08 Analysis

Analysis

Chapter 1 DEFINITION OF THEOPNEUSTIA.

Section 1. — Section 2. — Section 3. —

Section 4. —

Section 5. —

Section 1. — Section 2. —

Theopneustia defined, Theopneustia asserted, not explained, Theopneustia rejected as to its existence, universality, plenitude, By some four degrees distinguished, viz., — Superintendence, elevation, direction, suggestion, This book designs, therefore, to prove existence, universality, plenitude, Man’s part in God’s book; illustration from Pascal and Newton, Theopneustia (further) defined and stated, Neither a priori (“ necessary”), nor from beauty, wisdom, &c, of Scriptures, but solely on divine declaration, This addressed, of course, to those who admit Scriptures, Scriptures declare their own Inspiration, Individuality of sacred writers, False inferences; different statement, s thereon, REPLY (1.) Human individuality acknowledged, (2.) God’s acting, (3.) What is God’s style?

(4.) Human personality how employed, (5.) Inconsistency of objection to (alleged) difficulty,

(6.) Intermittent Inspiration is complicated, rash, childish, (7.) “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God,”

(8.) Inspiration in book, not in man, Three illusions: excitation, degree, already known,

(9, 10.) Different styles — one God: illustration from music, Freiburg, (11.) This individuality gives beauty, variety, unity, harmony

Chapter 2 SCRIPTURAL PROOF OF THEOPNEUSTIA.

All Scripture is divinely inspired (2Ti 3:16), All prophetic utterances given by God, 2Pe 1:20-21, Section 3. —

Section 4. —

Section 5. —

What is a prophet? The prophets, in Bible, speak the words of Jehovah, False prophets, Scripture prophecies “the words of God in mouth of man,” Scripture prophecies sometimes without foresight, knowledge, or even desire, of prophets, Occasional gift of prophecy, Church of Corinth had (1 Ep.xii. 4-11), —

(1) Diversities of gifts, (2.) Divided severally, (3.) The subject of desire, (4.) Different forms, (5.) Words of Holy Ghost spoken by man, (6.) Of long continuance,

(7.) Prophets not absolutely passive, Hence,2Pe 1:20-21establishes plenary and entire Inspiration of Scriptures: these are written prophecies, All Old Testament Scriptures are prophetic, The whole book is the “Word of God,” (α) “Moses” may not be excepted, (β) Nor “the Prophets,”

(γ) Nor “the Psalms,”

Hence, the whole Old Testament is a written prophecy, All New Testament Scriptures are prophetic, 2Pe 3:15-16, 2Pe 3:2 : — hence, writings of Apostles are written prophecies, Writers of New Testament superior to writers of Old Testament, in

—

(α) Mission, (β) Promises, (γ) Gifts,

(δ) Rank , Apostles are prophets (Rom 16:25); more than prophets (Mat 11:9; Mat 11:11); above the prophets (1Co 12:28), Were Mark and Luke prophets?

Luk 1:1-4, Inspiration does not imply ecstasy, Testimony of Apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ, St Paul (Ep. Hebrews), The Lord Jesus Christ, (Unconscious blasphemy of rationalists), (α) In the temple (Luk 2:41), (β) The temptation (Matthew 4), (γ) At Nazareth (Luk 4:16),

(δ) Before Sadducees (Mat 22:32), (ε) Before Pharisees (Mat 22:43), (ζ) On the cross (Mat 27:46), (η) After resurrection (Luk 24:27), (θ) Luk 16:17, and Mat 5:18, (ι) John 10:22-40, (κ) The Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), Hence, PLENARY VERBAL INSPIRATION,

Chapter 3 DIDACTIC ABSTRACT OF THE DOCTRINE.

Section 1. — Catechetical sketch, i.-iii. Inspiration: its effects, iv.-vi. Degrees of Inspiration: mediate revelation, vii.-xi. Inspiration and illumination, (These differ in kind, characteristics, degree.) xii. Miraculous gifts intermittent: Inspiration by intervals, xiii. Language fallible when uninspired, xiv., xv. Inspiration differs from illumination in essence: infallibility of sacred writers depends solely on Inspiration: Inspired words, miraculous, words of God: our faith not on illumination of writers, but on Inspiration of writings: one has degrees, other has no degrees: it goes to heart of God, xvi. Much harm from confusion hereon; either the Word of God degraded, or uninspired writings exalted, xvii., xviii: Rationalists the former, Jews and Latins the latter, xix., xx: The Jewish Talmud, xxi., xxii: Papal Traditions, xxiii.-xxvi. Inspiration shews impulsion, (will) and suggestion: internal and external (understanding): writers were living pens: they (and the occasion) prepared by God; their individuality sanctified, xxvii. All the Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) equally Inspired, xxviii. The authenticity of each book an historical question, xxix., xxx: Test of Reformed Churches; of Luther, xxxi.-xxxv. Jews bear testimony to authenticity of each book of Old Testament, xxxvi., xxxvii, xxxix, Catholic Church bears testimony to each book of New Testament, xxxviii., Apocrypha; no addition to New Testament, xl.-xliii. Church a depositary of Scripture: that (an historical document) declares its own PLENARY INSPIRATION.

Section 2. —

Adversaries and defenders, xliv. Adversaries — to 8th century among Heretics (except Theodore of Mopsuestia), 2d century, Gnostics, 3d century, Manicheans, 4th century, Anomeans, 5th century, Theodore of Mopsuestia, 7th century, Mahomet, 12th and 13th century, Talmudistic Jews — Moses Maimonides, 16th century, Socinus and Castellio, 17th century, Fanatics, Latins, Rationalists, 18th century, Rationalists, xlv. Defenders — whole Church to days of Reformation, Rudelbach gives REVIEW OF FIRST EIGHT CENTURIES; proves that, —

(1.) Ancient church teaches Old and New Testament Canonical writings Inspired, (2.) Teaches infallibility of Scripture, (3.) Teaches nothing erroneous, useless, superfluous therein, (4.) Teaches doctrine same throughout, (5.) Teaches passive intelligent Inspiration, (6.) Teaches inecstatic Inspiration, (7, 8.) Teaches verbal Inspiration, (9.) She respectfully quotes, &c.; reconciles, &c., (10.) She admits liberty in phenomena, (11.) She fixes relations; proves; replies,

Chapter 4.

OBJECTIONS EXAMINED.

Section 1. —

Section 2. —

Translations, Are they inspired?

Insignificant objection: really no objection; not bearing against fact of verbal Inspiration; only contests advantage, Difference of original and translated text,

(1.) Sacred writers rendered Divine thoughts by sensible symbols, (2.) Original text written at given moment to single man, (3.) Translators learned; sacred writers illiterate, (4.) Thought of God only found in expression of sacred writer; but translators have Divine text,

(5.) Possible faults as to original text boundless, as to translation limited, Hence, limitation of doubt, God required for one, Man sufficed for other, Use of Septuagint in New Testament, How did Apostles use Septuagint? illustration, When Septuagint correct, quoted verbatim, Section 3. —

Section 4. —

Section 5. —

Section 6. — When Septuagint incorrect, amended, When Septuagint in particular sense, paraphrased, Various Readings, Inspiration and integrity of present copies not to be confounded, Objection is against present integrity; a question of history, criticism, Modern researches, unimportant results, Buchanan — Massoretics, Divine care of Old and New Testament text, Osterwald & Martin — illustration, comparison, Received text and ALL Greek manuscripts, Received text and Griesbach (Ep. to Romans), Received text and Griesbach results examined, Received text and Griesbach (Ep. to Galatians), Received text and Griesbach (and Scholz) new.Readings, Limitation of doubt — Bengelius, ALL churches have same Hebrew Old Testament, Greek New Testament, Errors of reasoning or doctrine, (Supposed)reasonings, quotations, superstitions, prejudices, &c., St Jerome, REPLY

(1.) Protest, (2.) Inconsistency — involve abandonment of principles (3.) Where stop?

(4.) Human vanity, ignorance, Errors in narratives — contradictions in facts, (Supposed) dates, allusions, &c.,

(1.) Scriptures always adversaries and defenders,, (2.) Ease of general assertion. PRECIPITATE JUDGMENT: various causes,

(α) Brevity (See Scripture Index — our Lord’s resurrection, &c.), (β) Two date-commencements (See Scripture Index), (γ) Different designs in gospels (do.), (δ) Mistranslations, contrary meanings (do.), (ε) Repeated acts, discourses (do.), (ζ) Disregard of various readings (do.),

(ηPoint of narration not discerned (do.), (θ) Want of care in chronology (do.), Errors in Natural Philosophy, Jos 10:12 — illustration, Popular language of Scripture — illustrations, Herschel, Airey, &c., Two GRAND FACTS — God says true; knows more than directly tells us, FIRST FACT: No physical error in the Word of God, Ancient and modern false theologies, &c., Scriptures no blunders, absurdities: various, and true; poetical, and true, Section 7. —

SECOND FACT: Intimations escape of science of the Almighty, Profound science of Scripture as to the earth, the heavens, light, plants, air, mountains, primary — secondary, races of men, seas, submarine fires, subterranean waters, languages of men, stars, heaven, God turns objections into testimonies — difficulties into proof, Declarations of St Paul, 1Co 7:10; 1Co 7:12; 1Co 7:25, &c. &c. (See Scripture Index),

Chapter 5.

EVASIONS EXAMINED.

Section 1. —

Section 2. —

Section 3. — Does Inspiration pertain to thoughts only, or to WORDS also ? Some confine to thoughts only, REPLY (1.) Contrary to testimony — a Scripture of letters and words, (2.) Irrational also — language, the mirror of the soul, (3) Leads further — “errors (more) in ideas (than) in words,” (4, 5.) Gratuitous hypothesis: useless, (6.) Extreme inconsistency,

(7.) Question relates to book, not to writers: latter sometimes, former always, Inspired — unwilling prophets, The historical books, should they be excepted from Inspiration? Some think their inspiration unnecessary, but REPLY (1.) To them Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Apostles give striking, most respectful testimonies, (2.) Our Lord’s manner of quotation, (3.) They reveal the character of God, (4.) They reveal deep things of man, (5.) They reveal angelic nature and office, (6.) Are full of the future, (7.) Their dramatic power and indefinable charm, (8.) Divine brevity — reserve,

(9.) Divine prudence, foresight, wisdom, Details (insignificant), do they deserve exception? St Paul. — (See Scripture Index), Important insight, lessons, inferences,

Chapter 6.

SACRED CRITICISM, ITS RELATION TO DIVINE INSPIRATION.

(A science noble in its object, services, history, immense results; yet necessary three warnings), Section 1. — Section 2. — Section 3. —

Criticism a scientific inquirer, not a judge — else faith undermined and overthrown, Criticism an historian, not a soothsayer — else encourages (really dismisses) impertinent and idle questions, Criticism the doorkeeper, not the God, of the temple, Advice — illustration, a Roman traveller, Counsel (the argument), study the Bible by and for itself, The Bible its own witness, The Bible its majesty, beauty — above all Divine action in smallest parts, (1.) Testimony of ministers, (2.) Interpreters.

(3.) Believers — Luther — Augustine, TAKE AND READ, CHAPTER 7

Conclusion.

Section 1. —

Section 2. —

1. Retrospect, Inspiration not a system, but fact: the book is Inspired: we have to do with its words, not writers, Scripture entirely the word of man and GOD: human individuality: not gradual intermittent Inspiration, but “everywhere and entirely” from God: this established by Scripture, Scripture declares all prophetic words given by God: all Old, all New Testament prophetic, warranted by God: — Examples of the apostles and of the Lord Jesus Christ, Objections considered: translations, readings, Septuagint in New Testament, philosophical errors, words of St Paul, Other objections: verbal Inspiration contested, historical writings excluded, insignificant details, &c., 2. Religious: Bible above every thing (CHRISTIAN), Something above Bible, namely, (α) Judaism, (β) Romanist, (γ) Impure Protestantism, (δ) Mysticism, Light and growing radiance of Scriptures, Grace and glory, “The whole written WORD is inspired by God,”