they relate is true. (4) 1 John v. 7. This verse is universally acknowledged to be only
a marginal note, and it is not therefore now printed in the Greek text or in the Revised
English Version.]
27. M. If the Bible is really inspired, why should it contain all these
variations, discrepancies, and doubtful passages? Surely God would ensure that in an
inspired book there should be nothing to present difficulties to an inquiring mind.
C. Very often what appear to us to be discrepancies are not really such. If we knew
all the facts of the case, we should see that there is no discrepancy at all in the
matter. The doubtful passages also are few, and all taken together do not affect one
doctrine of the Christian faith. Any argument against the Bible on the ground of certain
alleged moral difficulties may be alleged also against the existence and government
of God in general, for the present state of the world and of man affords many difficulties
which it is not easy to reconcile with belief in God's moral government. But as these do
not suffice to shake our belief in the latter, the occurrence of similar difficulties in
another of God's works, the Bible, does not suffice to justify us in rejecting it. (See
Butler, Analogy, Pt. I, Introduction, § 6, and Origen quoted there, also Pt. II,
cap. viii, §§ 5, 7.) The fact of the existence of so many earnest Christians in all ages
since the ascension of Christ shows that these difficulties have not prevented true
and earnest inquirers from