p. 531 | The Bible by Rev. William Walton Clark

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 34.

The Bible.

By Rev. William Walton Clark

Who wrote this book? This is the most important matter for us to settle ere we study and teach the Scriptures. The great theological question of the day is concerning the character of revelation, whether the Bible be wholly inspired, or partly inspired, or not inspired at all. Even among theologians there is a great difference of opinion; and as these opinions are ventilated in the secular and religious press it is our duty to look into the matter deeply that we may not only be convinced ourselves, but be able to persuade others also.

We believe in the full verbal inspiration of Holy Writ, that the Scriptures as they originally came from the hands of the writers were in truth “God breathed.” As students and teachers of these oracles we must know whether our faith rests upon the wisdom of men or on the authority of God. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God.” Peter writes, “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” and he also declares, “This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas.” David himself said, “The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”

If this be true in relation to the spoken word, it is especially so in relation to the written word. This is declared in 2 Tim. 3:16, “All scripture (that is, every writing) is given by inspiration of God.” If all the writings are not inspired, who is to decide what portion is of God and what of man? Each reader may cut and carve, accept and reject, as he chooses, and in the end nothing but threads and patches of the divine book will remain.

Bear in mind that it is the record that is inspired and not every utterance. Satan was not inspired to say to Adam, “Thou shalt not surely die,” for it was a falsehood; but Moses was inspired to write it. Ananias was not led by God “to lie to the Holy Ghost,” but Luke was inspired to give us the record. Peter was not inspired to deny the Lord, but he was inspired to make a confession as to his divinity. The record of the former is as much inspired as the record of the latter.

The Old Testament testimony is superabundant. Mark the utterances of the prophets: “Hear the word of the Lord” which came unto Isaiah, Jeremiah and expressly unto Ezekiel, the priest. This phrase, “the word of the Lord,” or its equivalent, is used 100 times in Jeremiah, 60 times in Ezekiel, 50 times in Amos, 24 times in Malachi. All the minor prophets sound the same note. It is like the roar of Heaven’s artillery all along the line, “thus saith the Lord.” In the New Testament the marvelous differences in the gospels and the wonderful peculiarities of every epistle are to be accounted for, by being attributed not to the weak and finite minds of the human penman, but to the omniscient mind of an infinite God. Nor does this belief interfere with the human element in inspiration. These men were not like brass trumpets through whom God spoke, but they wrote in language which accorded with their education and temperament, and yet they were so led by the Spirit that God alone is responsible for what they have written.

Students and teachers, hold fast to this, that the Bible not only contains the word of God but that it is the word of God. Canon Ryle forcibly says: “Give me the plenary verbal theory with all its difficulties rather than doubt. I accept the difficulties and humbly wait for their solution; but while I wait, I am standing on a rock.”

How precious is the Book Divine By inspiration given. Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine, To guide our way to Heaven. —Rev. William Walton Clark.