study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第18章
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on to say that when we search for the causes of the feelings which made
the marvelous style of the Bible a necessity； explanation can make but a
short step； for 〃we are in a realm where the only ultimate explanation is
the fact of inspiration； and that is only another way of saying that we are
in the presence of forces above and beyond our present human
understanding。〃＇2＇
＇1＇ Preface； p。 vii。
＇2＇ Page 124。
However； we may fairly make distinction between the Bible as an
original work and the Bible as a work of English literature。 For the Bible
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as an original work is not so much a book as a series of books； the work of
many men working separately over a period of at least fifteen hundred
years； and these men unconscious for the most part of any purpose of
agreement。 This series of books is made one book in the original by the
unity of its general purpose and the agreement of its parts。 The Bible in
English is； however； not a series of books； but properly one book； the work
of six small groups of men working in conscious unity through a short
period of years。 And while there is variation in style； while there are
inequalities in result； yet it stands as a single piece of English literature。 It
has a literary style of its own； even though it feels powerfully the Hebrew
influence throughout。 And while it would not be a condemnation of the
Bible if it were not great literature in English or elsewhere； it is still part of
its power that by literary standards alone it measures large。
It is so that men of letters have rated it since it came into existence。 〃It
holds a place of pre…eminence in the republic of letters。〃 When John
Richard Green comes to deal with it； he says： 〃As a mere literary
monument the English version of the Bible remains the noblest language
of the English tongue； while its perpetual use made of it from the instant
of its appearance the standard of our language。〃＇1＇ And in Macaulay's
essay on Dryden； while he is deploring the deterioration of English style；
he yet says that in the period when the English language was imperiled
there appeared 〃the English Bible； a book which if everything else in our
language should perish would alone suffice to show the extent of its
beauty and power。〃
＇1＇ Short History of the English People； Book vii； chap。 i。
The mere fact that the English Bible contains a religion does not
affect its standing as literature。 Homer and Virgil are Greek and Roman
classics； yet each of them contains a definite religion。 You can build up the
religious faith of the Greeks and Romans out of their great literature。 So
you can build up the religious faith of the Hebrews and the early
Christians from the Old and New Testaments。 〃For fifteen centuries a
Hebrew Book； the Bible； contained almost the whole literature and
learning of a whole nation；〃 while it was also the book of their religion。
As literature； however； apart from its religious connection； it is subject
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to any of the criteria of literature。 In so far it is the fair subject of criticism。
It must stand or fall when it enters the realm of literature by the standards
of other books。 Indeed； many questions regarding its dates； the authorship
of unassigned portions； the meaning of its disputed passages may be
answered most fairly by literary tests。 That is always liable to abuse； but
literary tests are always liable to that。 There have been enough blunders
made in the knowledge of us all to require us to go carefully in such a
matter。 The Waverley Novels were published anonymously； and； while
some suspected Scott at once； others were entirely clear that on the ground
of literary style his authorship was entirely impossible！ Let a magazine
publish an anonymous serial； and readers everywhere are quick to
recognize the writer from his literary style and his general ideas； but each
group 〃recognizes〃 a different writer。 Arguments based chiefly on style
overlook the large personal equation in all writing。 The same writer has
more than one natural style。 It is not until he becomes in a certain sense
affectedgrows proud of his peculiaritiesthat he settles down to one
form。 And it is quite impossible to assign a book to any narrow historical
period on the ground of its style alone。 But though large emphasis could
be laid upon the literary merits of the Bible to the obscuring of its other
more important merits； it is yet true that from the literary point of view the
Bible stands as an English classic； indeed； as the outstanding English
classic。 To acknowledge ignorance of it is to confess one's self ignorant of
our greatest literary possession。
A moment ago it was said that as a piece of literature the Bible must
accept the standards of other literary books。 For all present purposes we
can define great literature as worthy written expression of great ideas。 If
we may take the word 〃written〃 for granted； the rough definition becomes
this： that great literature is the worthy expression of great ideas。 Works
which claim to be great in literature may fail of greatness in either half of
that test。 Petty； local； unimportant ideas may be well clothed； or great ideas
may be unworthily expressed； in either case the literature is poor。 It is not
until great ideas are wedded to worthy expression that literature becomes
great。 Failure at one end or the other will explain the failure of most of the
work that seeks to be accounted literature。 The literary value of a book
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cannot be determined by its style alone。 It is possible to say nothing
gracefully； even with dignity； symmetry； rhythm； but it is not possible to
make literature without ideas。 Abiding literature demands large ideas
worthily expressed。 Now； of course； 〃large〃 and 〃small〃 are not words that
are usually applied to the measurement of ideas； but we can make them
seem appropriate here。 Let us mean that an idea is large or small according
to its breadth of interest to the race and its length of interest to the race。 If
there is an idea which is of value to all the members of the human race to…
day； and which does not lose its value as the generations come and go； that
is the largest possible idea within human thought。 Transient literature may
do without those large ideas。 A gifted young reporter may describe a dog
fight or a presidential nominating convention in such terms as lift his
article out of carelessness and hasty newspaper writing into the realm of
real literature； but it cannot become abiding literature。 It has not a large
enough idea to keep it alive。 And to any one who loves worthy expression
there is a sense of degradation in the use of fine literary powers for the
description of purely transient local events。 It is
