Page 43 - Doctrine and History of the Preservation of the Bible Student Textbook

Study Section 6: Preservation of God’s Word

6.1 Connect

Have you ever told a lie? You’d be lying if you say NO. We lie by telling an outright non-truth
or we lie by telling a partial truth or half-truth. We can even lie with our gestures. We lie
when we think we will be getting into trouble for something we did. We lie to make ourselves
look more impressive to others. It’s called exaggeration. We even lie to cover another lie.
Lying is a result of the sinful nature we are all born with.

One thing we are certain of: God does not lie. If He lied even one time, He would no longer be holy. He
would not be sinless. He would be impure. In fact, by His very nature, GOD CANNOT LIE. It is
impossible. So if God cannot lie, and God tells us that the Bible is His Word, then the Bible is true. But
what if the Bible that God gave to man is not the same Bible we have today? Has God preserved the
integrity of His Word over the thousands of years it has been copied and translated? These are the big
questions we will tackle today…

6.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to list some of the promises God made in the Bible about
preserving His Word through the ages.

2. The student should be able to describe how God’s Word was copied over the years.

3. The student should be able to list some evidence that shows us that our copy of God’s Word today is
an accurate copy and translation of the original autographs.

6.3 Preservation of God’s Word

Are the copies of the Bible we have today inerrant? Do we have the exact copies of the original
autographs? Did God preserve the Bible so that our copies today are God’s very words to
mankind? Let’s look at what God promised in the Bible:

2 Kings 10:10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD.

Psalm 12:6, 7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven
times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD; thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good, his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psalm 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever.

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