THE TRUE PURPOSE OF BIBLICAL STUDY.
By Charles A. Briggs
THE first work in the scientific and systematic study of the Scriptures is called textual criticism, or the lower criticism. It is first of all necessary to know the text in which the Scriptures are contained. Hence the candidates for the ministry devote a large portion of their time to a study of the sacred languages, the various versions and manuscripts of the word of God. All translations must be derived from a faithful study of the originals. It is indispensable that a living church should have a ministry who are brought into immediate contact with the divine originals. The Bible in unknown tongues is a Paradise fenced and barred. The acquisition of the original text removes the barrier; the translation into the tongue of the people opens the gates, that all who will may enter in. Hence our Protestant churches have made it an article of faith that the Bible must be given to the people in their own tongue, and continually interpreted to the people by ministers who know themselves the originals, and are able to remove misapprehensions that will always arise, to some extent, in connection with all translations and reproductions. But this first step of the mastery of the divine original text may be accomplished, and yet the grace of God that is in the Scriptures remain entirely unknown. It is as if a man should enter the king's garden and devote his entire attention to the study of the gates and walls. The second step in Biblical study is literary criticism, or the higher criticism. The sacred Scriptures are composed of a great variety of writings of different authors in different periods of history, writing in many different styles, such as poetry and prose, history and story, epistle and prophecy. Some of this literature is exceedingly choice, from a purely literary point of view. An anthology of the choicest pieces of Biblical literature would certainly be a very profitable study for many of God's people. Their eyes would be opened to the wondrous forms of beauty in which God has chosen to reveal his grace of redemption. But to study the Bible as sacred literature is not to study it as a means of grace. Exclusive devotion to that theme is as if we should enter the king's garden, and, instead of going at once to his gracious presence, in accordance with his invitation, we should devote ourselves to the beautiful trees and flowers and ornamental shrubs and landscape. The third work of Biblical study is Biblical exegesis. In this department the student in every way endeavors to get at the true meaning of the Scriptures. The particular passage and the entire writing under consideration must be studied with the most minute accuracy, and, at the same time, the most comprehensive summation of evidence. But even this may be carried on in a most thorough and successful manner in all its stages, except the last and highest, without finding God in Jesus Christ. Some of the best exegetes have not been true Christians. The peril in exegesis is, the becoming absorbed in details, and in giving ourselves to the quest after truth and scholarly accuracy. It is as if one entered the king's garden, and devoted himself at once to a scientific examination and classification of its contents, the survey and mapping out of its sections. The fourth work of Biblical study is the study of the theology of the Bible, its religion, its doctrines, and its morals. This is the highest attainment of Biblical scholarship, but it is not the study of the Bible as a means of grace. It is as if we entered the king's palace, and devoted our attention to the principles and maxims of his administration, the rules of his household, while the king himself was graciously waiting to receive us into his own presence, and give us the kiss of fatherly salutation. All of these various subjects of Biblical study are vastly important. The church has not yet awakened to the vast possibilities and the wonderful fruitage to be derived from Biblical study. No one could exalt these departments, each and all of them, more highly than we are disposed to do; but, notwithstanding, it must be said that, if all these studies could be accomplished in a most scholarly manner, the chief thing, the one supreme thing, might still remain unaccomplished, namely, the study of the Bible as a means of grace. This is the highest achievement of Biblical study; for prayer will seek first the presence and the person of God. It will not be detained by anything in the Bible. It will press on through the text, the literature, the exegesis, and the theology, giving them but slight attention, a mere passing glance, firmly advancing into the presence-chamber of God. It will run in the footsteps of the divine Spirit until the man is ushered into the presence of the heavenly Father and bows in adoration and love to the dear Saviour, and has the adoption and recognition of sonship. Then first will he be assured that the Bible is indeed the word of God, the inspired canon, when he has found God in the Bible; then first will he understand the Scriptures at their center, in their very heart, when he has recognized his Saviour in them; then in the light of the Redeemer's countenance the student may go forth to the enjoyment of all the beauties and glories and wondrous manifestations of truth and love in the Scriptures, and find them radiant with the love of Christ, and pervaded throughout with the effectual grace of God.—Charles A. Briggs, D. D., in Biblical Study.