BOOK 1, CHAPTER 8, SECTION 9:

The transmission of the law is to be trusted

Definitions:

1.       Bawl:  To cry out loudly.

Biblical Texts:

1.       II Kings 22:8 Hilkiah and the high priest said to Shapahn the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.”  He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. II Chronicles 34:15 pretty much confirms this same happening.

2.       Deuteronomy 17:18 – 19  ¹⁸When he takes the thrown of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.   ¹⁹It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees.

Question being answered:  Can the transmission of the law be trusted as coming from God and written as given by God.

I enjoy the way Calvin opens this section, “I know what certain rascals bawl out in corners in order to display the keenness of their wit in assailing God’s truth.”  Calvin continues his defense of the scripture as being accurate and from God.  In this section he writes concerning the law and its transmission from generation to generation.  Calvin recognizes that there were a number of years where the law was missing but was eventually found and a daily reading began to take place as in the days of old (II Kings 2:8 and II Chronicles 34:15).  Calvin found it odd that some would even question the idea that maybe there was no person names Moses.  If such a question was asked concerning Plato, Aristotle, or Cicero.  If their existence was questioned then the person would be met with a fist or a lash for asking such a question.  For Calvin the law was preserved by heavenly providence rather than by human effort.  It was handed down in writing from age to age and read from age to age all the while being preserved by God’s hand. Eventually I do hope to cover the Old Testament and how it is applicable to modern day living.  For those who believe that the Old Testament has no bearing on today’s life is making a catastrophically