Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-14
DIVINITY or CHRIST,

A somewhat heated controversy has
been going on lately IN religious circles
in New York. II IS rather strange
how religious controversies that one
would suppose extingulshed long ago
suddenly blaze upanew whenever any
one care to fan the ashes and embers'
This time the controversy again turns
upon the question Of the divinity OF
Christ--a subject that has been dis
cussed throughout all the centuries,
since HIS first appearance among men
DR.. Minot Savage started the discus
sion by declaring IN sermon ON
Christmas day, that there is no good
reason in the New Testament or In the
early church history for the belief that
Jesus was God The Rev. gentleman
emphatlcally declared that Jesus was
born IN Nazareth, and that His father
was Joseph. and His mother Mary. He
said that all the best scholarship Of the
world Is back Of this statement.
Naturally such an announcement
from a Christian" pulpit. would shock
the sensitlyeness Of orthodox ministers,
and number Of replies were received.
Dr. Savage then challenged anyone to
show any authentic text written by one
"whose authorship we know" which
can be properly Interpreted as teach
ing that Jesus is God.
That challenge Is perfectly safe 1t
cannot be taken up, For IL a text is
produced, which teaches the divinity Of
Christ. the challenger can always re-
ply. either that the authorship is not
certainly known, or that the inierpreta-
ton is not proper Dr. Sayage's POSI-
ton is thus unassailable behind one or
the other Of the two subterfuges
hut Notwithstanding this, number
OF replies have been given. one says
IN answer to Or. Savages double
cnanenge venture to send
herewith straight to his head and heart
two small pebbles chosen from the Cos
pei evidences OF the Truth he tlouts:
"Flrst-T The testimony OF Jesus Him.
self: j and my Father are one. John
| w. XVI.
second The testimony Of 81. Paul:
Who being In the form Of God, thought
It not robbery 10 be equal with dod.-
Philippians d. y
Another points out that the question
was settled at the trial OF our Lord, lie
says,
Jesus was crucined on the specific
charge thot Tie was an imnostUr Die
was guilty, or not guilty. Before The
court OF PLATE the people said, w,
have a law, and according Co the las
he ought TO die because He made Him
scif the Son of God Before the court
OF Caiphas the high priest, the question
was put 90 Him directly L adiure Thci
hy the living Cod that Thou tell US Il
Thon be- The Christ the SON OF God.
| And Jesus said, J an, And you shall
see the son of Man sitting on the right
hand OF tHe power OF Goa, and cominl
with the clouds OF heaven Jesus d
Cod the lieht Of the world, or a loath
some liar The Jews have ever sine,
regarded Him as an impostor. IN,
Christians adore Him as God incamate
II the Jews are rieht, Dr, Savage d
wrong, and the Christians also ar
wrong"
The entire question Is as old as tin
Gospel Of Jesus, and it was settled bl
enc Of His disciples who was mos
intimately acquainted with tho Master
The Apostle John says he who denie
the divinity Of Jesus. Is an Anti
Christ ans liar OF course, DR.. saw
aye VIII cay that John never wrot
that or that It should be understood
different from what Is generally sup
posed. And that ends The controversy
For whom the authority and cralibuh
OF the Scriptures are disputed. ,her
can be no further discussion Of Scrip
| tural doemas oven the existence q
Jesus nioy then be denied, ana VIII
j car prove itg
, suu the controversy may lead {
! some good Dr Savage says ne be
/ Heyts "a the divinity Of man. and s
The humanlty Of Cod lie says:
IL believe that Jesus was man. I b,
| leye in The divinity OF man; / belicy
IL the humanity Of God DO not OclieN