Evening journal., 1923-01-13


Did you ever have any doubt that
the Bible was tho Word OF God
Dcd you ever havo a cloud OF dark
ness come over you az you have
been tempted 90 think the Bible
might not be tho Word OF God7 II
80. you will remember how you
seemed 10 be slipping down as II
sinking Into the mire. You trembled
as the foundations seemed 20 be
shattered and your hopes blasted.
Possibly Timothy had passed
through some such experience and
Paul was telling him how 70 avoid
any such experience again.
He first tells him 70 take into
careful consideration tho things that
had been taught him; 20 consider
the calm. peaceful and confident
manner that had marked mis- teach
ers; and 10 consider we'll VINO his
teachers were. They were not
strangers but were those VINO had a
most intense interest in him and
who were most devotedly anxious
to impress the truth upon him. His
mother and his grandmother, both
Of whom had instructed him IN she
truth. and what they had tried 90
impress upon him should not be
lightly set aside.
The first reason that we think the
Bible Is tho word OF God IS because
Il has come 10 us as an inheritance
from those who best loved uE They
had tested Il and tried 81 and out OF
the devotion Of their hearts they
were anxious 20 have us take and
live by Il. Our parents tried TO have
US instructed IN tho truth that had
met their needs and satisfied their
longings. They taught - 90 us at
home: they set us 10 Sunday school
and encouraged US 10 go 20 church
and always held up the Bible 70 us
as the Word God. such an inherit
ance should not DO set aside lightly.
But Timothy was 10 continue In
these things. Here was tho hope OF
his steadfastness. While one is prac- |
ticing his religion there Is little fear /
OF his falling into error. II Is when |
one lets up and lets go and lets !
Satan "nnd some mischief still for 4
idle" minds 20 think that one gets 1
of the track.
Again Timothy was 20 consider the /
effect the Scriptures had exercised 1
over his life. leading up TO his saliva
ton. lie had found that the Scriptures I
were profitable for the whole round /
OF life's activities both OF faith and /
ractice And the reason for this
great effect upon his life was that I
all the Scriptures were inspired OF |
God" or as more closely translated !
God -imbreathed." That the Breath l
OF God permeates all Scripture, |
whether Il IS the poetic fervor OF /
David or the lofty Prophecy Of /
Isaiah or the historic proseof Moses. |
the Scriptures are i'm
pregnated with the Spirit OF God.
We not only think Il IS the Word |
OF God but we know It Is the word
OF God because Il has come down 20 ,
us through the centuries and has 4
been tested and tried; we know It
Is the Word of God because Il does
what II says IL will do and has work
I'd out its purpose IN our hearts and
lives. And we feel tho breath of
God as we devoutly read its scored
pages. Prof. Harry I. Reed OF Au-
1urn Theological Seminary in nm
address on the Defended Bible
avs some Of us can remember the
,loquence and popularity of Robert
-ngersoll. and his repeated insist
nee that the Bible was an exploded
,ook: that its influence was at an
nd: that It's sales were readily fall
ng Off; that in ten years IL would
;carcely find a reading anywhere.
md in view OF his judgment OF a
ago. It IS interesting to
.ount the number OF great Bible