So then faith comes from a Report, and the Report through the word of God" (Rom 10:17) -Diaglott. "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard conies through the word of Christ" -RSV. (The word of Christ and the word of God being identical Jno 12:49) We, sooner or later, all discover, that between the fallible and the infallible there is a great gulf, just as there is between "faith" and "opinion." Finites and fallibles are weak authorities when heaven and immorality are at stake. Faith and opinion are not commensurate, coextensive, or compatible, in the true measure and meaning of the words. In the Campbell-Rice debate (1843), Nathan Rice kept pressing Alexander Campbell to show where "faith" ends, and where "opinion" begins." Campbell's reply: "where the testimony begins and ends, faith begins and ends." "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." So where there is no record or testimony, the figment of men's imagination produces opinions. The word of God is the medium, the channel, the modus operandi, through which Christianity is revealed, and established. (a) Faith is testimony believed (b) Knowledge is our own experience (c) Opinion is probable inference. Any thought, idea, theory or philosophy, received in the mind of mortal man, that came not by hearing the "law and the testimony" (Isa 8:20) is not of faith, and "whatsoever is not of faith (conviction) is sin" (Rom 14:23). Paul said, "for we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:17) And, "without faith it is impossible to please him" (Heb 11:6).

Webster defines opinion as: "a belief not based on certainty or knowledge, but on what seems true, valid, or probable." In the absence of our own personal acquaintance, observation, and experience, and in the absence of good and well authenticated testimony, we have mere opinion.

A well advertised opinion may live longer--A. Campbell said, "You may debate anything into consequence, or you may, by a dignified silence waste it into oblivion." People often outlive their opinions. Campbell believed the "let it alone policy, and it will vanish away."

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov 14:12; 16:25). Paul reasoned along this line in Rom 14:22,23- "Hast thou faith? have it to thouself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." No one should be judged of another on his private opinion, which he keeps to himself. However, if he teaches his opinion because it seems right, he could become a false teacher. If in the work and worship of the church, however, he has no more than his opinion to stand on, his worship is in vain and not true worship (Matt. 15: and Jno. 4).

"Knowledge in the mind can-not be manifest, except it be shown either by words or by actions" -McKnight The same rule of logic applies to "opinion," except, it not being a certainty or a matter of knowledge, Paul reasoned that it should not be manifested (made known) but rather let his conviction be held privately and kept to himself (Rom 14:22). It was Alexander Campbell's belief, that those who united with them in restoring the ancient order of things, who confessed Christ to be the Son of God, and who worshiped according to the New Testament pattern, observing all things whatsoever is commanded, (Heb 8:5; Matt 28:20), were worthy of fellowship. Said he, "We have one faith, one Lord, one baptism, but various opinions. These when left to vegetate, without annoyance, if erroneous, wither and die." We say, "To the law and the testimony."