The online edition of the Quarterly Record, the magazine of the Trinitarian Bible Society.
It is always encouraging to see, day after day, shipments of Bibles leaving the Society's premises and bound not only for the cities, towns and villages of the British Isles, but also for destinations far beyond our shores. Today the vehicles may have left with pallets of Bibles and other Scriptures for Nigeria, The Netherlands, Canada and Greece; tomorrow it might be that the destinations include Russia, Ghana, France and Australia. The following day there may be Scriptures on their way to Brazil, India, the USA and Hungary, to mention but a few of the hundred or more countries to which the Society regularly sends its Scriptures.
Every day many tons of the Society's publications commence their journeys from the Society's premises, finally to be placed in the hands of individuals of different ages, nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds in various parts of the world. Whilst these individual recipients may, from a human perspective, be so very different from each other, from the Divine viewpoint they are all sinners, either saved by His grace and therefore in need of His Word to be a lamp unto their feet and a light to their paths, or being without a saving knowledge of the Gospel, and "without Christ…having no hope, and without God in the world:" (Ephesians 2.12), on the broad way that leads to a lost eternity. They need His Word, and the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, to bring them in repentance and faith to the feet of the Redeemer.
How wonderful it is that through the blessing of the Lord, the Society can be instrumental in placing "the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus", and are "profitable for doctrine…" (2 Timothy 3.15-16) into the hands of so many of our fellow men!
Some of these many consignments of Scripture may be received, distributed and in use within a few days. Other consignments may take many months to reach those for whom they are intended, and involve not only long journeys by sea, road and rail, but also the backs of carts pulled by mules, and, of course, by hand as individuals may walk many miles finally to deliver the Word of God in distant and difficult places where vehicular access may not be possible.
It is good for us to remember that over all this activity there is the watchful eye of Almighty God, who "shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121.4) outworking His divine providence. This He does not only passively observing the movement of every single copy of His Word as it travels across the world, but also actively, working through all the most minute details of all the affairs of His Creation as it may relate to the conveyancing of a particular Bible to one person, and a specific New Testament to another.
He who from the glory of Heaven provided through the generosity of the Society's supporters the finances to produce these Scriptures, oversaw their production in the printing houses and now goes before to ensure that they reach their proper destinations in His gracious providence. How encouraged we should be therefore to remember this particular aspect of the Society's work before the Lord in prayer, especially as we contemplate these many individuals in the different parts of the world reading these copies of the Word of God, which may have taken so long a time coming to them! May He, the Divine Author of His Word, be pleased to use these copies of His Word to the glory of His Name, the enlargement of His Kingdom, and the true spiritual profit of many!
In the last edition of the Quarterly Record reference was made to the loss suffered by the Society through the passing away of one of the members of our General Committee, Mr Brian Oliver. Since then, the General Committee has sustained a further loss through the passing away of Mr Ian Carvell.
Brian Oliver first attended a meeting of the General Committee in March 1993 and, with few exceptions, had attended all the meetings until May this year. Often this involved his leaving Blackburn in the North of England very early in the morning, and his not returning home until late at night. However, he loved coming to the Society's offices, and was truly very concerned for the development and the prosperity of its work. He will be remembered for, among other qualities, his humble, gracious, prayerful and efficient manner.
Ian Carvell had been ill for the past few years, but had valiantly persevered to maintain as far as was practicable his normal routine, and seldom was absent from meetings of the General Committee. Being a lawyer, his coming to the Society in January 1996 was a most remarkable providence in view of the litigation that the Society was shortly to have to face. Mr Carvell gave of his time and professional knowledge unstintingly to assist the Society during this most trying period. Often he would spend hours at a time reviewing the voluminous paperwork and telephoning to give advice and help. On two occasions he visited Canada on behalf of the Society. Ian Carvell was a Christian gentleman who in the years in which he was associated with the Society humbly conducted himself in a manner that could not but endear him to all who knew him.
Also, since the last edition of the Quarterly Record, Orville Carlson, the translator of the Lhaovo Bible (referred to in QR No.547) passed away. In addition to all the other translation projects in which he had been involved during his long life, he had completed all but three chapters of the draft of the Lhaovo Bible, working virtually until the last day of his life! Further details of Mr Carlson's life may follow at a later date, God willing.
The Society conveys its sincere condolences to Mrs Oliver, Mrs Carvell and Mrs Carlson, and prays that the Lord may be pleased to grant them each much of His gracious presence and blessing.
Over recent months several other members of the General Committee have suffered ill health, and your prayers are sought for the Rev W. H. Fleming and the Rev B. G. Felce that it may please the Lord to restore them to health and strength. Another member of the Committee, the Rev K. M. Watkins, is now serving on his church's mission in Kenya, and will not therefore be able to attend meetings of Committee on a regular basis as in the past, and we pray that he may know much of the Lord's goodness in his new sphere of labour.
Dr D. Allen has now commenced employment with the Society as a Deputation Speaker and has been very encouraged by the meetings he has been addressing. The Society is sorry to note that Mr C. Woodhouse will be retiring as a Regional Representative as from the end of the year, and that Mr D. O'Byrne has had to cease taking meetings with immediate effect owing to his wife's ill health. We thank both of these gentlemen for their labours on our behalf, and trust that they may know much of the Lord's grace in the future.
Regrettably the Chairman of TBS (Australia), Mr John Marshall, has had to resign on health grounds, but hopes to be able to assist the Society again in the future, if it is the Lord's will. Our thanks are due to Mr Marshall for his considerable efforts over the years on behalf of the Society in Australia.
Finally, our members and supporters will be pleased to learn that on 18 July 2001, a Settlement Meeting was held with TBS (Canada) in Toronto, Canada, in connection with the legal dispute that has been ongoing in recent years. We are pleased to be able to announce that the following joint statement was agreed:
"A settlement agreement has been signed subject to the required corporate approvals, the terms of which will be disclosed when final approvals are obtained."
May the Lord be pleased graciously to bless all the endeavours of the Society to His own glory and praise!
by Debra E. Anderson
The 170th Annual General Meeting of the Trinitarian Bible Society was held at 3.00pm on 9th June 2001 at Westminster Chapel, London. The Chairman of the General Committee, Mr. S. A. Hyde, opened the meeting by welcoming all who were in attendance, and then read Psalm 1. After the singing of the hymn 'O God, our Help in ages past', Mr. P. D. Relf, a member of our General Committee, read Psalm 12, following which Dr. D. Allen, the Society's new Regional Representative, led the congregation in prayer in which he glorified God for who He is and asked that our hearts might be set ablaze for the work He has called us to do.
The General Secretary, Mr. D. P. Rowland, was called upon to present his report on the work of the Society during the past year. He thanked all those present for coming and gave special welcome to a number of visitors from Europe and Canada.
Mr. Rowland summarised the prayer of the Society in the Psalmist's words 'Send out thy light...'. During the year 2000, we were privileged to send out some 736,000 Bibles, and over nine million items of Scripture. The budget for Grants was significantly increased during 2000 and a future increase in Grants activities has been budgeted for the current year. As important, however, is the need to find qualified people to undertake the work of translation and revision. The Romanian Bible and Spanish Bible projects are nearly finished, and there are some thirty other projects in various stages of completion.
We are thankful for the staff which the Lord has been pleased to bring to the Society. We are currently looking for additional staff in Packing and in Graphic Design to replace those whom the Lord has moved to other work. Mr. Rowland encouraged those present to pray for the Lord's guidance in these and all the other areas of the Society’s work.
Mr. Rowland concluded by acknowledging that it is the Lord who is the Divine Builder, and that we go forth in the work, thankful for His Word. May He glorify Himself through us!
Mr. Hyde returned to the platform and asked if there were any questions about the report from the members present. When none were raised, he proceeded to present greetings from our Branches. Mr. C. MacKenzie from Australia stated that the successful work and witness of the Society must be attributed to the provision of God. Dr. S. E. de Oliveira from Brazil expressed his thanks to all who have supported the Society round the world, and asked that God would continue to bless His work. Mr. G. den Boer wrote from Canada with his wish that the Holy Spirit would give true thankfulness of heart for His provision in the work. Mr. D. Vermeulen in New Zealand reminded us that the Scriptures are necessary, testifying of Christ, and are needed in the languages of people throughout the world. Mr. J. Stehouwer, writing from the USA, expressed his prayer that the Lord would bless His people with the spirit of thanksgiving at the time of this meeting. From Holland, Mr. L. M. P. Scholten of the Gereformeerde Bijbelstichting stated that he is grateful that our work enables us to provide faithful translations in many languages.
Mr. Rowland then read the Resolution to Approve the Annual Report and to Re-elect the General Committee and Auditors. Mr. P. Johnson moved that the resolution be approved, and Mr. J. Rutt seconded the motion. The resolution was passed (nem. con.) by the voting members of the Society who were present.
Mr. Hyde expressed the gratitude of the General Committee for the confidence shown. He spoke of the heavy responsibility which the members of the Committee have, and asked for continuing prayer as they meet ten times each year.
He continued by commenting that in 1831, at the inaugural meeting of the Society, some 2,000 people attended. Although there were not as many at the 170th meeting, he expressed his thankfulness to God for His faithfulness during the years in providing supporters.
This faithfulness has extended to many areas. One is technology: this year the Society has redesigned and expanded our Website to include online sales. Now people in any country can place an order, simply by accessing our online sales.
The Lord has also been faithful to His servants in ways that are sad for the Society. In the past year, He has called Mr. B. R. Oliver, a member of our General Committee, and the Rev. A. McPherson, a Vice-president of the Society, into His presence. Mr. Hyde encouraged prayer for the families of these men.
Another area of faithfulness has come in the Lord's bringing Dr. D. Allen to the Society. Mr. G.Bidston has been our Deputation Speaker for some years, but the time has come for him to curtail some of his travels. Dr. Allen has served as Regional Representative of the Society for the past year, and will be assuming the responsibilities of a Deputation Speaker in August.
The Lord's faithfulness has been especially evident in the area of finances. Without His moving the hearts of His people, we would not have the resources necessary to produce and send out the Scriptures. Mr. Hyde thanked those present for their generosity, and asked for prayer that the Lord would continue to incline His people to help in this work.
Mr. Hyde concluded his remarks by announcing the next hymn, 'Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim'. He then introduced our speaker, the Rev. Dr. I. R. K. Paisley, who preached on six things about the Bible from Psalm 12.6. (A printed edition of this sermon is found later in this issue of the Quarterly Record.)
At the conclusion of the sermon, the congregation sang 'Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing', following which Dr. Paisley pronounced the benediction. A time of fellowship and refreshments concluded the events of the 170th Annual General Meeting.
by the Rev. Dr. I. R. K. Paisley
On Saturday 9 June Dr. Paisley was the guest speaker at the Trinitarian Bible Society's Anniversary in the historic Westminster Chapel, London. The Church's one time minister was the famous Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones. The attendance at the meeting was reckoned to be around 800.
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6
The Bible stands out in stark and sharp contrast in this apostate age.
In verse one, the Psalmist laments the scarcity of godly and faithful people – 'Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.'
The godly and the faithful are the temple of the Book of God, and where God's people are few, the Word of God is subsequently scarce.
The attacks on the Word of God are by the tongues of the ungodly. Their tongues bring forth flatteries of lips out of a double heart. They speak proud things and vainly boast of their conquering steps. They defy the sovereign God and cry in defiance, 'Who is Lord over us?'
They boast, domineer and threaten. Get back, child of God, to the old Book. Make it your daily companion. It alone can sustain your spirit.
My text, like the Bible itself, is full of fat things, wines on the lees, well refined. I call your attention first of all to –
Think of it! that we, mortal children of the dust, dust and ashes in origin of our flesh, are in possession of the very Words of Jehovah. The one God of Israel, in all the mystery of His triune Person, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and in all the unity of His everlasting Being, has given to us His Word. 'Our hands have handled of the Word of Life.'
How wonderful that God would communicate with mortal sinful man through words!
How condescending that He should float them down the channel of sound to us through the ear and nerve and brain!
That He who spake worlds and all created things into being, should with consonants and vowels, nouns and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, etc. etc., convey the passion of His omnipotent heart, the purpose of His omniscient mind and the power of His omnipresent Person, to us! to us who are but dust and ashes, is a miracle of miracles indeed!
There is a word in Isaiah 31:2 in which God declares 'He will not call back his words'. We rejoice. What God has said God has said, and what God has written God has written.
The Bible is not only the inspired Book when it was given, but it is now – present tense – the inspired Book.
It is presently inspired, the same inspired Book yesterday, today and for ever.
In the front page of my Bibles I write the text printed by Dr. Bullinger, a former General Secretary of this Society, in his Companion Bible,
Proverbs 6:22 –
‘When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it
shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with
thee’.
‘Eternal Spirit! ‘twas Thy breath
The oracles of truth inspired,
And kings and holy seers of old
With strong prophetic impulse fired.
Filled with Thy great Almighty power,
Their lips with heavenly science flowed;
Their hands a thousand wonders wrought,
Which bore the signature of God.
With gladsome hearts they spread the news
Of pardon through a Saviour's blood;
And to a numerous seeking crowd,
Marked out the path to His abode.
The powers of earth and hell, in vain
Against the sacred Word combine:
Thy providence through every age
Securely guards the Book Divine.
Thee, its great Author, source of light
–
Thee, its Preserver, we adore;
And humbly ask a ray from Thee,
Its hidden wonders to explore.'
(Eliz. Scott)
All the contents of the Bible are the Words of God – even the words which evil men spoke and the lies which they uttered were repeated by God to the writers of the Scripture, to be recorded in the inspired record, so that every word came from the mouth of God.
Hence the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God but is in its entirety the Word of the Lord.
We must prize all the Words of the Lord. We must not set aside or devalue any part of the Book of God. We must denounce the blasphemy which states that some parts of the Bible are vastly superior to other parts of the Bible.
Many claim that the New Testament is vastly superior to the Old Testament. Mr. Spurgeon once said: "I would not err by saying that in the Old Testament you have more of the bullion of truth than in the New, for therein I should be falling into the evil which I condemn; but this I will say, that they are of equal authority, and that they cast such light upon each other that we could not spare either of them. ‘What therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder.’ In the whole Book, from Genesis to Revelation, the words of Jehovah are found."
To distinguish parts of Scripture by stating ‘Thus spake Christ Himself’, or that ‘This is Pauline doctrine’ or ‘This is Petrine’, or label truth with the name of another penman of Scripture is dangerous.
What is recorded here is God's Word – the Word of God the Holy Ghost. The Spirit speaks to and through all the Bible penmen. 1 John 4:6 makes that plain. ‘We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error’.
Even Christ puts Himself on the same level and says, ‘For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.’ John 12:49.
The Words of God are in no way affected by the medium through which they come, nor is their value lessened in any way. Revealed truth in the Bible is all of the same quality – the Words of the Lord.
The characteristics of God's Word are different. Some of them are words of consolation, some are words of exhortation, some are words of warning, some are words of rebuke, some are words of commendation, and some of them are words of promise. But while their characteristics differ, their character is one. They are all pure words.
The whole range must never be separated from the one whole unified Bible. Wrenching a Bible text from its context makes it a pretext. The Bible's unity must be preserved at all costs.
No word of God is to be preferred before another. It is a sinful habit to make preferences in the Holy Scripture.
We must love the entire law of God, not just parts of it. That is why we must be readers of the whole Bible, not readers of a Bible which we have mutilated by our selective reading habits. We should open it with the request, 'Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth', and close it with the response, 'Here am I; for thou didst call me'.
The Bible is a Good Book, there is no foulness in it.
The character of the Bible, the whole Bible, the entire Bible, is purity.
I have heard people protesting about the coarseness of certain words in our Authorised Version, but as Mr. Spurgeon has rightly said, 'The coarseness of translators is not to be set to the account of the Holy Spirit, but to the fact that the force of the English language has changed, and modes of expression which were current at one period become too gross for another. Yet, this I will assert, that I have never yet met with a single person to whom the words of God have of themselves suggested any evil thing. I have heard a great many horrible things said, but I have never met with a case in which any man has been led into sin by a passage of Scripture. Perversions are possible and probable; but the Book itself is pre-eminently pure. Details are given of very gross acts of criminality, but they leave no injurious impress upon the mind. The saddest story of Holy Scripture is a beacon, and never a lure. This is the cleanest, dearest, purest Book extant among men; nay, it is not to be mentioned in the same hour with the fabulous records which pass for holy books. It comes from God, and every word is pure.'
To that statement of Spurgeon I would say a double Amen. – Amen and Amen.
The Bible is a GOOD Book. It has no tincture of foulness within it. It condemns all foulness, exposing both saint and sinner alike, and it condones no foulness.
The Bible is a TRUE Book. It has no tincture of falseness in it. It is true from the beginning, and true all through to the end. It is true in everything.
I do not judge the Bible, the Bible judges me.
I do not sift the Bible, the Bible sifts me.
There are those who substitute the judgment of men for the judgment of the Bible. I hold to the infallibility of God's Word, not the infallibility of men, whether Pope or scholar.
I trust my soul and my eternity on this Guide supplied by Heaven, and not on the mirage which rises from the misty swamps of apostate clericalism, or the arid desert of ecclesiastical infidelity, and these apostates dare to label their productions with the tag of 'Modern Thought'.
If I had not an infallible Bible I would rather have no Bible at all. But I have an infallible Bible, a Book without falsehood.
Say, Christian, woulds't thou thrive
In knowledge of thy Lord?
Against no Scripture ever strive,
But tremble at His Word.
If ought there dark appear,
Bewail thy want of sight;
No imperfection can be there,
For all God's Words are right.
The Scriptures and the Lord
Bear one most holy name;
The written and the incarnate Word
In all things are the same.
For Jesus is the Truth,
As well the Life and Way;
The two-edg'd sword that's in His mouth
Shall all proud reasoners slay.
Why dost thou call Him Lord,
And what He says resist?
The soul that stumbles at the word,
Offended is in Christ.
(Joseph Hart)
The Bible is an Almighty Book. There is no failure within it. Nothing which the Bible has declared has failed, can fail, or will fail.
God is faithful. He fulfils every jot and tittle of His own Word.
I can bear my glad personal testimony that after seventy-five years on this earth, fifty-five years of them in the gospel ministry, thirty-one years of them as a member of the Parliament of this United Kingdom, and twenty-two as a member of the European Parliament, 1 have not found one Word of God to fail.
Many times I have been impatient. I would have desired my timing and ways of fulfilment, but in the end God's Word stood true, and He has not withheld one of His blessed promises.
Oh, to lean my whole weight on them for they will bear me up.
In the worst hour of stormy testimony, as long as you have one single promise of God, your midnight of darkness will become your midday of deliverance.
Glory to God! His Word is good; it is without foulness. His Word is true; it is without falsehood.
His Word is almighty; it is without failure.
God does not deal in paper money. God deals in the metal of redemption – the silver. God's standard is the silver standard. That is why the order is 'silver and gold', so often in the scripture, the silver taking precedence.
For example, in that great verse in 1 Peter 1:18,19, we read, 'Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.'
I have counted in the Bible 42 occurrences of this expression – 'silver and gold'. Silver is tried in the hottest fire. Satan and sinful men have put this Bible into the hottest of fires that they could kindle. The hottest fires kindled by the hottest coals of hell have been made a crucible for the destruction of the Bible. Every device of satanic iniquity and every scheme of sinful man's depravity have allied themselves together to destroy this precious Book.
The greatest fact in all the history of this Book is the fact of its endurability and indestructibility.
Because the Bible forthrightly condemns sin, the hatred of sinners has been hurled against it. Because the Bible in plain and unmistakable language debases the pride of man, proud man has set himself the task to discredit it. Because the Bible uncovers the satanic underworld, it is the object of the diabolical attacks of hell. Because the Bible declares that salvation is by free grace alone, all false religions have sought to extinguish it.
The Bible condemns every man and condones no man; it accuses every man and excuses no man; it abases human reason and exalts revelation; it repudiates the natural and rejoices in the spiritual, glorying not in flesh but in faith.
Attacked from all quarters and giving no quarter, the Bible has an Ishmaelite experience, its hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against it, but wonder of wonders, it continues to dwell in the midst of the brethren.
Princes, philosophers, prelates, politicians and poets have all conspired against it. It has been insulted by the scorn of fools, it has become the jest of infidels and the joke of sceptics. It has been assailed consistently and persistently by professed scholars and has been made the butt of the critic. Assaulted by every known plan of hell, it has come forth unscathed from the inferno. Like the three Hebrew children, it has been in the fire, and like them it has been wonderfully preserved and there is not a smell of burning upon it.
The fire has yet to be lit that can destroy it. The steel has yet to be forged that can scar it. The weapon has yet to be developed that can discredit it. The science has yet to be created than can demolish it. The plan has yet to be devised that can annihilate it.
The cunning of hell and the craft of earth have combined against the Bible, but it stands unmoved, for it is as W. E. Gladstone, one of England's greatest Premiers, has described it, 'the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture'.
As the Bible has stood the hottest broadsides of hell, it will not be affected by the pop guns of so-called modern thought.
'WILL THE OLD BOOK STAND?'
Will the old Book stand, when the 'higher critics' state
That grave errors are discovered on its page?
Will it save the sinful soul? Will it make the wounded whole?
Will its glorious truth abide from age to age?
Will its message still abide, when the scientists decide
That its record of Creation is untrue?
Tell us the ascent of man is by evolution's plan;
Will its principles the sinful heart renew?
When in language wondrous fair, Christian Scientists declare
That there is no evil, only mortal mind;
When mental treatment fails, and seeming death prevails,
May we in the Bible consolation find?
When infidels parade the mistakes that Moses made,
When the truth of Revelation they deny,
Will the Ten Commandments still the demands of justice fill?
Will its word support us when we come to die?
Yes, the Word of God shall stand, though assailed on every
hand,
Its foundations are eternally secure;
It will bear the critic's test and the idle scoffer's jest,
Its saving truth forever shall endure.
The Bible is the Word of God, and remains with the passing and injuries of time, a temple unprofaned by the foot of the enemy, a building of God, amidst the crumbling ruins of the centuries.
The Bible is the conquering Book. Every testing situation it conquers in its majestic ride. It goes forth conquering and to conquer. It conquers the resistance of the sinner, the despair of the penitent, the singularity of each individual sinner's case, the torment of the soul's troubles, the perplexity of the future, and the enemy of death.
No wonder! for God has magnified it above all His name. Psalm 138:2, ‘...for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name’.
The Psalmist exclaims in a complementary verse to my text, 'Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it'. Psalm 119:140.
The Bible brings a challenge to us all.
We need to ponder the Bible. A casual acquaintance with the Bible is sinful. This Book of God must be our delight, our meditation day and night.
We need to put our trust in the Bible. It creates faith, and we must have that created faith so that we lean our whole soul upon it.
We need to publish the Bible. We must get the scripture out.
I commend the work of this great Society and its dedication to publish the uncorrupted Word of God.
We need to proclaim the Bible. We need to go out to the world and proclaim all the Words of this life from the Book. If these Words are not proclaimed their power will not be felt.
We need to practise this Book. If our lives give the lie to what we say, all our activities will be in vain.
We need to preserve this Book. Let us not surrender one Word or line of this Book.
Samuel Rutherford the Covenanter said, 'Give not one hair's breadth of God's Word away, for it is not yours, but God's'.
Let us stand to its defence.
We need to push the Bible. We have this banner to display. Let us lift it high at all times, pushing its glorious gospel and its most glorious Christ.
Let us not push ourselves, but our Master and our King. This must not be done in a corner. It must not be in secret. It must be pushed publicly and prayerfully.
God has, and will, magnify His Word.
Let revelation's glories shine,
And spread from sea to sea,
Till reason stoops to faith divine,
And owns her sovereign sway.
(John Kent)
This sermon is a reprint of the edition printed in Revivalist 2001 Magazine, July/August 2001.
by C. P. Hallihan
continued from QR 556
It is a long prevailing matter of fact that Christians are gathered under different denominational titles and different doctrinal and experimental emphases. Because of this, works such as Mission or Bible Distribution often seek to operate across such divisions. This, inevitably, poses problems in establishing any terms of co-operation or association.8 In the work of the newly formed British and Foreign Bible Society [BFBS] the acceptance of support and help from some who were of a Socinian position led to difficulties. (I use the term Socinian here to cover all who deny the Deity of Christ or impugn the integrity of the Trinity – Unitarians, Arians, etc.) This was especially so on the Continent of Europe, where some auxiliaries were almost wholly run by Socinians. Many others involved in the work felt that denial of one of the New Testament touchstone doctrines, concerning the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, scarcely became those involved in distribution and diffusion of the Scriptures, which testify of Him throughout!
A very practical issue became contingent on the Socinian Problem, and that was the matter of prayer. There had not been any formal directive as to prayer in the ordering of the affairs of the BFBS, but there was a general sense among supporters that prayer was part of the business of such an organisation, not least in its public gatherings. Furthermore, it was suggested that a reluctance in this matter may be due to a fear of mutual offence amongst Trinitarians and Unitarians as to the ground and Name of their praying. Was the Society a ‘Religious’ Society? This became the focus of much discussion, and for many Society supporters the answer was a firm ‘Yes’.
Describing a Religious Society other than a Gospel Church is just one of the anguished burdens with which Church History challenges us. A simple approach is to suggest a society formed and framed in the fear of God (having in mind the New Testament word group rooted in sebomai – to do with reverence, piety, service) to serve the Churches in the furtherance of issues needing such larger resources, in plain submission both to the precepts of the Bible and the mind of the People of God. Such a society can only ever be a servant, and never a master. The majority of early Mission and Bible Societies were framed under this view. Later, some became independently minded and funded, and became ‘command’ societies, leading, directing and looking to the Churches to follow. However, that is not part of our discussion here.
Amongst some supporters and workers in the BFBS there grew a strong awareness of the need for a direct declaration of basic commitment to Christian orthodoxy, accompanied by the unhindered exercise of prayer in meetings of the Society. These matters, together with the Apocrypha problem (see Part I in QR556), led to moves to regularise the issues by including positive statements about them in the Laws of the Society. As far as orthodoxy was concerned it seemed that an acknowledgement of the truth of the Trinity, and the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, as wrought out in the earliest creeds and controversies of the Christian Church, would serve as the single necessary guardian. It must be stated plainly that there never was any suggestion that the BFBS, as an organisation, denied the Trinity, nor that those who did not agree with the need for formal statement of Doctrine were, ipso facto, Socinians.
Under this heading of Necessities we have seen that some of the early labourers in the work of a Bible Society were obliged to ask and answer two far reaching questions. In responding to the Need for diffusion of the Bible, which Bibles do we distribute; and with whom? The answer to the first has been – the best, most faithful, Protestant and uncorrupted editions of the printed text of Scripture; ruled not by ‘acceptability’, but by ‘authenticity’. To the second the answer has been – with those who will plainly give commitment to the Nature of God that is manifest in those Scriptures; the doctrines of the Trinity, and especially the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. These questions were not deemed necessary to ask by many workers and supporters of the BFBS. Equally, these answers were not acceptable to others in connection with the framing of the work of a Bible Society, leaving aside any consideration of personal faith. How could matters be resolved?
When the time of the Anniversary Meeting of the BFBS for 1831 came round, at the Exeter Hall in the Strand, Wednesday May 4th, matters came to a head. Acceptance of the annual report included a recommendation that oral prayer should not be introduced at meetings of the society. Although this made no reference to the Socinian problem, it provoked a great degree of unrest in the meeting, and amidst much noise J. E. Gordon spoke from the platform. His words, often interrupted, included this:
The first position which I would wish to establish is, that the British and Foreign Bible Society is pre-eminently a religious and Christian Institution, and that no person rejecting the doctrine of the triune Jehovah can be considered a member of a Christian Institution..... Thirdly, that in conformity with this principle, the expression ‘denomination of Christians’ in the Ninth General Law of the Society, be distinctly understood to include such denominations of Christians only as profess their belief in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.9
At the end of a five-and-one-half hour meeting, Gordon’s proposals were rejected by a 6:1 majority. On May 20th members and friends of the BFBS who supported Gordon’s position held a meeting. From this was formed ‘The Provisional Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society’, and the concluding resolution of its first business was
That it is the earnest desire of this Meeting that no member of the British and Foreign Bible Society do at present secede from the Society, but firmly combine in the effort to rescue the society from its coalition with Socinians.10
It was soon apparent that no such ‘rescue’ was to be accomplished. A meeting was convened for December 7th 1831 to form a new Bible Society. The name to be adopted was the ‘Trinitarian Bible Society’, as this highlighted the chief cause of dissatisfaction with the BFBS. In the Report of that meeting the opening prayer of A. S. Thelwall was recorded; it began:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! we thank Thee and praise Thee that Thou hast revealed thyself to us poor sinners, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, fulfilling various offices of love and mercy in the work of our deliverance from sin, death, and hell; and that Thou hast called us to know Thee, and worship Thee, as the Triune Jehovah, the God of our salvation, to whom be glory for ever!
We thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, that Thou hast called us to maintain the honour of Thy Son, to contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the saints, and to labour for Thy glory, and the welfare of immortal souls, by the circulation of that holy Word, which is able to make us wise unto salvation which is in Christ Jesus...
During that December meeting the following motion was adopted,
That it is the opinion of this Meeting that a Society engaged in circulating the pure word of God, and upon which devolves the responsibility of preparing and issuing new translations of the Holy Scriptures, must be considered decidedly a religious Society, and one that should be conducted on scriptural principles; and that those only who are Protestants and acknowledge the scriptural doctrine of the Holy Trinity, can consistently be admitted Members of such a Society, or be fit agents to conduct or carry on such a work.11
Also on record is the intent that the new Society should rejoin the old if ever that became constitutionally possible.12 We see, then, that the new Bible Society was not formed in opposition from outside the old one. It was, of necessity, from within, in the desire to commend and conform to the truths of the Bible which they handled as their chief business. A later General Secretary of the Society could recall at the end of the 19th Century that ‘The Trinitarian Bible Society was formed on the seventh of December, 1831, by “some of the best, and warmest, and holiest friends” of the British and Foreign Bible Society’.13
It may be of interest to record here the first three of the new Society’s laws.
I. That this Society be designated the Trinitarian Bible Society
II. The object of this Society is to promote the Glory of God and the salvation of men, by circulating, both at home and abroad, in dependence on the Divine Blessing, the Holy Scriptures, which are given by inspiration of God, and are able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
III. This Society shall circulate the Holy Scriptures, as comprised in the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments, without note or comment, to the exclusion of the Apocrypha; the copies in the English language shall be those of the Authorised Version. In promoting and editing new translations, and selecting versions in Foreign languages, the competency of the translators employed, and the faithfulness and Christian character of the versions, shall be ascertained by the Committee, before the publication or circulation of such versions is in any way aided by this Society.
and the last,
XII. This Society, acknowledging the ignorance and helplessness of man, deems it a bounden duty to express its entire dependence upon the blessing of Jehovah, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in its “work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope,” by offering up prayer and praise at all its Meetings.
It is our sincere desire that this brief review of events surrounding the formation of the Trinitarian Bible Society will be useful to our readers and supporters. Our Deputation Speakers are still occasionally asked why there are ‘two’ Bible Societies, or, perhaps more frequently, ‘why is “Trinitarian” in the title?’. This short survey gives answer. Subsequent articles may trace the history and labours of the TBS further.
Here the reasons underlying the setting up and the work of a Bible Society, that is The Needs, have been reviewed. The reasons for the distinct formation of another Society twenty-seven years later, that is The Necessities, have been outlined. The abiding significance of the title ‘Trinitarian Bible Society’ has been shown. As the perception of those early difficulties faded in the mind of the general Christian public, the following additional words were attached to the Society’s name at its Jubilee in 1881 – ‘For the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God’.
Very early in the course of its own ministry the TBS had opportunity to mark an historic centenary. In 1535 Miles Coverdale had edited and distributed the first complete Bible printed in English. To mark the third Centenary of that event, in 1835 the Society made offer of free (Authorised Version) Bibles to every Minister, to be distributed to the poor among his flock. In those Bibles a special inscription declares the Trinitarian position of the TBS, and its conviction as to the nature and purpose of the Scriptures.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:
One living and true God,
by whose blessing alone
the Holy Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus:
This Bible is presented to ......
through the hands of the Rev......
by the Trinitarian Bible Society,
On the Third Centenary
of the first translation of
the entire Word of God into the English Language
by Myles Coverdale, sometime Bishop of Exeter,
Fourth of October, MDXXXV
As a memorial of that great event
and of the blessing of the Reformation
from Papal error, superstition, and idolatry.
The NEED remains, and will until the Gospel Day is done. The TBS, in dependence upon the living God, and in accord with the founding principles of the Society, seeks to meet that need, looking to the prayerful and practical support of the people of God. To maintain, multiply and make available authentic and reliable editions14 of the Scriptures, in many languages, is the continuing ministry of the Trinitarian Bible Society. This is our response to the continuing need, in conformity to the necessary principles which brought about the distinct formation of the Society 170 years ago.
Among the ministries of Lusaka Baptist Church is that to the street children. Each midweek the Scripture is explained to them in three classes of thirty children, and many of them come to Sunday School. They listen very eagerly, and are currently being taught the Ten Commandments. One Wednesday, when the subject was the fifth commandment, one thirteen-year-old was moved to tears. In conversation he explained that his mother and father had died, and that with brothers and sisters he had been taken by his grandmother. He had stolen from her, and she had poured forth a heathen curse upon him. He ran away on to the streets, and had been having nightmares. He was asked if he would like to return home. Nervously he said yes. The following Sunday two of the workers took him home. The grandmother burst into tears and said the only news she had expected to hear of him was that he was dead. She listened while all the circumstances were explained and a tearful reunion ensued with mutual forgiveness. She promised that on the very next day she would try to get him a place back in his old school. He was asked if he would like to stay home and he agreed.
Please pray as the story is not over yet. Here was a lad convicted by the Word of God. But he is not yet saved. Furthermore, in going home he has moved out of the orbit of the regular Scripture teaching ministry. It will not be easy because of distance for workers to follow him up, though they hope to do so fortnightly. Not everything succeeds first time. An attempt was made to send copies of the Ten Commandments card to the three classes. It is such a fine production and, as the street children have nothing but what they stand up in, it was thought that they would value a copy each. So far the copies have not arrived. If they have been stolen en route, somebody will have many copies of ‘Thou shalt not steal’ on their hands! Do pray that souls will be saved as a result of this ministry.
Christian greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We are glad that we are able to write you today. We are directed by the Lord to go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, that they may come to Christ as the "Messiah". Brothers, Islam is on the advance in Tanzania; the current Head of State is a Muslim, he has banned open-air Christian meetings, which prevents Christians from evangelising in that way. At the same time, Islam is being avidly promoted over radio and television. It is very hard to buy a plot of land on which to build a Christian church, but mosques are being built everywhere. The plan is to build a large mosque with smaller ones on street corners. Many mosques so built yet await congregations, however. Most mosques have public address systems, which are used to issue the call to prayer and also used to attack Christianity. Signs in public places urge the people to read the Qu'ran, and remind readers of the Muslim tenet, "There is only one God, Allah, and Mohammed his prophet".
Thank you so much for your teaching our girls about Bible Society work. The girls packed Russian Bibles for shipment to people in the C.I.S. It was a great time of learning for them and us.
Dear Friends, in the past you have very kindly made an allocation of small Bibles available to me – free. May I apply for a further grant, please? All the Bibles received to date have been allocated – together with a Bible reading plan – and although I have no "feedback", I know that each one was most gratefully received and (I hope and pray) used by the recipient. At one time the Bibles were mostly given to Gipsies but I guess we have made enough available to them – we have a fairly static Gipsy population. We are now concentrating on itinerant-foreign-student fruit pickers and some tourists. I also need, please, a large print Bible for a disabled ex-prisoner (age about 50) who gave his life to Jesus whilst in prison and was given a Bible but he cannot read it due to poor eyesight and has to ask his wife to read it to him – and she is not a good reader!! I'd be so grateful if you could help. Thank you.
Thank you very much for the six parcels of Russian and Spanish Bibles and New Testaments which we received here today. The parcels were delayed in the Custom here over a week as we had to pay some VAT plus import tax. Before that time we had been away from our hometown on holidays so the parcels did in fact arrive in Iceland about three weeks ago. Finally today we got them into our hands and saw all the nice Bibles and New Testaments which we will make good use of. We have already contacted some Russians in the capital, seamen and also one Russian who has immigrated to Iceland together with his family. He will surely get one of these Bibles. Thank you so much again for your kind help and encouragement in this ministry of ours. May the Lord bless the TBS in a mighty way.
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The first person in Murtosa to accept a Bible is now having Bible studies in his little cottage home. Over ninety people attended an evangelistic meeting in the village Tras-Os-Montes, and each accepted a copy of John's Gospel. Two Gipsie sisters received New Testaments when we helped in this outreach work, and a local evangelist will continue contact with these families. During a recent visit to Coimbra, prison visits were made to both men's and women's sections. The local evangelist who invited us told of an outreach work carried out during the Fatima Pilgrimage in May. A large rest tent was erected, and tired people came in for medical help and a cool drink of water. Many stayed to hear the Gospel and receive a Gospel of John.
Yesterday the package you sent arrived containing the Hebrew Old Testament-Greek New Testament Bible [Original Languages Bible] and two packages of Bible text cards. We are so very happy to be able to have this Bible as our own tool in reaching Jewish folk! And the cards are so very nice indeed! Please accept our very grateful thanks for this wonderful gift! Our prayers accompany you always and very seldom a prayer meeting goes by without your folks being prayed for. When the grant of calendars arrives it will be distributed by the brethren here. They will send 400 to four assemblies to the North or perhaps even take them up themselves (Tanatagal, Fraile Pintado, Salta City and Colonia Santa Rosa). Each year these calendars become more and more precious. Here and in Rosario-de-la-Frontera, very idolatrous cities, they are invaluable messengers whenever they are used. We all trust that God's precious Word will not return to Him void. May our Lord pour out unlimited blessing and help upon you all as these months go by.
Greetings, dear brothers and sisters, labourers of the TBS, we thank you for your ministry and labour. We thank you for having provided our needs in the past. I want you to know some fruits of your ministry as you sow the Word of God. Your labour is in no way futile. Amen. Some of our believers here have your Bibles. Praise be to God. You are my co-labourers in the ministry in this village and share my labour in preaching the Gospel to these people. I thank God for you, my beloved. I hope you don't mind me turning to you again for help. Please send to me Bibles of all ages if it is possible to do so. Wishing you God's abundant blessings.
Although certain phrases and expressions used in these letters may not be doctrinally accurate or in the proper English form, we reproduce the letters essentially as received, knowing that the Lord is using His Word to the glory of His Name and the furtherance of His Kingdom as the Scriptures are distributed among the nations of the world.
Copyright © 2001 Trinitarian Bible Society. All rights reserved. The Trinitarian Bible Society permits reprinting of articles found in our printed and online Quarterly Record provided that prior permission is obtained and proper acknowledgement is made.