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comparatively brief moments when the HOLY SPIRIT controlled their tongues and pens,
were just as liable to err as we are (see Gal. 2: 11 for example)--and those particular
words which were actually formed by the lips and living breath of the LORD JESUS
CHRIST Himself. For He ever and always spoke `the words of God'. For God gave not
the SPIRIT `by measure' unto Him (John 3: 34). Whereas, to every servant of CHRIST,
grace for ministry is given `according to the measure of the gift of Christ' (Eph. 4: 7),
`the gift of CHRIST' being, of course, `the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT'."
Now what does "M." intend his readers to understand by these words? He draws
attention to the "difference" which he says that "Scripture makes" between the words of
Christ and all other instruments of revelation. We shall see upon further examination that
"M." does not teach that Paul's subject matter differed from Christ's personal ministry,
for he strenuously endeavours to prove that John Baptist, Christ Himself, Peter and Paul
all taught the same doctrine and preached the same gospel. He is however inconsistent
because he immediately follows the quotation given above with a reference to Heb. 2: 1,
where the question is not one of inspiration but subject matter, namely, "the so great
salvation".
To return to the quotation. At the close "M." draws attention to the difference which
Scripture makes as to the qualifications for ministry, which we readily admit. An apostle
differed in his "measure" from a prophet or a teacher, and all were exceedingly different
from Him they call Master and Lord. "M." cannot be referring to either differences of
subject matter or of ministerial qualifications and there is only one conclusion left for us.
He sees differences in INSPIRATION. Look at the words:--
"Pens of FALLIBLE men."
"Occasional and STRICTLY LIMITED inspiration for that particular purpose."
"Those particular words which were actually formed by the lips and living breath of
the Lord Jesus Christ Himself."
What is the intention behind these words? Is it not to leave in the mind of the reader
the idea that the words of Paul or Peter as given in the Epistles are less inspired than
those of Christ given in the Gospels?
It has been our constant witness that "ALL SCRIPTURE is God-breathed", and it
matters not whether the instrument of inspiration be David the shepherd boy, Amos the
gatherer of sycamore fruit, Peter the Galilean fisherman, or Paul the Pharisee. Let us
leave the confusion which is evidently the mental condition of our would-be critic and
hear what the Scriptures themselves say on this important matter. And first of all where
shall we find the "particular words which were actually formed by the lips and living
breath of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself"? They were spoken in the streets, synagogues
and temple of Galilee, Samaria, Judea and Jerusalem. Like the spoken words of any
ordinary man they have left no mark except in the minds and memories of those who
heard them. All who heard those wondrous words are dead, and all that we possess of the
ACTUAL words formed by the lips and living breath of Christ has come to us through
the writings of a converted publican named Matthew, or such a one as Mark, Luke or
John. As a matter of fact there are no words of Christ in existence save as recorded by
"the pens of fallible men". Now we believe Paul was no more fallible than was Matthew,
and if we once agree that in the matter of writing the Gospels or the Epistles the