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Please share your views on preservation

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by timothy 1769, Dec 7, 2003.

  1. timothy 1769

    timothy 1769 New Member

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    Please share your views on Bible preservation.

    1) Has God promised to preserve his Word? How do you know this?
    2) How does He accomplish this? How do you know this?
    3) Does God preserve actual words, or just basic ideas? How do you know this?
    4) Does preservation apply, in any sense, to translations? How do you know this?
    5) Are the efforts of textual critics part of the preservation process? How do you know this?

    Thanks!
     
  2. BrianT

    BrianT New Member

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    Yes. From scripture.

    In the range of translations and manuscripts throughout history. I know this because 1. they exist (the scriptures didn't cease to exist, thanks to the Holy Spirit contintually moving men to work on copying/translating/etc.) and 2. historically a range is how the scriptures were available to men (as opposed to a single exclusive document).

    Both. From the scriptures.

    Yes. Because the early church used a Greek translation of the OT, because the later church used a Latin translation of the Bible, and because we today use translations of various languages.

    Yes. Because any act of copying/compiling/translating involves some level of textual criticism - from the NT authors, to ancient translators, to the early church fathers, to Masorete scribes, to Erasmus, to Luther, to the KJV translators, to Westcott & Hort, to any translator of any Bible in all of history - all employed textual criticism to some degree. Since copying/compiling/translating is how God's word was preserved, textual criticism is part of that process.

    God bless,
    Brian
     
  3. timothy 1769

    timothy 1769 New Member

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    Thanks, Brian! One question I forgot:

    1.5) With what accuracy does God preserve His Word? How do you know this?
     
  4. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
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  5. Askjo

    Askjo New Member

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    What Scripture?
     
  6. BrianT

    BrianT New Member

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    The scriptures that were true before 1611, not just after. [​IMG]
     
  7. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Yes. From scripture.

    In the range of translations and manuscripts throughout history. I know this because 1. they exist (the scriptures didn't cease to exist, thanks to the Holy Spirit contintually moving men to work on copying/translating/etc.) and 2. historically a range is how the scriptures were available to men (as opposed to a single exclusive document).

    Both. From the scriptures.

    Yes. Because the early church used a Greek translation of the OT, because the later church used a Latin translation of the Bible, and because we today use translations of various languages.

    Yes. Because any act of copying/compiling/translating involves some level of textual criticism - from the NT authors, to ancient translators, to the early church fathers, to Masorete scribes, to Erasmus, to Luther, to the KJV translators, to Westcott & Hort, to any translator of any Bible in all of history - all employed textual criticism to some degree. Since copying/compiling/translating is how God's word was preserved, textual criticism is part of that process.

    God bless,
    Brian
    </font>[/QUOTE]Absolutely [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  8. timothy 1769

    timothy 1769 New Member

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    Originally posted by timothy 1769:

    1) Has God promised to preserve his Word? How do you know this?

    It is promised over and over again in His Word.

    1.5) With what accuracy does God preserve His Word? How do you know this?

    100%.

    Matthew 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished."

    Psalms 12:6
    The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

    Psalms 119:160
    Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever

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

    2) How does He accomplish this? How do you know this?

    I don't know. He may accomplish this through His providence. Praise God I don't have to know how for God to keep His promises.

    3) Does God preserve actual words, or just basic ideas? How do you know this?

    Words, because that's what the Bible often refers to.

    4) Does preservation apply, in any sense, to translations? How do you know this?

    I think so, as ancient versions can help identify the correct meaning of the Greek and Hebrew. I also think that God providentially has a hand in making unusually accurate translations at times so that his Word may be known by the common people. I think this is so because God has commanded us, and for such commands to be effective they must be in a language that can be understood. God doesn't anywhere command all men to learn Hebrew and Greek.

    But I personally can't make a rock solid case for this since I can't tie this to obvious, specific promises in God's Word.

    5) Are the efforts of textual critics part of the preservation process? How do you know this?

    I guess anything is possible, but since modern textual critics effectively deny preservation and treat the Holy Scriptures just as a book, I really really doubt it. I'm convinced their principles will never lead them to the uncorrupted Word of God, e.g. preferring the harder reading is insanity if one believes the originals to be perfect.

    Certainly the Bible doesn't even hint that such a faithless, man-centered process would somehow be used to reestablish His pure Words.

    To me this comes off a secular version of reinspiration, but with a heavy dose of doubt mixed into the final result.
     
  9. timothy 1769

    timothy 1769 New Member

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    Once I get serveral responses, I will use those responses to create a poll, God willing.
     
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