The Preservation of the Scriptures

To my children,

My prayer for you is that by now, you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. The first step of obedience to Christ, following your salvation, is baptism. However, because of your adolescence, your mother has the power to interfere with this Biblical command. So I will reserve baptism for a future lesson.

I don’t know if you’re allowed to read the Bible at home, or if the Scriptures are forbidden, but regardless, it’s important to learn and understand which Bible is God’s Word. There are many Bibles available in English, but only one has come from God. Which Bible should you read?

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever…”

1 Peter 1:23-25 KJV

Inspiration v. Preservation

Inspiration is the infusion of ideas into the mind. This is what took place when the Old and New Testament’s were being written. The Holy Spirit conveyed God’s message into the minds of men when they penned the Holy Scriptures.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works..”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

“All scripture” does not mean all translations. Moses was inspired when he penned the law – the first five books of the Bible. David was inspired when he wrote the Psalms. Paul was inspired when he addressed the early churches in his thirteen epistles (possibly fourteen if you count Hebrews). John was inspired to record the future of mankind in Revelation. From Genesis to Revelation, every writer, from every age was inspired of God. That’s what “all scripture” means.

Inspiration only applies to the original manuscripts. Copies or translations of the original manuscripts do not require inspiration since the words of God have already been written down. However, God’s written words do require preservation.

Preservation is the act of preserving or keeping safe. The protection of God’s words are vitally important when copying or translating the texts. This is why He promises to preserve His words. Notice how the psalmist wrote “words.” It’s plurality references every single word from the Lord. We need to know that He’s given us a written text that can be trusted. A text without error.

“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 for ever.”

Psalms 12:6-7 KJV

Until the invention of the printing press in 1440 A.D., the early church copied the inspired texts by hand. God protected His words during the copying. The original manuscripts have since been lost or destroyed. The preserved texts of the New Testament are known as the Textus Receptus, also called the Traditional Text.

By 1604, an English translation of the Bible commenced. Fifty-four godly men (broken down into six committees) were selected and approved by the King of England to translate God’s Word into the common language. The King James translators utilized the Masoretic Hebrew text for the Old Testament and the Textus Receptus for the New Testament. After the translation was complete, the committees were disbanded. God protected His words during the translation, then disbanded the men so future changes could not be made.

Inspiration brings God’s words into written form while preservation protects His written words during the copying and translation. God provided the English-speaking people with a preservation of the inspired texts. Since God’s preserved Word is already available, new translations aren’t necessary. They don’t serve God’s purpose. Thus, all English translations, except one, are corrupt copies. They are counterfeits to the real Scripture.

As a new Believer, your adversary, the devil, will lure you into reading corrupt copies of the Scriptures. With its corruption comes false doctrines. With false doctrines comes foolish decisions. I must warn you of the dangers.

In my next lesson, I will address, in greater detail, the counterfeiting of Scripture. I love you all and pray that you will grow up to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

In Christ’s love,
Dad

📚 Lesson 5: The Preservation of the Scriptures