Higher Criticism and Babylonian Origins
THE vanguard of the “higher criticism” hosts, which is led by the German Professor Delitzsch, of Berlin, has now arrived at the conclusion that the Old Testament is of Babylonian origin. The principal teachings of this portion of the Bible, including the worship of Jehovah, says this professor, are derived from the ideas contained in Babylonian literature. One year ago the professor delivered before Emperor William and the empress an address setting forth his views, which was printed and circulated all over Europe, causing an international controversy participated in by leading theologians and Assyriologists. The voluminous discussion caused by this address led to a second statement of his conclusions before the same audience by the professor, at a recent date, and this address has been summarized in leading European journals, and seems likely to appear in America as well. In this address the professor says “there is no greater mistake that the human mind has made than to suppose that the Bible is the personal revelation of God.” And to this is added the statement that “a really honest confession of the heart must admit that we really do not need any further revelation than that found in our own selves.” Here the “higher criticism,” as expounded by this authority, joins hands with paganism, which puts man in the place of God. Paganism makes man his own revelator, his own instructor, and his own savior. The “higher criticism” by a different road arrives at the same ideas. The “science” and learning of men, when applied to the problem of salvation, lead back to Babylon; but the Word of God leads those who receive it out of Babylon. And by this token they know and are assured that that Word is not of Babylonian origin.