Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-07
HIGHER CRITICISM
NO BARRIER TO FAITH
Rev. W.. RUSSELL Bowie, d. D., De-
tends Revercnt Examination of
Scriptures by Scholars.
PROOF TEXTS DIscRED1TED
Taking Single Limo Out of It's Setting
to- Settle Belief Not Proper Way
of Understanding Gods Revelation
of Himself to Man.

Seeing no barrier between the higher
the Bible as whole. but rather con-
| sidering the ono as an aid to
the other, Rev. w. Russell Bowie, d.
D.. rector of st. Paurs ppiscopal
Church. said in his sermon last night
that tho modern study of the Bible
which is known as the higher criticism
purposes simply to find the truth about
the Bibles meaning. There Is no In
tent to dlscredit the Bible, Dr. Bowie
thought. Instead, higher criticism be-
lieves that the Bible ought to be exam
tned and studied I'm tho full light OF
| all the Information which honest schol-
| arship can gain, and that faith in the
value OF tho Bible is not faith Mt all
unless 1t is glad TO face the proof
The sermon was the first of series
dealing with the Bible and higher crit
icisin. DIR. Bowie took as his text l.
Thessalonians, v, 1921: "Quench not
the Spirit despise not prophesying:
prove all things; hold fast that which
is good" In substance. DIR. Bowie
spoke as follows:
ST. PAUL BELIEVED IN TRUTH
AS AN EXPANDING THING
I'm these words from probably the
earliest OF His epistles. ST. Paul
greatest of the followers of the Lord
Jesus--exprcssed the spirit which from
| first to last guided all his thought and
work. He believed in truth as an ex-
panding thing. He believed that the
Spirit OF God continually has new mes
sages for mems minds and consciences
to receive. And he believed that upon
all which proclaims itself as truth.
whether new or old. should be turned
at oil times the light OF lifes search
Ing questionings, In order that what
is partial may pass away and what Is
permanent may abide.
1T can be reverently claimed for
the higher criticism. said DIR. powie,
that 1t finds It's sanction under tho
| aegts of thia great, free spirit of ST.
Paul. For the purpose OF that modern
study Of the Bible. which bears the
name OF Higher Criticism is simply
to find the truth about the bibles
meaning. 1t Will not be content with
the unsupported word OF tradition, any
with tradition. 1t believes that our
knowledge In regard to Gods reveln-
ton may grow larger with the years
Just rs Paul also believed that 1t be-
lieves that the Bible ought TO be ex-
amincd and studied in the full light
of all the information which honest
scholarship can give us. and that faith
In the supreme value of the Bible Is
really not faith at all unless Il IS glad
| to face this proof.
STUDIES THE RIBLE TO
FIND WHAT IS IN IT
The higher criticism studies the
bible to find out what the Bible. can
didly studied says about itself: In order
| that our theories may be made to
| square with the Bible and not the
Bible made to square with our the
orics. It's method is that same process
| OF historical Inquiry which would nat
uraliy be applied TO any other written
documents the meaning OF which we
wish to ascertain. How was this coll
| lection OF books. which we have bound
together and call by the one name of
the Bible, made7 How were the sep
arate hooks made? Who wrote them
| and when. and under what circum-
stances3 What were the events of the
time that color ach authors thought
and what was the authors purpose?
And what, when we consider candidly
all the facts concerning each books
composition and the nature OF the book
itself. Is the estimate we are Justified
in putting upon that books spiritual
value and authority
''These are the sort OF questions the
higher criticism asks and seeks to an
swer. II sincerely and reverently pur-
sued. the Inquiry cannot fall ultimately
to commend itself to all minds. which
couTASeousiS go IOTtn 10 welcome
truth.
Yet temporarily the higher criticism
and it's findings do trouble and dis
quiet many people. because 1t Is per-
ceived that the method OF examining
the books of the Bible one by one
and letting the books thus examined
produce their own conclusions is fatal
to that venerable theory OF inspiration
which thinks OF the whole Bible as
In all Its parts equally and completely
Il direct dictation OF God. The higher
criticism does destroy this theory. But
the result, so far from being n loss.
Is All Immense gain. That theory is
no statement OF the Bible itself. It
Is the product OF medieval theolo-
gians. who read their Bibles with no
appreciation OF the historic facts of
its actual origin. And the theory has
sometimes produced grievous moral
harm. II has destroyed all sense OF
proportion as to the Bible. 1t has ma de
men imagine that the crudest blunders
OF men In the rudimentary stages of
Old Testament life were OF as much
divine authority as the very words of
Christ Himself, md the burning Of
witches and the Inauisition and wars
of religious persecution have been some
of the natural results of that way Of
reading the Bible
GREAT FACTS UNCOVERED
by MODERN STUDY
1.-THE present-day study OF the Bible
uncovers the great fact that the Bible
Is the record of religious education
OF humanity that has been long and
gradual. 1t is not all equally reveal
Ing of God. Some OF the Old Tesla
ment records are OF n religious value
Immensely less than that of most of
the New Testament. and parts of the
New Testament are not to BIO compared
i'll spiritual value and authority to
other parts of the same testament The
old. unthinking method of taking any
verse of tho Bible, no matter where
found, as a proof text to settle
belief. Is discredited once and for all
Tho study OF to-day has given us tho
freedom Of n wider and juster discern
ment. 1t has made us see tho person
ality of Jesus Christ as the supreme
and central fact in the Bible. and has
taught us to take this personality as
the standard by which to test the rela-
tive divine authority of all the differ
ent messages the books of the Bible
express. And this modern way of