What's in a Quote?

 

I recently happened upon a quote on a motivational speaker’s website: “When men know not what to do, they ought not to do they know not what.”- Abigail Adams. As it turns out, Abigail Adams didn’t say it, but her husband did, Second President of the United States, John Adams. In one of his love letters to Abigail dated July 2, 1774, Adams relates that his barber said that all Tories are “bribed to be a Tory,” with such goods as rum, sugar, wine and flour. John Adams wrote:

I thought the barber’s observation as just and as memorable as Parson Moody’s doctrine “that when men know not what to do, they ought not to do they know not what”

(Adams 1774).   As for “Parson Moody’s doctrine,” a letter written a few days earlier by John to Abigail identifies Parson Samuel Moody as the former revered Church Parson of York.  Adams wrote:

But the best story I have heard yet was his doctrine in a sermon from the text: “Lord, what shall we do?” The doctrine was that when a person or people are in a state of perplexity, and know not what to do, they ought never to do they know not what. This is applicable to the times. He brought his people into a remarkable submission and subjection to the spiritual rulers, which continues to this day.

(Adams 1774). Samuel Moody (not to be confused with American Evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody) graduated from Cambridge University, and lived from 1675 to 1747.  Parson Moody’s sermon “Lord, what shall we do? ” may reference 2 Kings 6:15-17:

 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, ‘Oh, Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Under 2 Kings 6:15-17, when we are surrounded by trouble, we need not be afraid. If we open our eyes in faith, we will see that we are protected by the powerful presence and love of God who is fighting for us. (Cavin 2012). 2 Kings 6:15 is about an attack by the kingdom of Aram (Syria) on Israel, whose leaders relied upon the advice of the prophet Elisha. According to historians, 2 Kings spans about 265 years and takes place at the end of the kingdom of Israel, when its capital was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.

“Elisha” means “God is salvation” in Hebrew. Elisha, who was the son of Shaphat, a farmer in Galilee, lived during the reigns of Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash, around the last half of the 9th Century, B.C. He was the disciple of the prophet Elijah, anointed to succeed him in 1 Kings 1:16-19. (Cline 2012). Elijah lived around 865 B.C., a time of great conflict. (Keathley 2012).

Where did the prophets Elisha and Elijah obtain their wisdom?  Prophets’ words are the words of God, as God told Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-18 (Rittenbaugh 2004). :

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

So, the quote from the Motivational Speaker in 2012, was not by Abigail Adams, but was written by her husband, President John Adams, Second President of the United States, in a love letter he wrote on July 2, 1774 to Abigail, who in turn was quoting Church Parson Samuel Moody, who was born in 1675, graduated from Cambridge in 1697, and died in 1747, from his sermon which quoted 2 Kings 6:15-17 which quoted a servant living sometime around 722 B.C., who relied upon the Prophet, Elisha of around 700-800, B.C., who was the disciple of the Prophet Elijah, of 865 B.C.  

What is in this quote?  After traveling back in time almost 3000 years, the quote was inspired by a prophet, who was speaking the words of God.

References:

Adams, John, York, 2 July, 1774, “Founding Love Letters”, available at foundingloveletters.com/category/letters/love-letters-letters/john-abigail/page/2/.

Adams, John, York, 30 June, 1774, “Founding Love Letters”, available at foundingloveletters.com/category/letters/love-letters-letters/john-abigail/page/2/.

Cavin, Daintha, “Daily Bible Journey: Angel Army,” available at www.scripturemeditations.com/journals/db0610.html

Cline, Austin. 2012. “Elisha: Profile & Biography of Elisha, Old Testament Prophet and Biblical Figure,” About.com, available at atheism.about.com/od/biblepeopleoldtestament/p/Elisha/htm.

Keathley, J. Hampton, III. 2012. “Introduction and Historical Setting for Elijah,” available at bible.org/seriespage/introduction-and-historical-setting-elijah.

Rittenbaugh, John W. 2004. “Elijah and John the Baptist,” available at http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/RA/k/868.