no doubt ranks high. But as to ful filling its original purpose, there is nothing of that purpose or concern. We’re not singling out one school because it is the only one with such a background, but rather because it represents the majority of America’s old historic institutions of higher learning. It is a sad and tragic situa tion which exists. The student daily paper at Dartmouth published the following: “Dartmouth has always been considered a liberal college. Graduates and under-graduates alike take pride in the freedom of thought that is permitted here. On the reli gious question, it is only to be ex pected that Dartmouth shows a large percentage of atheists and agnostics. Dartmouth is proud of her disbeliev ers.” What a commentary on the times in which we’re living! We have seen that there is a continuing ex hibition of such a growing trend throughout the world. Scores of col leges and universities, founded upon God’s Word, and built with the money contributed by Christian peo ple, are today repudiating the Bible and what it teaches. There is vital need for a vigorous defense in the battle over the Bible. I urge upon you to get back to the Word of God. Do some Bible reading for the spiritual growth of your own life and to make you an effective wit ness for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible itself is the one message that quickens faith today. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:7). P art IV E ven though critics through the centuries have waged a relentless battle against the Bible, it still re mains indestructible. Psalm 119:89 rightly testifies, “Forever, 0 Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” That’s enough for me! Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Its outstanding feature 8
is that all but six of the 176 verses speak directly about the Word of God. The statement here is that God's Word was established in heav en before God revealed it to man. This is the only Book that is eternal. That which holy men wrote on earth is a copy of what God had already written in heaven in eternity past. This shows its permanence. Isaiah was moved to write, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isa. 40:8). The same Holy Spirit likewise in spired Peter when he borrowed from Isaiah to reiterate this vital truth (I Pet. 1:23-25). As far as its evil treatment is concerned, man may criticize, ridicule, and bum copies of the Bible, but it stands because it is imperishable (Matt. 5:18, 24:35). We, as Christians, need not be surprised at the remarkable preser vation of the Scriptures. God Him self guarantees the keeping of His Holy Word. There is no other ex planation of this wonderful Book’s survival through the many centuries of time. Then, have you ever considered the work of scribes? The story of the transmission of the Scriptures is a miracle in itself. In the beginning, the sacred text was transmitted through handwritten copies. Both the Hebrew text of the Old Testa ment and the Greek text of the New Testament have been preserved with remarkable purity. The scribes were keenly aware of the fact that they were handling a sacred and precious revelation. They were trained to ex ercise the greatest care. They count ed not only the words, but also the letters, making note of how many times each particular word and let ter occurred. If an error was detect ed, the entire sheet would be de stroyed and the scribe would begin again. They knew they were handling God’s truth to man. The rule was that the copyist was to pronounce
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