The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-20
pn. Aenorrs T1rKs Anour JoNAn.
a Letter Explaining his Change Of 0ptnien
About the Miracle Of the whale.

Tho attention which tho Rov. DR.. Lyman Alb
bolt recently attracted to himself by tho sermon
in which no dealt with the Biblical tale Of the
prophet Jonah has led people to look up some
statements Of the pastor Of Plymouth Church on
the same subject. A canadian Journal, under the
heading Abbott Against Himself" has pub
lished some Of DR.. Abbott's earlier remarks on
the supposed miracle Of Jonah's sojourn in the
whale, and set them against his later utterances
with moro or less sarcastic ommen Tho
Canadian paper took tho earlier viows from Dr.
Abbott's expressions In his Commentary on
Matthew and Mark" In this work. which was
published In 1875. DR.. Abbott says. referring to
tho twelfth chapter Of Matthew, forticth versc,
In which Jonah's journey to tho Ninovitos 10 ro-
ferred to:
observe that Christ gives his personal sanc-
ton to the account Of this miracle. which, moro
than any other in tho Old Testament, has been
subjected to criticism and even to ridicule. We
must either accept the Old Testament history
Of this miracle or believe that Jesus was q do
ceivor or was himself deceived"
Continuing. in that commentary. and stiIl re-
fcrring to the same verse Of tho Gospel. DR.. Alb
ii So shall tho son of man DO three days and
three nights in the heart OF tho Garth He, in
fact, died Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock and rose
again on Sabbath morning, SO that he was In
the heart Of the Garth only two nights and ono
HsS Saa scd RSln ! part part Of S'i 3 Year SV Whole os" oso
In estimating royal reigns and a part of a day as
2 whole one in statements Goon OF tine; 70 that
facts as the Jews would have stated them. .
Christ unmistakablyr recognizes in the miracu-
resurrection"
In response, to q letter Of inquiry regarding
and those in his recent sermon. DIR. Abbott
said that he had no wish to say anything further
e e the pp .apDS Ssnse inaos.s shs ssO 81 it, Of I Ts ssS ssa
however, to his correspondent that when no
wrote his commentary, on Matthew. he regarded
81 regard Christ as tho supreme authority,
now no less than l did then" he continued; but
have reached the conclusion. now adopted by
scholars, that Christ never uttered these words.
nected with them in the Gospels. and a variety
Of circumstances lead modern scholars 70 the
added interprctation-addcd either by Matthew
or BY an early scribe.
the address OF Christ. Christ was, not In the
heart of the earth three days and three nights.
The very point Of Christ's address dress ie 2 p1int,6lank
demand. while the Interpretation makes Him
accede to tho demand The experience of Jonah
Ninevites, for to neither was 1t, known. For
these reasons I accept the conclusion that what
sees no sign should be given except the siRn OF
tho prophet to tho Ninevites, who repented at
the preaching Of Jonah without III Gs any secompa,
IL Ah8 CtBh- NAS
best evidence"
Here is the fortieth verse Of the twelfth chap
ter of Matthew. together with the context:
80. But I say unto you. That every Idle word that
men shall speak. they shall give account thereof in the
day of judgments;
81. For by thy words thou shalt be justified. and By
thy words thou shalt DO condemned.
ss. Then certain of tho scr1bes and OF the Pharisses
answered. saying. Master. We would eco . sign from
thee.
80. But he answered and said unto them. An evil
and adulterous generation seeketh aftor . sign, and
there shall no sign be given TO it. but the sign Of the
prophet Jonas:
30. For as Jonas was three days and three nights In
the whales belly; so shall tho Son Of man DO three
days and three nights in the heart OF the earth
a. Tho men Of Nineveh shall rise in Judgment
with this generation. and shall condemn IL; because
they repented at the preaching ofJonas; and. behold.
sgreater than Jonas IL here.
1t 10 fair to DR.. Abbott 70 state specifically
that his letter, In which he did not hesitate to
avow tho change that twenty years Of study had
effected In his opinions, was written distinctly
as q reply by courtesy to q correspondent, and
not In behalf OF q newspaper controversy.