The Arguments of Romanists from the Infallibility of the Church and the Testimony of the Fathers in Behalf of the Apocrypha

by James Henley Thornwell

Publishers:

Leavitt, Trow & Company; Robert Carter; Charles Tappan; Perkins & Purves

and

4 more

, 1845

Overview

Thornwell, in 1841, published an anonymous short essay refuting the claim that the Apocrypha was of Divine inspiration. In 1842, the essay was republished under Thornwell’s name, which prompted Dr. Lynch, a Roman Catholic priest in South Carolina to then write Thornwell a series of letters, expressing his displeasure and disproof of Thornwell’s claims that the Apocrypha is not in fact Divinely inspired. The Arguments of Romanists from the Infallibility of the Church and the Testimony of the Fathers in Behalf of the Apocrypha is a compilation of nineteen letters of response to Dr. Lynch’s correspondences. Full of theology and historical intrigue, these letters are an excellent resource on the topic.

Professor Eugene Genovese describes Thornwell as wanting “to envision a Christian society that could reconcile, so far as possible in a world haunted by evil, the conflicting claims of a social order with social justice and both with the freedom and dignity of the individual.” These ideas shine through in Thornwell’s writings, which are now more accessible than ever through Logos Bible Software. In electronic format, his writings are easily searchable and easily referenced—his works in Logos make the ideal companion to theological studies.

Key Features

• Compiles letters regarding the relation of the Apocrypha and Divinity
• Discusses the Apocryphal works from a Protestant standpoint
• Includes Lynch’s opposing correspondence for reference

Contents

• Severity of Rebuke Necessary in Reproving Error.—Mistaken Notions of Charity Exposed.—The Real Character of Popery—Shown to be Anti-Christian and Dangerous—No Better than Mahometanism.—The Decree of the Council of Trent in Rreference to the Apocrypha
• Dr. Lynch’s Great Argument in Proof of the Inspiration of the Apocrypha Shown to be Ambiguous.—The Testimony of the Papacy, on Moral Grounds, Entitled to no Consideration
• Examination of the Argument from the Necessity of the Case in Favor of Some Infallible Tribunal, Shown to Be Presumptuous and Weak
• It is Just as Easy to Prove the Inspiration of the Scriptures as the Infallibility of Any Church
• Historical Difficulties in the Doctrine of Papal Infallibility
• The Doctrine of Papal Infallibility the Parent of Skepticism
• Papal Infallibility Shown to Be Conducive to Licentiousness and Immorality
• Papal Infallibility Proved to Be the Patron of Superstition and Will-worship,
• Papal Infallibility Proved to Be Unfriendly to Civil Government
• Apocrypha Not Quoted in the New Testament
• Exclusion of the Apocrypha from the Jewish Canon.—Definition of the Term Canon; Account of the Manner in Which it Was Formed.—The Evidence Necessary to Make a Book Canonical.—The Distinction Between Not Receiving and Rejecting a Book Shown to Be False
• Our Saviour Approved the Jewish Canon and Treated it as Complete. Sadducees Vindicated from the Charge of Rejecting All the Old Testament But the Pentateuch. The Real Point Which Papists Must Prove, in Order to Establish the Inspiration of the Apocrypha
• Rejection of the Apocrypha By the Jews.—Faith of the Primitive Church Not a Standard to Us
• The Existence of the Apocrypha in Ancient Versions of the Scriptures, No Proof of Inspiration.—Not Quoted By the Apostolic Fathers
• The Application of Such Expressions as ‘Scripture,’ ‘Divine Scripture,’ By Ancient Writers to the Apocrypha, No Proof of Inspiration
• Examination of Testimonies
• Testimony of the Writers of the Third Century Considered—Cyprian, Hippolytus, Apostolic Constitutions
• Testimony of the Fourth Century Considered.—Council of Nice.—Councils of Hippo and Carthage.—Testimony of Augustine—Ephrem the Syrian—Basil—Chrysostom—Ambrose
• The Real Testimony of the Primitive Church.—The Canons of Melito, Origen, Athanasius, Hilary, Cyril, Gregory Naz., Jerome, Ruflinus, Council of Laodicea

Product Details

• Title: The Arguments of Romanists from the Infallibility of the Church and the Testimony of the Fathers in Behalf of the Apocrypha
• Author: James Henley Thornwell
• Publisher: Leavitt, Trow, & Company
• Publication Date: 1845
• Pages: 434

About James Henley Thornwell

James Henley Thornwell (December 9, 1812 – August 1, 1862) was an American Presbyterian preacher and religious writer. Born in Marlboro District, South Carolina, on December 9, 1812; Thornwell graduated from South Carolina College at nineteen, studied briefly at Harvard, then entered the Presbyterian ministry. He became prominent in the Old School Presbyterian denomination in the south, preaching and writing on theological and social issues.