date

1817 Nov 26 Not Paul II Doctrine
1817 Nov 26

Not Paul

II Doctrine

Ch In Jesus no Asceticism

§. 2 or 3. Negative proof

§ 2. Adulteress

John VIII. 1 to 31

John VIII. 20. ‘These things spake Jesus in the treasury as he taught in the temple:

and no man laid hands on him, for his hour was not yet come.’  Mention this as a

reason for the […?] of his answer &c.’

Case of the woman taken in adultery.

The ground of the instruction /lesson/ doctrine[?]/ course taken on this occasion by

Jesus on this occasion is susceptible of two interpretations: according to one he

lays down a principle is laid down by him inconsistent with the existence of all

government: according to the other it is of the number of those lessons of his by

which such well-merited censure is passed on the Mosaic law. it conveys /serves for

the conveyance of/ one of his /a/ well merited censures /censure/ on the Mosaic law:

the reader will adopt that one of them which presents itself /appears/ as the most

reasonable, and most consonant to the character of Jesus.

According to the case /In the […?] case/ as reported, an adulteress taken in the act

stands for judgment, and for the purpose of making out against him a ground of

accusation on the score of contempt towards the established law and government, his

opinion on the question how she shall be dealt with is called for by the constituted

authorities - the Scribes and Pharisees.
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  • Title: [1817 Nov 26 Not Paul II Doctrine]
    Description: 1817 Nov 26

    Not Paul

    II Doctrine

    Ch In Jesus no Asceticism

    Adulteress

    By the Mosaic law as it stands in Leviticus, in case of adultery both offenders male

    and female are to be put to death: a and in this as in other

    capital cases, stoning is the death appointed, the witnesses for the prosecution, of

    which two at the least are made requisite for conviction, are to throw the first

    stones. b In the case in question, of the two offending

    parties, only one only, the female is pardoned.

    a

    b

    This woman say they to him was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses

    (continue they) in the law commanded us that such should be stoned. But what sayest

    thou? John 8: 5 Some time elapses

    before he has an answer ready. At length he that is without sin among you, let him

    (says he) first cast a stone at her. John 8:

    7. Convicted by their own conscience says the report, they went out one by

    one, leaving the woman and him alone with her. Taking no notice that no man had

    condemned ‘Neither do I (says Jesus) condemn thee: go and sin no more. John 8: 11.

    John VIII. 4

    ib. 9.
  • Title: [29 Sept. 1815 Inserenda A John Ch]
    Description: 29 Sept. 1815 Inserenda A John

    Ch. 42 Adulteress

    John alone

    Time per John VIII. 1 (sole narrator) not specified: place in the history next after that of the division among rulers and people respecting him

    Place, the Temple of Jerusalem.

    So often as he had slighted the Mosaic law, this incident the Pharisees &c thought might draw from him such an opinion as might expose him either to legal prosecution or popular indignation

    It seems from this that capital punishment for adultery in the woman was not popular: if it had been the rulers would not have seen any danger to his popularity between […?]

    (Stooping down) viz. to reflect on the subject without being exposed to observation

    (He that is without sin &c) By this put-off the […?] purpose was effectually answered /provided for/. But the interest of society altogether is[?] all. What a lesson in morality /morals/ and grammar! The greater the numbers of delinquents supposing the offence an offence really mischievous the greater the demand for punishment: here, by him it is alledged as a ground /[…?]/

    This harm as represented is a strange sort of […?]. Such mob law could it have been really in force?

    (Condemned them?) Convict – Judgment – execution all this, together designated by condemnation!

    Not very likely they should all thus drop off. If not known for an adulterer, or even if he were, what should have hindered a man from acting in the mob tribunal supposing it established? The man by the supposition an adulterer, and yet his conscience thus delicate?

    Most probably this story had no foundation in fact.

    Ch 42

    The woman, who, being taken in adultery should according to the Mosaic law have been stoned saved harmless by his calling upon him who should feel himself without sin to cast the first stone.

    Luke silent. Matt. silent. Mark silent. John VIII 1 to 11.
  • Title: [1817 Nov. 26 Not Paul II Doctrine]
    Description: 1817 Nov. 26

    Not Paul

    II Doctrine

    Ch In Jesus no Asceticism

    Adulteress

    Without sin says the English translation: in one word

    αναμαρτητος, literally sinless, says the Greek original. The

    occasion considered, nothing does the text contain by which the supposition that

    exemption from that particular sin /only which was then/ in question, not from all

    sin whatsoever, was the condition meant to be required. The Evangelist /historian/

    did the grammatical ambiguity of the expression escape his eye? or for the /as a

    security for/ putting the right construction did he trust to the good sense of the

    reader /mankind/ for the not putting upon the passage a construction by which if

    carried uniformly into practice all government and with it all human society would be

    dissolved did he trust to the power /influence/ of common sense in the breasts

    /minds/ of his readers? If yes /so/, his confidence it is feared, would not be found

    very uniformly justified by the court. Where religion is concerned, causes unhappily

    are not altogether wanting, by which a marked preference is secured to the least

    rational of two rival interpretations. a

    a See Ch. on Faith.