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 | | From: | admin | | Subject: | Preservbation or Restoration? Post #1 | | Date: | Sat, 13 Nov 2004 14:50:12 GMT |
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 | The heart of the whole matter, in regards to Which Version is the Bible is
as follows: Was the Bible preserved, like Christ said it would be, or did it
need to be restored by Westcott & Hort in 1881?
Christ said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away."
His words, the same words, were recorded in 3 Gospels (to underscore the
importance):
Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; & Luke 21:33
The following is from the Book "Which Version is the Bible" by Floyd Nolen
Jones. Chapter 1, pages 1 through 12.
Which Version is the Bible? Ó
Copyright 1995 · Floyd Jones Ministries, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. This book may be freely reproduced in any form as long
as it is not distributed for any material gain or profit; however, this book
may not be published without written permission.
I. PRESERVATION OR RESTORATION?
THE KEY ISSUE - PRESERVATION
Gentle reader, may the LORD grant you patience and grace to perceive the
issue which will be unfolded before you to the end that you may be grounded
and established.
Even in fundamental circles the issue relating to the various modern
translations of the Bible is controversial. It is not merely the question
of "inspiration". The crux is that of preservation. Has God preserved His
Word perfect for us today, or was it only perfect in the "original"
autographs? If God has not preserved His Word perfectly, we must assume
that we are preaching and teaching from a book that is not completely
reliable as the "original" autographs are no longer accessible.
If we believe that the Bible is still the inerrant Word of God, we must then
deal with the problem of determining which version is the true Word of the
Living God. Logic dictates that two opposing statements cannot both be true
(we reject the Hegelian Dialectic). Therefore, two contradicting "Bibles"
cannot both be the inerrant Word of God. This author proclaims from the
outset that the "King James" or "Authorized Version" is the Word of God
translated into the English language to the extent that it is the final
authority in all matters of conduct and faith. Furthermore, as the modern
translations since 1881 often differ from the King James Bible in wording as
well as doctrine, and since two conflicting texts cannot be infallible,
perfect and inerrant, the reader must of necessity make a choice. That
which follows is intended to assist the seeker to clearly discern the truth
of the matter for himself.
Moreover, that which follows is not intended to be an intellectual treatise.
The uncompromising stand is taken herein that God gave us His pure Word in
the original autographs, and that He has preserved it in its pure form unto
this day - and will continue so doing forever. Indeed, preservation is the
only issue separating the Biblicist[1] from other professing Christians;
yet, the traditional viewpoint has always been that God not only gave
mankind His pure Word but that He also assumed the oversight of its
preservation as well. Over the years, this position has deteriorated and
the contemporary view is that God has not protected the Scriptures, that
they are not available in a pure form, and that this necessitates their
recovery by reconstructing them from the manuscripts which have survived to
this day.
SCRIPTURAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS STUDY
The purpose of this study is biblically oriented for the Lord tells us that
we must contend for the faith.
Beloved, ... it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith ... (Jude 3)
This is what we, by God's grace, are going to do - contend for the faith.
No one has to defend Jesus or the Word of God. God is perfectly capable of
defending Himself and His Word. Nevertheless, He tells us to contend for
the faith as there is a great issue before us today. The question is -
where is the Word of God? Which version is the real Bible? Why do the
different versions not read the same? These are good questions and they beg
to be answered.
Other Scripture pertinent to this inquiry may be found in II Tim. 2:23-26:
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender
strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto
all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Many Christians have been taken captive by the devil concerning the Bible
manuscripts. As will be revealed, the questions regarding the reliability
and authenticity of the Word of God are neither foolish nor unlearned. The
ultimate purpose in all of this is to restore - to meekly instruct those who
are either in error or simply do not understand the issue with regard to the
various translations, in order to bring them to the truth:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(Eph.4:14-15)
So that everybody may grow up - we are attempting to assist in that process
but in so doing some things have to be said which may seem hurtful for the
moment. It is not our intent to do so.
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[1] Floyd Nolen Jones, A Chronology of the Old Testament: A Return to the
Hebrew Text, (Collingswood, NJ: Bible For Today Press, #2427, 1993), p. 6.
The following definition is adapted from the preceding which is the author's
Ph.D. dissertation. By "Biblicist", this author does not merely refer to a
fundamentalist or a Biblical scholar as many dictionaries so define. By it,
much more is intended. The word connotes one who, while taking both the
immediate and the remote context into account, interprets and believes the
Word of God literally. This necessitates that the person so designated has
chosen to believe God's many promises that, despite all textual criticism
objections to the contrary, he would forever preserve His infallible Word.
Moreover, the meaning intended to be conveyed by this word carries with it
the concept that such a person trusts that the Hebrew and Greek Textus
Receptus (the Authorized Bible) which is today at his disposal is a
fulfillment of those promises. Sadly, even among the pastors and seminary
professors, most of today's conservative evangelical Christians do not
qualify to bear this appellation which many in the not too distant past
bore, counting the cost while enduring the shame.
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