CHAPTER SEVEN: THE WONDERFUL UNITY OF THE BIBLE ATTESTS ITS DIVINE AUTHORSHIP
The manner in which the Bible has been produced
argues against its unity. The Bible was penned on two continents, written in
three languages, and its composition and compilation extended through the slow
progress of sixteen centuries. The various parts of the Bible were written at
different times and under the most varying circumstances. Parts of it were
written in tents, deserts, cities, palaces and dungeons; in times of imminent
danger and in seasons of ecstatic joy. Among its writers were judges, kings,
priests, prophets, patriarchs, prime ministers, herdsmen, scribes, soldiers,
physicians and fishermen. Yet despite these varying circumstances, conditions
and workmen, the Bible is one Book, behind its many parts there is an
unmistakable organic unity. It contains one system of doctrine,
one code of ethics, one plan of salvation and one rule of
faith.
Now if forty different men were selected today
from such varying stations and callings of life as to include clerks, rulers,
politicians, judges, clergy, doctors, farm laborers and fishermen, and each was
asked to contribute a chapter for some book on theology or church government,
when their several contributions were collected and bound together, would there
be any unity about them, could that book truly be said to be one book;
or would not their different productions vary so much in literary value,
diction and matter as to be merely a heterogeneous mass, a miscellaneous
collection? Yet we do not find this to be the case in connection with God's
Book. Although the Bible is a volume of sixty-six Books, written by forty
different men, treating of such a large variety of themes as to cover nearly
the whole range of human inquiry, we find it is one Book, the Book (not
the books), the Bible.
Further; if we were to select specimens of
literature from the third, fifth, tenth, fifteenth and twentieth centuries of
the Christian era and were to bind them together, what unity and harmony should
we find in such a collection? Human writers reflect the spirit of their own day
and generation and the compositions of men living amid widely differing
influences and separated by centuries of time have little or nothing in common
with each other. Yet although the earliest portions of the Sacred Canon date
back to at least the fifteenth century, B. C., while the writings of John were
not completed till the close of the first century, A. D., nevertheless, we find
a perfect harmony throughout the Scriptures from the first verse in Genesis to
the last verse in Revelation. The great ethical and spiritual lessons presented
in the Bible, by whoever taught, agree.
The more one really studies the Bible the more
one is convinced that behind the many human mouths there is One overruling,
controlling Mind. Imagine forty persons of different nationalities, possessing
various degrees of musical culture visiting the organ of some cathedral and at
long intervals of time, and without any collusion whatever, striking sixty-six
different notes, which when combined yielded the theme of the grandest oratorio
ever heard: would it not show that behind these forty different men there was
one presiding mind, one great Tone master? As we listen to some great
orchestra, with an immense variety of instruments playing their different
parts, but producing melody and harmony, we realize that at the back of these
many musicians there is the personality and genius of the composer. And when we
enter the halls of the Divine Academy and listen to the heavenly choirs singing
the Song of Redemption, all in perfect accord and unison, we know that it is
God Himself who has written the music and put this song into their mouths.
We now submit two illustrations which demonstrate
the unity of the Holy Scriptures. Certain grand conceptions run through the
entire Bible like a cord on which are strung so many precious pearls. First and
foremost among them is the Divine Plan of Redemption. Just as the scarlet
thread runs through all the cordage of the British Navy, so a crimson aura
surrounds every page of God's Word.
In the Scriptures the Plan of Redemption is
central and fundamental. In Genesis we have recorded the Creation and Fall of
man to show that he has the capacity for and is in need of redemption. Next we
find the Promise of the Redeemer, for man requires to have before him the hope
and expectation of a Saviour. Then follows an elaborate system of sacrifices
and offerings and these represent pictorially the nature of redemption and the
condition under which salvation is realized. At the commencement of the New
Testament we have the four Gospels and they set forth the Basis of Redemption,
namely, the Incarnation, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of the
Redeemer. Next comes the Book of the Acts which illustrates again and again the
Power of Redemption, showing that it is adequate to work its great results in
the salvation of both Jew and Gentile. Finally, in the Revelation, we are shown
the ultimate triumphs of redemption, the Goal of Salvation - the redeemed
dwelling with God in perfect union and communion. Thus we see that though a
large number of human media were employed in the writing of the Bible, yet
their productions are not independent of each other, but are complementary and
supplementary parts of one great whole; that one sublime truth is common to
them all, namely, man's need of redemption and God's provision of a Redeemer.
And the only explanation of this fact is, that "All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God."
Secondly; among all the many personalities
presented in the Bible, we find that one stands out above all others, not
merely prominent but preeminent. Just as in the scene unveiled in the fifth
chapter of the Revelation we find the Lamb in the center of the heavenly
throngs, so we find that in the Scriptures also, the Lord Jesus Christ is
accorded the place which alone befits His unique Person. Considered from one
standpoint the Scriptures are really the biography of the Son of God.
In the Old Testament we have the Promise
of our Lord's Incarnation and Mediatorial work. In the Gospels we have the
Proclamation of His Mission and the Proofs of His Messianic
claims and authority. In the Acts we have a demonstration of His saving
Power and the execution of His missionary Program. In the
Epistles we find an exposition and amplification of His Precepts for the
education of His People. While in the Apocalypse we behold the unveiling or
Presentation of His Person and the Preparation of the
earth for His Presence. The Bible is therefore seen to be peculiarly the
Book of Jesus Christ. Christ not only testified to the Scriptures
but each section of the Scriptures testify of Him. Every page of the Holy Book
has stamped upon it His photograph and every chapter bears His autograph. He is
its one great theme, and the only explanation of this fact is that, the Holy
Spirit superintended the work of each and every writer of the Scriptures.
The unity of the Scriptures is further to be seen
on the fact that they are entirely free from any real contradictions. Though
different writers often described the same incidents - as for example the four
evangelists recording the facts relating to our Lord's ministry and redemptive
work - and though there is considerable variety in the narrations of these, yet
there are no real discrepancies. The harmony existing between them does not
appear on the surface, but, often, is only discovered by protracted study,
though it is there nevertheless. Moreover, there is perfect agreement of
doctrine between all the writers in the Bible. The teaching of the prophets and
the teaching of the Apostles on the great truths of God's righteousness, the
demands of His holiness, the utter ruin of man, the exceeding sinfulness of
sin, and the way of salvation, is entirely harmonious. This might appear a
thing easily effected. But those who are acquainted with human nature, and have
read widely the writings of men, will acknowledge that nothing but the
inspiration of the writers can explain this fact. Nowhere can we find two
uninspired writers, however similar they may have been in their religious
sentiments, who agree in all points of doctrine. Nay, entire consistency of
sentiment is not to be found even in the writings of the same author at
different periods. In his later years Spurgeon's statement of some doctrines
was much more modified than the utterances of his earlier days. Increasing
knowledge causes men to change their views upon many subjects. But among the
writers of Scripture there is the most perfect harmony, because they obtained
their knowledge of truth and duty not by the efforts of study, but from
inspiration by the Holy Spirit of God.
When therefore we find that in the productions of
forty different men there is perfect accord and concord, unison and unity,
harmony in all their teachings, and the same conceptions pervading all their
writings, the conclusion is irresistible that behind their minds, and guiding
their hands, there was the master-mind of God Himself. Does not the unity of
the Bible illustrate the Divine Inspiration of the Bible and demonstrate the
truth of its own assertion that "God (who) at sundry times and in divers
manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Heb. 1:1)?