The record-union., 1896-10-12
INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE.
Rev. G. L. kiel Discusses the Subject
Before a Large Congregation.
The Bible is the Record Of the Byolu.
tlon of the Human Race
In Morals.

The congregations at St. Paurs
church are steadily increasing, especi-
ally In the evenings. Last night the
largest congregation that has greeted
Rev. Mr.. Mel since the beginning Of his
pastorate, five weeks ago, listened at
tentively to a sermon on 'The Inspira-
ton of the Bible,'' from the text: '.All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for re-
proof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may
be perfect. thoroughly furnished unto
all good works.
The preacher said: When we turn to
this text in the revised version of the
New Testament we find marked diff
ference, as follows: Every Scripture
Inspired of God is also profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction which is in righteousness:
that the man of God may be complete
furnished completely unto every good
work" There Is a marked difference
between the statement, "All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God,' ETC., and
the statement, Every Scripture (Which
is) inspired of God" etc. In the former
case the statement amounts to this, all
Scripture is equally inspired. In the
latter case every Scripture" that is,
every text which is inspired Of God is
also profitable for teaching, etc. Put
In this way, st. PauPs statement re-
garding inspiration means
There are certain portions of the
Bible which are inspired of God; these
portions are profitable for teaching,
etc. The inference Is plain that there
are certain portions of the Bible which
are not inspired of God. The King
James version closes the question abso-
lutely with "All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God" The revised YER
sion leaves the question as to what is
inspired and what is not open. And yet
men have suffered untold agonies and
prosecutions simply for expressing a
doubt that the whole Bible from Gene
sis to Revelations is inspired. To-day
q considerable body of thinkers, clergy
men, in a sister communion is attacked
upon this very point So are men In our
own church, although our church has
never defined her doctrine Of inspiration
of Scripture in terms. Yet, doubt not
i could not preach to you as / am 60
ing to tonight in some of our dioceseS
without strong likelihood of suffering
from the odium theologicum, or possi-
bly, Of being charged with and tried for
heresy. Nevertheless, what I am about
to say 1 believe to be true.
The old theory Of verbal or plenary
inspiration is built upon the text as 1t
stands in the King James version, ''All
Scripture is given by inspiration Of
God" Every word in the Bible is true;
that is what is meant by verbal inspira-
ton. Every writer of every book in the
Bible was Gods amanuensis especially
selected to write Gods thoughts on
parchment or papyrus. 1t is strange
that such a doctrine should be held to-
day, but it is held. There Is, however,
a new theory, and 1t rests, may say,
upon the text as it stands in the re-
vised New Testament. The old theory
brings the Bible into sharp conflict with
the facts of life, with common sense.
and with the texts men have inter-
preted in that oldest testament Of all,
the Book of Nature. For 1T is to be re-
membered that God has revealed Him
self in sky earth, air, water, plants, an
imals, man, and Jesus Christ, the
word incarnate. quite as plainly as He
ever did in any printed word or book.