09 - Intro to Appendixes

INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY PROF. ORR The papers dealt with in this Appendix were procured by Dr. W. W. White, of the Bible Teachers’ Training School, New York, from the scholars named, in further illustration of the subject of the Virgin Birth. Some of the papers are exceptionally valuable, and the hope may be expressed that means will be taken to have them published in extenso. It is unfortunately not possible to do more in this Appendix than indicate leading points by summaries and extracts.

It is right again to say that my own lectures were written, and a full synopsis of them was published, before these papers were seen by me. The papers came to hand in [New York while the lectures were being delivered (some later), and no use has been made of them in any way, beyond the reading of certain extracts, on days appointed for the purpose. I thought it better to take the full responsibility for my own work, and to keep the contributions of other writers distinct. Each author is therefore responsible only for his own production, and not in the least for any views I have expressed. Naturally also there are views in some of the papers with which I disagree. But I am deeply grateful for the large amount of common ground, and for the corroboration of my positions on the most essential points, which the discussion by so many minds reveals.

I have not, except in one case (that of Dr. Jacobs) ventured on any criticism or counter-argument, even where my views do not fully accord with those of the writer. The only point on which I should like to enter my personal dissent is in respect of the opinion expressed by certain of the contributors that the Virgin Birth, even if true, is not essential to Christianity. I have given my reasons in the lectures for thinking that this is not a tenable position. It is a fair question to raise, whether or not the evidence justifies belief in the Virgin Birth. But it seems to me self-evident that, if the Virgin Birth is believed to he true, it must be held to be an essential element in the Incarnation, as it actually happened. It was the way in which God chose to bring about the Incarnation, and it cannot but be vitally connected with the fact of which it was the instrumental cause. The historical testimony also must not be lost sight of. May I add that it appears to me that the writers in question, in showing how deeply the idea of the Virgin Birth is an implication of just views of Christ’s Person, holiness, and work, do much to modify their own contention as to its non-essential character. In the list of authors and subjects that follows, the order is that in which the papers are noticed in the succeeding pages. I ought, perhaps, to mention that, while responsible for the summarising of the papers given to me, I am not responsible for their transcription, into which occasional errors may have crept.