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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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ut truthfully study <strong>the</strong> text—as an interpreter, not<br />

an apologist. Such variations <strong>of</strong> detail present no<br />

difficulty. As against a merely mechanical,<br />

nnspiritual accord, <strong>the</strong>y afford evidence <strong>of</strong> truthful,<br />

independent witness, <strong>and</strong> irrefragable pro<strong>of</strong> that,<br />

contrary to modern negative criticism, <strong>the</strong> three<br />

narratives are not merely different recensions <strong>of</strong><br />

one <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> same original document.<br />

In general, <strong>the</strong> two illustrations employed—that <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> piece <strong>of</strong> undressed cloth (or, according to St.<br />

Luke, a piece t6rn from a new garment) sewed<br />

upon <strong>the</strong> rent <strong>of</strong> an old garment, <strong>and</strong> that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new<br />

wine put into <strong>the</strong> old wine-skins—must not be too<br />

closely pressed in regard to <strong>the</strong>ir language.^ <strong>The</strong>y<br />

seem chiefly to imply this : You ask, why do we<br />

fast <strong>of</strong>ten, but Thy disciples fast not ? You are<br />

mistaken in supposing th^t <strong>the</strong> old garment can be<br />

retained, <strong>and</strong> merely its rents made good by<br />

patching it with a piece <strong>of</strong> new cloth. Not to speak<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> incongruity, <strong>the</strong> effect would only be to make<br />

<strong>the</strong> rent ultimately worse. <strong>The</strong> old garment will not<br />

bear mending with <strong>the</strong> * undressed cloth.' Christ's

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