The Testimony of the Bible Concerning the Assumptions of Destructive Criticism

The Testimony of the Bible
Concerning the Assumptions of
Destructive Criticism

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Concerning the
Assumptions of Destructive Criticism, by S. E. Wishard This eBook is
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Title: The Testimony of the Bible Concerning the Assumptions of
Destructive Criticism
Author: S. E. Wishard
Release Date: May 10, 2005 [EBook #15812]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE
TESTIMONY OF THE BIBLE

CONCERNING THE
Assumptions of Destructive Criticism
BY
S.E. WISHARD, D.D.
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
JOHNSON & HANEY
BIBLE INSTITUTE PRESS
1909
Copyright, 1909
By S.E. WISHARD, D.D.
Presentation Copy
* * * * *
"In the defence and confirmation of the truth"
--_Phil 1:7_
BIBLE INSTITUTE
Los Angeles, Calif.

FOREWORD.
_This booklet is sent out To all Sabbath-school teachers, To the young
people of the Christian churches, And to all believers in the living
Word_.
* * * * *
The work of the destructive critics has been widely disseminated in
current literature. Magazines, secular newspapers, and some religious
papers are giving currency to these critical attacks on the Word of God.
The young people of our churches are exposed to the insidious poison
of this skepticism. It comes to them under the guise of a broader and
more liberal scholarship. They have neither the time nor the equipment
to enter the field of criticism, nor is this work demanded of them.
While abler pens are meeting and answering the questions raised by
destructive critics, something may be said that will clear away the fog
produced by them and enable young Christians to come directly to the
truth.
Hence this booklet is an attempt to "give God a chance" to have his say.
The testimony presented is on the divine plan of giving, "Precept upon
precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line," "lest we
forget."

There has been no attempt to cover the whole ground of destructive
criticism in the brief compass of this booklet. It will be enough to
permit God to answer; hence, in the following pages he speaks for
himself. We are content that his voice shall be heard.
S.E. WISHARD.

CONTENTS
PAGE
I. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM 9
II. SHOULD REPLY BE MADE? 17
III. WAS MOSES A LITERARY FICTION? 25
IV. WERE CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES MISTAKEN? 39
V. THE ATTACK ON THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS 59
VI. ASSUMPTIONS CONCERNING THE BOOK OF ISAIAH 73
VII. GOD'S REPLY TO THESE ASSUMPTIONS. 87
VIII. THE HISTORICITY OF THE BOOK OF JONAH 101
IX. RADICAL EXPOSITION 111
X. GOD HIS OWN INTERPRETER 119

I. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
_"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love,
as Christ also hath loved us." Eph. v. 1, 2._
_"Be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any
man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to
all men." 1 Thess. v. 14, 15._
_"He that believeth shall not make haste." Isa. xxviii. 16._
_"The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his
commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done
in truth and uprightness." Psa. cxi. 7, 8._
_"My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Isa, xlvi. 10._
The attitude which God's people should assume toward destructive
criticism has been questioned. It should certainly be a position of calm
patience, that can deliberately weigh valid testimony, and abide by the
decision of intelligent judgment. The history and life of the Church for
nearly two thousand years should go for something. They are not to be
swept away by the bluff, the egoism of what claims to be the only

"Expert Scholarship."
There is no occasion for a panic. Truth that has been, and has builded
noble, goodly life, is truth still, and ever will be. It is not a time for
denunciation. The assumptions of the destructive critics are so
enormous, so radically revolutionary, so directly aimed at vital truth,
that one's heart is stirred. There is danger of yielding to the heat of a
righteous indignation. It is not well to lose one's intellectual and moral
poise, even in a contest involving the honor of God and the welfare of
immortal souls. But "he that believeth shall not make haste."
The lovers of the Book that has safely passed through every storm of