The Cairo Debate — Page 5
the prophets who were before you. " (Mt. 510 12). These verses bear testimony (1) Of the righteousness and holiness of prophets. They were born of God and were inmates of His kingdom. the least access to them. . Satan failed. Satan failed to obtain. They were persecuted for righteousness' sake (peace and mercy of God be upon all of them). Exalted to a rank as high they must be infallible. Satan can never prevail on them. In the light of these verses one is persuaded to acknowledge that the progency of. Adam embraces vicious men as well as virtuous. . Not all of them are given to excesses. Once you accept this truth it will render Christian faith null and void. The superstructure of Atonement will come down with a thud. (2) Prophets are sent by God as models of virtue to teach people through persuation. It is written: "Many years thou didst bear with them. and didst warn them by thy Spirit through thy prophets;" (Neh. 9:30). How can a prophet be taken as a model of good and a guardian over people and yet himself commit transgressions? His failing is inconsistent with his office. Any theory that brands prophets as unjust has to be discarded. The charge of sin against them has to be set aside as false. (3) The Holy Bible. Bible testifies to a host of 5