The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-06
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
To the Editor of the Republican:

his Interpretation of the bible, which is
opposed by the acknowledged biblical
scholarship of the world.
He denies the personality of the Holy
Spirit, regarding the spirit as an infu-
ence from God and quotes Paul to sub
stantiate his position. But Paul says
the Spirit himself beareth witness with
our spirits, etc. He uses the personal
pronoun in speaking of the Spirit. Can
an influence do this? The Spirit seals
the believer, Rom. 8: %. Only a per-
son can do that. Jesus speaking of the
Spirit uses the personal pronoun: he,
him, his. lie shall convince of sin;
guide you into all truth; speak what he
hears; show you things to come, Jno.
16: 7, 8, Is, Ia; teaches, comforts, sane
titles, testifies of Christ, quickens the
memory, searches the deep things of
God. If the writer's of the Bible did
not believe in the personality of the
Holy Spirit then language means moth
ing. The same terms exactly are ap-
piled to the Holy Spirit as are to the
Father, so that the personality of the
one stands or falls with the other. In
denying the personality of the HOLY
Spirit Russell denies the personality of
the Father.
Let me call his attention to some pas
sages of the Word to prove the person.
atty of the HOLY Spirit:
Gen. 2. The Spirit of the Lord NOV
ed upon the face of the waters.
Job 80: 4. The Spirit of God hath
made me.
Matt. Is: 10. Baptizing them in the
name of the Father, Son and HOLY
Ghost.
Jno. 16: 70; Acts s: 20; lisa. 48: 16.
33: 10.
Can you vex an influence? No. but
you can person. Can you lie to an in
fiuence, no but Ananias did to the HOLY
Ghost, Acts ;: 8, 4, and He Cthe HOLY
Spirit was God.
Acts Is: %. Eph. 4: 80. You can
blaspheme the Holy Ghost, Matt. u: 81.
Divine titles are accorded to Him. IT
Cor. 2: II. Divine attributes also. as
Eternity, etc, Heb. 9:14. Omnipres
ence, | Cor. GIG; Rom. S:14. Omni-
science, Cor. ?: 10; II Pet. /: q. He
is the author of Regeneration. John 3:
6. s; Titus 3: 5.
agree with Mr.. Russell that ability
to spell out Greek words does not con-
stitute knowledge of the language.
! have Greek, English and Hebrew lex
icons, Liddell and SCOTS, Young's ana
lyticaI; am familiar with McClintock's
and Strong's work. He lodges the
question. My point was that he claimed
to be able to read the Greek, vet was
compelled TO admit on the stand that he
could not. That fact stands and Rus
sell has not touched it.
The reason did not admit that the
Council of Nice was composed of about
one third Of the Bishops, etc, is simply
because it is not an historical fact. To
say that Constantine forced the doctrine
of the Trinity upon the Council does
not accord with the facts. The doctrine
was in the church befJre Constantine
came upon the scene. Some tried to get
rid of it, or discard it, as Russell has
done, but the overwhelming majority
has retained it and it has been one of
the principal doctrines of all evangelical
churches ever since. 1t does not carry
any weight, nor is there any force to
say the word Trinity is not in the Bible.
The doctrine is there, and it has been
abundantly proved to the entire salts
faction Of the great body of believers.
The these persons are set forth as dis
tinct and yet as divine. Matt 28: 10; II
Cor. 13: Ia; Matt, 3: 1917; John II: "a :;
John II. If the plain, common sense
Interpretation of these passages will
not convince one there is no use going
any further. though more could easily
be furnished
I | leave this Heterogeneous mixture of
isms, such as Sabillianism, Arianism.
Swedenborgianism, Universalism. Uni
tarianlsm labelled Russellism-to the
practical common sense of your readers.
We can bear with it a bit longer, as
there will, according to Russell's infal-
lible o. count, be no use for it after Oc-
tober 18th, for the present order of
things will wind up then.
He seems very anxious to suggest
some passages, though have no need
of his help. | will act on his suggestion
for the benefit of your readers.
John 10: % Jesus says: | and, my
Father are one. Certainly, one in
essence, in nature, in dignity, in power,
will and operation. Hence in the mat
ter of securing my sheep what do my
Father does likewise.
Sabillians say there is only one person
in the Godhead, but Jesus speaks here of
two. So Russell is with that company
of universally recognized heretics. The
Arians say the Son is inferior to the
Father, but Jesus says the Father and
Son are one, and c. T. musters with
them.
The son claims the same power with
the Father, and hence the essence is the
same. One in nature, power and ma
jesty. If you say one person you take
away both and leave neither Father nor
Son. John IA: %, My Father is greater
than |. He is equal to the Father as
touching His Godhead and inferior to
the Father as touching his manhood.