CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 18 February 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE NEW THEOLOGY.

To the Editor S r, —l fnd that many people do nol kno v wh.-.t Mr Campbell me?i.t by •• RaMimcal thought-form.'* so 1 hive promised to ask you to publish another letter explanato-y of tho term. The Ribbiswere (and are now) tho accredited t°aohers of Jewish Theology. Tl ey interpreted the Scriptures to the laity and to tbeir immediate pupils, or " disciples." I believe the word "Rabbi" means " master" ; in the same sense that Mary gave it to our Lord when she cal'el him Rabboni at the Tomb on the Resurrection morn (St. John, 23rd, 16). St. Paul tells us in his wonderful defence before King Agrippa (26, Acts 4 and 5), "lama Jew brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfeot manner of the law of the fathers." In 5 of Acts we read, " Gamaliel waa a Pharisee, a doctor of the law, bad in reputation among the people." The ''law" to the Jews meant the Jewish law given to Moses by the inspiration of God; "Rabbinical thought form " then means the thought or teaching imparted by tho Rabbis on their pupils, and St. Paul transmitted this teaching to the Gentile world. The " law " always meant the five books of Moses. Jesus said, " Think not lam come to destroy the law and the Erophets. I am not come to destroy, ut to fulfil. (sth St. Luke, 17tb). At the time of our Lord's soujourn upon the earth the Jews were divided into two principal sects (thero were other minor ones), the Pharisees and the Sadducees ; the believers (or professed believers) and the unbelievers. The former weie very strict in the performance of all rtligious rites, and in many instances added greatly to them by observing the " traditions of the Elders." The Sadducees were sceptic?, and denied the immortality of the soul. I am, etc., B. J. E. 15th February, 1907.