The Issue, The Preservation of
Scripture
H. D. Williams, M.D.
Assistant Editor,
DBS News
The modern issue concerning the preservation of Scripture is not
so modern. The issue has been present since the Garden of Eden when the
serpent questioned the Words of God. (Genesis 3:1, 4). The in-depth study
of the theological issues concerning preservation, inerrancy,
inspiration, and infallibility of Scripture begins to reveal several
interesting findings. The issue is not really those topics. The problem
boils down to some other very fundamental questions that are not
unique because they are addressed in the Scriptures over and over again.
The fundamental questions become obvious as an individual reads dozens of
books concerning the theological matters listed above.
Not surprisingly, the most important book is not those listed at the
end of this article and other books on your list, but it turns out to be
The Bible. Some authors have recognized this important fact, but
many others have not. If someone reads many of the books listed below (not
all of them), an important discovery stands out. Most authors begin with
their argument, their position, their tradition,
their textual criticism, their "scientific" method,
their favorite manuscript(s), their favorite higher or lower
textual critic, their thoughts, their way, their
deductive reasoning, their university, their church,
their denomination, their definitions, their
argumentum ad hominem, their prima facie evidence, their
favorite language, etc. and etc.
The Bible calls "their" favorites "iniquity" when their
opinion does not agree with the Scriptures. Anyone can understand the
clear definition of iniquity given to us by our Lord in chapter 7 of
Matthew.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Matthew
7:21-23]
This is one of the most frightening passages in all of the Scriptures.
Therefore, it is imperative that we notice the definition of iniquity the
Lord gave in this passage. Iniquity is defined in this passage as the
opposite of those who "doeth the will of my Father" or, in other
words, iniquity is self-will. We need to get the "their" or "our"
will out of the way when dealing with issues pertaining to the Scriptures.
Therefore, the basic issue for all of us concerning the question of
preservation of the Scripture becomes, "Have we or are we committing
iniquity?" We must examine our position. If we say that we believe the
Words of Scripture have been preserved, we must examine God's will,
not our opinion, concerning the matter or we are committing
iniquity. If we say that we do not believe all the Words of
Scripture have been preserved, we must examine God's will, not
our opinion concerning the matter or we are committing iniquity. We must
get our "self" out of the way and let the Scripture speak. It truly
is that simple.
Whether someone uses the Greek critical text of Westcott and Hort or
the Greek received (Traditional) text, both texts address the question of preservation in so many places that an individual would be hard
pressed on either side of the question to deny the meaning of the words.
[However, there are many passages that are significantly affected by the
change in words between the texts.]
For example, Matthew 4:4 is the same in both texts except the critical
Greek text adds an article, "the," before "man.
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God.
This passage is a critical passage that needs to be clearly understood,
because this is Jesus' Bibliology. Dr. Thomas Strouse, Dean of Emmanuel
Baptist Seminary has explained this verse in a recently released work,
Thou Shalt Keep Them on pages 35-39. He states that the verse,
"summarizes the Lord's Bibliology.
1) He affirmed the doctrine of the verbal, plenary inspiration
of the autographa by stating the source of Scripture-"proceedeth
out of the mouth of God."
2) He affirmed the authority of the written Scripture, and
consequently its infallibility and inerrancy, by upholding it as a
standard by which "man shall ...live."
3) He affirmed the avail- ability of Scripture since He declared
His personal access and implied mankind's general
access to God's Words - "by every word."
4) He affirmed the doctrine of the verbal plenary preservation of Scripture by the expression "It is written."
The perfect tense...."
Another passage from dozens that express God's will,
not man's will, is found in chapter 24 of Matthew. The critical text and
the received (traditional) text are exactly the same.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away.
There is no exegesis of this verse needed. It plainly states "words
shall not pass away." Therefore, if a particular route or path a Greek
text took, which showed thousands of differences in words between a
very few manuscripts, compared with a route or path, which showed few
differences except for primarily spelling errors between thousands of
manuscripts, which path do you believe demonstrates God's will?
Finally, we must ask again, "Are you in God's will?" If you
are not and are proclaiming their argument, their position,
their tradition, their textual criticism, their "scientific"
method, their favorite manuscript(s), their favorite
higher or lower textual critic, their thoughts, their way,
their deductive reasoning, their university, their
church, their denomination, their definitions, their argumentum ad hominem, their prima facie evidence, their
favorite language, etc. and etc. instead of God's will, you have a problem
based on:
Matthew 7:23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We love all because Christ did. We love you who read
this presentation. We want you to love Christ and His Words and the Words
of His Father and the Holy Spirit. We pray always for you to love the will
of God re- corded in His precious preserved, inerrant, infallible,
inspired Words.
1 Peter 1:22-25
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one
another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as
grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But
the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel
is preached unto you.
Endnotes:
i. Consider Dean John William Buron's books such as The
Causes of Corruption Of The Traditional Text, The Traditional Text Of The
Holy Scriptures, The Revised Revision, Inspiration and Interpretation, and The Last Twelve Verses Of Mark; Dr. D. A.
Waite's books Defending The King James Bible, and Heresies Of
Westcott and Hort; F. F. Bruce's books The Canon Of Scripture,
and Tradition Old And New; D. A. Carson's book The King James
Version Debate; David W. Cloud's book For Love Of The Bible, The
Battle For The King James Version And The Received Text From 1800 To
Present; David Otis Fuller's books True or False?, and Which
Bible?; Edward W. Glenny's book The Bible Version De- bate;
Bruce M. Metzger's book The Text Of The New Testament, Its
Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration; Jack A. Moorrman's
books Forever Settled; Early Manuscripts and the Authorized
Version, A Closer Look!; and When The KJV Departs >From The
"Majority" Text, A New Twist In The Continuing Attack On The Authorized
Version; Wilbur Pickering's books The Identity Of The New Testament
Text; James Sightler's book Tabernacle Essays On Bible Translation;
Kent Brandenburg et al's Thou Shalt Keep Them; and dozens of others
and; The Father, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit's book, THE BIBLE.
ii. D. A. Waite, Jr., M.A., M.L.A. The Doctored New Testament;
Bible For To- day, Collingswood, N.J.; 2003 ($25); Dr. Jack
Moorman, Modern Bibles--The Dark Secret, new reprint, 60 pages,
$5.00
iii. Thou Shalt Keep Them, A Biblical Theology Of The Perfect
Preservation Of Scripture; Kent Brandenburg, Editor, Pillar and Ground
Publishing, El Sobrante, CA
iv. For confirmation of these facts see Revision Revised
by Dean John Burgon available from the Dean Burgon Society and the Bible
For Today. ($25.00)
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