Elder Sylvester Hassell (1842-1928)
"Strifes of Words and Hobby Horses"
The Gospel Messenger--January 1894
"The Apostle Paul, writing by inspiration of God, repeatedly {1Ti 6:3-5,20-21; 2Ti 2:14-18,23-26} forbids our engaging in what he calls "logomachies," or wars of words, and "profane and vain babbling," "oppositions of science falsely so called," and "foolish and unlearned questions which gender strifes." He declares that these wordy wars proceed from the devil, {1Co 14:33; 1Ti 3:6; 4:1; 6:5; 2Ti 2:26} from spiritual disease, {1Ti 6:3-4; 2Ti 2:17} pride, {1Ti 6:4} corruption, {1Ti 6:5; 2Ti 2:16-17} avarice, {1Ti 6:10} philosophy, {1Ti 6:20; Col 2:8} and heresy; {1Ti 6:10,21; 2Ti 2:18} that they produce jealousy, rivalry, evil speaking, unjust suspicions, and vain disputations, and are unprofitable, and, instead of edifying, subvert others, and tend to destroy and overthrow their faith. {1Ti 6:4-5,10,21; 2Ti 2:14-18,23,26}"
To "logomachies" we might add "pettifoggers." I have often spoke against hair splitting theologians and Sophist preachers.
Hassell continued:
"Every person unhappily affected with such an empty, irreligious, and unmoral sophistomania is "proud," says the Apostle, {1Ti 6:4} that is, as the original word literally means, is "beclouded," "filled with the fumes of self-conceit" (like the "novice" in 1Ti 3:6--the same word being used there by the Apostle), "knowing nothing" (so darkened that he can see nothing clearly), "doting" (that is, "diseased," "morbidly anxious,") not about substantial and eternal realities, but "about subtleties and disputes of words," (or hair-splitting distinctions, abstract ideas, vain speculations, frivolous allegorizings or philosophizings), "corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth," {1Ti 6:4-5} as even the people of God are, when not sustained or illuminated by the Spirit."
Well, amen to that!
Hassell continued:
"When in the flesh, we are all of us liable to this dreadful disease; and, when so afflicted, we may enter into heated disputes with our brethren on subjects in regard to which we are really agreed, while we differ only in the words that we use--especially when the subjects of our controversies are such deep and unfathomable mysteries as the nature of God and of the human soul, predestination, redemption, and regeneration, the origin of sin, the exact condition of Adam before his fall, and the exact result of his fall. It is the mark of the highest wisdom to receive all the statements of the Scriptures on these deep mysteries with all the humility and teachableness of a little child, {Lu 18:17} and not to seek to pry into the secret things that belong to God, {De 29:29} and exercise ourselves in great matters and things too high for us, {Ps 133:1} and rail at our brethren who do not express themselves exactly as we do, who do not adopt all our shibboleths, on these profound subjects that no human being has ever been able to understand and explain. Neither upon these nor upon any other subject should we ever wilfully distort and misrepresent the views of others; and upon all subjects we should, as much as possible, endeavor to lay aside all prejudice, partiality, and prepossession, and to ascertain "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," which alone can do us any real and lasting good."
To "logomachies" we might add "pettifoggers." I have often spoke against hair splitting theologians and Sophist preachers.
Hassell continued:
"Every person unhappily affected with such an empty, irreligious, and unmoral sophistomania is "proud," says the Apostle, {1Ti 6:4} that is, as the original word literally means, is "beclouded," "filled with the fumes of self-conceit" (like the "novice" in 1Ti 3:6--the same word being used there by the Apostle), "knowing nothing" (so darkened that he can see nothing clearly), "doting" (that is, "diseased," "morbidly anxious,") not about substantial and eternal realities, but "about subtleties and disputes of words," (or hair-splitting distinctions, abstract ideas, vain speculations, frivolous allegorizings or philosophizings), "corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth," {1Ti 6:4-5} as even the people of God are, when not sustained or illuminated by the Spirit."
Well, amen to that!
Hassell continued:
"When in the flesh, we are all of us liable to this dreadful disease; and, when so afflicted, we may enter into heated disputes with our brethren on subjects in regard to which we are really agreed, while we differ only in the words that we use--especially when the subjects of our controversies are such deep and unfathomable mysteries as the nature of God and of the human soul, predestination, redemption, and regeneration, the origin of sin, the exact condition of Adam before his fall, and the exact result of his fall. It is the mark of the highest wisdom to receive all the statements of the Scriptures on these deep mysteries with all the humility and teachableness of a little child, {Lu 18:17} and not to seek to pry into the secret things that belong to God, {De 29:29} and exercise ourselves in great matters and things too high for us, {Ps 133:1} and rail at our brethren who do not express themselves exactly as we do, who do not adopt all our shibboleths, on these profound subjects that no human being has ever been able to understand and explain. Neither upon these nor upon any other subject should we ever wilfully distort and misrepresent the views of others; and upon all subjects we should, as much as possible, endeavor to lay aside all prejudice, partiality, and prepossession, and to ascertain "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," which alone can do us any real and lasting good."
Again, amen to that! Let us all heed these words.
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