The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-27
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8 VOX POPULI !.
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Pensacola, July 10. 1914
Editor Journal:
gagged In formal debate, . second reply
would not be permitted me: but the
public interest felt In the discussion
regarding the standing Of Jeremiah
as a prophet VIII warrant you. I be-
Meve. In departing from the rules Of
formal debate, ~ the facts being
brought out on both sides are decided
ly educational.
II were In regular debate. would
now call the attention Of the Judges
to the fact that Gideon has been silent
In respect to al the proof adduced
that Jeremiah II touched for n q truc
prophet throughout tho New Tesla
ment by Jesus. Paul. Peter. James,
admission Of points Of such weight
would decide the issue OF any debate
before competent Judges.
In saying that Matthew z:18 might
be attributed to any prophet from
Isaiah to Obadiah, Gideon overlool3
the fact that verse II attributes the
| words Of verse Is specifically to Jere-
miah in the following language:
Then was FULFILLED that which was
/ spoken by Jeremiah. the prophet. say
ing" This 10 too plain for question.
| Gideon also says he does not think
that his reflections on Jeremiah are
out OF accord width Daniel and in.
J this he over1ooks the plain statement
OF Dan. 90. where the great prophet
says: Il. Daniel understood by books
the number Of the years whereof the
word Of the Lord came to Jeremiah,
the prophet, that He would accom-
plish seventy years In the desolations
Of Jerusalem" This settles, either
that Jeremiah was prophet or that
Daniel was a deceiver.
Gideon seems to have me set In his
mind as an adherent to the literal
meaning OF every word Of the King
James version. am no more 50
than he is. My personal preference.
among the English versions familiar
to me, is decidedly for the Amerd-
can revised version, and my recollec-
| ton is that the American revisers pro-
fess to have made more than ten
| thousand changes from the readings
of King James.
The American revision, which has
the endorsement of the International
Sunday School Commission and the
national organization OF Christian
commercial travellers known as Gid
cons, seemed 1T one time destined to
supplant King James, in this country,
at least, but then gradually waned
in popularity. Years ago I asked
the Methodist pastor why this was
SO. He would not say. I asked him
why he himself did not use it: and
after considerable urging he admitted
that it was because the revision
knocked some Of his pet theological
4 hon 10 70 he "A
that the inordinate love Of untenable
doctrines has been the influence hold
Ing Christendom fast to the relative
ly unworthy King James version. with
all its indelicacies, Inconsistencies and
unb1ushing errors, ae
The last paragraph Of Gideons let-
ter in your issue of this morning
seems to me so extraordinarily good
that I beg to quote It here for further
consideration:
"A faith which cannot stand under
the elimination Of man-made errors
has little to give to God. It II easy to
say that we cannot understand Gods
ways and should not try to do so.
believe that what God has sent uoI
in the way of guidance was meant !
to be understood. however: and that
understanding will reach more Of US Il |
we have the word as 1t came and not
as 1t has been interpreted by gropine
mon through many darkened genera
tons"
There can be no doubt In the minds |
OF the thoughtful that God does desire |
His children to diligently study that |
they may understand Hts revelation
and may eliminate from their holdings |
all man-made error. The faith unable |
or unwilling to do 20 10 certainly a |
sorry faith.
But faith must proceed by some
wel-established principles. II It II to |
avoid being sidefracl<ed.. The prin- |
ciple enunciated in the last paragraph |
Of my other letter cannot be ignored |
by reasoning faith. Those parts OF |
the bible which are plainly shown |
by the internal evidence to belong |
together cannot with safety be sep
arated. It u exactly by this principle
we know that Jeremiah belongs where
he is
1t IL. a. Gideon remarks, most Inn
portant that we cut loose from many
OF the Interpretations made by the |,
Sropers Of the dark ages. 1t IL this
which the myriad denominations have i
shown such deeperate reluctance to 1
DO. and II II precisely this that has /
made the bible appear to unbelievers Il
to be a tissue Of contradictions. The II
modern man has discarded the science III
OF his forbears for somsthing up to II
date; he has chansD1 mechanical pro- II
cessess business methods. educational III
Ideals. everyday living habits, and H
everything else except his theology, to II
conform 70 twentieth century HRft. II
ana when It comes to Interpretation III
OF the bible. he contends himself, with II
obstinate stand-paftsm, to hug the II
Ideas that were formulated by man II