II Timothy 3:16,17
"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."
The Word of God is just that; it is THE WORD OF GOD.
"INSPIRED" …God breathed (Inspiration is God having the human writers to write exactly what He wants written, the way He wants it written. Therefore, it is a perfect final authority for faith and practice. It's doctrine and instruction are without error because they have come from a Holy God.)
"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"
The Word of God is inspired by the God who can not lie. He knows all things and possesses all wisdom.
"profitable" … greatly works to our advantage (true source of truth)
"doctrine" … the truths to be taught and learned (the principles of fundamental truth)
"reproof" … showing forth the evidence of the established truth
"correction" … exposing of error and setting right again
"instruction in righteousness" … teaching of the value and means of right living
WRITTEN FOR OUR INSTRUCTION
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE IS OUR COMFORT OF HOPE
THE STANDARD OF INSTRUCTION AND TRUTH
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen"
WE MUST DECLARE WHAT THUS SAITH THE LORD
(We really have nothing to say of any eternal value unless it is, "What thus saith the Lord")
IT IS NOT OUR WORD BUT HIS WORD
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
PURE…without defect or contamination, not mixed
"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
"Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it"
"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him"
PERFECT…without error and complete in it's scope (no need for correction or improvement)
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath"
IMMUTABLE…that which does not change, can not change, nor has a need to change.
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
SUMMARY…The Word of God is divinely inspired and as such is perfect, pure and complete. It is totally reliable as the final authority of faith and practice.
Genesis 3:1-5
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"
"And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength"
Matthew 4:1-11
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him"
***Notice that in verse 6, the devil takes the Word of God and twists the meaning, attempting to use it as a weapon against Jesus.***
"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. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:"
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures"
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
"And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he,
and his children, in the midst of Israel."
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of
them there is great reward."
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock"
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be
holy and without blemish."
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
SUMMARY…The Word of God has been attacked by the devil from the beginning of human history. He hates that which is used as a weapon against him. He does not want the sinner saved or the saint living for the Lord. Therefore, his attack is relentless.
John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 8:44
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it"
I John 3:8
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
EVEN DURING THE TIME OF THE WRITING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, THERE WERE THOSE THAT TRIED TO CORRUPT THE SCRIPTURES
"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."
"But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" I
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."
"Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. "
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:"
"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."
"Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
"WREST" means to twist or torture
POINT OF EXPLANATION…To say that "wrest" means to twist or torture is only to define the word, not to say that it would be better rendered or better translated some other way. The use of a definition is for clarification not retranslation.
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
GNOSTICS…Tried to blend human philosophies with those of Christianity. There is no common ground between truth and error.
When the Apostles died, the Scriptures had been completed. The Gnostics began to make serious efforts to convey their belief system through added interpretations. Their greatest effort was made by rewriting scripture to reflect their belief.
Such men as Origen, (185 -254 A.D.) who believed that the Gnostics were to be trusted over divinely revealed truth, began to add to (or take away) from Scripture in order to convey his belief system. Many of the deletions found in modern translations originated with Origen.
The Roman Emperor Constantine (280-337) also attempted to entangle Christianity with the pagan religion of Rome. He commissioned EUSEBIUS to prepare a Bible translation to be used in their entangled religion. The basic source for these bibles was the work of Origen, (of whom Eusebius was a great admirer.)
The two main manuscripts which are used in the modern translations (Codex Vaticanus…discovered in the Vatican library in 1481 and Codex Sinaiticus…discovered in St. Catherine's monastery near Mt. Sinai in 1844) are believed to be traced back to the time of the Eusebius translations.
In 1853, Westcott and Hort (Cambridge professors) began their work on a Greek text that used as its primary source the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts. It is through this Greek text that the modern English translations have come. The first English translation in this line was the Revised Version of 1881. All modern English translations have come from these texts.
These efforts have come from unbelievers, who did not desire to see the Word of God maintain its purity and perfection, but instead they have perverted it through human interpretive effort. THESE EFFORTS CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
"UNTO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE: BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING IS NOTHING PURE; BUT EVEN THEIR MIND AND CONSCIENCE IS DEFILED"
"WITH THE PURE THOU WILT SHEW THYSELF PURE; AND WITH THE FROWARD THOU WILT SHEW THYSELF FROWARD"
SUMMARY…The attacks upon the Word of God have continued down through history. That which has been corrupted is now accepted as that which is pure. A tainted source will yield a tainted result. Much of what is called a "bible" today is nothing more than the fruit of a corrupted seed. However, God has preserved his Word.
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 for ever."
"preserve"…to guard, protect, maintain
God has promised that HE would preserve his Word.
Genesis 18:14 "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Mark 10:27 "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Luke 18:27 "And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
Hebrews 6:18 "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"
Exodus 18:11 "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them."
Job 33:12 "Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man."
John 10:29 "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand"
2Chronicles 2:5 "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods"
Ephesians 3:20,21
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen"
Ps 138:2
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name"
GOD IS TIMELESS (eternal…time holds no power over God…He is the "I AM")
GOD PROMISED TO PRESERVE (It is his responsibility. He sovereignly oversees its preservation)
GOD IS THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR (To know that the author is present is far better than to possess the original manuscript)
God has kept the Word of God throughout history for his people. There has been a true witness in Scripture that has not been contaminated by the efforts of man.
The Majority Text - Textus Receptus - Traditional Text has been available to man. We have had the Word of God.
In 1611, the Majority Text (with other previous translations being diligently reviewed,) was translated as the Word of God for the English speaking people. It was declared as the Holy Bible. We call it the King James Bible.
The greatest assembly of scholars in the history of the church were assembled, not make a version , but a translation. Although these men were very scholarly, they more importantly were devout men, who loved God and loved His Word. They were not there to interpret, but to convey.
Just as God used man to write his Word through inspiration, God divinely preserved his Word through these men. That is why we still have the King James Bible today. It is God's preserved Word.
The Old Testament was written in the language of God's chosen nation: HEBREW.
The New Testament was written in the world language of that day: GREEK.
The world language of the last days is ENGLISH. Therefore, God has preserved his Word in English for these last days in the King James Bible.
WHY HAS THE KING JAMES BIBLE REMAINED FOR SO LONG?
WHY IS THE KING JAMES BIBLE STILL HERE WITH ALL THE MODERN VERSIONS?
WHY DID THE PREVIOUS ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS PASS OFF THE SCENE WHEN THE KING JAMES BIBLE WAS TRANSLATED?
SUMMARY…Many attempts have been made to corrupt the Word of God, but no effort by any source can ultimately override the power of God. He promised to preserve his Word and he is always successful in keeping his promises. There are certainly perversions of the "bible" in existence, but God has preserved his Word and it is still available to us today.
LESSON FIVE:
"CONFUSION & CONTRADICTION"
I CORINTHIANS 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
PSALM 71:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
The NIV has been chosen as the example to be compared in this lesson because it has become the most popular of the modern versions.
KJB…"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."
NIV… ***OMITTED***
KJB…"…I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
NIV…"…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
KJB…"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
NIV…***OMITTED***
KJB…"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
NIV…"in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
KJB…7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
8 "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."
NIV…7 "For there are three that testify:"
8 "the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement."
KJB…"And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him."
NIV…"The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him."
KJB…"…into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
NIV…"***OMITTED***
KJB…"to whom the midst of darkness is reserved for ever."
NIV…"Blackest darkness is reserved for them."
KJB…"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!…"
NIV…"How you have fallen from heaven O morning star, son of the dawn…"
***Revelation 22:16 "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." If you believed what the NIV said in Isaiah 14:12, then according to Revelation 22:16, it was Jesus that fell from heaven. This is outright blasphemy. Our Lord and Savior did not sin and was not cast out of heaven. It was not the morning star but Lucifer that fell.
KJB…"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
NIV…"Jesus answered, It is written: man does not live on bread alone."
If there are conflicts and contradictions from one translation to another, this is confusing and discouraging to the seeker of truth. If there are contradictions from one translation to another, they can not both be right.
YOUR CONVICTION ON THIS MATTER MUST BE FROM GOD OR YOU HAVE NO FOUNDATION.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned"
PRAYER: Father, please direct me into truth and let me not be confused or drawn away from you. Establish me in the most holy faith that is from above. May I stand on your word without reservation or apology. Thank you for the pure, perfect, preserved Holy Word of God.