The Fundamentals - Torrey - III - Chapter 2 (The Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch)

Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 2 'The Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch'.

My summary
Today the subject of higher criticism continues, particularly in relation to the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch.

Firstly George Frederick Wright argues that the burden of proof falls on the critics as the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch has until very recent times been accepted without question by both Jews and Christians.

Secondly Wright points out the failure of the argument from literary analysis.

Thirdly Wright shows the higher critics' misunderstandings of legal forms and the sacrificial system.

Fourthly Wright provides a list of nine pieces of positive evidence that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch.

What grabbed me
I continue to enjoy the summary statements in this work.

This is how today's chapter was closed: 'The defender of the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch has no occasion to quail in presence of the critics who deny that authorship and discredit its history. He may boldly challenge their scholarship, deny their conclusions, resent their arrogance, and hold on to his confidence in the well authenticated historical evidence which sufficed for those who first accepted it. Those who now at second hand are popularizing in periodicals, Sunday School lessons, and volumes of greater or less pretentions the errors of these critics must answer to their consciences as best they can, but they should be made to feel that they assume a heavy responsibility in putting themselves forward as leaders of the blind when they themselves are not able to see.'

Amen.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 3 'Fallacies of the higher criticism'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.