The Leafless Bible

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 24, 1913

The Leafless Bible

The Christian Herald relates the following story regarding the influence of so-called higher criticism:—

A pastor, having finished a course of sermons on Bible criticism, was visited in his study by one of the earnest workers in his church. His caller began by asking what he should now do with the Bible. "Why, read it, of course," was the reply. "But," said the visitor, "I don't just know what to do about it, so I came to ask your advice." And he produced, as he spoke, a Bible, which he opened and laid before the smiling pastor. "Why," said the latter, "there is nothing here, John—nothing left of it. How is that?" "Well," was John's answer, "you see, it's this way: You told us that the stories of the creation and the flood were largely myths and that the patriarchs were legendary figures, so out went Genesis. Then, you told us the Pentateuch was chiefly folk-lore and ancient legends, and out went those books, too. Ruth was a pastoral, you said, and then there was a bunch of Jewish history books, with more or less legendary contents, and out they went, like the rest. Job, you told us, was a dramatic composition, just a play; the Psalms were simply the Jewish hymnal; Proverbs and Ecclesiastes were the wisdom of the ancients gathered from everywhere, and the Song of Solomon was nothing but a wedding song, so out they went with the rest. To make the story short, pastor, you cast so much doubt on all the other books that I just had to tear them out one by one until there was precious little left but the covers. You've destroyed my faith in the inspiration of the old Book, and now, I ask you again, what I am to do about it?"

The preacher was thunderstruck at this result of the series of discourses upon which he had spent so much precious time and so much erudite care. "Why, John," he said, in a voice that had a quaver in it, "I think you'd better get the old Bible and read it as you did before. Though it may have human errors in it, it is still the voice of God speaking to man, and the only message we have to teach us the way of salvation."

Many have assailed the Word of God, but they have never yet produced a book which is better. They have yet to offer a substitute for the Christian's hope which they have sought to destroy. While it is true that there is much in the Scriptures of Truth that we cannot understand, there is enough which may be understood to insure the salvation of every man who will faithfully follow its instructions. The mysteries of the Word of God stand as one great evidence of its divine authorship. If the Word had been produced by the power of man, we could hope to fathom its deepest meanings, but coming as it does from the divine source of wisdom, it affords an inexhaustible mine of wealth and riches, a boundless field for research and study.