In Their Own Words: Great Men and Women Who Highly Respected the Bible
Historically, the Bible has been held in the highest esteem by many great
men and women-presidents, prime ministers, monarchs, scholars, scientists,
philosophers and more. Following are what some of them have said about
the Bible.
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), known as the father of
the scientific method, wrote, "There are two books laid before us to study,
to prevent our falling into error; first, the volume of Scriptures, which
reveal the will of God, then the volume of the Creatures [Creation], which
express His power."
John Locke (1632-1704), the noted English philosopher,
wrote: "The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the
children of men. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and
truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure, all sincere;
nothing too much; nothing wanting."
The noted French writer and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
wrote: "The majesty of the Scriptures strikes me with admiration, as the
purity of the Gospel has its influence on my heart. Peruse the works of
our philosophers; with all their pomp of diction, how mean, how contemptible,
are they, compared with the Scriptures! Is it possible that a Book at once
so simple and sublime should be merely the work of man?"
The brilliant German scholar and philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
said: "The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest
benefit which the human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle
it is a crime against humanity."
The brilliant German writer, poet and thinker Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe (1749-1832) said: "Belief in the Bible, the fruit
of deep meditation, has served me as the guide of my moral and literary
life. I have found it a capital safely invested, and richly productive
of interest."
