New-York tribune., 1891-09-25
UNION SEMINARY THEOLOGY
DR. VINCENT ASSERTS THAT ITS TEACHERS
ARE FRIENDS OF THE BIBLE.
PRINCIPLES THAT UNDERLIE TRUE ExEGESIs
"A FEW WORDS ABOUT VERBAL ISsPIRA-
TIoN-wHAT THE CHRISTIAN
CRITIC SHOULD DO

"A FEW WORDS ABOUT VERBAL INsPIRA-
TIoS-wHAT THE CHRISTIAN
CRITIC SHOULD DO.
The Adams Chapel OF the Union theological Sem.
inery was filled yesterday afternoon at the opening
address delivered by Professor Marvin K. Vincent.
The fact that Of the professors Of the seminary is
to be placed on trial by the New York Presbytery
next month added not little TO the interest Of the
occasion. On the platform were President Thomas q.
Hastings, who announced the hymn "A Glory Gilds
the Sacred Page; Charles Fuller the president of
the Board OF Directors; Dr. Charles l.. Thompson,
of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. who offered
prayer, and Professors Philip seha and John II. wor
cester. Professors G. L. Prentiss Francis Brown
were also present. but Professor Briggs was absent.
Among the directors in The audience were Dr.. d. r.
Frazier Dr. T.. ~ White. John Crosby Brown. Norris
X. Jesup and Charles Kingsley. Other Clergy
men present included DIR. William NJ. Taylor. of tho
Broadway Tabernacle, whose pulpit Dr. Vincent
has been supplying part of the summer; @. r.
Gillette, l.. II. Foote, Irving r. Meredith, s. p.
Rossiter John Balcom Shaw. Dr. Brtggss pastor B. B.
Tyler, F. J. Goodwin A. W. Halsey. C. T. Herring,
Wilson Phrsner. W. D. Grant, J. II. Hosdlcy and
g. L. Webster.
=" BrsLE" AND WORD OF GOD. NOT sYNoNy-
NOUS.
After explaining the meaning of TIE term @Ex.
esesis' which is Leading forth, ading Of tbe way
as by q guide, DR.. Vincent defined Dts He ssld
that is charged with the paramount function In tho
study Of any religion which is identified with written
revelation Bxegesis precedes theology 10 the logical
order IN the order OF the order Of Importance.
Theology rests upon revehtion. Its function Is to
classify and systemstze the material furnished by
revelation. The speaker does not consider the terms
Bfbles and "Woru OF Cod synonymous "The
latter term is applied by Scripture itself The
formula of the Reformation in its best days not
scripture Is the Word of God but Scripture contains
the Word Of Cod -" Theology he said. at IT'S very
centre dependent upon Scripture, for Christ Is the
centre of true theology and Christ is revealed In
Scripture alone. Nature provides 10 Redeemer and
Christ cannot be evolved by process OF pure
he continued:
legitimate facts Of theology ernal Its dedue
ous and classihcaons are not Ii is based upon pro-
gressive revelation and Is therefore, progressive science
deductions and casfesions affected by limitations
Of Scrptur knowledge by false principles OF interpre
on and by faulty exegcsis Now Light Is ever breaking
Scripture Hence the results Of progressive exegess
from time to time modify correct such Theological
statements as are not identified with eternal, fnda-
truth Scripture All theology therefore In its
last analysis Biblical. No dogma authoritative which Is
not Biblical
There are questions which belong properly to theology
~ which settle without the aid Of exeses Is
theology formulate the theory of inspiration yet
claim made for literal, verbally nerrsnt inspiration.
STANDS fails BY exeeess alone IL cannot Do
msintsiaed any prior assumption that inspiration
must OF the literal inerrsncy and
chat cod given HIS original, written revelation
in inerrsnt autograph That assumption be yindicatsd
only by producing the nsrraAt autographs Our formula
of inspiration constructed from the Bible II b.
imaginary Bible If the texts Of our Greek
or Hebrew Bibles that the contents not Morally
accurate and In date quotssioa and other des
exegcss cempels abandon not inspiration but thaa
particular theory Of inspiration. Yet the presence ana
N
exsxess The spirit Of God nnpsrss 70 deyout road
srs perception Of tho divine quality Of Che sesiposes
The Christian critic conscious Of power. spiritual h
sight majesty Scripture which appeals to something
ae+ner sh.n the critical faculty. time the
validity Of Scripture cannot be determined
by subjective tests only.
DEFENCE OF THE BIBLE CRITIC
Dr. Vincent next showed that sound exegesis II
necessary critical progressive, modest ana patent
and courageous. Under the second head he said IN
part
There Is tendency in certstn quarters to repsesens
the Biblical critic prssomptoous intruder into holy
places as the enemy OF Scye. a. supernnous ana con-
5emp:ibe On contrary. the critic has been m>de
BY the superstition, ignorance ana un~"~oo
ambition which wrested Seriere 70 the service Of
ecclesiastical fraud spiritual tyranny and popular aLnSe
mept The necessity Of criticism lies In tine very struct
re OF the Bible The function Is constructive as
well as destructive The conception Of birh as mere
picker Of ignorance Criticism 70 far Is IL
bee destructive,
in the Bible in the monstrosites OF Interpretation
which have oyerlaid Criticism il bound up with az
egesis. Exegess scarcely advance step wF1'ous
APPLYING It's processes results BY criticism mean the
phology. history and amman
to the Interpretation Of he sacred text The same laws
are to be applied Scripture as to any other book Inc
Bible comes 70 through human language and imagery.
It's scientific statements conditioned bJ he limitations
Of human knowledge. 1t is revelation made at diner'
eut times and different CIRCUMSTANCES. end through
individuals OF different characters sttainmenS ana tenn
peraments Inspiration cannot refuse ne proper cesss
II those human media Of transmission which 1t has Itself
selected Scripture therefore, invites Ue "ppnedn oi
every critical solvent
Eopailv there Is divine element In Scripture which
will not yield up it meaning 20 merely critical tests
II can be grasped only by higher than che critical fac-
lty through that illumination which is promised 70 every
,eyout student Of the Word Without an inauirng rev.
rent snrt enlightened by the Spirit Of God, sound
xnos.op Of the Scriptures sacred, inspired writings
IS possible.
UNION SEMINARY AND THE BIBLH.
After dwelling on the other principles laid down he
showed what had resulted from failure to recognize
them resulting In 81 the practical rejection OF me
acsl Bible and the substitution OF the Bible cast In
the pouds of tradition, sticism and Dogma This
statement was illustrated by brief review OF certain
periods of exegetea history In eonclusian he spoke
as follows
Union seminary holds by the Bible 1t exsts It's su'
thority IL accepts that authority A. supreme IL sc.
cents the uncompromsngy a. the only lniaibie rule
OF faith and practice the only legitimate basis Of preach
ing containing the only and sufficient revelation Of Him
whose name is above every neHethe only Redeemer Of
mankind the Heed Church It's faculty and its di
reotors alike stoke thtr salvation its truth. Why will
the Church noe see teachers tho friends and
champions Of Bible and not It's oarpng ertcs1 That
IL because love and for IT, because they
ace better than the general religious public the subtety,
mower and Intellectual acutenes the attacks aimed st It,
that they are trying from the wounds Of its
friends from modes defence which only expose 10 10 dead
er thrusts let the divine Inspiration which In 1t win.
aicate It's own power majesty and put ia nrpFeta
on upon basis which will resist Tie shocks Of goddess
rationalsm?
1t shall be- as has been the delight and the pride
Of Union Seminary ms2nay the Bible before the eyes Of