Not Done in a Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 8, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 19.

“Not Done in a Corner.”

By Editor

NOT long ago we received a letter from an infidel who contended that the story of Jesus was a pure fabrication, because contemporaneous historians make no mention of Jesus or His work. It is argued that the absence of all testimony on the part of contemporaneous historians is evidence on the face of it that there was no such person on earth as Jesus who wrought such miracles and taught such wonderful truth.

Some Christians contend, and rightly, too, we believe, that the passage in Josephus which speaks of Jesus is spurious, an interpolation, as was clearly shown in this paper quite recently. Why, then, did not Josephus refer to Jesus and His work?

Was it because the work was done in secret, that a veil of mystery was thrown over it, that an “intense secrecy” enveloped the whole movement?—Not if we are to believe the New Testament itself. Of John the Baptist we are told that great multitudes flocked to hear him. Even the great men among the Jews at Jerusalem sent out a committee to inquire as to who he was and his authority for teaching. And Herod the king listened to his preaching, heard him gladly, but at last beheaded him at the request of a dissolute woman.

Greater numbers still sought Jesus, till John the forerunner was told that his popularity was waning, and that all were seeking Jesus. One member, at least, of the Jewish Sanhedrin sought Him, even tho at night. Rulers of synagogues, collectors of taxes, Roman centurions were among those who did Him honor. All kinds of diseases were healed, and in three instances the dead were raised. He Himself declared that His teachings were open and not secret. At last He was tried by the Jewish court, brought before Pilate as a dangerous criminal, and crucified. We may well believe that Paul’s appeal before Agrippa was founded in good faith, when he declared that “the king knoweth these things; . . . for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner.” Acts 26:26.

The reasons, then, that no mention is made of the early movements of Christianity may be summarized as follows: (1) The chief things of public record in the days of Christ were the official acts of the government, and the historians themselves were of government appointment. There were poor prospects for private publishers or unofficial historians. (2) It was characterized with marked humility. Great men did not ally themselves with it. A movement among the lower classes was not worthy of mention. (3) When the leading men of the nation came in contact with it, there was no credit or glory reflected from them. To save their dignity, history was suppressed. (4) Not knowing the truth or its spirit, the movement was deemed by the great to be ephemeral, and would soon die out.

“We see dimly in the present What is small and what is great.”

Little the great men knew of God. Even so thru all the ages and to the present, the world and its historians have not recognized God’s work till after His prophets are stoned. “The secret of Jehovah is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”