The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE.


Prof. Richard G. Moulton, in the Independ-
ent.
A great deal has been spoken and writ
ten, especially in late years. about the
Bible as grand literature. What exactly,
does this mean? We are all of us eager
to claim for the Bible all that is good: and
it may be doubted whether those who join
in the eulogium of scriptural literature
have always paused to consider the mean
ing of the terms they use.
For example, there are many who extol
the Bible as literature, and yet, apparently,
are thinking only of it's beauty of language
and style. This would seem TO be the case
especially with those who emphasize the
literary beauty of King James's version.
Too much cannot be said Of that version
so far its language is concerned; its dig
nifty Of diction, force and felicity of ex-
preston; it's rhythmic flow and wealth of
imagery. But literature, in a stricter sense,
is in the old version conspicuous by it's alb
sence. The fault lay. not with the trans
lators, but with the attitude of their age
to Holy Scripture. All through the CEN
turtles Of rabbinical and medieval doctors
the highest truth was conceived as series
of isolated propositions; and the trans
lators labored to make each verse" a
thing of beauty. But the result is an &C
emulation of good sayings-literature cut
into lengths-with the beauty not OF
poem, but of scrapbook. If sick man
were to desire his nurse to read to him, and
the nurse. picking up a Shakespeare, were
to commence at the last scene of the fourth
act of THE Tempest" and were to read on
to the second scene of the first act of Two
-,
have a feast of language and style, but
we should not call il a literary exercise.
And this illustration is a fair sample of
what may happen to a man without his
knowing II, II he merely reads a chapter Of
the older versions.
Others insist upon 1.-The Bible as litera-
ture" in contradistinction TO the theolog
ical Of Scripture. Such persons are
the canonical books TO be the foundation
of authority in matters of faith. But
they contend) these books are the product
of the Hebrew people, and each part of
national evolution which they combine to
reflect. What has tradionally been called
a book Of Moses may turn out to be fic-
ton ascribed TO Moses by later age; what
on the surface appears continuous and
complete may by analysis prove to be a
dovetailing together OF materials different
prophetic outpourings will be ineligible
only in the light of the circumstances of
the prophets, and therefore the history
must be correctly constructed before the
Significance of the prophecies can be esti-
mated. All this. so far IL is correct,
represents legitimate and inevitable line
OF inquiry; but such inquiry belongs to the
department of Semitic history, not OF bibli-
cal literature. To be present at a discus
sion OF experts as to the possibility or i'm
possibility Of reconciling the actions OF
WolSey in Shakspeares Henry the
Eighth" with the facts of Spanish history
as recast by the latest discovery of diplo-
and edifying; but all will recognize il as
a totally different thing from the apprecia-
| ton Of the Shakspearean drama as inter
4 preted on the stage. The higher criticism
| is the historical, not the literary. study OF
! Scripture.
The Bible is appreciated as literature
/ only when the different parts OF IL are
/ structure. II we ask ourselves what is
meant by Greek. or English. or French.
/ or Latin literature the answer will be in
/ each case the samoa number OF dramas
epics lyrics essays, histories philosoph-
! zeal or oratorical discussions fin Greek Eng
/ lish, French or Latin languages. II, then,
/ we are TO claim the Bible as "litera-
ture," IL must be because the contents OF
/ Holy Scripture ere made up of dramas
/ oratorical discussions - OF all these or
I of most OF them-or OF special literary
forms like these. And such is the fact
/ only IL is hidden from most readers by
| the uniiterary form in which our Bibles
! ara printed. Even a casual observation
will suggest that Job and the song OF
! Solomon are dramatic. But besiCes these
dialogue and underlying movement; Choir