On different minds such an argument Avill make different impressions ; but we are certainly going ujion more solid ground when we turn to the testi- mony of Scripture.
1. Here the first thing to be noted is the impres- sion which He made in the days of His flesh on both friends and foes. Thus, when He presented Himself for baptism among the multitude at the Jordan, the Baptist forbade Him, saying, ' I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?' (Mt 3"). Whether this sense of inferiority and unworthiness on the part of the Baptist be ascribed to a long acquaintance with Jesus before- hand, or to the rapt dignity in the expression of Jesus at the moment, it is equally remarkable. Even more pronounced was the sense of the same contrast expressed by St. Peter, when, after the miracle wrought before his eyes in his own boat, he shrank away, exclaiming, ' Depart from me ; for I am a sinful man, O Lord ! ' (Lk 5^). This was the spontaneous effect on a sensitive conscience of the proximity of the Divine ; it was the terror of sin at the manifestation of sinlessness. These were testimonies of friends ; but His enemies, in their involuntary tributes, Avere no less explicit. Thus, the centurion Avho presided over the crucifixion exclaimed, as he saw Him expire : ' Certainly this was a rigliteous man ' (23^'^). The wife of Pilate made use of almost the identical expression when she sent to her husband the message : ' Have thou nothing to do with this just man ' (Mt 27'^). Pilate himself said : ' I find no faitlt in him ' (Jn 19^). And even Judas Iscariot, though he had known Him long, and had, at the moment when he spoke, a strong interest in recalling anything Avith which he could have found fault as an excuse for his own
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conduct, acknowledged that he had betrayed ' in- nocent blood' (Mt 'iT'').
2. Of more theological importance are the state- ments in what may be called the authoritative parts of the NT. St. Jolin says : ' Ye know that he was manifested to take away sins ; and in him is no sin' (1 Jn 3^). Such was the total impression carried away by this disciple from the years of intimacy with his Master. Elsewhere he expresses tlie same sentiment moi'e positively, as for instance in the prologue to his Gospel ; but this statement of tlie negative may here suffice. Next to St. John in intimacy was St. Peter ; and he summed up his experiences, very soon after these had been received, when, in his great speech on the Day of Pentecost, he referred to Jesus as ' the Holy and Righteous One ' (Ac 3^^) ; and that, with the process of time, his convictions on this point had not changed is proved by the declaration in one of his Epistles : ' Christ also suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God' (1 P 3'^). St. Paul echoes the same sentiment when he states : ' Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, that ^ve might become the right- eousness of God in him"' (2 Co 5^^). No other NT writer has, however, set down statements on this theme so striking and beautiful as those of the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, who calls Jesus 'holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners ' (7^^) ; and, in another passage, declares : ' We have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirndties, but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin ' (4^^). These quotations are not exhaustive ; but tliey are so directly to the point that it is useless to add to them. If there be any virtue in proof-texts, the sinlessness of Jesus is proved beyond contradiction.
3. Of all the testimonies of the NT, however, the one to which we turn with the keenest curi- osity is the testimony of Jesus Himself ; and we have to see whether He committed Himself on this subject. The result of such an investigation is perhaps less satisfying than might have been hoped. On one occasion, indeed. He .said to His opponents : ' Which of you convicteth me of sin ? ' (Jn 8^") ; and if, as appears to be the case, this was a general challenge in reference to His whole life and conduct, and not a denial of a particular sin, it would hardly have been possible to make a more distinct claim to sinlessness. On the same occasion He said : ' He that sent me is with me : he hath not left me alone ; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him ' (v.^"). Very similar was His declaration on another occasion : ' My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work ' (4**). To the Apostles, at the Last Supper, He said : ' I will no more speak much with you ; for the prince of this world cometh, and he hath nothing in me' (14^), Mhicli seems to be a denial that in Him there was any point of contact where the Evil One might bring his accusa- tions or fasten his temptations. It will be observed that all tliese citations are from the Gosjiel of St. .John ; and there are none of equal force in the other Gospels.