A man in England has discovered a way to increase the value of books
by as much as 1,000 percent. But it's not a method we recommend.
Simply put, it's illegal.
The 65-year-old, who was not named in the report by Reuter's News, has
been arrrested. For the past 18 months he has offered for sale books
that purportedly were signed by Winston Churchill. Collectors pay a
high price for books signed by celebrities, and this fellow
capitalized on the idea. He had apparently worked hard to perfect a
signature that closely resembled the former prime minister's. But
those signatures were not authentic, and thus of no value.
In cases like this, it's not the similarity that makes the autograph
valuable, but the fact that a famous person made the inscription.
Suppose we receive a signed letter from a well-known figure; we
excitedly show it to others. Later we learn that the "signature" was
made by a secretary using a rubber stamp. We don't view the signature
quite the same any longer.
Art work is another area where authenticity is of great concern. Long
before scanners and computers, some artists made their living by
making excellent imitations of masterpieces. If you discover that the
Renoir that has been passed down in your family is actually a copy,
the value of that piece tumbles. While the imitator obviously had
talent that approached the master artist, the value of his work just
can't compare.
The apostle Paul had imitators, too. He warned the Christians at
Thessalonica "not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by
spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us ..." (2 Thessalonians
2:2). The apostle's authority was well known. What simpler way to
promote a new teaching than by claiming it came from Paul? But Paul
alerted them to be careful. Not all teachings were authentic.
At the end of that same letter, Paul gave them assurance of the
veracity of the present writing: "The salutation of Paul with my own
hand, which is a sign in every epistle, so I write" (2 Thessalonians
3:17). Paul's writing must have been easily recognized, for he wrote
in Galatians 6:11, "See with what large letters I have written to you
with my own hand!" (Some believe Paul's eyesight had grown dim,
making large print a must.)
We should have the same concern for authenticity. Early in that
Galatian letter Paul noted his surprise that some were already leaving
the teaching he had given them. "But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to
you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). John also saw the need for
vigilance: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have
gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
But how can we "test the spirits"? How can we know that the religious
teaching we're following is authentic? Here's the test: Is it from
the Bible, God's word? According to 2 Timothy 3:16,17, Scripture has
been given "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work." If we can't find the teaching in the Bible,
it's not authentic.
Timothy D. Hall
by as much as 1,000 percent. But it's not a method we recommend.
Simply put, it's illegal.
The 65-year-old, who was not named in the report by Reuter's News, has
been arrrested. For the past 18 months he has offered for sale books
that purportedly were signed by Winston Churchill. Collectors pay a
high price for books signed by celebrities, and this fellow
capitalized on the idea. He had apparently worked hard to perfect a
signature that closely resembled the former prime minister's. But
those signatures were not authentic, and thus of no value.
In cases like this, it's not the similarity that makes the autograph
valuable, but the fact that a famous person made the inscription.
Suppose we receive a signed letter from a well-known figure; we
excitedly show it to others. Later we learn that the "signature" was
made by a secretary using a rubber stamp. We don't view the signature
quite the same any longer.
Art work is another area where authenticity is of great concern. Long
before scanners and computers, some artists made their living by
making excellent imitations of masterpieces. If you discover that the
Renoir that has been passed down in your family is actually a copy,
the value of that piece tumbles. While the imitator obviously had
talent that approached the master artist, the value of his work just
can't compare.
The apostle Paul had imitators, too. He warned the Christians at
Thessalonica "not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by
spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us ..." (2 Thessalonians
2:2). The apostle's authority was well known. What simpler way to
promote a new teaching than by claiming it came from Paul? But Paul
alerted them to be careful. Not all teachings were authentic.
At the end of that same letter, Paul gave them assurance of the
veracity of the present writing: "The salutation of Paul with my own
hand, which is a sign in every epistle, so I write" (2 Thessalonians
3:17). Paul's writing must have been easily recognized, for he wrote
in Galatians 6:11, "See with what large letters I have written to you
with my own hand!" (Some believe Paul's eyesight had grown dim,
making large print a must.)
We should have the same concern for authenticity. Early in that
Galatian letter Paul noted his surprise that some were already leaving
the teaching he had given them. "But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to
you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). John also saw the need for
vigilance: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have
gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
But how can we "test the spirits"? How can we know that the religious
teaching we're following is authentic? Here's the test: Is it from
the Bible, God's word? According to 2 Timothy 3:16,17, Scripture has
been given "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work." If we can't find the teaching in the Bible,
it's not authentic.
Timothy D. Hall
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