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159:4.1 And then went [[Jesus]] over to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abila Abila], where [[Nathaniel]] and his [[associates]] labored. [[Nathaniel]] was much bothered by some of [[Jesus]]' pronouncements which seemed to detract from the [[authority]] of the [[recognized]] [[Hebrew]] [[scriptures]]. Accordingly, on this night, after the usual period of [[questions]] and answers, [[Nathaniel]] took [[Jesus]] away from the others and asked: " Master, could you [[trust]] me to know the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? I [[observe]] that you [[teach]] us only a portion of the [[sacred]] [[writings]]—the best as I view it—and I [[infer]] that you reject the [[teachings]] of the [[rabbis]] to the [[effect]] that the [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] are the very [[words]] of [[God]], having been with [[God]] in heaven even before the times of [[Abraham]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]. What is the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? " When [[Jesus]] heard the question of his bewildered [[apostle]], he answered:

159:4.1 And then went [[Jesus]] over to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abila Abila], where [[Nathaniel]] and his [[associates]] labored. [[Nathaniel]] was much bothered by some of [[Jesus]]' pronouncements which seemed to detract from the [[authority]] of the [[recognized]] [[Hebrew]] [[scriptures]]. Accordingly, on this night, after the usual period of [[questions]] and answers, [[Nathaniel]] took [[Jesus]] away from the others and asked: " Master, could you [[trust]] me to know the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? I [[observe]] that you [[teach]] us only a portion of the [[sacred]] [[writings]]—the best as I view it—and I [[infer]] that you reject the [[teachings]] of the [[rabbis]] to the [[effect]] that the [[words]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] are the very [[words]] of [[God]], having been with [[God]] in heaven even before the times of [[Abraham]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]. What is the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? " When [[Jesus]] heard the question of his bewildered [[apostle]], he answered:

159:4.2 " [[Nathaniel]], you have rightly [[judged]]; I do not regard the [[Scriptures]] as do the [[rabbis]]. I will talk with you about this matter on condition that you do not [[relate]] these things to your brethren, who are not all [[prepared]] to [[receive]] this teaching. The [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and the teachings of the [[Scriptures]] were not in [[existence]] before [[Abraham]]. Only in recent times have the [[Scriptures]] been gathered together as we now have them. While they contain the best of the higher [[thoughts]] and longings of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish] people, they also contain much that is far from being [[representative]] of the [[character]] and teachings of [[the Father]] in [[heaven]]; wherefore must I [[choose]] from among the better teachings those [[truths]] which are to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleaning gleaned] for the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]].

159:4.2 " [[Nathaniel]], you have rightly [[judged]]; I do not regard the [[Scriptures]] as do the [[rabbis]]. I will talk with you about this matter on condition that you do not [[relate]] these things to your brethren, who are not all [[prepared]] to [[receive]] this teaching. The [[words]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and the teachings of the [[Scriptures]] were not in [[existence]] before [[Abraham]]. Only in recent times have the [[Scriptures]] been gathered together as we now have them. While they contain the best of the higher [[thoughts]] and longings of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish] people, they also contain much that is far from being [[representative]] of the [[character]] and teachings of [[the Father]] in [[heaven]]; wherefore must I [[choose]] from among the better teachings those [[truths]] which are to be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleaning gleaned] for the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]].

159:4.3 " These [[writings]] are the [[work]] of men, some of them [[holy]] men, others not so holy. The teachings of these [[books]] [[represent]] the views and extent of [[enlightenment]] of the times in which they had their [[origin]]. As a [[revelation]] of [[truth]], the last are more dependable than the first. The [[Scriptures]] are faulty and altogether [[human]] in [[origin]], but mistake not, they do [[constitute]] the best collection of [[religious]] [[wisdom]] and [[spiritual]] [[truth]] to be found in all the world at this time.

159:4.3 " These [[writings]] are the [[work]] of men, some of them [[holy]] men, others not so holy. The teachings of these [[books]] [[represent]] the views and extent of [[enlightenment]] of the times in which they had their [[origin]]. As a [[revelation]] of [[truth]], the last are more dependable than the first. The [[Scriptures]] are faulty and altogether [[human]] in [[origin]], but mistake not, they do [[constitute]] the best collection of [[religious]] [[wisdom]] and [[spiritual]] [[truth]] to be found in all the world at this time.

159:4.4 " Many of these [[books]] were not [[written]] by the [[persons]] whose [[names]] they bear, but that in no way detracts from the [[value]] of the [[truths]] which they contain. If the [[story]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah Jonah] should not be a [[fact]], even if [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jonah Jonah] had never lived, still would the [[profound]] [[truth]] of this [[narrative]], the [[love]] of [[God]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevah Nineveh] and the so-called [[heathen]], be none the less precious in the eyes of all those who love their fellow men. The [[Scriptures]] are [[sacred]] because they present the [[thoughts]] and [[acts]] of men who were searching for [[God]], and who in these [[writings]] left on [[record]] their highest [[concepts]] of [[righteousness]], [[truth]], and [[holiness]]. The [[Scriptures]] contain much that is true, very much, but in the [[light]] of your present [[teaching]], you know that these [[writings]] also contain much that is misrepresentative of [[the Father]] in heaven, the loving [[God]] I have come to [[reveal]] to all the worlds.

159:4.4 " Many of these [[books]] were not [[written]] by the [[persons]] whose [[names]] they bear, but that in no way detracts from the [[value]] of the [[truths]] which they contain. If the [[story]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah Jonah] should not be a [[fact]], even if [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jonah Jonah] had never lived, still would the [[profound]] [[truth]] of this [[narrative]], the [[love]] of [[God]] for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevah Nineveh] and the so-called [[heathen]], be none the less precious in the eyes of all those who love their fellow men. The [[Scriptures]] are [[sacred]] because they present the [[thoughts]] and [[acts]] of men who were searching for [[God]], and who in these [[writings]] left on [[record]] their highest [[concepts]] of [[righteousness]], [[truth]], and [[holiness]]. The [[Scriptures]] contain much that is true, very much, but in the [[light]] of your present [[teaching]], you know that these [[writings]] also contain much that is misrepresentative of [[the Father]] in heaven, the loving [[God]] I have come to [[reveal]] to all the worlds.

159:4.5 " [[Nathaniel]], never [[permit]] yourself for one [[moment]] to [[believe]] the [[Scripture]] [[records]] which tell you that the [[God]] of [[love]] directed your [[forefathers]] to go forth in [[battle]] to slay all their [[enemies]]—men, women, and children. Such [[records]] are the [[words]] of men, not very [[holy]] men, and they are not the [[word]] of [[God]]. The [[Scriptures]] always have, and always will, [[reflect]] the [[intellectual]], [[moral]], and [[spiritual]] [[status]] of those who [[create]] them. Have you not noted that the [[concepts]] of [[Yahweh]] [[grow]] in [[beauty]] and [[glory]] as the [[prophets]] make their [[records]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]? And you should [[remember]] that the [[Scriptures]] are [[intended]] for [[religious]] instruction and [[spiritual]] [[guidance]]. They are not the [[works]] of either [[historians]] or [[philosophers]].

159:4.5 " [[Nathaniel]], never [[permit]] yourself for one [[moment]] to [[believe]] the [[Scripture]] [[records]] which tell you that the [[God]] of [[love]] directed your [[forefathers]] to go forth in [[battle]] to slay all their [[enemies]]—men, women, and children. Such [[records]] are the [[words]] of men, not very [[holy]] men, and they are not the [[word]] of [[God]]. The [[Scriptures]] always have, and always will, [[reflect]] the [[intellectual]], [[moral]], and [[spiritual]] [[status]] of those who [[create]] them. Have you not noted that the [[concepts]] of [[Yahweh]] [[grow]] in [[beauty]] and [[glory]] as the [[prophets]] make their [[records]] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]? And you should [[remember]] that the [[Scriptures]] are [[intended]] for [[religious]] instruction and [[spiritual]] [[guidance]]. They are not the [[works]] of either [[historians]] or [[philosophers]].

159:4.6 " The [[thing]] most deplorable is not merely this [[erroneous]] [[idea]] of the [[absolute]] [[perfection]] of the [[Scripture]] [[record]] and the [[infallibility]] of its teachings, but rather the [[confusing]] misinterpretation of these [[sacred]] [[writings]] by the [[tradition]]-enslaved [[scribes]] and [[Pharisees]] at [[Jerusalem]]. And now will they employ both the [[doctrine]] of the [[inspiration]] of the [[Scriptures]] and their misinterpretations thereof in their [[determined]] [[effort]] to withstand these newer [[teachings]] of the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]]. [[Nathaniel]], never forget, [[the Father]] does not [[limit]] the [[revelation]] of [[truth]] to any one [[generation]] or to any one people. Many [[earnest]] [[seekers]] after the [[truth]] have been, and will continue to be, [[confused]] and disheartened by these [[doctrines]] of the [[perfection]] of the [[Scriptures]].

159:4.6 " The [[thing]] most deplorable is not merely this [[erroneous]] [[idea]] of the [[absolute]] [[perfection]] of the [[Scripture]] [[record]] and the [[infallibility]] of its teachings, but rather the [[confusing]] misinterpretation of these [[sacred]] [[writings]] by the [[tradition]]-enslaved [[scribes]] and [[Pharisees]] at [[Jerusalem]]. And now will they employ both the [[doctrine]] of the [[inspiration]] of the [[Scriptures]] and their misinterpretations thereof in their [[determined]] [[effort]] to withstand these newer [[teachings]] of the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]]. [[Nathaniel]], never forget, [[the Father]] does not [[limit]] the [[revelation]] of [[truth]] to any one [[generation]] or to any one people. Many [[earnest]] [[seekers]] after the [[truth]] have been, and will continue to be, [[confused]] and disheartened by these [[doctrines]] of the [[perfection]] of the [[Scriptures]].