THE BIBLICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY, as its name implies, is a group of men who believe that the Bible is the very word of God, that is, the divinely disclosed revelation of the will of God to man. They have dedicated their lives to the eternal God and are endeavoring by His grace and power to live according to the teaching of the Word of God and to do all within their power to influence as many others as possible to yield to God and to do His will.

The chief concern of this society is to search out the great fundamental truths of the Bible and to disseminate this knowledge among all men in general and among Israel in particular.

All things and movements have a beginning. Since the founder and director of this society is I, David L. Cooper, the author of this booklet, it is well for me to give, in a few brief statements, how God lead me into this special phase of Christian service. In 1920, my wife and I attended a victorious life conference in Cedar Lake, Indiana. There we attended special lectures and services which were conducted in the interest of Israel. We became very deeply concerned about the welfare of the ancient chosen people of God. At one meeting both of us dedicated our lives to do all in our power for suffering Israel.

In the spring of 1923 when I was teaching in a college in Texas, one afternoon I was busily engaged in some work at my cow shed. There came to my mind in a most impressive and powerful way, the thought of the lost condition of the bulk of humanity. In my meditations I passed rapidly throughout the world, and finally the thought of the suffering of Israel and her need of salvation came heavily upon my soul and caused me to weep as if my heart would break. I again rededicated my life to the Lord in the interest of the suffering nation and earnestly besought Him to lead me out into that field of service in behalf of Israel where He wanted me to go.

Although I had graduated from the university and seminary and had done postgraduate work in the later, I felt a great need of further preparation for this work to which I intended to devote my life. Hence during the summer of that year, I went to Chicago and did special work in the Moody Bible Institute under Professor Solomon Birnbaum. In the beginning of the summer of 1924, I returned to Chicago from my home in Texas and continued my studies. Later that summer I moved my family there and did postgraduate work in the university the year of 1924-1925, with this purpose in view. During this time my wife and I were earnestly praying to the Lord to lead us to that place where He wanted us to serve Him. In January, 1926, the call came from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles for me to assume the responsibility of the superintendency of the Jewish department of that institution. To this call I felt led of God to respond. On February 5, I assumed the duties of that office.

For four years and four months I endeavored by the grace of God to perform the work which He had given me to do. During this time I felt led of God to write the book, "The Eternal God Revealing Himself to Suffering Israel and to Lost Humanity," which came from the press Christmas, 1928. When I started it, I did not have a penny for its publication. God marvelously sent in the money and led in the development of this project.

In a little over a year's time, approximately 2,900 copies of the book had been placed in the hands of intelligent thinking Jewish people free of charge. Five chapters of this work--those dealing with the triune nature of the God Head I put out in the form of a booklet entitled "The Deity of the God of Israel."

Notwithstanding the fact that I was happy in my work with the Institute, God seemed to be leading me out into a greater field of service in which I could devote all of my time to the literary activity into which He had led me. The Lord seemed to lay this same thought upon the hearts of several of my intimate friends who for months past had felt that the Lord would lead me into this special phase of work for Israel.

It is my firm conviction that I came to Los Angeles by the will of God, that I remained in this special phase of work at the Institute during these months by His same will, and that now he has led me definitely into a larger field of service for Him. Having prayed much for divine guidance, and having weighed, to the best of my ability, all circumstances and providential leadings, I am thoroughly convinced that he is guiding me definitely to take up this special literary activity. I have interpreted my present situation in the light of Paul's experience related in Acts 16.

According to the record of Luke, he had worked the field of Central Asia Minor. He was under marching orders of the Lord to spread the glad tidings everywhere. The Holy Spirit prohibited his turning to the left to preach the word in Asia. He forged forward to Mysia from which point he wished to go into Bithynia but was not permitted to do so by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. Being under marching orders, he went in the only direction possible--in the north-westerly course to Troas--where he saw the vision of the man of Macedonia beseeching him to come over into that needy field. Luke states that they concluded from all of these facts that God had called them to preach the Word in those regions. When God closes a field to a faithful servant of His, He always opens another. It is now day during which men must work for the Lord. The night will come when no man can work.

As stated above, being thoroughly convinced that God was calling me out into a larger sphere of activity, I interviewed certain friends who are especially consecrated to the Lord and who have special spiritual discernment. After much prayer and consultation with these spiritually minded men of God, I approached certain men who, as I believed had four qualifications. These qualifications are, in my judgment, essential to full cooperation with me in the proposed work. First, a regenerated heart. The natural man is not subject to the law of God neither can be; hence the all important matter is that a man must be a genuinely saved regenerated soul. Second, spiritual discernment and business ability. Not all men who are regenerated have special spiritual insight and business ability. These qualifications are essential to full cooperation in the society. Third, a genuine love for Israel. To be tolerant toward the people of Israel is not sufficient. One must have a love, divinely implanted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, for Israel in order to work in this society in the most efficient manner. Fourth, agreement with the ideals of the society. As will be outlined in the following section, each member must be thoroughly convinced that the work proposed by the society is the special work of God that He wants done at this time.

I earnestly prayed for guidance that I might be led to the men of God's choice to work with me in this movement. The first whom I interviewed was the venerable and beloved William E. Blackstone whose name stands for the highest ideals in Christian circles and whose passionate love for Israel's welfare is known throughout the world. He has demonstrated by his works that he has a genuine passion for Israel. On account of his advanced years and physical infirmities he could not become an active member of the society, but most cheerfully agreed to become its honorary member. We consider ourselves most fortunate and blessed in having the fellowship and cooperation of this sainted man of God. Dr. B. F. Fellman, pastor of the Tremont Baptist Church, Pasadena, California, and professor in the Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary, became a charter member of the society and was unanimously elected chairman of the executive committee. His name is widely known for his stand for the right. He likewise has shown in the past, his love for Israel by his action. Rev. Wm. Duncan Ogg, Pastor of the Bethany Union Church at Sierra Madre, California, was unanimously elected secretary of the committee. In wide circles his loyalty to the Lord and his intense love for Israel are thoroughly known. The society considers itself fortunate in having him as its secretary. Mr. W. H. Steele, for years the honored treasurer of the Church of the Open Door, was likewise unanimously elected to become the treasurer of the society. In business circles and in church relationships, his name is a synonym for business integrity and honor.

Dr. P. W. Philpott, Pastor of the Church of The Open Door, Los Angeles, California, likewise gladly cast in his lot with the society. His name is a household word throughout America. He is known for his loyalty to the Lord and his unswerving faith in God and in his Saviour. The society considers itself especially blessed of the Lord in having in its fellowship, this servant of the Lord. David L. Cooper, founder and director, likewise is a member of the executive committee. Mrs. A. G. Wells kindly gave her consent to be on the advisory board. As time passes, it is the present plan to add to its membership such other servants of God whose ideals coincide with those of the society.

It is an evident fact to all informed people that there has arisen in Israel a spirit of inquiry concerning the Gospel Records and the personality of Jesus. This new attitude in Israel is clearly seen by the facts that in a number of Reformed Synagogues, according to reports, the New Testament is being studied as one of the textbooks of the curriculum; that a number of outstanding Jewish leaders have spoken and written concerning Jesus in the very highest terms as one of their greatest sons; and that there has sprung up a movement in Jewry calling for a revision of the life, teachings, Messianic claims, and condemnation of Jesus of Nazareth.

This spirit of inquiry has come to the Church of God as a compelling challenge. This new attitude lays upon it a responsibility to give forth the truth of God concerning the Gospel Records and the personality of Jesus at the present time as never before. According to the Great Commission (Mat. 26:19,20) Jesus laid upon his disciples the responsibility of giving the Gospel message to all nations; according to Paul (Rom. 1:16) God's order is to give it to the Jew first. No church nor individual can be in the center of the directive will of God who does not accord to the Jew his rightful ordained place in the eternal plans of God and who neglects this obligation to the Jew.

A realization of the divine obligation and a recognition of the opportunity of rendering a great service to Israel in her quest for the Truth have led the Biblical Research Society to undertake the task of producing and distributing a literature of the very highest type. This literature is written from a viewpoint which is intelligible to the Hebrews. It takes into consideration, as will be seen in lecture two, the special psychology of the Jew, his spiritual environment both of the past and of the present, and his theology. Since the leaders of the nation are of a highly intellectual type and since the great masses look to them for guidance, it appears to us that the demand of the hour is to produce a literature of the highest scholarship which breathes the spirit of love and sympathy.

The Society will continue the distribution of the book, "The Eternal God Revealing Himself to Suffering Israel and to Lost Humanity," and the booklet, "The Diety of the God of Israel," in the three languages--English, Yiddish and Hebrew. At present I am preparing a volume on the historical foundations of the Christian faith, the title of which work probably will be "The Historical Foundation of the Gospel." In this work I am endeavoring to present the vast amount of material which I have in such a way that it will readily be understandable to the Jewish mind and appeal to his heart and soul. It is my intention to make this treatise extensive and thorough. As the demand arises and the Lord supplies the funds, other publications will go forth.

In addition to the production and distribution of the literature described above, it shall be the avowed purpose of the Society to put forth a special effort to foster a spirit of friendship and good will between the Hebrew people and the Gentile nations. In every way possible it shall strive to counteract the baneful influence of Anti-Semitism.

The society is organized on a non-profit basis. It began in faith and is to continue upon that basis. God has graciously touched the hearts of His people in the past, who have given liberally to the publication and distribution of the two works mentioned above. It is our faith that He will continue to put it into the hearts of His faithful people to give of the means with which He has blessed them in order that the work may continue unhampered. All gifts, whether large or small, will be received and acknowledged by the treasurer.

It was to Israel that God intrusted His Oracles originally. It was they who gave us prophets, apostles and the Messiah. It was they who gave us the books of the New Testament. Their debtors we Gentiles are. This fact lays the Gentiles who have accepted the sacred books of the Hebrews under a lasting obligation which can only be met by deeds of kindness, by a sympathetic and scholarly presentation of the Gospel in a way intelligible to the Hebrew, and by a genuine and divinely implanted love in the soul which finds expression in the life.

As has been noted above, this spirit of inquiry is present on every hand. The days of the Ghetto are past. Israel is on the march. She is rubbing elbows with her Gentile and Christian neighbors. Reports come from Europe that at various places many are beginning to ask the question, who was Jesus of Nazareth? These honest conscientious Hebrews want to know who he is and what he means to the Jewish people. In America this same spirit of inquiry is manifesting itself in various ways and degrees.

It appears from all the facts that the Spirit of God is quickening this inquiring movement. In the good providence of our God Israel has been placed in such close contact with Christian believers in order that each one may have a share in bringing a blessing to some of the children of Abraham to the end that he may have an opportunity of discharging his obligation to these Ancient People of God. Thus the present situation is the call of God to each of His servants to meet his obligation and to pay his debt to Israel. Each one who neglects or refuses to meet this spiritual obligation to the Jew looses untold blessings in this life and rich rewards in the world to come.

The Biblical Research Society, under God, is attempting to discharge this obligation to the extent of its ability. It invites the lovers of Israel who wish to assist in this Herculean task and to cooperate with us to do so.

As was suggested under section III, the society hopes, by the grace of God and the cooperation and association of the saints of God everywhere, to reach every nook and corner of Jewry with the highest type of literature. The task before us is great, the possibilities are inestimable, and the rewards are beyond the price of rubies. Again may I appeal to you with all the fervor of my soul, will you not make this work a matter of earnest, sincere, heart searching, and prayer to God that He may lead you to have a share in it according to His will and purpose?