THE BIBLE AND EVANGELICALISM

"THE CATHOLIC FAITH" is a manual of instruction for members of the Church of England. It was first published in 1920, was reprinted several times and ran to fifty-seven thousand copies by 1943. The author is W.H. Griffith Thomas, DD., Sometime Principal, Wycliff Hall. Oxford.

I refer to "THE CATHOLIC FAITH" because, although I had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ through the personal witness of a fellow serviceman in the R.A.F., I had settled down to worship in a Brethren assembly - I had been very impressed by the zeal of some members of the Church Army. It was as a result of this that I was considering applying for entry in the Church Army Training College. However I knew little of the teaching of the Church of England and a friend had commended "THE CATHOLIC FAITH" by Griffith Thomas.
It was this book, and two others I was studying at the time, with of course my BIBLE, which were forming some of my doctrinal and Church convictions.

I shall quote from "THE CATHOLIC FAITH" to illustrate the high view of scripture that was common at that time, and held by such a respected scholar and Principal of a Theological College. Incidentally every quotation is taken from the Authorised Version.

"The Bible occupies a unique position as the embodiment in writing of the revelation of God, made to us in Christ... The uniqueness of Holy Scripture lies mainly in the fact that it is the only book in the world which tells and assures us of two great realities which it is of the utmost importance for us to know.
(1) The revelation of God as love.
(2) The revelation of complete deliverance from sin.
It is evident therefore, that the Bible must occupy not merely a prominent, but even a predominant place in every true Christian life...." (Pages 147-148)

"Holy Scripture is the primal fount of Christian teaching. (Page 297).

"The Bible as the ultimate and final voice in religion is supreme over reason......" "The Bible is supreme over the Church in the same way. The Holy Scriptures are the title deeds of the Church, the law of the Church, the test of its purity, the source of its strength, the spring of its progress..." (Page 316).

"The Bible is supreme over Church tradition.." (Page 319).

Concerning the sufficiency of our authority we learn:

It is sufficient because it is full - nothing needed that is not found there.
It is sufficient because it is clear. Though some parts may be obscure there is still more than enough to guide an honest soul from time to eternity.
It is sufficient because it is definite. There can be no doubt about its meaning. It says what it means and it means what it says.

(Herein lies a very real problem for those of the modern persuasion that all modern versions are to be consulted in order to discover the word of God today. With all versions different and changing, we choose our own authority.)

It is sufficient because it is accessible. Here is a book easily obtained (that can be held in the hand) quickly read and adequate to every conceivable circumstance.
It is sufficient because it is satisfying. To the soul that receives it, it affords its own blessed and satisfying proofs.
It is not to be supplanted by Church or Council or Pope and not to be supplanted by tradition, whether primitive or current." (Page 322).

Indeed these three chapters are so helpful in showing exactly where 'evangelicals' stood at the beginning of the 20th century. We can see how far we have strayed from this position as a result of modern versions today.

Modern versions have been likened to a 'Trojan Horse' which appeared friendly outside the city. But having been received in, it caused unprecedented havoc and confusion. It still does!