THE BASIS OF TRUE DOCTRINE.
By G.
THE Christian religion is founded on the Word of God. It stands or falls with that Word as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. And, contrary to the popular theology of the day, it is founded on the Word as revealed in the Old Testament, and must stand or fall with the Old Testament. Concerning the false theory that many parts of the Old Testament are mythical and unreliable, and, as some assert, the whole is obsolete, we have the inspired testimony of Paul that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. Now bear in mind that the Scripture—the "all Scripture"—here referred to is the Old Testament; for the New Testament was not yet recognized as such; in fact it was not all written. So in Paul's day the Old Testament was sufficient to "thoroughly furnish" the man of God with "doctrine" and "instruction in righteousness." Paul was giving his parting counsel to a young minister, one who had been brought into the faith under the apostle's own labors—one who was bearing, and was to continue to bear, important responsibility in the Gospel work, not the least of which was to instruct other teachers after him. Note particularly that Timothy's mother was a Jewess (Acts 16:1), and had taught Timothy the Scriptures from his childhood (2 Tim. 3:15). Being a Jewess, she would not have taught her son any other Scriptures than those recognized by the Jews, even if the later Testament had been in existence. But Paul, speaking of the "Holy Scriptures" which had been taught to Timothy from childhood by a Jewish mother, said that they were able to make him "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ." So the "unfeigned faith" in Jesus Christ which was in the young man Timothy, and in his Jewish mother and grandmother, was based upon the Old Testament Scriptures. Note again, in this counsel of Paul to Timothy, he alludes to the close of his own life and labors as being "at hand;" he alludes to the fact that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived;" but to his fellow-laborer he says: "Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." So this minister of the Gospel was to continue in the doctrine of Christ as he had learned it from the Word of God as revealed in the Old Testament. A notable instance in preaching the Gospel from the Old Testament is that of Philip's instruction to the Ethiopian eunuch, recorded in the eighth chapter of Acts. The man was riding in a chariot and reading the prophecy of Isaiah, and pondering over the statement in chapter 53:7, 8. When Philip joined him in his carriage by direct command of the Spirit, the man asked for explanation of the words he had been reading. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." And so effective was his instruction that it resulted in the eunuch's baptism as they came to a convenient place by the way. When the New Testament came into existence it was not designed as a substitute for the Old, but as a complement of it. Christ had preached from the Old Testament, and counseled the people to search it for eternal life. It was one witness to His mission and teaching, a witness to the great plan of salvation. But in the mouth of two witnesses every word may be established. The New Testament is a witness corroborating the testimony of the former witness. The New Testament would have no basis whatever but for the testimony of the Old, and no scripture can be made a basis for anything that contradicts its doctrine. The world is full of doctrines to-day, which purport to be Christian doctrines, yet are out of harmony with the Scriptures. And various doctrines are promulgated for the very purpose of contravening the truths set forth in the Old Testament, as also in the New. All such doctrines are based on some "science falsely so called," and the Scriptures place such theories in the category of "doctrines of devils." In the days of Christ the Old Testament was comprised in three books, known respectively as "Moses," "The Psalms," and "The Prophets," and He indorsed all these books by referring to them and quoting from them. A striking reference to "Moses" and "The Prophets" is that in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke 16:29-31; also to all the three books in chapter 24:44-48. When Christ would confirm His bewildered disciples in the Gospel doctrine, after His resurrection, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27. It is also said that He opened their understanding, that they5might understand the Scriptures. Verse 45. Surely the basis of true doctrine set by the Master Himself ought to be enough for any professed disciple. G.