The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-18
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE
MESSIANIO IDEA.

In view of DR.. Cones article in the
January Quarterly on "Messianic Proph-
ecy," peculiar interest attaches to an
article on similar subject in the Feb
ruary number Of the "Old Testament
Student" published in New Haven.
Conn.,, by Prof. w. r. Harper, of Yale
College, and the lecturer on " Old Testa-
ment Literature" in the Chicago Bap-
fist Theological Seminary.
The article in question is by Rev.
James Scott, d. D., LII. D., of Aberlour,
Scotland, and is entitled Historical
Development of the Messianic Idea" In
the opinion Of the writer-ev evidently a
specialist development of the Mes
sianic idea involves two sources, ian
objective divine revelation of the truth,
and a consequent psychological con-
seriousness of the idea." 1t is the OBJ
ject of his paper to trace the historical
development of this idea as part of the
general plan of Revelation, and to out
line the successive stages of that devel-
opment as something which could not
be primarily originated by the human
mind, the germinal idea of redemption
being above the reach of the human in
tellect, and only properly classed with
those conceptions which become the
heritage of the race only through divine
revelation. 1t is declared that such an
idea must be throughout :" a single and
unique development from the facts of
revelation, beyond which we cannot get
or 60" 1t istalso asserted that Riehm
in his work on Messianic Prophecy ad-
mits and urges these necessary condi-
lions of all true Messianic development
and Messianic exegesis, although much
of his reasoning is in the well known
Rationalistic vein. DR.. Scott says that
"the consciousness of the idea of Christ
having its root or origin in revelation,
the Messianic idea in its full form, will
be found to consist of three correlative
and concrete elements-the covenant,
thekingdom of God, and the theocracy."
Keeping these ideas in view he proceeds
to describe the origin of the Messianic
idea, and to trace the successive stages
Of it's growth.
L. DR.. Scott begins at the first prom
Use, which he very finely says was the
young worlds hope 1.-THE promise re-
corded in Genesis iii. 10: And 1 will
put enmity between thee and the
woman, and between thy seed and her
seed it shall bruise thy head and thou
shalt bruise his heel" This is declared
the root idea of which all others are but
shoots and branches and fruit. 1t is
one of the primary facts of revelation
on which the Messianic idea rests but
it is not commended that the full meas
ure of the realization or knowledge of
the idea was communicated with the
prophecy. Throughout the article DIR.
Scott treats the Messianic hope as
cumulative-a progressive and gradual
dawning of the truth on the ages until
it's full and final recognition. In regard
to this prophecy the writer remarks:
We have here, then, vague and general
announcement that the seed of the woman
would ultimately bruise or MORALLY crush
the head of the serpent. The woman's seed
ha lad alxy in ba ayfra
the heel, one of the least vital parts but the
serpent would be MORALLY wounded in the
head. The word "seed, indeed, has per-
sonal as well as a general significance in the
Old Testament in some instances, such as
Seth, Samuel and Solomon, and is so inter
preted in the light of the New Testament;
but it does not follow that the believing
fathers of the world would understand it in
personal, or other than a collective sense.
The full flower of this budding promise
would not be seen till its full development in
the Christ of the gospels. But one thing was
clear aud sure, that paradise lost would yet
be paradise regained, and God in mercy
somehow and sometime bring back his exiles.
We see no reason as Universalists to
dissent from this well-stated conclusion.
1t is the central hope of our faith
" God in mercy will somehow and some
time bring back his exiles."
.. Next the Semitic division of man
kind is declared as the quarter in which
the conquering seed of the woman was
to be expected and found (Gen. tx. %
%.
8. Another step in the progress of
development is noted and we'll enforced
from the testimony of Scripture. This
was involved in the promise to Abra-