
patient needs, he will find everything
clear and simple. He will fail to. dis
cover those difficulties which others
complain of finding at nearly every step.
For in the fields of revelation, as in the
fields of nature, man is apt to find
what he is looking for. The botanist
may go side by side with the entomol-
ogist over the same ground. He will
see thousand flowers and plants
wholly overlook the butterflies and bee
ties which alone will arrest his compan-
ions attention. So in the study of the
Bible a man will be likely to discover
what he is looking for. If he is search
ing for difficulties, he can find them in
abundance. But if he is honestly and
earnestly looking for truth and duty, he
will not only find these, but he will not
see the difficulties that others discover.
For these difficulties are not associated
with the Bible teachings On matters of
personal duty. 1t is only when we look
away from these and attempt to grasp
I the philosophical grounds and reasons
for them; when we turn from the retig-
ion of the Bible to its theology and en-
deavor TO comprehend and systematic
its doctrines that so reach out into the
infinite; it is then and only then that we
find ourselves ensphered in mystery as
our globe is in space. But as a practi-
cal guide to holy life on earth and an
Immortality in Heaven, the Bible is as
simple and Ineligible book as any
inquirer can desire.
And this is the only fair and proper
test to apply TO it. 1t does not claim to
be a system of theology, or treatise on
moral science. II claims to be a guide
book. Its object is to show men the
way of life, TO point out to them the
mode in which they may secure recon-
ciliation with God and endless growth
in His companionship. Does it do this?
If it does, it answers the great end for
which it was given. And the fact that
it does not clear away all the mystery
which men find in connection with its
ubllS ID uO iuUlc d OulCC-
ton TO it than is such an objection to
medical science that it does not remove
all the mystery that hangs about the
nature of life and the workings of the
human system.
But In the second place, these diff
culties of which men complain are not
found in the Bible at all. For even in
its theological teachings it simply states
facts which in themselves are as COM
prehensible as any other. All the diff
Guilty lies not in our understanding
these statements of fact, but in our
-comprehending their philosophy or their
harmony. The Divine humanity of
Christ, however, for instance, is con-
sidered one of the greatest mysteries of
Scripture. But what does the Bible say
about it? 1t says that Christ was God.
1t affirms this fact in many different
ways, and with an explicitness that
would have precluded all doubt but
for our inability to harmonic the
fact with other things. But this
declaration of fact is perfectly clear.
When we read that the ".Ford was
God" we all know what the lam
guage affirms. Nothing could make
the meaning of the words more plain.
Whether or not we'can understand hosc
the Word who "became flesh and dwelt
among us - was at the same time God,
we can certainly understand what the
evangelist says on the point of fact,
Just as we can understand what the
scientist saws when he tells us about
grayitation, while, if we ask what CRAWL
tation is, and how this power operates
upon matter, the only answer the sci
enlist can give, is: "No man knows. :"
But the Deity of Christ is only one
hemisphere of the truth concerning
Him. The Bible teaches another fact.
He was complete and veritable man.
1t afiirms this as plainly as language
can affirm anything. But surely there
is nothing in the statement of this fact
at all difficult to understand. II is as
easy TO comprehend the language when
the Scriptures assert that Christ Jesus
was man as when we are told that
Adam was. But if each half of the
Bible teachings concerning the nature
of Christ is SO simple and SO ineligible.
where lies the mystery of this great
doctrine Of the Incarnation? 1t lies en-
tirely in our inability to see the har-
saong between the two classes of facts
which the Bible presents. We can not
comprehend hot0 Christ could be man
and at the same time God. But upon
this point the Bible does not attempt to
teach us. 1t is perfectly silent in re-
gard to the mode in which the Divine
and human co-existed in the one person