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Monday, September 8, 2014

2. How did God communicate, provide and preserve His words?

2. How did God communicate, provide and preserve His words?

Communicate:

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.


2 Peter 1:[19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
[20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
[21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.


2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:


The word of God was communicated to man by inspiration of God. That is God giving man understanding to write exactly what He wants on paper. This of course makes the finished product absolutely INFALLIBLE. (Psalms 12:6, 119:140,  Prov. 30:5, 2 Tim. 3:15)


Provided: God has provided His word in different forms. As far as we know, God provided His original Old Testament (Genesis-Malachi) in Hebrew and His original New Testament (Matthew-Revelation) in Koine Greek. These words got preserved in other languages as well, such as Syriac, Latin, German, English, and others. 


Preserve: God has preserved His word through his people making copies of the original autographs. This preservation method may sound unreliable to the scholars, but preservation of the word of God is a promise that God gave us. I have been told that since men are fallible that when we make copies of scripture we make mistakes. Therefore we supposedly can not have a perfect Bible because the transmission process has been fallible.

However, it is GOD that does the preserving. HE is the one who is said to preserve His word!

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

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

1 Peter 1:23-25
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] 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:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.


In response to this, most people ask "so you believe that God RE-INSPIRED scripture?" The answer is yes, I do believe that God re-inspires the scriptures. I believe that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God. Therefore any of God's pure words that we have in our hand have been given by inspiration of God.

Inspired words: Words that God gave man inspiration and understanding to write down (Job 32:8). God is the author, man is the tool.

Preserved words: Copies of words that God gave to man by process of Him giving inspiration and understanding to write down exactly (Job 32:8). God is the preserver, man is the tool.

The result of both preservation and inspiration are the same. I know this because "all scripture is given by inspiration of God" and NT saints are said to have "holy scriptures". 



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