Understanding The Bible |
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Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
circa 1970
IV. TESTIMONY OF THE EARLY CHURCH
A. Clement of Rome
"Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy
Spirit." Wescott on Clement: "He recognizes moreover the lasting import of the
recorded history, and the significance of the most minute details: the scarlet
thread which Rahab hung out of the window was to 'show that a redemption should
be made by the blood of the Lord for all who believe and hope upon God.'"
B. Justin Martyr
"We must
not suppose that the language proceeds from the men who are inspired, but from
the divine Word which moves them. Their work is to announce that the Holy Spirit
descending upon them purposes through them to teach those who wish to learn the
true religion. For neither by nature nor human thought can men recognize such
great and divine truths, but by the gift which came down from above upon the
holy men, who needed no art of words, nor skill in captious and contentious
speaking, but only to offer themselves in purity to the operation of the Divine
Spirit, in order that the divine power of itself might reveal to us the
knowledge of divine and heavenly things acting on just men as a plectrum on a
harp or lyre."
C. Tatian
"The
Spirit of God is not with all men, but abiding with some, whose conversation is
just, and being united with their soul it proclaimed to all other souls by
prophetic teaching that which had been hidden, and those which obeyed wisdom
attracted to themselves a kindred spirit, while those who did not obey. . .were
found to fight against God. "
D. Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch
"The men
of God being filled with the Holy Spirit and gifted with prophecy, having
inspiration and wisdom from God, were taught of Him, and became holy and just.
Wherefore also they were deemed worthy to obtain this recompense, to be made
instruments of God and receive the wisdom which cometh from Him, by which wisdom
they spake of the creation of the world and all other things.. .which happened
before their birth, and during their own time, and which are now being
accomplished in our days; and so we are convinced that in things to come the
event will be as they say.'
E. Tertullian
"God sent
forth from the first men who by their justice and innocency were worthy to know
God, and to make Him known, and filled them to overflowing with the Divine
Spirit;.. gave us a written Testament, that we might more fully and more
deeply learn of Him and of His counsels of His will."
F. Origen
"Truly it
is most evidently preached in the Churches that the Holy Spirit inspired each of
the Saints, Prophets, and Apostles, and that the same Spirit was present in
those of old time as in those who were inspired at the coming of Christ; for
Christ, the Word of God, was in Moses and the Prophets.. .and by His Spirit they
spake and did all things."
"...records of the Gospels are 'Oracles of the Lord, pure Oracles as silver purified seven times in the fire' (Ps. 12:6), and that there is a meaning in their minutest details; while they are without error, inasmuch as we believe that they were accurately written by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. "
G. Concluding
Statement
"Amidst the darkness, superstition, ignorance, and corruption of the Middle
Ages, the doctrine of the Plenary Inspiration of all the canonical writings of
the Old and New Testament was uniformly and spontaneously held down to the time
of the Reformation, except by a few stray heretics and a few heretical sects.
The medieval churchmen did not criticize the Bible, nor did they forbid its use;
they translated it, used it in disputes, and had due respect for its origin and
character." (Gaussen)
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