The Inspiration of the Bible 21 As this verse is given somewhat differently in the Revised Version we dwell upon it a moment longer. It there reads, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable,” and the caviller is disposed to say that therefore some scripture may be inspired and some may not be, and that the profitableness extends only to the former and not the latter. But aside from the fact that Paul would hardly be guilty of such a weak truism as that, it may be stated in reply first, that the King James rendering of the. passage is not only the more consistent scripture, but the more consistent Greek; Several of the best Greek scholars of the period affirm this, including some of the revisers themselves who did not vote for the change. And secondly, even the revisers place it in the margin as of practically equal authority with their preferred transla tion, and to be chosen by the reader if desired. There are not a few devout Christians, however, who would be willing to retain the rendering of the Revised Version as being stronger than the King James, and who would interpolate a word in applying it to make it mean, “Every scripture ( because ) in spired of God is also profitable.” We believe that both Gaus- sen and Wordsworth take this view, two as staunch defenders of plenary inspiration as could be named. B. ARGUMENT FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT We are sometimes reminded that, however strong and con vincing the argument for the inspiration of the Old Testament, that for the New Testament is only indirect. “Not one of the evangelists tells us that he is inspired,” says a certain theo logical professor, “and not one writer of an epistle, except Paul.” We shall be prepared to dispute this statement a little fur ther, but in the meantime let us reflect that the inspiration of the Old Testament being assured as it is, why should similar evidence be required for the New? Whoever is competent to speak as a Bible authority knows that the unity of the Old
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