Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Owen on Divine Aid in Bible Study

In going back over my OT Survey material in preparation for the beginning of term, I came across this quote from John Owen. It is well put in so many ways and a good warning to us not to rest in our own abilities when approaching Scripture. Of course we must study and labor, but we must also pray.

“For a man solemnly to undertake the interpretation of any portion of Scripture without invocation of God, to be taught and instructed by his Spirit, is a high provocation of him; nor shall I expect the discovery of truth from anyone who thus proudly engages in a work so much above his ability.”
- John Owen

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ray, do you happen to have the bibliographical info on that significant statement? Thanks.

Keep up the good work!

Ray Van Neste said...

Thanks Dr. Ortlund.
I got this quote from Dale Ralph Davis' book, The Word Made Fresh (p.1)- a great book!
He cites another secondary source. I'll see if I can track down the original source.

Ray Van Neste said...

For anyone interested, here is the source of the quote:
John Owen, Pneumatology: Or a Discourse Concerning the Holy Spirit (Philadelphia: Towar and Hogan, 1827), 204-5. See also Owen, Works of John Owen, 4.121-234.