The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-08
EEv. =. 9. SMITHS DISCOURSE.

~ the fl1Sb Metnoulst Episcopal cnurcn.
REV. =. 6. SMITHS DISCOURSE.
Ms Subject: ssThe bible From . UNI
tarssn Standpoint
Rev. Ernest G. Smith at the Unitarian
church took for the subject of his morning
discourse: 1.-The Bible From q Unitarian
Gtandpoint-Is 1t Infallible, or is it In
spiredfn
He took for his text:
III Timothy. iii:fs-"Ail scripture given by In
spirasion IL Of God, and Is profitable for doc
uines for reproof. for correction, for instruc-
don II riRhteousness.' II. Timothy iii,ls.
Mr.. Smith said:
The Scripture Of which Paul is speaking
r. Of course, the Old Testament, the
Hebrew Bible. In this statement he but gives
nfterance to the common Jewish opinion OF his
time. Elsewhere he makes statements which
are 81 variance with this a. in the epstle TO the
Romans: But now we have been dis
charged from the law; so that we serve in new
neas Of the spirit and not in oIdness Of the let
tek" The whole epistle to the Galatians insists
inst they ere no longer under the law and that
IT. commands are not binding upon them. In
deed. IL wss just on this point that Paul had
rome dispute with the apostles at Jerusalem
aud succeeded In gaining his point. The whole
trend Of Pants teaching was the greater
and that the new covenant
superseded and did away with the need of the
old. So this saying. in q letter pErporting TO be
from Pauis hand. would of itself be enough to
perplex us somewhat though its importance
would not be great as addressed to one brought
up = Jew BY one who called the Law - school
master 10 bring men to Christ
The importance Of the text, however, 10
greatly enhanced by the use which the church
Tor portion OF the church) has made Of It, seek
Ing 70 rest upon IL the doctrine of the plenary
Inspiration and o. the infailfbility OF the Bible
- : whole. Round this text therefore, have
nged numerous and bitter controversies, ont of
which both good and evil have come-good in
that many misconceptions and false assump-
tons have been swept away: good In that
broader views of Gods providence issued from
them: evil IN that bitter feelings were en-
gendered; evil in that the discovery
Of fallibiiity In the oracle blinded
Of it, messages Thus q false emphasis and
false application of this text has had outcome
In two false attitudes towards the Bibie-bibno-
latFy or worship OF the letter and bibliphobia,
TO coin . word. or hysteric dread Of the book
and Its influence.
TO help us TO the true attitude towards the
Bible, let MS look q little more closely ct what
have called q false attitude. Let Us see to what
u appeals Tor authority and how it actu-
ally came about The attitude of many
churches toward the Bible has greatly
changed in the past few years. But the doctrine
Of verbal inspiration has been given up. Many
Of them ofhcially declare that they believe the
Bible infallible; that its writers were miracu-
lously preserved from any error or any intru-
sion OF their personality: that they were simply
the instruments through which an absolutely
divine revelation came. This claim of infalli-
biity 10 based on certain scriptursl texts and on
tradition. The texts usually adduced are:
fApf a T<fsn sfE De- 80 IN
the prophecy came not in the old time by the
will OF man; but holy men OF God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost" OF this ii may
be said that infsllibisy IL not claimed; that the
prophecy Is not specific, 30 as 10 cover special
men or books; and lastly, that is carries with II
the weight of the writer's opinion and only that.
The second proof-text Ia that of our sermon, and
claims only that scripture Is profitable for In
strnctions for doctrine, for correction. for
instruction in righteousness" Both these pas
aages, moreover. refer only to the Old Tesla
ment, or portions OF IL. as the New Testament
did not at that time exist The third passage.
the anathema curse appended to the book of
Revelation upon any one who should add to or
take away from the words OF the book, is simply
IN example OF custom common among writ
ers NJ that time when men often got their own
opinions before the world by paming them off
~ those OF another man. Moreover. the Reve-
lation II = single book. separate from the others
t'oSfsAonf
them. giving this anathema no peculiar power
over the rest OF the volume. .sBut stronger
than any texts Is the feeling reused by the sub
jeet matter aud by the manner of the writer's"
says an advocate of Bible infallibility. And
here he is on very strong ground. as far as in
fsliibiiity.
It ia true that the biblical writers deal with
great spiritual facts: that they assume the mas
ter's tone and speak with a "Thus saith the
Lord" that their ufterances surpass in depth
and intensity the common utterances OF COM
mon men. But we need 10 keep clearly in mind
that there is distinction between inspiration
and infallbility. Proving that a book is inlal-
libby true does not prove that il is inspired, in
the ordinary sense of theterm" geometry in
not usually considered inspired. Neither does
the inspiration of work prove its freedom
from error. Emerson was inspired. but not in-
fallihle.
Now, 1t Is worthy of notice right at the outset
that the Bible nowhere claims iniailibinty for
itself, not even in the strongest texts usually
adduced to sabstsntiate tine claim AS
an example of what one writer does
claim. note what Luke says: ''For
n much ss many have taken In
hand to draw up narrative concerning those
matters which have been fulfilled among US
even as they delivered them unto rs which
from the beginning were eve witnesses
and ministers OF the Word, ii seemed good 10
me also. having traced the course OF eli things
accurately from the frst 10 write unto thee in
order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou
highest know the certainty concerning the
things wherein thou vast instructed" Luke
simply said that. having had means of inlor-
nation. he thought best 10 write his gospel
Moreover the assumption IL constantly made
that the Bible Is one book. while in reality il is
many. and proving one book infallihle, il that
were possible. would prove nothing as 10 the
others Let as look at some of the real facts
with regard TO the Bible as hook In the first
place. we notice two grand divisions quite dis.
tfnet from each other IN language style
aud spirit Each of these 10 In turn
made up OF numerous books composed by differ.
ent authors. representing different times and
circumstances and different points of view
Taken ell together the time Of their writing
covers period of 500 years. Some are by nm
known authors and il is impossible to tell when
or where they were written. Some OF the books
show several recensions and additions. They
are OF very unequal merit aud show the limita-
tons and prejudices of their authors
And then. even II we know who wrote all the
books we have no guaranty tina; we have their
exact woydA The earliest manuscrip, of the
New Testament dates only from $50 A. D.. more
than 800 years after most OF the events narrated
occurred. In the early church the gospels were
not held In great estimation. Tor the apostles and
those who had known them face TO face
were stili among them. After they passed away
many took il in hand co write accounts and we
know that many gospels" were current, out OF
which our four have survived In copying,
these were sometimes altered. either hlunder-
ingiy or Intentionally. as We find by comparison
OF different MSS
And even IL We had perfectly accurate copies,
We should find il difficult 60 tell what Is Bible