Students of the rediscovered Old Testament also recognize, in the light
of a broader and more careful study, the fact, so often and so fatally
overlooked in the past, that its authority lies not in the field of
natural science, nor even of history in the limited sense. Time and
patience were destined to increase man's knowledge in these great
departments and also to develop his mind in attaining it. The teaching
of the Old Testament is authoritative only in the far more important
realm of ethics and religion. Paul truly voiced its supreme claim
when he said that it was _profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
perfect, completely fitted for every good work_ (II Tim. iii. 16, 17).
The assertion by the Church in the past of claims nowhere made or
implied by the Old Testament itself is unfortunately still a fertile
source of perplexity and dissension to many faithful souls. Their
salvation is to be found in a clear and intelligent appreciation of the
real nature and claim of these ancient writings.

[Sidenote: _Its dominant purpose to teach spiritual truth_]

One dominant aim determines the form of each book and the selection of
individual passages and binds together the whole: it is effectively to
set forth spiritual truth and to mould in accordance with God's will the
characters and beliefs of men. It was the supreme bond that bound
together prophets, priests, sages, and psalmists, although the means by
which they accomplished their common purpose differed widely. Many a
current tradition, and the crude conceptions of the ancients regarding
the natural world, are recorded in the Old Testament; but they are not
there merely to perpetuate history nor to increase the total of
scientific knowledge, but rather because they concretely illustrate and