In my studies I came across some interesting quotes, some I was familiar, some not. Since I'm studying the Doctrine of the Bible right now, these well known quotes were centered around this subject matter. Considering that people of today think one must check their brains at the door to believe the "book" I wonder what they would say if they saw this impressive list of what I would consider very brilliant people of yesteryear.
World Leaders
Winston Churchill-"We rest with assurance upon the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture."
William Gladstone-"I have known 95 great men of the world in my time, and of these, 87 were followers of the Bible."
Syngman Rhee-"Fellow prisoners held the Bible and turned the pages for me because my fingers were so crushed that I could not use them. I read the Bible, and I have read it the rest of my life."
Generals
Douglas MacArthur-"Believe me sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed."
Robert E. Lee-"The Bible is a book in comparison with which all others in my eyes are of minor importance, and in which in all my perplexities and distresses has never failed to give me light and strength."
Stonewall Jackson-"God's promises change not.....let us endeavor to adorn the doctrine of Christ in all things."
Scientists
Sir Isaac Newston-"We account the Scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever." (normally regarded as probably the greatest Scientsist ever lived)
Sir Francis Bacon-"The volume of Scriptures......reveal the will of God."
Sir John Herschel-"All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths come from on high and contained in the sacred writings...."
James Dwight Dana- (in address to Yale Seniors) "Young men, as you go forth, remember that I, an old man, who has known only science all his life say unto you that there is no truer facts than the facts found within the Holy Scriptures."
Historians (Agnostics)
W.G. Wells-"The Bible has been the Book that held together the fabric of Western civilization.....The civilization we possess could not come into existence and could not have been sustained without it." (puzzling statement-he felt he could get by without it but Western Civilization needed it).
Arnold J. Toynbee-"It pierces through the Intellect and plays directly upon the heart."
Physicians (Recognize the names?)
Mark Hopkins-"Thus we have every conceivable species of historical proof, both external and internal. Thus do the very stones cry out."
Charles W. Mayo-"In sickness or in health, one can find comfort and constructive advice in the Bible."
Lawyers (they did mix politics and religion)
Daniel Webster-"I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the will and the Word of God."
Ben Franklin-"Young men, my advice to you is that you culitivate an acquaintance with, and a firm belief in, the Holy Scriptures." (Agnostic saw benefit).
Patrick Henry-"This is a Book worth more than all the others that were ever printed, however it is my sad misfortune not to read it. May God have mercy on my soul." (pointed to the bible as he lay dying).
Educators
Timothy Dwight-"The Bible is a window in this prison world through which we may look into eternity."
William Lyon Phelps-"Everyone who has a thorough knowledge of the Bible may truly be called educated.....I believe knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without the Bible."
Henry Van Dyke-"No other book in the world has had such a strange vitality, such an outgoing power of influence and inspiration....No man is poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own."
Philosophers & Writers
'Charles Dana-"Of all the books, the most indispensable and the most useful, the one whose knowledge is the most effictive, is the Bible."
Horace Greeley-"It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people."
John Milton-"There are no songs like the songs of the Scriptures, no orations like the orations of the prophets."
Sir Walter Scott-"Within this awful volume lies the Mystery of mysteries."
Charles Dickens-"It is the best Book that ever was or ever will be in the world......."
Count Leo Tolstoy-"Without the Bible the education of a child in the present state of society is impossible."
Various Fields
J Edgar Hoover-"The Bible is the unfailing guide which points the way for men to the prefect life."
Helen Keller-"In the Bible I find a confidence mightier than the utmost evil...."
"Bernard Baruch-"I have always placed the Bible as number one among the four books I think everyone should read and study. Therein one will find all the problems that beset mankind."
Church Fathers
Augustine-"Let us give in and yeild our assent to the authority of Holy Scripture, which knows not how either to be deceived or to deceive...."
Jerome-"Give ear for a moment that I may tell you how you are to walk in the Holy Scriptures. All that we read in the Divine Book, while glistening and shining without, is yet for sweeter within."
Calvin-"The Scriptures is the school of the Holy Spirit in which, as nothing necessary and useful to be known is omitted, so nothing is taught which is not beneficial to know."
Luther-"It cannot be otherwise, for the Scriptures, are Divine; in them God speaks, and they are His Word. To hear or to read the Scriptures is nothing else than to hear God."
Athanasius-"They were spoken and written by God through men who spoke of God.....Let no man add to these, neither let him take aught from these."
I didn't even get into the Presidents, but I've got a mass of quotes by them as well. All very educated and knowledgeable both about the world and the bible yet each and everyone of them, regardless of their religous affiliation, believed the Bible was a very important book indeed. Even those we consider agnostic seem to do a bit of bible thumping themselves. They did alot more reading back then than we do today. Could it be even the agnostics read the bible? I think so.
"