A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 1 of 2 / Third edition, Revised and Expanded, in two volumes

by J. M. Robertson

2. The frequent profession to supersede the Law ([Mt. v, 21], [33], [38], [43], etc.); and the express declaration that not one jot or tittle thereof is to be superseded ([Mt. v, 17–20]).

3. Proclamation of a gospel for the poor and the enslaved ([Lk. iv, 18]); with the tacit acceptance of slavery ([Lk. xvii, 7, 9, 10]; where the word translated “servant” in the A.V., and let pass by McClellan, Blackader, and other reforming English critics, certainly means “slave”).

4. Stipulation for the simple fulfilment of the Law as a passport to eternal life, with or without further self-denial ([Mt. xix, 16–21]; [Lk. x, 28]; [xviii, 22]); on the other hand a stipulation for simple benevolence, as in the Egyptian ritual ([Mt. xxv]; cp. [Lk. ix, 48]); and yet again stipulations for blind faith ([Mt. x, 15]) and for blood redemption ([Mt. xxvi, 28]).

5. Alternate promise ([Mt. vi, 33]; [xix, 29]) and denial ([Mt. x, 34–39]) of temporal blessings.

6. Alternate commands to secrecy ([Mt. xii, 16]; [viii, 4]; [ix, 30]; [Mk. iii, 12]; [v, 43]; [vii, 36]) and to publicity ([Mt. vii, 7–8]; [Mk. v, 19]) concerning miracles, with a frequent record of their public performance.

7. Specific restriction of salvation to Israelites ([Mt. x, 5, 6]; [xv, 24]; [xix, 28]); equally specific declaration that the Kingdom of God shall be to another nation ([Mt. xxii, 43]); no less specific assurance that the Son of Man (not the Twelve as in [Mt. xix, 28]) shall judge all nations, not merely Israel ([Mt. xxv, 32]; cp. [viii, 11]).

8. Profession to teach all, especially the simple and the childlike ([Mt. xviii, 3]; [xi, 25, 28–30]; [Mk. x, 15]); on the contrary, a flat declaration ([Mt. xiii, 10–16]; [Mk. iv, 11]; [Lk. viii, 10]; cp. [Mk. iv, 34]) that the saving teaching is only for the special disciples; yet again ([Mt. xv, 16]; [Mk. vi, 52]; [viii, 17, 18]) imputations of lack of understanding to them.

9. Companionship of the Teacher with “publicans and sinners” ([Mt. ix, 10]); and, on the other hand, a reference to the publicans as falling far short of the needed measure of loving-kindness ([Mt. v, 46]).

10. Explicit contrarieties of phrase, not in context ([Mt. xii, 30]; [Lk. xi, 50]).

11. Flat contradictions of narrative as to the Teacher’s local success ([Mt. xiii, 54–58]; [Lk. iv, 23]).