Show inspiration AND revelation the question of the inspiration of the scriptures is causing some anxiety among some theologians who realize that the belief in the common theories if not in the fact itself is gradually waning rev W C A wallar recently took occasion to point out some reasons why he considers the common theory inadequate and to predict that the future must bring forth some readjustment in this regard adequate to the needs of the churches among the ancients both heathen and bews it was sometimes believed that when inspired men were under the divine impulse all voluntary action was suspended and that the speakers or writers were passive instruments under the direction of the almighty the early christians had but little occasion for speculation on a question of this kind but when in the the middle ages the authority of the roman pontiff became a matter of controversy and the bible was appealed to against rome the doctrine of inspiration had to be defined different conclusions were ar ara rived at some contended that god dictated the bible word for word while others held that only the fundamental truths were given by inspiration some maintained that there are different kinds of inspiration one providing for the revelation of things not previously known ana an one one guarding the writers against errors in stating things already known rev wallar believes that all the various theories are inadequate he looks forward to an amendment which will reconcile the diverse opinions and cover the conflicting views he thinks the eventual new theory will allow the broadest criticism and allow the readers of the bible to judge for themselves whether the writings are to be accepted as historical or not it will be a theory which satisfactorily reconciles the supposition that the sacred writings are imperfect human compositions with the fact that they are the word of god how this is to be done is not even hinted at but the author seems to be confident that it is within the range of possibilities of more importance is the reverent gent lemans objections to the current theory of inspiration they are classified as follows it cajus to satisfy many unquestionably devout scholars within the pale of the evangelical church it practically limits gods communion with the race to the one 0 channel h an of bible interpretation thus forcing us into the impossible task taek of arriving at revealed truth by way of the labyrinth of criticism and history reducing theological inquiry to the lowest type of clerical drudgery that chait of the scribe the lawyer and the text monger it requires infallible accuracy in every statement made in original autograph manuscripts now lost forever an so needlessly wagers the success of christianity on extremely remote picket lines which we are destitute of forces to defend |