Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation.

The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here.

Matters of Opinion - Inspired Translations?
Dr. Robert L. Sumner, Editor

We are digging deep into the mail bag for this one. A brother in Colorado – in fact, pastor of a Baptist church in one of the major cities – wrote us a scathing letter in response to an article by Dr. Homer Duncan entitled, “What A Shame,” relating to divine inspiration of Scripture involving only the original manuscripts, not any translation. In fact, we had labeled Duncan’s article in the paper, “An Emotional Look At An Emotional Issue.” We may have understated it in his case. Duncan, by the way, was a nephew of the late J. Frank Norris of Fort Worth. Here was our letter:

Dear Brother M:

Your letter of November 2 reached our office this morning. I am sorry you were so distressed by Homer Duncan’s article. Unfortunately, the language you used didn’t do much to help your cause.

First, you doubted his salvation. Matthew 7:1 warns, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” You have a right to judge actions, but you have no right to judge motives. And until you, like God, can look on the heart instead of the outward appearance (I Samuel 16:7), you should not be guilty of such wickedness. “To his own master he standeth or falleth” (Romans 14:4).

Second, you base your judgmental attitude on I Peter 1:23 and your own interpretation of what is meant by the “incorruptible seed.” Do you also doubt the salvation of Charles Haddon Spurgeon? John R. Rice? Carl McIntire? Richard V. Clearwaters? Bob Jones, Jr., R. A. Torrey? John A. Broadus? B. B. Warfield? Lee Roberson? C. I. Scofield? Noel Smith? R. Laird Harris? G. Campbell Morgan? A. T. Pierson? James M. Gray? B. H. Carroll? William Bell Riley? All the King James translators? They all held/hold the same position as Duncan and myself. You are setting yourself up to judge historic Fundamentalists, all of who held our position, not yours. I think you owe all these good, godly men an apology – as well as Homer Duncan.

Third, since you say you “have never read such wicked, destructive, satanic literature” in your life and that it “does more to destroy our country than an issue of Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, or other smut books,” all you have to do to get off our mailing list is request that your name be dropped. Our policy is stated on page two of every issue. You are welcome to stay on our subscription list as long as you wish, but if I felt as you do I would probably ask to be deleted.

I gather from your letter that you are a good man and feel like you are standing up for God and His Word. That is good. I am for you. I do think you need to be better informed on this particular issue, however, and not make the kind of irresponsible statements found in your letters to Homer Duncan and to me.