WHAT FAMOUS THEOLOGIANS HAD TO SAY ABOUT

THE BIBLE

	About 450 AD, AUGUSTINE - PRE-CATHOLIC:  "Antony, a just and holy man, who, not being able to read himself, is said to have committed the Scriptures to memory through hearing them read by others, and by dint of wise meditation to have arrived at a thorough understanding of them."   (On Christian Doctrine:  Preface, Point 4)
About 1536 and 1543, JOHN CALVIN - REFORMED CHURCHES: "All may observe the legitimate order appointed by the Church, for the hearing of the word...and public prayer....It is added 'Gather the people together, men, women, and children...in their hearing.' to this end, therefore, did God desire the doctrine of His Law to be heard; viz., that He might obtain disciples for Himself....declares that He is not duly worshipped, except He shall first have been listened to." (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, 8:34;and Commentary on the Last Four Books of Moses," Deuteronomy 31:9-10).
About 1721, MATTHEW HENRY - PRESBYTERIAN: "The reading of the scripture is very proper work to be done in religious assemblies; and Christ himself did not think it any disparagement to him to be employed in it....The Book is...to be brought before the congregation and read to them....Reading the scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God, whereby he is honoured and his church edified" (Commentary, Vol. V, Luke 4:16 AND Vol. II, Nehemiah 8).
	About 1871 and 1875, CHARLES SPURGEON - BAPTIST: "It is God's word, not man's comment, but still it is true that the majority of conversions have been wrought by the agency of a text of Scripture...Child of God, your portion is the whole word of God....Christ is yours, life is yours, death is yours, everlasting glory is yours. There is yours. It is very sweet to give you your royal meat. The Lord gives you a good appetite. Feed on it; feed on it." (Sermons in the Metropolitan Pulpit, London, 1871, pg. 589, and 1875, pg. 92).