W. L. TOTTY
Some of the “intellectuals” among us seem to think, judging from their speech, that a doctor’s degree is essential to understanding the Bible, since we are told to love the Lord “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matt. 22:37.) A teacher in one of our colleges has recently said, “We believe that the Word of God can only be known in its depth when studied in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages in which it was first written.”
The mind must be educated to think properly. That does not mean, however, that a person must have a doctor’s degree or the equivalent. It simply means that we must direct the mind, for Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart (mind) the mouth speaketh.” (Matt. 12:34.) If Jesus were referring to an academic education, the larger part of the population would be cut out of his plan. But he said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast revealed them unto babes.” (Matt. 11:25.) We are not opposed to education. We respect education and believe that a person should get all the education which he can command, but it is dangerous when a man lets the education command him.
This particular teacher under consideration said, “Have you ever given any thought to the position a man is in who says to the public, I am an authoritative interpreter of this book. I can tell you all about what it says and what it means….I cannot read it because it is written in the languages that I do not know. I can only take what other men have said the writer said and meant.” (Sic.)
This man was referring to a person who can read only the English language; and, thus, when he reads the Bible, he isn’t reading what he knows; he is reading what the translators gave him. That statement is a reflection upon our Bible. The King James and American Standard Versions were translated by a total of 101 scholars. It is amazingly strange that the atheists have never been able to prove those versions wrong, notwithstanding the fact that there are many scholars of high degrees among the atheists; but a preacher can come along and cast unfounded suspicion toward the Bible.
We are asked this question: “Have we understood the Lord to say, ‘Blessed are those of mediocre training for theirs is the kingdom of heaven?’ Is there any way to solve intellectual problems other than by superior intellectualism?” (Sic.) No, Jesus did not say that; but he did say, through his apostle Paul, that we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. (Rom. 12:3.) And Jesus said, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates unto the city.” (Rev. 22:14.) Jesus also said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:32.) Again, Jesus said, ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (Jn. 7:17.) And, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mk. 16:16.) Jesus put his law upon a plane which any normal man can understand and obey.
Of learned men it is said, “Rather than being the church’s greatest danger (as some seem to feel they are), loyal learned men have been among its greatest benefactors.” I think no one would deny that some of our learned men have been among the church’s greatest benefactors, but to infer that they have been its only benefactors is exceedingly wrong. There have been many unlearned men by today’s standard of education who have done as much as and sometimes more than the “intellectual” group. The word learned is a very flexible word. A person can be learned in God’s law and know more about what God would have us to do than many men of high degrees. The apostle Paul was used as an example to prove that educated men are more qualified. Paul was taught in the schools of his day, but Jesus did not choose Paul because of his education. He chose him as one who would do his will without fear, even among kings. Let us not forget the fact that Paul did not depend upon his worldly education, but, rather, upon the inspiration of God to tell him what to teach. Paul said, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (I Cor. 2:4-5.) Moreover, there were 12 other men chosen to be apostles of Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel; and what they preached was just as important and just as true as what Paul preached. And when Paul considered himself, he said, “I was not a whit behind the chiefest apostle.” (II Cor. 11:5.) He did not say he was above the other apostles; he was only equal with them. It would be a mistake for any man to point out one apostle and say he was superior to the others, because they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit and spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance.
We are told, “You can grow a broom weed in a few months, but if you want an oak tree it will take a little longer.” By that we assume the author meant that all of us who are not blessed with an academic education of the higher degree are “broom weeds” while people of his standing are the giant “oaks” among us. But the great “oaks” among us have opened the door for more innovations than any other group of persons in the church. They do it because they love the praises of men more than the praise of God. Of course, all preachers of the church of Christ who have Ph.D. degrees are not included among this group, for some are loyal, faithful defenders of the truth. But for someone to make higher education a qualification for preaching the gospel or being a Christian is ridiculous.
—The Informer
Vol. 25, No. 6; Nov. 21, 1971