Inspiration of the Bible by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 24, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 21.

Inspiration of the Bible

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 2.

Inspiration of the Bible.

At precisely 7 o'clock Friday evening, the pleasant sitting-room at Brother Hartman's was ablaze with light. The large table had been drawn into the center of the room, and around it every member of the family was gathered. Beth, the youngest, curled up close to grandma, who sat with her large, coarse-printed Bible on her knees. John sat by his father, who had, since the lad's earliest memory, been his ideal of manly excellence. Mattie chose her seat as near to mama's side as possible, while Elsie, as tho feeling the full importance of her sixteen years, sat a little apart from the rest, with the Bible she had already learned to love, in her hand.

"Our little flock seems to be all present," began Brother Hartman, smilingly, "and I am more glad than I can tell, that all my children seem so willing to join with grandma, mother, and me in a closer study of the Book of books. We are going to try, with God's help, to make this hour of study the sweetest and pleasantest in the whole week. Can you tell me, John, why it becomes more and more necessary to study the Bible, as the years pass by?"

"Well, father, I suppose we ought to be able to tell the reason why we believe as we do,—because people seem to be more anxious to know than they used to be."

"Yes, my son; you have given a good answer. And then, you know, we have the great work to do of warning the world that the coming of Christ is near. You know the captain of a ship consults his guide-book more often, the nearer he approaches to danger. Can you give some other reason, Elsie?"

"We should study it more, I think, for our own safety and benefit, because we are surrounded by so many perils,—I think this is especially the case, father, with young people."

"Well said, my daughter; your ideas are good. Now, grandma, what do you think about it? Suppose you give us your reasons for joining this little circle in the study of the good Book."

"I think we need a double portion of God's Word now, because the times are becoming very perilous, and if we do not learn now to place our feet upon the firm platform of God's Word, the time is near when we shall fall into the snares of the enemy, and be led to deny our faith."

"But how can we be sure that we are not building our hope on a mere fable? how can we have any real proof that the Bible is the sure Word of God?"

"I think God's Word is its own best defender," replied Sister Hartman.

"Indeed, mother, you are right, and we will allow the Book to speak for itself to-night. Now, then, Mattie, my girl, if you were going to a strange city, and your guide-book gave you certain plain directions, telling you what you would meet, and what buildings you would pass on the road, after you had passed a few of these landmarks just as they were described in your guide-book, would you begin to doubt the truth of the book, and declare that, while some of it might be true, you could not depend on the entire book?"

"No, father, I think I should believe it all, after I had proved that the directions were all right."

"Good. Now, my little Beth, I want you to give us the best reason you have for believing that the Bible is the Word of God," and Brother Hartman reached over and patted the curly head laid on grandma's knee.

"Why, papa, I think the Bible must be God's Book, because—well, because there's so much love in it."

"That's all true, my child; your answer is as good as that of the older ones. Now, I wonder if any one can quote a verse from memory to prove that there is a great deal of love in the Bible."

Grandma's eyes grew misty at once, as she repeated her favorite verse: "John 3:16. 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'"

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Rom. 5:8," quoted Sister Hartman.

"I think," said John, slowly, "that there is a verse somewhere that says, 'God is love.'"

"Here it is," said Elsie, quickly turning the leaves of her Bible, "I just happened to know, because I read that very verse to-day; it is 1 John 4:8."

"That is all good. I think I heard you say that your teacher at school does not believe the whole Bible—only a part. John, you may turn to 2 Tim. 3:15-17, and read."

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

"Well, then; all Scripture must include the story of Jonah and the whale, about which many people seem to be skeptical," said Brother Hartman, smiling. "But I think there is nothing better than the great chains of prophecy in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, to prove the inspiration of the Bible; for we find that those great kingdoms which are there prophesied of, have arisen and fallen, in the exact order of the prophecy. I think it will pay us well to become intelligent students of these lines of prophecy; for, altho Mattie and Beth may be a little young to understand it all, still there is much good that even the very young can get from such study."

"Now, father," said Sister Hartman, "our study hour is up; we must not allow our lessons to become tedious for the children. But I will suggest that, for our next study, we consider the signs of Christ's second coming."