' Dr. Arnold waited in vain.
But, he did not wait in idleness. He attacked the same question
from another side: he explored the writings of the Christian
Fathers, and began to compose a commentary on the New Testament.
In his view, the Scriptures were as fit a subject as any other
book for free inquiry and the exercise of the individual
judgment, and it was in this spirit that he set about the
interpretation of them. He was not afraid of facing apparent
difficulties, of admitting inconsistencies, or even errors, in
the sacred text. Thus he observed that 'in Chronicles xi, 20 and
xiii, 2, there is a decided difference in the parentage of
Abijah's mother;'-- 'which', he added, 'is curious on any
supposition'. And at one time he had serious doubts as to the
authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews. But he was able, on
various problematical points, to suggest interesting solutions.
At first, for instance, he could not but be startled by the
cessation of miracles in the early Church; but upon
consideration, he came to the conclusion that this phenomenon
might be 'truly accounted for by the supposition that none but
the Apostles ever conferred miraculous powers, and that therefore
they ceased of course, after one generation'. Nor did he fail to
base his exegesis, whenever possible, upon an appeal to general
principles.
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