38
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
January 1929
diversities of Christendom. The fault rests with the fallen, corrupt nature of man which so affects him that he cannot clearly discern truth even when it is set before his eyes. Men insist upon bringing to God’s Word their own stereotyped ideas which they seek to confirm, wresting the Scriptures to fit their preconceived ideas. The best Teacher of the Bible is the Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:14-15). Notice the seven prayers of the Psalfnist in Psa. 119 for understand ing of the Word (vs. 18, 27, 33, 34, 38, 125, 169). Prayer is the key to the Bible (1 Cor. 2:9-12). It is significant that the devout Bible scholarship of the ages have been led to agree in all the great essen tial teachings of the Bible. We do well to tread in the “old paths” (Jer. 6 :16) and avoid the novel and extreme teach ings that are being offered and widely propagated in our day. The tracks of many of these popular theories may be traced back through the long range of church history to the very entrance of the enemy’s camp (Col. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:20). It has been well said that one evidence of the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible is the fact that it has survived the fanaticism of its friends. We feel that many will be interested in knowing how the Bible may be traced back and its authenticity established: Alexandrian Manuscript —Kept at St. Petersburg, owned by Greek Church. In book form, four volumes, two columns written on a page. This was copied about the middle of the fifth century. It was presented to King Charles I-. in 1628. Both Old and New Testaments are in a good state of preservation. Vatican Manuscript —Kept at Rome,
owned by Roman Church. In book form, over 700 leaves, each 12 inches square, 3 columns written to a page (except the poetical books of the Old Testament, 2 columns to page). This is probably the oldest Bible known, taking us back to the beginning of the 4th century, having been in the world over 1,500 years. It appears in the first catalogue of the Vatican library in 1475. Its previous history is not known. Sinaitic Manuscript —Kept at British Museum, London, owned by Protestant church. In book form, 4 columns written to a page (except the poetical books, 2 cols.). Probably nearly as old as the Vatican. Tischendorf, a German scholar, visiting St. Catherine’s convent at the foot of Mt. Sinai in 1844, found parch ments in a waste basket. Getting a com mission from the Russian emperor, in 1855 he again visited the place, and a monk gave him a bundle of the parch ments. Codex Ephraim —May possibly be older than the Alexandrian. It was brought from the East to Florence in the 16th century, and the middle of the same cen tury, to Paris. To save the cost of parch ment, writers had erased the Scriptures as best they could and written another article oyer it. Years ago, chemicals were applied, reviving much of the orig inal writing. Many Other Manuscripts have been discovered of very ancient date, but the four mentioned are perhaps the best. The scholars in the reign of King James who made our Authorized Version, did not have access to any of these manu scripts. Three were not then discovered and the Pope would not let the Protes tants see the Vatican copy.
CONCLUSION: The Old Testament must have been written long before these copies were made and these carry us back to 301 to 450 A. D. The New Testament reveals the fact that the Old Testament Scriptures, as we have them, were in the hands of Christ and the disciples. Of the 39 old Testa ment books, Christ Himself, as recorded, quoted from 22. Over 1,500 Old Testa ment passages are quoted in the New Testament. The only books not quoted are Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Song of Solo mon and Obadiah. The most important question, there fore, is—Where did the New Testament come from? Is it really from Jesus Christ and the disciples, or is it a con cocted story of comparatively recent origin ? Let us now notice how we may trace the New Testament back. The writings of many who lived in the first and second centuries have been preserved, and in these writings, we have the New Testa ment freely quoted, which shows that the New Testament had been written before that time. Among these writings are those of— Clement of R om e^A disciple of the disciples, a man of high position in the early church. Died about 95 A. D. He wrote a letter to the church at Corinth which is still preserved. In it he quoted our N. T. copiously. It contains words of Peter, James, John, Luke, and pass ages based on Rom., Cor., Thess., Eph., Tim., Tit., Jas., Pet., Heb. and Acts. Polycarp —Disciple of John, born 70 A. D- He was bishop of the church at Smyrna, one of the seven churches men tioned in Revelation. He was burned alive for his faith 156 A. D. He wrote a letter to the church at Philippi which is still preserved. We find in it the lan guage of Matt., Luke, John, Acts, Peter, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Thessa- lonians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colos- sians, Timothy, Titus. Papias —A friend of Polycarp, and bishop of Hierapolis. He wrote a work, “The Sayings of Jesus.” , The latter was lost trace of in 1218, but quotations from it are preserved by Irenaeus and Euse bius. He wrote about the disciples and their writings and maintained that Reve lation was divinely inspired. Origen —A prominent scholar in the early church, born 185 A. D. He wrote many books. In the few that have come to us, two-thirds of the New Testament is quoted. Tertullian —Born in Carthage, Africa, 150 A. D. A scholarly lawyer, well ac quainted with the N. T. His works make 2,500 references to it; 700 of these are to the Gospels. He was the first to intro duce the phrase “New Testament.” Irenaeus —Born 130 A. D. in Asia Mi nor; a disciple of Papias and Polycarp, who were associates of the disciple John. In his known works he makes 1,200 ref erences to the N. T .; 400 of these are to the Gospels. Clement of Alexandria- —Born 165 A. D. Within 100 years of the death of the disciples, he Was teaching the N. T. In his works we have 300 references to the N, T. —o— B revities O n the B ible Best way to carry a Bible (Psa. 119:11). What to do about what you cannot understand (Deut. 29:29).
Here's a Hymn Dedicated to the Zionist Movement. Written hy Gilbert Lord W ilson of Pasadena, a Lover of the Jews and a Student of Prophecy. Zion Shall Bloom’ I Gilbert Lord Wilson -k* . ... . Herbert G. Tovey A—F\- h --- 1 s IN, j ~d w 1. Shout it a - loud! O-ver all of cre-a-tion: Is-ra-el, open your eyes! 2. Na-tions, in place, Without friction, if tell - ing Sweetly, the story of peace; 3. Read,as you run! What the prophets aresaying; Knowwhat of darkness isgone; 4. Key-stone of grace, In the rainbow, if heed-ed, Light-echoespeace upon earth! 5. Heav-en’s a - men! From the hill-top and steeple, Calls for the sunshine anddew. Hg= Wr A ■v—v- V V A—e\ A h m i Let noth-ing cloud The re-birth of the nation; Zi - on shall prosper and rise! Leaving no race Without country or dwell-ing, Sure-ly will bring us release. See, how the sun, Af-ter breathless de-Iay-ing, Gleams into glo-ri-ous dawn. Hold-ing in place The great el-e-ment needed; Is - ra-el’s «Na-tion re-birth! Shout it a-gain! A - mong all the people: Zi - on returns to the Jewl Z--- f ^ P --P- i i t -f —w i> * * ' " t? r ' - ■+■
C opyright, 1928, by H erb ert G. Tovey a n d G ilbert Lord W ilson
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