American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1915-05-08
The Bible Today

Jews and Christians have ever held |
that book up as scripture The book
that brings to US the great things OF
faith and life II Is the main source
from which we obtain our ideas and
ideals about God--the realities of this
life and of the life to come. Because
It is the keynote of the religious be-
liefs OF the Christian; because 1t con-
tains the fundamental facts concern
ing things not only OF this world Of
time but also OF that future world
eternity; because II contains reasons
why men should live up the the high
est obtainable; because II holds out
TO men, weak and wrong-doing as we
know ourselves to be, perfection as
an attainable goal OF life; because of
these reasons and many more science
has OF recent years felt compelled to
test II. to prove It In all ways possible.
Such investigating study was long OPP
posed by those who, through false
and unfair respect for the Bible, felt
that any questioning of the state
mcnts OF the book was in truth dis
honoring, through doubt. Of God and
His revealed wisdom. But, thank God
for II has brought out the fullness of
the truth of God In way never even
realized or dreamed of by our ances-
tors, some came to have a more ra-
tional feeling towards the Bible. They
said: eff II is true II is the most
wonderful of books II IL is true IL
sets q goal and way of life of marvel
Gus beauty as possible for us. If II
II true 1t & yes meaning to this life
Of ours and should take away from
men all pessimism and despair, there
fore II ought to be vigorously tested
as a whole and in detail. that II may
the more fully compel US to life"
This search by scholars OF all kinds
has resulted In renewed and eleyat-
ed belief In the Bible. II has brought
out fuller faith than was possible
under the older way of regarding IT,
II il still the most wonderful of all
books: IL still contains the way OF
life: II still is scripture. Yet what
"A difference in point Of view. how
greatly its value Is enhanced.
The time was, and some still so
feel, that people thought the book to
BE- verbally inspired; that is. that 1t
was literally. historically and spiritu-
ally, true word for word from the
first OF Genesis to the last of the book
OF Revelations; that each of the writ
ers was used simply as pen in the
fingers OF God" Such an interprcta-
ton could only mean that Gods reve-
lation of Himself to man was full and
complete from the very beginning OF
things and that the Bible was a more
or less complete account of the fall
ures of man to accept and live that
revelation. Such method also put
the believer In full opposition to
science, for we grant that In all other
things of life and men there IL
gradual growth and development from
the less perfect towards the more
perfect.
AS result OF the now Bible study,
we, today, view the book from u diff
ferent angle. II Is still the Book OF
Life. but how different. how much
fuller and more perfect book II Is
now In sense fuller than ever be-
fore the record of Gods revelation of
life to man A progressive revelation
that fully and completely fits In with
the DEGREES of the science of the world
and even helps to bring ont the full
ness OF that science.
When In the course of the evolution
of man he reached stage where he
was more than animal, God began to
reveal his personality To the personal
ity. the divine, in man. Then AS man
developed and grew God ever, through
His inspired prophets and teachers,
revealed Himself more and more fully.
God ever giving as much of the whole
and well rounded truth as man was
able to understand and TO attempt to
live. The Bible then from n modern
point of view shows on the one hand
Gods gradual revelation OF the truth
and on the other mans gradual ac-
ceptance of that truth and his ever
more perfect attempt TO live II.
The Old Testament Is the record OF
he gradually growing moral con
seriousness and life In man. When
that development has progressed suf-
ficiently God gave 10 the world of
man His beloved Son that He might
by taking upon Himself the nature Of
man, show the life, as God had re-
vealed to man, actualiZed In the
life OF the Son of man and at the same
time sum up and round out the teach
ings OF the past The New Testament
is the revelation of that life and then
an account OF how man accepted II
and began to incorporate II into his
own life and TO III environment 10 the
TEACHINGS If Christ