Robertson Smith Flashcards
Who was William Robertson Smith?
Rabbi John Duncan: Aberdonian,
AB Davidson
- His successor was AB Davidson and he adopted the higher critical position.
- Pioneered HC studies in FC. Succeeded Duncan and stayed til he died. Davidson came under influence of Abald.
William Rob Smith
His successor William Robertson Smith (appointed at 24). He went further than Davidson. Went to Germany and met lots of scholars there. He then came to Aberdeen to teach Hebrew in Aberdeen.
- Smith writes an article which is pro higher criticism
- Complaints are taken to the board. James Candlish and Principal Rainy, are for Smith.
- Dr Begg complained and he said Smith should be deposed.
- The buck now starts to be passed between people rather than deal with it.
- This is what he’s accused of:
1) Accused of stating that the law of the Levitical system were not instituted by Moses
2) That Deut were written by a later writer as a forgery
3) That the sacred wres were no different to others and took liberties and created errors and some books of Scriptures were fictional
4) The Cantacles has no spiritual significance.
5) Testamony of NT isn’t conclusive as to authorship of OT books.
6) OT prophets didn’t receive direct revelation regard future events.
7) question around angels.
- Smith’s defence:
1) Wanted to distinguish between theological and literally questions. He argued his challenges were about the form of the book. The bible and God’s revelation were distinguishable
2) Cos conclusions were taken from Scripture, they weren’t a challenge but indirection support of it. Only doing what I should be doing.
3) Cos of difficulties raised in traditional view, their was no alternative to criticism.
4) He says this is an example of the continuous reforming
5) Says he’s not denying the WCF. He says he doesn’t’ question substance, but form. Authorship and date is not defined by confession. - Assembly of May refers to Presb or Aberdeen, but they back him and they reject all charges. And in 1879, its sent back to the assembly. The assembly by a single vote in 1879, sent it back to Presby.
- In 1880, Presb and Syn refuse to prosecute. Rainy said they needed a compromise.
- The most liberal motion then carried in 1880, saying he was free to continue. It amounted GA supporting a prof whose writing shed doubt of reliability of Scripture.
- Alexander Whyte and others supported him; but some saw it as a danger undermining of Scipture itself. Duff/Bonar/Smeaton were again his view here. Church starts moving in very liberal direction. However, victory was short lifted, 11 days later Encyclo Brittanica came out and he write his support of Gragg/Wellhousan theory.
- 1881, Robert Rainy took reigns and put forward motion to have Robertson Smith put out of church.
- Rainy motion, however, dealt with heretic but not heresy. Robertson Smith was put out of church.
What happened to Smith/ fall out?
Assembly of May refers to Presb or Aberdeen, but they back him and they reject all charges. And in 1879, its sent back to the assembly. The assembly by a single vote in 1879, sent it back to Presby.
- In 1880, Presb and Syn refuse to prosecute. Rainy said they needed a compromise.
- The most liberal motion then carried in 1880, saying he was free to continue. It amounted GA supporting a prof whose writing shed doubt of reliability of Scripture.
- Alexander Whyte and others supported him; but some saw it as a danger undermining of Scipture itself. Duff/Bonar/Smeaton were again his view here. Church starts moving in very liberal direction. However, victory was short lifted, 11 days later Encyclo Brittanica came out and he write his support of Gragg/Wellhousan theory.
- 1881, Robert Rainy took reigns and put forward motion to have Robertson Smith put out of church.
- Rainy motion, however, dealt with heretic but not heresy. Robertson Smith was put out of church.
