New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-07
is TUE BIBLE INERRANrg
LECTURE BY PROFESSOR c. A. BRIGGS
THE eoR1PrUREs 1xFALLBLB ONLY IN MATTERS

THE ecRIPTURFs INFALLIBLB ONLY IN MAT1Eh5
OF FAITH AND PRACTICE.
Professor Charles A. Briggs delivered the fourth
lecture Of the SERIES and his third successive lecture In
the Church OF the Covenant, Park-ave. and Thirty
nfth-st. last evening. Again the church was com
pltteiy led with audience which listened atenuvey
to all he said. Hs theme was. " Is the Bible liner
rant1" Professor Briggs said
Every minister, elder and deacon in the Presby-
terrain Church at his ordination subscribes to the state
ment: I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testamens to be the Word OF God, theonly infalble
rule OF faith and practice We do not subscribe TO the
that the Scriptures are the only infalibe us
Of everything In science philosophy in history or in
art In grammar in literature. There are errors IN
Holy Scriptures. but these errors are wholly in the cir
cumstantias and not in the essentials they are In
other matters besides faith and practice. We stand
firm and mpregnable by the position of the nfabilty
OF Holy Scriptures In all matters of faith and practice.
The Bible student is often met with the objection
falsus in uno falsus in omnibus but this ancient prob
lem has relation to the matter In hand for the errors
that have been found in the Bible not errors Of
deceit but OF inadvertence not OF falsehood, but Of
lack of knowledge. No historic document can be found
that is altogether nfallble Even the Pope does not
claim infallibty In all things but only when sitting In
the chair Of Saint Peter he speaks in his official position
in matters Of faith and morals.
The Divine revelation not made to teach arts
and sciences. but teach the science OF God and
redemption and the art of living holy, GOd-like lives
The Scriptures the final appeal in religious contro
VERSES, not in questions of science. Those who have
resorted to the Bible TO prove that the sun moves
around the earth, that the earth could not be Cir.
cumnavgated, that the universe created I'm six days
Of twentyfour hours each, and the like, have surely
gone beyond the Westminster Confession, which specl
fies controversies OF religion. The Greek New
Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament have
been kept pure in all ages by fhe Providence OF God,
and authentic for their purpose OF determining con-
troversies of religion. 1t is the testimony OF Biblical
scholarship that there are errors in the Greek and
Hebrew text now in orr hands. The defects OF In
errancy have been forced back from the text in our
hands TO the modern dogma Of the inerrancy Of the
original autographs. The texts as pure to-day 10
determine religious controversies as they ever were.
Our opponents deny the Confessional statement when
they say the original autographs were purer than the
Biblical texts are; they deny the Confession, which
states that they have been kept pure In all ages.
Biblical criticism shows that he present text is pure
and free from OF truth and fact any earlier
text accessible to All the errors that have yet
been discovered are but the diScOloraiions OF
cathedral, which coming in part from the wear and tear
OF the ages and in part from the minor defects in the
marbles, only 10 enhance The beauty and majesty
OF the structure
at is the shibboleth Of some modern writer's that
the Scriptures are the Word OF God, and that II is
dangerous to say they contain the Word OF God
The larger criticism states the one phrase the shorter
catechism the other. How shall we deal with this
apparent Inconsistency not seen by the Westminster
divnes, but brought into prominence by later con
troversialistsl II can be removed only by larger
comprehension. We have Interpretation Of their
meaning by member OF the Westminster dvines
themselves. The WIZ had the chief hand in con
sructing the shorter catccsm the great mathematician
Wallis says the Scriptures themselves are lantern
rather than light; they shine indeed. but 1t is not
their own, but rather borrowed light 1t Is God
which is the true light which shines to us in the
Scriptures"
Dr. Briggs here quoted from n number OF other
Biblical authorities in order TO show that they dis
tnguished between the form and substance Of scripture
and that the Westminster shorter caecism used the
phrases contained in the Holy Scriptures, in order TO
distinguish between the letter Of Scripture shell,
a case wine glass, instrument, and its essential
contents the Divine Word respecting faith and practice
Continuing he said:
Holy Scriptures built on the impregnable rock
of Divine authority 1t is sin against the Divine
majesty to hide It's Divine authority beneath the
scafoldng of human authority The doctrine OF the
inerancy of the original autographs 50 stands in the
way Of the scientific study of the Bible that Is I'M
possible for any who holds 1t to do thorough
Biblical work We may TURF away from the real Bible
and exVurgaed Bible in the form OF dogmntic
system but the Inevitable penalty VIII be ulrehlty Ill
Christian experience ana uncertainty at the foundation
OF our faith. Biblical scholars are searching the
ferent point of view and in every form OF light and
shadow, and say they ind errors In greater NUM-
Der than in any previous generation put
errors not the only things they
hnd. They discern truths and facts OF
exceeding worth neglected by the older diyies, which
are the very things need in this generation TO give
life and vgor religion, to recOnstFilct our
doctrines and reform our lives. Inc scriptures
nowhere claim to be free from error. doubtless God
might have sent inerrant Bible into the world II
might have been prepared by angel hands, but lie did
not choose this God gave all Ills universal revea
ton through human minds. lips and hands. These
human features OF the Bible render il improbable that
IL should be free from error.
The Christian Church has never officially decided
that the Scriptures free from errors. Ii Is wei
known that the reformers recognized errors In Them
and that great majority OF Biblical scholars Of modern
times I'm Germany, switzerland, Great Britain ana
America find them People exposed to these errors
they cannot avoid them. What possible advantage Is
there in the statement that they no, In the original
autographs, when man has access 10 them at the
present time, has had access to them Tor centuries
il IS pure speculation beyond any possibility OF
vcrfcatioI The errors are only In minor matters
and have nothing to do with your religion, your iath
In God and Christ, your salvation and life and conduct
They but notes In sunbeam. Take the Woru OF
God that is in these writings. The Scriptures pure
holy erTOress. far their purpose OF grace Is
concerned and the only inallibe rule OF the Holy
Of our New truth Will break forth for every
generation 10 lift men highys The Bible Is the only
infable rule and II will dTer continue TO break In
pieces every other rule Of faith in life that men may
nut IN It's way. 1t viii ever continue to give new
theology. and and grander guidance in holy life
and conduct TO all the successive generations OF man
kind"