Acts 8:37 does NOT say that one has to be baptized to be saved.
Baptism does not save, never has, and never will.
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.
Acts 8:37 simply states that there must be a profession of faith before baptism.
Salvation is required for baptism--not visa versa.
Like I stated before, leaving out Acts 8:37, leaves out the eunuch's profession of faith. Because the eunuch believed, he was baptized by Philip.
Sure, there are other verses in the Bible that say salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But why leave out verses and leave room for false doctrine? (i.e. baptismal regeneration, that baptism saves)
I didn't look at my Bible one day and decide that Acts 8:37 shouldn't be included. The choice to remove Acts 8:37 is based on the fact it has little mss support.
I looked at my Bible one day and saw Acts 8:37, in between 8:36 and 8:38 and accepted the fact that it was supposed to be there--after all, it is God's Word.
What I did question was why the MVs took it out.
If Acts 8:37 is in the KJV, this verse identified with the wording of the autographs. Amen!
If Acts 8:37 was deleted in the modern versions, it did not identify with the wording of the autographs because those naturalistic textual critics rejected this verse dues to the lack of mss supported. The reason for this is that they
ignored the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, even the preservation of the Holy Scriptures. Remember 3 earliest Church fathers witnessed this verse
prior to 3rd century, but naturalistic textual critics rejected them. Suppose, these men who witnessed this verse, are in heaven.
When you meet them in Heaven, they would ask you, Why reject thou me? What say ye?
The modern versions were on fine solid ground. There are 64 manuscripts that contain Acts 8:37. There are another 417 which do not contain Acts 8:37. That is very solid ground considering none of the 64 (excluding Codex E) dates to before the 11th Century. Why don't we discuss the original Greek language texts rather than continue posting on the fact that the KJV contains Acts 8:37. Of which I'm well aware.
I am fairly certain the church fathers that you refer to will be in heaven. Justin Martyr, also before the third century, stated that the church held to the belief that during communion the wine and bread became Christ blood and body respectively. When you see him in heaven what say ye?
Interesting logic. Because at one time almost all Christians used the KJV. Was it evil? God worked through Siniaticus and Vaticanus to preserve His Word. Your reasoning here can be turned against you easily remember Westcott & Hort's text was based on a smaller number of manuscripts.
The modern versions were on fine solid ground. There are 64 manuscripts that contain Acts 8:37. There are another 417 which do not contain Acts 8:37. That is very solid ground considering none of the 64 (excluding Codex E) dates to before the 11th Century. Why don't we discuss the original Greek language texts rather than continue posting on the fact that the KJV contains Acts 8:37. Of which I'm well aware. </font>[/QUOTE]All you want is
PAPER!!!!
I second that. </font>[/QUOTE]I think we may finally be in agreement. The Critical texts are all based on a rather small number of manuscripts. Even smaller than your 64 so I'm now going to assume my version is even more of God than yours.