Ignorant of the Bible by Bishop Bowman

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 24, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 20.

Ignorant of the Bible

By Bishop Bowman

A young man was boasting of his infidelity at a camp-meeting a number of years ago, and desiring very earnestly to draw some one into a controversy. Father Gruber, an eccentric old German preacher, found his way into the presence of the young man, and said, "I understand you want to have a discussion on some of these questions." "Yes, sir," replied the young man. "Well," said Father Gruber, "it is not lawful to discuss questions of that kind on the camp-ground. Will you go outside?" And they passed out into the woods. "Now," said Father Gruber, "I am not willing to discuss with anybody that does not understand the Scriptures. Have you read the Bible carefully and thoroly through?" "O yes," said the young man; "again and again. I have been in the habit of reading it from early childhood, and am perfectly familiar with it."

"Well," said the old gentleman, "can you tell me where is the Epistle of Peter to Paul?" "O yes," said the young man; "don't think I am such a fool as not to know that it is in the New Testament, not in the Old." "Well," said the old gentleman, "I wish you would find it." He hunted for some time, and, as you know, did not find it, as there is no such epistle. That ended the controversy.—Bishop Bowman.