Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-27

1
of the Bible Is the inspired word of
God and as such must be accepted as
beyond human criticism?
Which portions of the Bible do you
believe are t1W inspired?
A. You, IKE many others, have GER
| tain fixed ideas with regard to the
nature of inspiration. The word needs
to be reninted so that it will be freed
| from misconceptions. The historians
| of the Bible we're dependent on ordi-
nary channels of information, folk
ballads, oral traditions, state annals
| and the like. In their researches they
were liable to error like other men.
They show their religious genius and
| inspiration by their insight into the
true meaning of events and the les
sons they draw from these for the
guidance of the race.
Coleridge in his Letters on the In
spiration of the Scriptures" says:
Need I say that I have met every
where in the Bible more or less copiouS
sources of truth and power and puri-
flying impulses; that I have found
words for my Utmost thoughts, songs
for my joys. utterances of my hidden
griefs and pleadings for my shame and
my feebleness. In short, whatever finds
me bears witness of itself that 1t has
proceeded from holy spirit. even
from the same spirit. which. remaining
in itself, yet regenerates all other pow
ers and In all ages entering into the
holy souls maketh them friends of God
and prophetic (The Book Of Wisdom,
viii27)
I do not think that your last ques-
ton can be dogmatically answered
Read the Bible for yourself and note
the parts which impress you most
deeply. You will find that your soul
is deeply stirred within you as you
take your journey through some of the
psalms and the prophets. You will feel
in studying the Gospels that you are
in the holy of holes, while in much
of the correspondence of st. Paul you
will experience the most exalted emo
lions. These are sure indications of
the inspiration of God and they abound
In both Testaments.
@. How long an interval of time
was there between the earliest writings
of the New Testament and the reduc-
ton to writing of the Old Testament?
Is it true that In the interval be-
tween the Old and New Testaments
apocalyptic literature sprang up?
A. The latest writing in the Old
Testament is now dated by scholars
about the year 165 BIC. st. Paul's
letter to the Galatians or the Thes-
salonians Is the earliest New Tesla
ment writing. These epistles are usual
ly dated about the year SO AID. Hence
the roughly estimated interval would be
about 200 years.
Ezekiel is sometimes called the father
of apocalptic prophecy and his book
contains some notable examples OF 1t.
The prophecies of Isaiah and Zacha-
riah also are marked by apocalptic
passages. It was in the period between
200 BIC. and 100 AID. that the
apocalyptic seers fourished. DR.. Charles
Canon of Westminster. In his interest
ing book, Between the Testaments,"
enumerates the following books as the
principal examples Of an extensive
apocalyptic literature:
"Ethiopic Book of Enoch" (200-64
B. CO.. Book of Jubilees" (4o-10 B.C).
ASSUMPTION of Moses" (14-30 A. d.,
Apocalypse of Baruch" 5000 ADJ,
Ascension of Isaiah 1-100 ADJ
and Testament Of Twelve Patriarchs"
Q30-10 B.C).
@. Do you believe that the writings
of Moses and other Old Testament
writer's were inspired by God as no
other writings are inspired? Your
answer to q question about the flood
as related In the Book Of Genesis car
ries with It the idea that you do not
believe that the writings Of Moses are
inspired by God, or else that part
Of these writings are inspired and a
part uninspired. What portion of these
writings shall we accept and what shall
we reject If the Bible as whole Is
not inspired? feel sure that it makes
little difference to you what believe
about the matter. but Will state that
I believe the Bible Is inspired as no
other book can be. ~
A. place no limits on the inspira-
tional prevalence of the Holy Spirit
in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was said
Of Napoleon that he made ,unriyaled
soldiers out of human mud. II an
INSCRIPTIONS warrior could achive that
end, who dare restrict the energies OF
the everlasting God In prepared men?
But you evidently mean by "tnspira-
ton" that all the writings of Moses and
his fellow authors must be acceptedy as
historically and scientifically true be-
cause they are in the canon OF Holy
Writ. Despite the fact that poets and
dreamers contributed to the Old TeS-
lament and greatly enriched its pages,
your theory necessarily excludes their
imaginative treatments and proceeds
on the assumption that symbols and
parallels were actual occurrences and
marvellous epics veritable descriptions OF
historic events. This theory is not
only false, it is injurious to the Scrip
lures and greatly confusing to number
less devout minds.
BY inspiration" understand that
God exercised supreme direction over
the Jewish nation, and educated its
chosen souls until they gradually rose
TO heights Of moral and spiritual
ascendency from which they visualized
eternal realities and communicated
these TO the race. The ultimate test
Of both theories is experience.
Whatever in the Bible moves men TO
cleaner, nobler living is inspired by the
all-righteous Being who created them
Do the slaughterings and ravishings Of
some ancient desperadoes Of the Bibles
earlier books have any such influence?
They certainly do not. On the other
hand, there is no need to recount here
the deathlesS music and reSiStless re-
ligious appeal Of the psalmists and
prophets. Read the Old Testament IN
this light, and 1t will bring your soul
into the presence Of its Maker. Every
thing sacred in thought and hallowed In
deed there awaits your receptive atti-
| tude. When you peruse 1t with the sole
intention Of justifying an absurd claim
| which, by the way, the book as a whole
never makes for itself, you do violence
70 its divine purpose.
@. What are your views as regards
the second coming Of Christ in the flesh
I - - ~ a