Page 493 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PRESERVATION

This can be shown by a comparison of the following: Therefore, the translation “All scripture is given by
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, reproof…” must be adhered to.
Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews…For this What is remarkable here is that while the Scriptures
cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my were inspired in the past and their profitability has to do
power; and that my name may be declared throughout with the present, yet both facts are joined together in an
all the earth” (Ex. 9:13-16). identical grammatical construction. Therefore, it is the
“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this work of past inspiration which makes the Scriptures
same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew profitable in the present. And conversely, the Scriptures
my power in thee, and that my name might be
declared throughout all the earth” (Ro. 9:17). cannot be profitable in the present if the manifold
And again: blessings of inspiration have not been preserved. Past
inspiration is inseparably linked to present profitability.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram…In thee shall all
families of the earth be blessed” (Ge. 12:1-3). NINE, THE BEARING OF JOHN 16:13 UPON THE
“And the scripture…preached before the gospel unto TRANSLATION AND PRESERVATION PROCESS. “Howbeit
Abraham, saying in thee shall all nations be when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
blessed” (Ga. 3:8). into all truth” (John 16:13). God has promised to guide
And further: His people into all truth. “All” here does not mean
“Wherefore she [Sarah] said unto Abraham, Cast out “basically,” “generally,” “almost,” “nearly,” “relatively.” It
must surely mean ALL! “Truth” is defined in the next
this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this
bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with chapter of John as referring to the Bible. “Sanctify them
Isaac” (Ge. 21:10). through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).
“Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the Through the priesthood of believers, God guided His
bondwoman and her son: for the son of the people into all truth as to the canon of Scripture, e.g.
bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the which books were and were not inspired. He also
freewoman” (Ga. 4:30). guided them into all truth as to the text of Scripture
These verses establish the fact that there is no (which were and were not the correct readings). And in
difference between the Scriptures speaking and God order to make this relevant and practical He must also
speaking. And as the Scriptures refer to that which is guide them into all truth concerning the translation of
current and available, it follows that our copies are as Scripture.
much the voice of God as the original is. Three important things can be seen in Jn. 16:13:
Consider also that classic passage on inspiration: The Guide—“the Spirit of Truth”
“And that from a child thou has known the holy The Journey—“will guide you”
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto The Arrival—“into all truth”
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is The history of how our Bible came down to us after
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for its’ inspiration in the original autographs is to be found
instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may under these three points. These must be considered in
be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 the history of every Bible of every language.
Ti. 3:15-17). The Guide. The same Holy Spirit of Truth who
There are some remarkable things about this passage verbally inspired the Word in the autographs is
that are often overlooked. The words “is given by committed also to its verbal preservation in the textual,
inspiration of God” are translated from the one Greek transmissional, and translation process.
word, theopneustos (God-breathed). And “is profitable” The Journey. The statement “will guide you”
is from ophelimos. These two words are joined by the indicates that a process is in view. In the history of a
conjunction kai. Thus, all scripture (graphe) is said to be given Bible where God was actively guiding there will
“God-breathed and profitable.” The Jamieson, Fausett, be at least three key periods: (1) The Manuscript Period.
Brown Commentary says of this phrase: (2) The Early Printed Edition Period. (3) The Period of
“Graphe is never used in the Bible of any writings an Authoritative Standard Edition. In each of these
except the sacred Scriptures. The position of the two periods God’s Word will be current and available to His
Greek adjectives (theopneustos kai ophelimos) forbids people. “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy
taking the one as a modifier and the other as a
predicate. i.e. ‘every God-breathed Scripture is also mouth, and in thy heart that thou mayest do it” (De.
profitable.’ The adjectives are so closely connected that 30:14).
as one is a predicate the other must be too.” In the first two periods God’s Word may not have
been available from the same written source. Relatively

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 493