Page 495 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PRESS - PRESUMPTUOUS

that can be said in behalf of the King James Bible, the Faith does not have to answer every question the
burden of proof must rest with the one making the skeptic can throw at it. The Trinity is believed, though
charge. If he feels he has better understanding and we are at a loss to explain the details of it, and those
spiritual insight at a given point than did the fifty AV who do not believe it mock us because we cannot
translators—not to mention the translators of the seven answer all their questions. The fact of the Bible canon is
Bibles from Tyndale to the Bishops which prepared the believed, though we cannot describe every step whereby
groundwork of the AV—then he must set forth his the canon was sealed. We have the complete Bible, and
evidence. that is enough for the man who has faith in God. Yet
That this is not so easy can be seen from the those who refuse to accept the Bible as the Word of God
following incident involving one of the AV translators: mock us because we cannot answer all their questions.
Dr. Richard Kilby, the translator in the Old Testament Likewise, we believe that the Bible has been perfectly
group at Oxford, heard a young parson complain in an preserved because God has said so, though we are at a
earnest sermon that a certain passage should read in a loss to explain some of the difficulties with this position.
way he stated. After the sermon Dr. Kilby took the Again, those who reject the doctrine of preservation
young man aside and told him that the group had mock us because we cannot answer all their questions.
discussed at length not only his proposed reading but Let them mock. We have God’s promise on these
thirteen others; only then had they decided on the things. What do we care if some think we are foolish or
phrasing as it appeared (Gustavis S. Paine, The Men unlearned? Was that not the charge brought against the
Behind the KJV, pp. 137,138). first Christians by their proud detractors? Dear friends,
Great and totally unnecessary harm has been done believe God and do not allow any man to shake your
by “young parsons” (and old ones too!) who do this. confidence in His perfect, preserved Word. [See Bible,
Long ago it was said: “Nothing can be more Bible Versions, Inspiration, Masoretic Text.]
unseemly than for the unskillful to be always correcting PRESS. (1) A press by which the juice is squeezed
with their literal translations and various readings, from the grape (Pr. 3:10; Joel 3:13). (2) To put pressure
distressing simple souls rather than seeking that which on; to be persistent (2 Sa. 13:25,27). (3) A crowd of
tends to godly edifying. Anyone who approaches a so- people (Mk. 2:4; 5:27; Lk. 8:19). (4) To move forward
called problem passage in an attitude of honour toward persistently (Ph. 3:14). (5) Weighted down; sorrowful;
God’s Word will find the solution equally honoring. He burdened; distressed (Ac. 18:5; 2 Co. 1:8). [See Olive.]
will find that God’s promise of preservation has been PRESSFAT. A vat in which the juice is pressed out of
vindicated.” the grape (Hag. 2:16).
TWELVE, WILL THERE BE ANOTHER STANDARD PRESSED OUT OF MEASURE. To be powerfully
BIBLE? It is possible that in the providence of God oppressed; to be weighted down (2 Co. 1:8).
another universally accepted standard translation could PRESUMPTUOUS. This sin, which David asked God
be produced. However, given the lateness of the hour, to keep him from (Ps. 19:13) and which is described in
the lack of spiritual scholarship, and the fact that our some detail in Nu. 15:30-31, is particularly connected
language no longer has the depth and vitality it once with self-willed pride and rebellion. The definition in
had, this seems most unlikely. All indications point to the context of Nu. 15 is (1) to reproach the Lord (v. 30),
the KJV as the Bible God would have His people use in and (2) to despise the Word of God (v. 31). The
these last days before the Second Coming of Christ. example given immediately after the warning about
A FINAL WORD. God has preserved in the King James presumptuous sin is that of a man who gathered sticks
Version His original work of inspiration. The flower has on the sabbath (Nu. 15:32-36). This was flagrant
not faded. The sword is as sharp as in the day it was disobedience, because God had specifically and
first whetted. (The previous study is by Jack Moorman repeatedly commanded that no work be done and that
from his book Missing in Modern Bibles, pp. 65-74). no fires be built on the sabbath, on the pain of death
I praise God that we are not left to drift upon the (Ex. 20:8-11; 31:12-17; 35:1-3). Elsewhere in Scripture
unsteady seas of modern critical scholarship. As a this sin is defined as (1) refusal to hearken to the Word
consequence of faith in God’s promises to preserve His of God (De. 17:12-13), and (2) a self-willed spirit which
Word, I can reject all of these new texts and Bibles and refuses to submit to God-ordained authority (2 Pe.
can cleave confidently to the faithful Received Text- 2:10). Examples of the sin of presumption are found in
based King James Version. “Can the matter be so Ex. 21:14; Le. 10:1-2; De. 1:43; 18:20; Es. 7:5. The N.T.
simple?” you say. Why not? Has God not spoken on the equivalent is seen in Mt. 12:32; He. 10:26. The essence
subject? My friends, God has not allowed His Book to be of the sin of presumption is pride. The Hebrew word
lost. “ruwm,” translated “presumptuously,” is also translated
“haughty” (2 Sa. 22:28), “high” (Ps. 18:27), “lift

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 495