By The Ven. Archdeacon Paterson-Smyth, D.D., Litt.D., D.C.L.
This is a vast subject. What is one to do with it in an essay limited
to twenty pages? Keeping in mind the purpose of the editors I have
decided to confine myself to one main thought: Reassurance as to the
unshakeable position of the Bible amid present-day doubts and disquiet.
With all his reverence for the Bible there sometimes come to a
thoughtful layman perplexities and tacit questionings. This is partly
because we are thinking a little more than our grandfathers did, but
still more because God has given in our day fuller knowledge of the
truths of history and science, and also of the making of the Bible
itself through the keen investigations of what is called Higher
Criticism.
There is no space to discuss such questions here. But if it be not
presumptions after many years of study of these questions I should like
to assure the reader that not only is there no peril to the Bible in
any of this new knowledge, but that when he has got over any disquiet
caused by some shifting of his point of view it should make the Bible
for him a more living, appealing presentation of God. At present I can
only help him to examine his foundations.