IT will be readily acknowledged by the majority of those who have given serious consideration to the subject, that one of the greatest questions, and perhaps the supreme question of all the questions which today confront us, is the question, Is the Bible true? For, if it is true, then it is the message of the living God to us men; whereas, if it is not true, then we have no certainty whatever as to those things which matter most.
For reasons into which we need not enter, the Bible has been subjected to constant attack. During the latter part of last century, the attack was carried on with great determination and with a considerable display of learning. This has produced within the Christian Churches a very serious position indeed; and many people are wondering whether the old belief in the Bible can be maintained.
It is surely no mere coincidence that the last sixty or seventy years have witnessed a most amazing rediscovery of those ancient civilizations to which the Bible introduces its readers. The ruins and monuments of those far off days have now been unearthed and studied. By these discoveries and researches the accuracy of the Bible has been and is being tested at thousands of points; and it is a noteworthy fact that this new knowledge directs its searchlight most frequently upon those parts of the Bible which have been most confidently attacked.
It is our intention, in the present volume, to set forth, with all faithfulness and in sufficient detail, the results of this recent testing of the truthfulness and reliability of the Bible. As far as possible, we shall confine ourselves to the discoveries and researches of the present century, that is, the facts brought to light since 1900 A. D. The material has been arranged in such a manner that those who have not been in a position to make themselves familiar with this subject hitherto, may now have a clear and concise knowledge of the facts, and may be able to see what conclusions necessarily follow from those facts. There will therefore be at times some small amount of repetition in what has to be said.
In view of the tremendous issues at stake, we ask of our readers their earnest and sustained attention.
THE PERTH BIBLE INSTITUTE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.