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The Bible as
An Authority
By W. H. Griffith Thomas, D. D. • Member of the Faculty of Wycliffe College, Toronto, Canada
Note: —The following address was delivered by Dr. Thomas on A ugust 2, 1915, at the Montrose Bible Conference, during its summer session a t Montrose, Pa. Another of his addresses, “The Bible as a R evelation/’ delivered at the same session, was published in our October number.
and where is the last and supreme word concerning God, life, and eternity-? 1. Thet Need of Authority .—The neces sity of authority is seen in every walk of life—-the authority of the parent over his boys and girls, the authority of the school master over the child, the authority of the college over the student ; authority in pro fessional, in artistic, in scientific life. Au thority is recognized as vital and essential everywhere. It is also essential in con nection with religion. Authority has been rightly described as the existence of an ethical standard. MAN NEEDS A GUIDE. Man, even as man, needs a guide. We were never intended to be independent. Our very nature is limited, and requires guidance and authority. But still more, man as a sinner needs authority. Amidst all the sins and sorrows of life, its diffi culties, its problems, its perplexities, man needs an authoritative guide concerning things spiritual and eternal. Two things are necessary for every life-—truth, and the eye to see it. 2. The Source of Authority .—Where is this need to be satisfied? The answer
¡\"elll W GOD has spoken, then obviously His word .must be authoritative. “Where the *s>” there is Z§1 authority and power. This a
P P 'S h /ftii wor<^
subject naturally leads into fields of diffi culty, and, unfortunately, of controversy. We want, as far as possible, to avoid any thing purely controversial, and yet at the same time to show where we stand in regard to the Bible as _an authority in connection with our spiritual life. We must not hesi tate to face modern difficulties, contro versies, and problems; because they neces sarily come before us at all times, in every part of the way, and in almost every as pect of Christian life and experience. It will never do for any Christian man or woman to ignore difficulties. It- would be easy to do so. It is sometimes called the ostrich policy of burying the head in the sand, but it does not work well. The question of authority is vital, and touches us at every point. The funda mental question is: What is the ultimate and final authority in religion? What is truth ? Where can it be found ? What
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