New-York tribune., 1907-01-26
TRIUMPH OF THE BIBLE.
Professor Wright, of Oberlin, on
Destructive Criticism.

Professor George Frederick Wright Of Oberlin
College. yesterday afternoon spoke on Turning OF
the Tide in Biblical Criticism by special request
Of the American Bible League. He said in part:
Providence is protecting the ark of divine truth
which was launched upon the world two thousand
aestTn1g5 49, years ag0 ,tS M p0Ssi9eTa be
show OF reason. that the four gospels were not the
product OF the first century. but of the latter part
Of the second. and we're not what we should call
genuine e9cuments II was msntaneGI tbnt The iSG SoTfb
gospel was not in existence until after the time or
universaIly accepted by German critics, that
Tatlan's Diatessaron was probably the original
But Providence had prepared the way FOR Sig
Ephraem Syrus was known to have written COM
mentary upon the Diatessaron. but both u ana tIls
Diatessaron itself had disappeared FOR many centu-
ries. About thirty years ago. however. Ephraems 3
commentary was found in an Armenian monastery master.
saron, in Arabic, brought to light These
the middle OF the second century was merely a
harmony OF the gospels, showing that the gQsPeis
a & % ast 1 ana nave De@n IN existence III '0
These discoveries and some others compelled even
HarIaclS to surrender and declare that the tradi-
tonal dates given 10 the early Christian literature
he has become a defender of the Lucan authorship
Of the third gospel and OF the Book OF Acts I'm
lated into English, and multtudes are reading those
opinion The opponents Of the historical character
OF the four gospels have now nothing TO go upon
Nifty the credulty OF the age in which the gospels
originated the more they render II impossipie 10 20
New Testament could have been produced In any
other way than by actual life.
Coming to the Old Testament, the wonderful ways
of Providence in guarding the truth have been dis
played recently that the effects are by means
fully manifest. But the destructive critics OF the
Old Testament have now touched bottom. The tide
has gone out TO its lowest ebb, while wonderful
array Of recent discoveries has come to light con-
nrlning the Old Testament history. 1t may be
that the destructive critics have by no means
surrendered They still have possession OF many
of most important seats of learning and control
periodicals of great influence. But calm consld~
Grafton OF the field shows clearly they VIII be com
PEELED 10 surrender. Their fancies and specula-
lions resist the batteries OF truth that are
now pouring in upon them.
And finally. science comes in with Its powerful
circumstantial evidence to confirm a large nuHLoer
of the plain historical statements OF the Old Testa-
rleut which had been the object OF the gibes ana
lidicule of unbelieYers. The years OF famine
and plenty are far more credible events than they
formerly were since know the conditions sur
rounding the sources Of the Nile IN Central Africa
The crossing Of the Red Sea is seen 10 have been
easily prepared for by the strong east wind.
which, according TO the Bible opened the waters
before the children OF Israel. The destruction OF
Sodom and GomOrrah, the crossing OF the Jordan
under Joshua and the destruction OF Jericho are
rendered easily credible by scientific study OF the
geological conditions in the Valley OF the Jordan
Even the flood has come 10 find a natural place
amid the startling events that geologists now know
to have taken place in connection with the glacial
period.