Christ's apostles, although reputedly inspired, were very far from
being exemplary characters. Quarrels, jealousies, and emulations are
frequently disclosed in their practical lives. We are told there were
"envyings and jealousies and divisions" among them (1 Cor. iii. 8), and
that "they disputed among themselves who should be the greatest" (Mark
ix. 34). This implies that there was selfishness and worldly ambition
at the bottom of their movements. Paul also represents them as
"_defrauding_" and lawing each other (1 Cor. vi. 7,8); and Paul himself
had a serious quarrel with Barnabas, as we are told: "The contention was
so sharp that they departed asunder one from the other" (Acts xv. 36).
These incidents in the practical lives of the apostles show that
they were frail and fallible mortals, and under the control of selfish
feelings like the rest of us, and that their "inspiration," if
they possessed any, was not of a very high order. Such men are very
unsuitable examples for the heathen to imitate, as they are impliedly
recommended to do when the Bible is placed in their hands.
With respect to the doctrines taught by the apostles or New-Testament
writers, we will here assume the liberty to say they contain more errors
than we can allow space to enumerate. For those of Paul and Peter we
shall appropriate a separate chapter, but will only cite a few of the
errors of the other New-Testament writers as mere samples of others.
James's superstitious idea of curing the sick by prayer and oil we
have already noticed (chapter xli.). He also indorses the foolish and
incredible story of Elijah controlling the elements so as to cause a
three-years' drought (chap. v. 17). He tells us we can get wisdom by
simply asking it of God (chap. i. 5). Then why do millions of people
devote years to hard mental labor to acquire it? He speaks approvingly
of the practical life of Abraham, also of the miserable harlot Rahab
(chap. ii. 23, 25), and avows his belief in a devil, &c. John also avows
his belief in this superstition (1 John ii. 13), and likewise in the
bloody atonement (1 John i. 7) and the doctrine of predestination
(1 John v. 18); and, worse than all, he issues the bigoted mandate,
"Receive no man into your house" who does not preach the doctrine I do
(2 John i. 10). Jude indorses the foolish story of Sodom and Gomorrah,
the contest between Michael and the Devil, the second advent, a day of
general judgment, &c. These will do for specimens of apostolic errors.