Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0108
I. B. Bradley vs Samuel Ford (Holiness)
March 5, 1914
Taft, Tennessee
(By A. H. Rozar)
January 8-9, in Taft, Tennessee.
Ford a 'Holiness Faith' preacher. Bro. Bradley affirmed: "What all mean and women who are truly converted, or sins pardoned, are at that time sanctified." Bro. Bradley argued that in every instance where "sanctification" is used, in Old Testament and New Testament it is synonymous with "set apart." He read a great number of passages in both Testaments to prove it, and also read from Thayer's Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament the use of the word "hagios" as agreeing with the idea. He also read Webster's definition of "holy", "sanctify," "set apart" as meaning the same. Mr. Ford agreed to this as applied to the use of those words in the Old Testament but not in the New Testament. Bro. Bradley certainly maintained the idea "all the church" is sanctified and often spoken of as "a holy people" and a "holy nation." He certainly sustained his proposition.
Mr. Ford affirmed: "That men and women are sanctified subsequent to regeneration, or conversion, or sins pardoned, and that all saved people, or Christians, live lives of sinless perfection." He did not define his affirmation as Bro. Bradley did. He tried to claim the measure of the Holy Spirit that the apostles received on Pentecost as proof of his "subsequent sanctification." But Bradley brought down with telling effect the fact that the apostles were enabled to raise the dead, unstop deaf ears, cast out devils by that power or measure of the Holy Spirit and that Mr. Ford and his "holy crowd" must do the same or give up the claim. Ford's moderator tried to stop Bro. Bradley from making that argument, but the President Moderator ruled Bro. Bradley correct. This certainly made them rustle. Bro. Bradley challenged Ford to meet him again.
Elder J. V. Kirkland, Baptist, acted as chief moderator. Mr. Beddingfield, Holiness preacher, moderated for Ford. A. H. Rozar moderated for Bradley. Hedges' Logic governed the debate. Good feelings prevailed.
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