The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-21

which he said they made the Word OF God
oI 20 effect. We need not fear a critical
eSaniination Of the books themselves to see
II this particular tradition Is correct.
Nearly all modern scholars say emphat-
ically that 1t Is not correct After a most
CAREFUL study of these old documents last
ing now through more than 100 wears, in
which time scholars have corrected scholars
With merciless debate. the theory is well
established that these books in their present
form proceeded not from a single author.
centuries.
Scholars hold that the process by which
tnese early books were formed was some
thing Ike this: From early days OF Jewish
history there were In existence various his
torical data, such as war songs. hymns for
ceremonial occasions, reciting the deeds OF
tneir ancestors and Gods wonderful WAYS
Win their fathers. family stories and ira
ditlons. Prominent among these documents
were certain legal codes. civil and religions
laws were given by God through Moses.
About 500 years before Christ these various
historical data were gathered together by
certain prophets. Notably two compilations
came into vogue. one probably by a Judean
prophet and another by a prophet OF the
NoEthern Kingdom of Israel. Eventually
these were combined nv some editor and
formed a complete history OF the nation
from earliest times. Later on. possibly in
the time of Ezra, some priest burning with
zeal Tor Jehovah. felt that In the existing
history sufficient emphasis had not been
placed on the religious institutions OF the
Israel, such as the Sabbath. circumcision,
the tabernacle. the priesthood. the religious
ceremonies. et-. He then wrote a history
from this viewpoint. known now 10 schol-
beautiful and complete work. Eventually
this was combined IN considerable skill with
the prophetical narrative. and after careful
editing. the Pentateuch came into its pres
ent FORM Who these authors were we do
not Know. any more than we know who
wrote the books of Samuel, Kings. Chron-
icles. Ruth and Esther in the Old Tesla
ment. and Hebrews in the New. Their
value does not rest upon authorship. but
~ bot
would be jest as grand even II we found
Shakespeare did not write them.
This. In rough outline. is the view of
scholars for the solution of the many diff
fculties In these books. II you do not ac-
cept II II is then incumbent upon you to
explain these difficulties by some other as
nave Simply n human theory. as the books
themselves assert no authorship. But. as
DriVer naively remarks. the reason why
the traditional view cannot be accepted Is
the existence OF too many facts which con-
Elct with it. IL is urged that Christ testi-
NED 10 the Mosaic authorship Of the Penta-
teuch when he quoted from these books
as from Moses. But Christ never expressed
any critical opinion as to their authorship. !
Ihat question was not raised In his life.
ana Tor him 10 have taken IL up would have !
been quite aside from his purpose. in fact
iatal TO his purpose. which was purely re-
hgtous. He used the books as he found
them and called them by their familiar
When Christ said his father made
the sun to rise upon the evil and the good
ne uiu not mean TO commit himself and the
church forever to the Ptolemaic theory Of
the universe. Theories Of astronomy Law
OF his life s object. as
oid also theories OF historical and literary
Il cannot see that the composite theory
In any material way affects our ideas Of the
inspiration Of the Scriptures. The historical
Of the Bible never claim any in
spiration in the materials they use. but
only In their use. Luke saws he went TO
work to secure all the material he could
.bout the life of Jesus. and then he COM
oined IL into his gospel. IL a prophet five
before Christ went to work In a
similar way and wrote the Pentateuch.
what difference does II make as to the re-
ligious and inspirational value OF the work.
IL Is simply a question OF the method God
has used for the preserving Of this grandest
Of ancient literature. II he had chosen the
OF a single authorship IL would
have been well. IL God chose the method of
growing composition. using various men
long years. each looking at the
history from a different standpoint. IL is
well. In any event. God saw his work that
{ was good. Let US be thankful Let us
20 TO work and study these grand books
n creation. and the beginning Of history ,
ng for the man who will stuiy ard search
hem and find the promise OF Christ in
In answer to the question. then, who
wrote the Pentateuch / would say. God
wrote the Pentateuch. Evidently he used
Moses for some parts Of u. and n series
II unknown men for other parts OF IL: but
Jack of all the writing was the eternal God
making known his salvation 10