PRESERVATION OF SCRIPTURE

Doc
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« on: October 28, 2009, 09:23:24 AM »

Over the last 32 years of ministry, I have often been asked about my understanding of the preservation of scripture and resulting translations and versions of the Bible. My intent, for the purpose of this forum, is to provide a very common sense and understandable approach to a very complex issue. Therefore, this certainly in no way represents an exhaustive or comprehensive treatment of this subject. However, hopefully this brief post will provide some insight and help to those who have questions about this matter.

First, let me make it clear that I am NOT “King James Only”. I do believe that the King James Bible is a remarkable translation which God has no doubt used for a number of centuries. The “fruit” of this one translation is absolutely remarkable. Having said that, I do however maintain that there are some contemporary translations that excel the KJV in some areas.

But, moving on to the question of preservation. Again, I will be very brief.

I will begin by saying that INSPIRATION (2Timothy 3:15-17) without PRESERVATION (Psalm 12:6-7) is useless. And vice versa.

2Timothy 3:15-17 is probably the most quoted passage of scripture to support the doctrine of INSPIRATION as it is the only time the word INSPIRATION is found in the New Testament. But what you may find interesting, is that it has absolutely nothing to do IN THE CONTEXT to the original God-breathed autographs so commonly referred to in the discussions and debates on the inspiration and preservation of scripture.

The statement “by inspiration” in it’s context, has to do with the Old Testament scriptures that Timothy had been taught as a child, which also in the context are called the Holy Scriptures.

These absolutely were NOT the original writings of the Hebrew language. Actually, a very strong case can be made for the fact that Timothy very likely was taught from Greek translations of the Hebrew copies. No matter what he studied, at best he was taught from copies - many times removed over centuries - from the original Hebrew writings.

As we can see from scripture itself, the results of original inspiration - 2Peter 1:21 - cannot be limited to the original autographs, but must also be extended to copies of those originals. 2Timothy 3:15-16 makes that fact clear. So, when folks make the claim that ONLY THE ORIGINALS WERE INSPIRED - that is an incorrect statement - based on scripture itself. As a result, if God did preserve His Word through these copies - which He must have if we have His Word at all - He certainly allowed admixture of errors to be included in these copies. The evidence of that fact is irrefutable. So, the question must be asked, “Can God preserve His Word even when copyist errors are present and variant readings exist among the copies and resulting translations?” The answer is a resounding YES! This also pertains to those who claim that original inspiration - “God breathing on” - does not necessarily have to produce flawless perfection in the writing of the original record for God to have successfully communicated His Word to mankind.

Now, follow me closely. It was the WORDS of God that were inspired. It wasn’t about the characters or characteristics of the alphabets of the languages in which they were originally penned - it wasn’t about the materials they were written on - it wasn’t about the ink that was used - it wasn’t even about the men that God used - it was about God’s WORDS.

And whether God’s WORDS are recorded in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin, German, English, Russian, or Chinese - they remain God’s WORDS.

Words exist in any language for only ONE PURPOSE. And that is to communicate THOUGHTS. If a word doesn’t communicate a thought, it is useless. That’s why the words of scripture do not produce God’s thoughts to the natural man.(See 1Corinthians 2:10-14; 1Thessalonians 2:13; Matthew 13:10-16; to cite just a few.) It is the THOUGHT the Holy Spirit produces, based on the words that are written, that produces the understanding in the believer. Without that ENLIGHTENMENT, the Word of God makes no sense - NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE IT IS IN, or how learned or educated the reader. That is one of the reasons there exists so much confusion today among different denominations, factions, cults, etc. Too many of these folks are trying to teach the printed word without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit of God.

Likewise, no matter what LANGUAGE the manuscripts are recorded or preserved in, the Holy Spirit will take the words as He has preserved them, combined with the prayerful work and scholarship of men of faith, and use them to give the believer the thoughts God wants him/her to have in their language through God-directed translations. This is - very simply stated - the work of preservation by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore all of the intricacies and technical nuances of translating and transliterating from one language to the next, etc., etc., is an interesting debate but doesn’t represent “the final answer” on the matter. Whether you have a KJV, ESV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, Luther, Tyndale, Coverdale, Erasmus, Latin Vulgate, et al, if you are a person of faith diligently seeking God’s will and truth for your life, YOU WILL GET IT.

People often ask me my opinion regarding the best translation of scripture that is available today in the English language. My very simple and practical answer is, THE ONE YOU WILL READ, STUDY, LOVE, HIDE IN YOUR HEART, AND DAILY APPLY TO YOUR LIFE.

BLESSINGS,

Doc


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