The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-03-16
POPULAR APoLoGETIcs.
Adapted from the German of Rev,
Peter Mikes, S. j., by Rev.
James Watcher.
As. Intrinsic Reasons.

have rejected the Gospels and the rest
of the Bible either whole or in part
for intrinsic reasons.
Answer: Cd The foremost Elm
trinsic reason" which is innermost
in all infidels, is their fear of miracles.
The Holy Books relate miracles;
therefore, the infidel critics conclude,
they are not genuine. Their fear of
miracles does not permit them to
judge impartially; because behind the
miracle is God, Whom they must get
rid of by all means.
ca The principal force of criticism
from intrinsic reasons is negative.
For example, historical, geographical
and archaeological errors, which con-
temporary and eyewitness could not
be guilty Of make a document sus-
picious and unreliable; also contra
diction with other reliable writer's.
But there are no such errors and con-
tradictions in the Gospels. The Holy
Books have withstood VIGOROUSLY the
tire-ordeal Of criticism for nearly 1900
years.
Every time they think they have
discovered an inaccuracy it was shown
that it was not the mistake of the
holy writer's but of the critics.
Some time ago it was objected that
in the Acts of the Apostles there is
mention made of a Proconsul Of Cy-
prus; but it was claimed that Cyprus
was no Roman province at the time
of ST. Paul, and hence could not have
had a Proconsul. The critics tri-
umphed but not long. Shortly after
there was found an old inscription
which stated that Cyprus was Ro-
man procOnsular province and hence
had a Proconsul.
With the same exactness, proved
by inscriptions, st. Luke (the writer
of the Acts of the Apostles) knows
that the municipal authorities of Thes-
salonica are called Politarchai (Acts
XVII, 6-S), that the ruler of the Island
of Malta has the title Protos (the
First (Acts XVII, y, etc.
(Cf. VigorouX, LIE nouveau testament
ct les discoveries modernes-The
New Testament and modern discover
ies--p. 223, 1921.
CD There is not only no intrinsic
reason against Holy Scripture, but on
the contrary there are many for it.
For example, the language and
style of the Gospels fit exactly the
time and country Of the writer's and
their degree of education which is
different for the different Evangelists.
: All details recorded in the Gospels
are in full accord with historical in
vestigatiOn. To appreciate the weight
of this argument we must consider
that in the Gospels and the Acts there
is great number of the smallest de-
tails recorded regarding religious and
political conditions at the time of
Christ, regarding taxes, money, the
military and governmental systems,
regarding the position and names of
cities, villages, lakes, rivers, brooks,
wells, gates of cities and of the
temple, ETC., which only a contempt
rary and eyewitness could give, espe-
cially when there were no works of
reference as at present. Half a cen
fury after Christ the Romans had
conquered Palestine and thus changed
the whole political, social and relig
ious condition: many cities and vii
lagos were destroyed or named diff
ferently; the Roman government, the
Roman judicial and monetary systems,
ETC., were introduced. .-
A later writer would certainly have
erred in some details and thus have
betrayed himself as forger, as did,
for example, the philosopher Philos-
tratus, about the year 200, who wrote
fantastic life of Apollonius of Tyana,
philosopher of the first century, to
whom he attributes all kinds of super
natural events SO as to place him
above Christ. He refers to an alleged
contemporary of Apollonius, Danis,
but lets him make so many mistakes
in history and geography that the
forgery is plainly evident.
The Evangelists show great IA
miliarity with the double monetary
system, the Greek (talents, drachmas
didrachmas) and the Roman Gas de-
narius, dipondius, etc.)-a very puz.
zling thing for a stranger as travellers
know only too we'll.
Even in trifles the writer's betray
themselves. A man of some educa
ton will mention himself last even il
he speaks of himself in the third per
son. Whilst we read in ST. Mark
CHI, 49, and st. Luke (vI, 15)
Matthew and Thomas" ST. Matthew
has Thomas and Matthew" calling
himself ''the publican" which tern
is charitabIy avoided by the othel
Apostles. st. Luke (Y, 29) mentions
great banquet which Matthew gave il
honor of Christ after having beer
colled to the apostolate; ST. Matthew
tx, 10) only mentions a banquet il
passing without posing as the host
There are many such little traits il
the Gospels.