Note 21 — Chapter XIV · ORTHODOXY AND THE “ORAL” HYPOTHESIS

For the rational inquirer, however, the fact remains that the dismissal of the fourth Gospel is a beginning of historical as distinct from documentary discrimination; and it is to those who have made such a beginning that a further critical argument falls to be addressed. Mr. Wright, facing a chaos of doctrinal contradictions and chronological divergences, falls back trustingly on the reflection that “after all we are not saved by the Gospels, but by Christ.” He has no misgiving as to the evangelists being inspired. “Inspiration quickens their spiritual perception, but does not altogether preserve them from errors of fact”: e.g. Mt. i, 9, 11; Mk. iii, 26; Lk. ii, 2; John xii, 3; Acts v, 36; vii, 16.21 Perhaps Mr. Wright would grant some dozens more of errors of fact if pressed; but his faith would not be modified unless he should be shaken on the resurrection. “History as well as criticism leaves us no room to question this. On so sure a foundation is our most holy faith erected.”22 For Mr. Wright that is supremely certain which a myriad Christian scholars now find incredible. And we can but take our leave of him with the question of the Jew of Celsus, “Did Jesus come into the world for this purpose, that we should not believe in him?”