The Empires of the Bible from the Confusion of Tongues to the Babylonian Captivity

THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE BIBLE

That History is philosophy teaching by example, may be accepted as entirely true: but only as the definition contemplates a philosophy as present throughout all the stages of world’s experience, teaching—having lessons to teach; and using the experiences of the nations as the examples or illustrations by which she would inculcate her important lessons. This is essential in order that philosophy shall really be able to teach. But where shall be found a philosophy that has been present and intelligently observing events through all the course of this world’s experience? It can be found only in the Wisdom of God? ⁸ God, in the very Wisdom of God, has been present, not only through all the experiences of the world, but before ever the world itself was: and there still will He be after the world and all human experience shall have ended forever. This wisdom of God, ever present at all the occurrences in the experience of this world, or that have concerned this world, is the philosophy that in these experiences is teaching by example. And it is by inspiration of God, through the revelation of God, as in the Word of God—the Bible—that this philosophy does her teaching in the history of the world. The Bible, therefore, is the only true explanation of history. In the Bible alone is given the true philosophy of history. EB vi.2

“History, in the most correct use of the word, means the prose narrative of past events, as probably true as the fallibility of human testimony will allow... We can only allow a period of about four thousand years as the limit of genuine history in point of time. The beginning would be with the historical books of the Old Testament. Before the Jewish records fail us, the Greek have begun. The Romans follow in immediate succession, and the historical thread has never been broken since. ⁹ And even when the Bible record in the direct history is succeeded by the Greek, the Roman, and the later, still through it all the Bible record continues in the prophecies (especially in the books of Daniel and the Revelation), which are the sure guide through all the history, and to the understanding of the history, unto the world’s end. EB vii.1

The philosophy of the Bible is the philosophy of history; and the philosophy of sin and salvation is the philosophy of the Bible. Therefore the problem of sin and the solution of that problem—the philosophy of sin and salvation—is the philosophy of history. This is further evident from the fact that if there had never been any sin, the history of this world as it has been, would never have been at all. Since if there had been no sin the history of this world as it has occurred, and as only it can be known, would never have been, it is certain that there can be no true understanding of the history of the world without an understanding—without the philosophy—of the problem of sin and the solution of that problem. From this, is also follows that the true beginning of the study of history must be with the beginning of sin, not only in this world, but the beginning of sin where sin where sin began. But none but the Wisdom of God knows this. Nothing but the inspiration of God can give it. Nothing but the revelation of God contains it. Therefore, the Bible is the beginning of history, and it is the sure guide in the study of history. EB vii.2