The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-01-09
THE DIVINE LIBRARY
REV. R. R. CLAIBORNE


the Holy Bible. For it consists of
sixty-six different books which cover
a period of about 1900 years; and
yet each fits into the one grand plan
so that gathered together we may
speak of them as one Book, The Book.
There are 1889 chapters and each
chapter is stamped with the Divine
Influence.
This unity is one mark of their d.
vineness. These books were written
IN different ages, by many different
authors, with many subject, under
different condition, with no designed
connection Except in the Acts); and
yet all are harmonious. They are
bound together by His will and plan.
The origin of writing in the Old
TeMament of course is generally
when God called some man to speak
for Him, or work under His direc-
ton. There were peculiar circum-
stances and times of special need. He
spoke through human mediums: they
spoke with authority: "Thus saith the
Lord" Christ's references to the
Old Testament point US there to
search for Him. In Him we find the
Key.
The origin of the New Testament
we find in the Key towards which
the Old Testament ever led us. Christ,
the Key, unlocks it's secrets. And
so, He taught men of God and His
love; and then, His disciples loved
Him, and talked about Him; and then.
He assembled into heaven. And moth
ing had been written; and there was
no New Testament. And the Church
was born by the power of His Spirit
whom He sent; and the Church was
called His body, because it was to
give expression to the Spirit of the
Christ.
And then men began to write down
what He had said, His very words.
His beautiful stories and illustrations ::
and about His wonderful works, His
miracles, His prayers, and the things
He told them to do,-and as a con-
sequence we have the four Gospels.
There were other gospels, but these
four were selected by the Church un-
der the guidance of Gods Holy Spirit,
as having been written under the in
splration of God the Holy Ghost.
You see the Church was at work
before there was any New Testa-
ment, perhaps about thirty years.
And certain members of the Church
wrote down these things. 1t is thought
that Mark wrote down Peters Cos
pei; and Luke wrote Paul's GOSPEL
Matthew wrote that Christ's teach
ing might not be lost, having the
Jews especially in mind. And John
wrote: "That We might believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and
that believing, We might have life
through His name"
Then that book called the Acts.
the Acts of the Holy Ghost through
the apostles and disciples of the
Christ. 1t is record of the Church
at work, under the direction of the
Spirit doing His bidding, given eour-
age and power in face of all diff
cultles. 1t is His body giving ex-
preston to His will, and love, and
mercy, for all mankind.
One member of the Church. an
apostle and missionary, wrote more
than any other; and He did more
work, and gave himself more entire
ly to the service of Christ, it seems
to me. The Holy Spirit entered into,
TOOK possession of, and spoke through
Paul the Apostle, the bond-servant of
Jesus Christ And he wrote ID let
tiers Cor epistles) and perhaps an
other. They were written mostly to
the churches which he had established
IN his preaching journeys. They tell
OF the Crucifxion and it's meaning
OF the Resurrection and Ascension
and Intercession.
Some letters were personal, such
as to Bishop Timothy of the Ephe-
slams. See what kind of a man he
thinks the bishop (episcopos) should
be. l was just reading both letters
this morning. Mark how appropriate
for today his advise to all of us, wo-
men and men, in various relation
ships. Magnificent Christian hero
the gift of God to the world!
Next the Catholic Epistles; and 70,
the sake of babes in Christ, let us
explain that Catholic there means
general eplstles, or letters written ia
Christians everywhere There was
Just the One Body of Christ. one
Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church
through which the One Spirit of Coo
worked and wrote ard preached anC
lived the life Of the Christ!