Page 492 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PRESERVATION

by the Word of God” (Ja. 1:18; 1 Co. 4:15; 1 Pe. 1:23). “And began at the same scripture and preached ” (Ac.
If a translation cannot be equated with the actual Word 8:35).
of God, then ultimately this leads to the situation that “Reasoned with them out of the scriptures” (Ac. 17:2).
one must know Hebrew and Greek before they can be “They searched the scriptures daily” (Ac. 17:11).
saved, or built up in the faith (Ro. 10:17; Mt. 4:4).
Further, the Bible’s use of the term “preserved” “Mighty in the scriptures” (Ac. 18:24).
demonstrates that it is an absolute and not a relative “Showing by the scriptures” (Ac. 18:28).
term. To speak of the Bible, or in this discussion, a “Promised before by his prophets in the holy
translation as being “almost preserved” is a misnomer. scriptures” (Ro. 1:2).
Either it is preserved or it isn’t, either it has errors or it “What saith the scripture” (Ro. 4:3).
doesn’t. Either the flower fades and the grass withers or “The scripture saith unto Pharaoh” (Ro. 9: 17).
it does not. “The scripture saith” (Ro. 10:11).
EIGHT, THE MEANING OF THE TERM “SCRIPTURE.” “Wot ye not what the scripture saith” (Ro. 11:2).
While it may be assumed that the Bible usage of the
word “Scripture” has reference to the original “Comfort of the scriptures” (Ro. 15:4).
autographs; yet virtually each time the word is used it is “Scriptures of the prophets” (Ro. 16:26).
the copies or even translations of the Scriptures that are “Christ died…according to the scriptures” (1 Co. 15:3).
in view, e.g. it is the Scriptures to which the people had “He rose again…according to the scriptures” (1 Co.
access. 15:4).
“But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify” (Ga.
of truth” (Da. 10:21). 3:8).
“Did ye never read in the scriptures?” (Mt. 21:42). “The scripture hath concluded all under sin” (Ga. 3:22).
“Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures” (Mt. 22:29). “What saith the scripture” (Ga. 4:30).
“How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled” (Mt. 26:54)? “The scripture saith” (1 Ti. 5:18).
“That the scriptures of the prophets might be “That from a child thou hast known the holy
fulfilled” (Mt. 26:56). scriptures” (2 Ti. 3:15).
“That the scriptures must be fulfilled” (Mk. 14:49). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Ti. 3:16).
“The scripture was fulfilled, which saith” (Mk. 15:28). “The royal law according to the scripture” (Ja. 2:8).
“This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Lk. “The scripture was fulfilled which saith” (Ja. 2:23).
4:21). “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain?” (Ja. 4:5)
“He expounded unto them in all the scriptures” (Lk. “It is contained in the scripture” (1 Pe. 2:6).
24:27). “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private
“And while he opened to us the scriptures” (Lk. 24:32). interpretation” (2 Pe. 3:16).
“That they might understand the scriptures” (Lk. “Wrest, as they do the other scriptures” (2 Pe. 3:16).
24:45). The above shows clearly that the word “Scripture” refers
“They believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus to what the people had access to, what was at hand,
had said” (Jn. 2:22). what was current, what they could then actually read
“Search the scriptures” (Jn. 5:39). and hear. Therefore, the biblical usage of the word
“He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said” (Jn. refers primarily to copies rather than the original
7:38). autographs. The fact that these copies and possibly even
“Hath not the scripture said” (Jn. 7:42). translations are called “Scripture” strongly implies their
“The scripture cannot be broken” (Jn. 10:35). preservation, and that the very qualities of the inspired
“That the scripture may be fulfilled” (Jn. 13:18). original have been brought over unto them.
“That the scripture might be fulfilled” (Jn. 17:12; 19:24; These copies are holy (2 Ti. 3:15; Ro. 1:2).
19:36). These copies are true (Da. 10:21).
“Another scripture saith” (Jn. 19:37). These copies are not broken (Jn. 10:35).
“They knew not the scriptures” (Jn. 20:9). These copies are worthy of belief (Jn. 2:22).
“This scripture must needs have been fulfilled” (Ac. The prophecies contained in these copies have been
1:16). fulfilled to the very letter and await fulfillment (Lk.
“The place of the scripture which he read” (Ac. 8:32). 4:21).
These copies are the very voice of God.

492 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity