All posts by Luella Campbell

GOD’S WORD – INERRANT, INFALLIBLE, AND ETERNAL

Apologetics, ,

We must not ignore the Bible’s claims that it is inerrant, infallible, and eternal. However, we must remember that, when we refer to the Bible as perfect, we are speaking of its perfection in its original text. As much as we trust most translations, only the original can be considered to be faultless.

  1. Scripture claims to be pure, that is, unmixed with anything that is not true.

Psalms 12:6 NIV
[6] “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”

Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV
[5] “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. [6] Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

There are serious consequences for those who add, subtract, or alter God’s Word in any way. For example…

Revelation 22:18-19 NLT
[18]” And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. [19] And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”

Since God and His Word are one and, since Jesus is the embodiment of God’s Word, it stands to reason that the Bible is without fault.

  1. The Word of God is eternal. Again the Bible speaks for itself…

Psalms 119:89 NIV
[89]”Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

Matthew 24:35 NLT
[35] “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”

Jess Himself is the guarantor of all God’s promises.

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 NLT
[19] “For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. [20] For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

  1. The third in this trio of guarantees is that God’s Word is infallible. What God promised, He did. What God threatened, He did. When God made promises yet to be fulfilled, we can be sure that He will keep his Word. Unlike humans whose promises are often, as my mother used to say, “…Like pie crusts, made to be broken,” God cannot lie and He does not speak lightly or make extravagant promises He cannot keep.

The angel Gabriel, bringing God’s message of the child she was to bear, assured Mary…

Luke 1:37 NLT
[37] For the word of God will never fail.”

We can be sure of every word God has spoken, even those words of judgment coming on those who refuse to believe His Word, those who trouble His people, and those who defy Him by their wickedness.

Psalms 37:9-10 NLT
[9] “For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. [10] Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.”

2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 NLT
[5] “And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. [6] In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. [7] And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, [8] in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.”

Although we are not to rejoice over the downfall of the wicked, God has given us the reassurance that He will take revenge on those who have caused us pain and harm. We can safely leave all judgment to Him because His Word will never fail.

Romans 12:19 NLT
[19] “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”

Most encouraging for us is the truth that God’s infallible Word will be the standard by which He judges.

John 12:48-49 NLT
[48]”But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. [49] I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.”

Who Jesus is, then, God’s Word sent to us to reveal the Father by His life…

John 1:14 NLT
[14]” So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

… Is the final standard by which God will vindicate or judge all people.

John 12:46-48 NIV
[46]” I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. [47] If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.”

After Israel’s tortuous journey through a treacherous wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Bible gives us this comforting conclusion…

Joshua 21:45 NLT
[45] “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

And again…

Joshua 23:14-16 NLT
[14] “Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed! [15] But as surely as the Lord your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely destroy you from this good land he has given you. [16] If you break the covenant of the Lord your God by worshiping and serving other gods, his anger will burn against you, and you will quickly vanish from the good land he has given you.”

As impossible as many of God’s prophecies and promises seem to be, since God is God, nothing is impossible for Him.

GOD’S WORD – ITS POWER – 2

Apologetics, ,

Although the topic of the power of God’s Word is too big to deal with adequately here, I would like to summarise by examining four aspects that impact us.

  1. The power to scrutinise

Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
[12] “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. [13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

We have only briefly touched on this point, so let me enlarge on it a little.

Imagine reading a murder mystery which describes in detail the thoughts and motives of the murderer. Does what this person thinks impact us in any way? Are we motivated to kill because we read this book or does this story prompt us to react in horror to what the murderer had done? In the main, reading fiction leaves us unmoved. It’s just a story.

Even biographies of prominent characters cannot change us. We might admire their courage, be impressed by their achievements, or even disgusted by bad behaviour but…we carry on with our lives as they are. Who they are and what they did doesn’t affect what is inside us.

Stories of fiction have no power to impact us. No one, for example, unless they already have plans to kill, would be influenced to go out and commit the same terrible deed. We choose our genres for entertainment, enlightenment perhaps, Information, education, or whatever purpose we have in mind but, in the end, everything we read does not dig deep into the core of our being as do the words of Scripture…

…yet, in an inexplicable way, the Bible opens up what is in the depth of our hearts and moves us towards a response. We identify closely with passages in the Word that tell us what’s wrong inside and that appeal to us for action. We do what is tells us and discover its power to change us.

How does this happen? Consider these words of David…

Psalms 19:12-14 NLT
[12] “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. [13] Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. [14] May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Here we have the secret to the power of the Word to scrutinise us…the partnership of God the Holy Spirit and the Word. It’s the Spirit who uses the words of the Word of God to expose what is in us.

Jesus said…

John 6:63 NLT
[63]”The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

We enter into this partnership with God when we, in honesty, pray the prayer of David, on the strength of God’s perfect knowledge…

Psalms 139:23, 24 NLT
[23]”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
[24] Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

  1. The power to save
    God’s Word not only has the power to reveal what is in our hearts, it also has the power to save us from the devastation and destruction that sin does in us.

Why do we need saving? Every human is born with the capacity to self-destruct. Left to ourselves, our old human nature with its bent towards stubborn rebellion and disobedience, will take us to eternal separation from God, called hell.

We all have an unpayable debt to God and for that we must die unless God intervenes to rescue us. He did, by sending His Son to pay our debt. The Bible not only reveals what He did, it also works the miracle of new birth in our hearts. When we learn of God’s salvation through Jesus, believe the truth of what He has done, and receive His forgiveness of our sin by faith, that Word does a miracle in our hearts, giving us a brand new start by transforming us into new people.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
[17] “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

God’s Word is a seed that grows in us to produce a new person.

1 Peter 1:23 NIV
[23] “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

How does this happen? Paul tells us…

Romans 10:17 NIV
[17] “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

So, by faith in the message about Jesus, which we receive through hearing or reading the Bible, our sin is forgiven, we are reconciled to God, we start a new life of trust and obedience to Jesus, and we are on a new path to the Father in heaven.

  1. The power to settle
    God’s Word has the power to settle us. What do I mean?

Before we believe in Jesus and become new people, we are unsettled inside… restless, insecure, anxious, and afraid. We have nothing to hold onto that steadies us through difficult times. Our lives make no sense, have no meaning or purpose, and we feel like tiny vessels on a very stormy sea. We don’t know where we came from and we don’t know where we are going.

Everything changes when we return to our Creator. Our union with Jesus gives us direction, meaning, and purpose, and answers the questions no one in the world can answer. The Bible is the truth about God and us, and our place and purpose in the world. Without the truth it provides, we have no authoritative source to guide us and keep us on track to our destination. Again, it’s David who provides an insight into this aspect of Scripture.

Psalms 119:105 NLT
[105] “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

No other book than the Bible can give us clear directions on how to live. When we follow God’s instructions, He confirms His truth by the peace in our hearts.

Psalms 19:9-11 NLT
[9] “Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. [10] They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. [11] They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.”

4.The power to sanctify

The fourth great work of God’s Word relates to the deep-cleaning that it does inside us. The Bible calls it “sanctification”. To sanctify means “to make sacred” or “to set apart from sin to God”.

Jesus prayed…

John 17:17 NIV
[17] “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Our natural bent towards self-gratification remains in us despite our new lives in Christ. The discipline and training we experience as believers in Jesus is to subdue our old nature by learning to follow Jesus and to be led by His Spirit in us. Again, through the partnership of the Holy Spirit and the Word, we learn to do what is right by saying no to our sinful desires and trusting the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to obey Him.

Romans 8:12-14 NLT
[12] “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

This great work of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit continues throughout our lives. As long as we are in these human bodies, we will be tempted and we will occasionally fall into sin but, said John, we will no longer practise sin as a way of life. Why?

1 John 3:9 NLT
[9] “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life (seed) is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.”

We have already learned that we are born again by the seed of God’s Word. This “seed” is now in us, growing and producing the new life of God in us.

These four great functions of God’s Word do a deep work of exposing our sin, and changing and cleansing us on the inside so that we are aceptable to God, righteous before Him, members of His forever family and being changed into the image of Jesus.

God does all this work inside us through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. Our role is to follow His leading, believe and obey His Word, and rest in the work He is doing in us to perfect us for our eternal life with Him.

Philippians 2:12-13 NIV
[12] “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

GOD’S WORD – ITS POWER – 1

Apologetics, ,

Since we have established the authority of Scripture by its own testimony, we must ask, “Is God’s Word powerful and, in what way is it powerful? How can the Bible directly affect our lives when we read and apply its teaching to ourselves?”

Unbelieving scientists have propagated the pernicious and pervasive belief that the universe came into being through a “big bang” and that its creatures began as slime in the sea. However, the Bible gives us the truth that God created the heavens and the earth through the power of His spoken word.

Psalms 33:6 NLT
[6] “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.”

To the honest observer, which makes more sense, the universe happened by chance or…the universe came into being by design?

How did both Moses, who wrote the first five books of the Bible…

Genesis 1:1 NLT
[1] “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

… and David, who write Psalm 33, know this?

Through the Holy Spirit by revelation. There is no other way that they could have written what they wrote with such authority and conviction.

The Word of God also says it is able to scrutinise us, to expose the innermost depths of our being. How does it do this?

First, by invitation. David was aware that God knew him intimately from his conception in the womb…

Psalms 139:13 NIV
[13] “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

… to his thoughts and intentions before he spoke or acted.

Psalms 139:3-4 NIV
[3] “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. [4] Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

Since he could not escape His scrutiny, David invited God into his heart to search and expose whatever offended Him.

Psalms 139:23-24 NIV
[23]”Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. [24] See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

How does God scrutinise us? The Holy Spirit, as the author of the Bible, is also in intimate partnership with the Scriptures to work through the Word in people’s hearts as they read and internalise what is written.

God promised His people, through the prophet Jeremiah, that there would be a radical change in the coming New Covenant from the Old, in its terms and application. The Holy Spirit would be in His people quickening their spirits, by the application of His Word, to respond to the truths He reveals. By His power, He would change their thinking and behaviour from rebels to sons.

Jeremiah 31:33 NLT
[33] “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people… “

It’s this new covenant which God made with Jesus and included us who believe in Him, the terms of which are recorded in the New Testament, that is able to save us from sin and transform our lives. The key is to read and apply…

Jesus made this startling claim…

John 6:63 NLT
[63] “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

The Bible doesn’t just tell us about what God has done and about His power to save and change us, it has the power to DO what it tells us. The Word of God is like a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting deep and exposing our inner thoughts, attitudes, and motives.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
[12] “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

The Word of God also has the power to heal our brokenness and lead us in God’s way of truth and life.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
[16]”All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

Again, it was David who recorded his personal experience in his magnificent psalm about the Word of God…

Psalms 119:105 NLT
[105]”Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

It’s through the light of God’s Word that we can make our way safely through the maze of temptation and evil in the world. No other book has the power to provide accurate directions from earth to heaven. In fact, it’s by the power of the Word that we are raised from spiritual death to spiritual life, which Jesus said is essential if we are to enter God’s kingdom and live under His rule.

John 3:3, 5 NLT
[3] “Jesus replied (to Nicodemus), “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”…
[5] Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”

Peter explains how this new birth happens.

1 Peter 1:23 NLT
[23]”For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”

Faith in the truth of God’s Word is the means by which we both enter and live in God’s kingdom. This partnership between us and the Holy Spirit means that the Spirit activates the Word in us to do what it says it will do. To use an inadequate illustration, faith is like the cord which connects an appliance to the source of power. We plug into the Word by faith through which the power of the Holy Spirit flows.

In this brief examination of the power of God’s Word, we can only conclude that, without the Bible, we will never know how or why we are here, where we are going and how we get there. We will never understand the grace and mercy of the God who sent His Son to save us and how we can be saved. We will never experience the peace that God gives when we believe the Word, receive the salvation in Jesus the Word reveals, and enter into the new life that transforms our hearts and takes us to the Father.

Psalms 19:7-11 NLT
[7] “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. [8] The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. [9] Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. [10] They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. [11] They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.”

This, the power of the God’s Word!

To be continued…

GOD’S WORD – ITS AUTHORITY

Apologetics, ,

How do we know that the Bible has the authority of no other book? Let’s allow it to speak for itself.

“Sola Scriptura” was the rallying cry of the Protestant Reformation. For centuries the Roman Catholic Church had made its traditions superior in authority to the Bible. This resulted in many practices that were in fact contradictory to the Bible.” (gotquestions)

What does the Bible have to say about its authority?

“The primary Catholic argument against sola scriptura is that the Bible does not explicitly teach sola scriptura. Catholics argue that the Bible nowhere states that it is the only authoritative guide for faith and practice. However, this is only true in the shallowest sense.

“The principle is strongly indicated by verses such as Acts 17:11, which commends the Bereans for testing doctrine—taught by an apostle, no less—to the written Word.” (gotquestions)

Acts 17:11 NIV
[11] “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Paul was obviously referring to the Tanach, the writings we call the Old Testament, which was already in existence and authoritative for the early church since the church recognised the gospel of Jesus as the continuation and fulfilment of the Old Testament Scriptures.

“Sola scriptura is all-but-explicitly indicated in 1 Corinthians 4:6, where Paul warns not to “go beyond what is written.” (gotquestions)

1 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
[6] “Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.”

Since the early church recognised the authority of the Tanach, there was no place for competition between church leaders. They were bound by what was written in the Scriptures.

“Jesus Himself criticized those who allowed traditions to override the explicit commands of God in Mark 7:6–9.” (gotquestions)

Mark 7:6-8 NIV
[6] He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. [7]  They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ [8]  You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

There is multiple evidence in the gospel records that Jesus based His entire life and teachings on the Old Testament Scriptures. His disclosure to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus after His resurrection reveal the foundation  of His earthly life and death.

Luke 24:25, 27 NIV
[25] “He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
[27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

The article on “Sola Scriptura”, found in www.gotquestions.com concludes with this argument.

“We know that the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible declares itself to be God-breathed, inerrant, and authoritative. We also know that God does not change His mind or contradict Himself. So, while the Bible itself may not explicitly argue for sola scriptura, it most definitely does not allow for traditions that contradict its message. Sola scriptura is not as much of an argument against tradition as it is an argument against unbiblical, extra-biblical and/or anti-biblical doctrines. The only way to know for sure what God expects of us is to stay true to what we know He has revealed—the Bible. We can know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that Scripture is true, authoritative, and reliable. The same cannot be said of tradition.”

Where tradition clashes with or contradicts Scripture, our only safe position is to trust the Bible to be what it claims to be, the authoritative Word of God.

“The Word of God is the ultimate and only infallible authority for the Christian faith. Traditions are valid only when they conform with Scripture. Traditions that contradict the Bible are not of God and are not a valid aspect of the Christian faith. Sola scriptura is the only way to avoid subjectivity and keep personal opinion from taking priority over the teachings of the Bible. The essence of sola scriptura is basing one’s spiritual life on the Bible alone and rejecting any tradition or teaching that is not in full agreement with the Bible.  2 Timothy 2:15 declares, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Paul assured his protege, young Timothy,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
[16] “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Like Paul, we can have every confidence in the authority of the Bible since it testifies to and proves the truth of its claim.

GOD’S WORD – ITS SOURCES

Apologetics, ,

How did a book as amazing and unique as the Bible come into existence? There is no other book written over two-plus millennia by more than 40 different authors residing in different countries, in three languages, that can claim the unity and cohesion that the Bible presents. This book is a miracle but…it did not fall from heaven; it had to have human participation to bring it about, a true partnership between God and people.

Let’s look at the process, even if only in summary form. This presentation may be a bit technical but I hope it helps you to understand something of the way in which we have a reliable copy of God’s Word.

Humans had to preserve the original writings as accurately as possible. There is no record of the way people went about collecting and preserving them , or even if they still exist. The only way we have access to them is through copies of copies of copies of the originals that were passed down from generation to generation. The miracle is that these copies are still in existence and that those who copied them were careful to preserve the text as error-free as possible. This accuracy is tested by comparing the most ancient copies with later ones.

How do we know this happened?

This is Meta’s summary…

“The accuracy of biblical manuscripts is a topic of ongoing scholarly debate and research.

Here’s a brief overview:

Manuscript Evidence
The Bible’s original texts, written by authors like Moses, David, and Paul, have not survived to the present day. However, we have thousands of manuscript copies, fragments, and quotes from early Christian writers that help us reconstruct the original texts.

Types of Manuscripts
1.”Autographs”: The original texts written by the authors (none have survived).

  1. “Manuscripts”: Handwritten copies of the texts (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus).
  2. “Papyri”: Fragments of texts written on papyrus (e.g., P52, P46).
  3. “Quotes” : Citations from early Christian writers (e.g., Origen, Eusebius).

Factors Supporting Accuracy

  1. “Manuscript Multiplicity”: Over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and 1,000 other manuscripts exist.
  2. “Geographical Distribution”: Manuscripts come from various regions, reducing the likelihood of widespread errors.
  3. “Early Dates”: Some manuscripts date back to within 100-200 years of the original texts (e.g., P52, circa 125 AD).
  4. “Consistency”: Manuscripts show remarkable consistency, despite being copied over centuries.
  5. “Textual Criticism”: Scholars use various methods to analyze and compare manuscripts, ensuring the most accurate text possible.

Challenges and Limitations

  1. “Transmission Errors”: Human errors during copying, such as typos or omissions.
  2. “Intentional Changes”: Some scribes may have intentionally altered texts for theological or ideological reasons.
  3. “Lost Manuscripts”: Many manuscripts have been lost or destroyed over the centuries.

Conclusion
While we can’t be 100% certain about the accuracy of every detail, the cumulative evidence from manuscript multiplicity, geographical distribution, early dates, consistency, and textual criticism provides strong support for the reliability of the biblical texts. Scholars continue to refine our understanding of the texts through ongoing research and analysis.”

There is no other ancient writing as thoroughly documented as the Bible. In the case of works by ancient philosophers like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, for example, only a few texts are available today compared with the total count of nearly 66,000 including, for example, fragments of Bible texts on mummy wrappings.

“What about translations?” you might ask. “How do we know that translations are an accurate reflection of the original text?”

Again, Meta provides a helpful summary.

“Ensuring the accuracy of Bible translations is a complex process that involves several steps and considerations. Here are some key factors that contribute to the accuracy of Bible translations:

Translation Process
1.” Textual Criticism”: Scholars analyze and compare various manuscripts to determine the most reliable text.

  1. “Language Expertise”: Translators must be proficient in the original languages (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic) and the target language.
  2. “Translation Teams” : Multiple scholars and translators work together to ensure accuracy and consistency.
  3. “Peer Review”: Translations are reviewed and critiqued by other experts to identify potential errors or inaccuracies.

Translation Philosophies

  1. “Formal Equivalence” : Translators focus on conveying the exact wording and grammatical structure of the original text.
  2. “Dynamic Equivalence” : Translators prioritize conveying the overall meaning and context of the original text, even if it means using different words or phrases.
  3. “Optimal Equivalence”: Translators aim to balance formal and dynamic equivalence, seeking to convey both the original wording and the overall meaning.

Additional Factors

  1. “Manuscript Evidence”: Translators rely on a vast array of manuscripts, including early and reliable texts.
  2. “Historical and Cultural Context”: Translators consider the historical, cultural, and social context in which the original text was written.
  3. “Theological and Literary Considerations”: Translators take into account the theological themes, literary styles, and genre-specific conventions of the original text.

Examples of Reliable Translations

  1. “New International Version (NIV)”: A balanced translation that aims for optimal equivalence.
  2. “New American Standard Bible (NASB)”: A formal equivalence translation that prioritizes accuracy and precision.
  3. “English Standard Version (ESV)”: A translation that seeks to balance formal and dynamic equivalence.

While no translation is perfect, the combination of rigorous scholarship, careful translation, and consideration of various factors helps ensure that modern Bible translations accurately reflect the true meaning of the original text.”

One final comment…
Translations done by teams of experts are more likely to be accurate than single translators since they provide checks and balances rather than the personal opinion or pet theory of one person.

We must be wary of those that paraphrase rather than translate because a paraphrase injects words and ideas that may not reflect the meaning of the words of the original text.

Since much of the Old Testament was written in paleo Hebrew, an ancient picture language, rather like a comic strip, the meaning of individual pictures representing words can only be derived from their context. This makes translation far more complicated since pictures cannot be translated into specific words. As many translators are abstract-thinking and philosophy-orientated, some of the Old Testament’s original meanings are lost in translation.

One example…in Genesis 1, the word “bara”, translated “created”, as in “God created” (bara) is used in other parts of Scripture in a way that cannot be translated “created”.

A word from the Lord to Eli about his wicked sons…

1 Samuel 2:29 NLT
[29] “So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat (bara) from the best offerings of my people Israel!”

In this context, Eli’s sons became fat on the sacrifices that belonged to God.

“Bara” can mean create, shape, filled up, or fatten. Is it not possible that, in Genesis 1, “bara” may mean, “In the beginning, God shaped or filled up the earth (in preparation for human habitation)?” The rest of Genesis 1 describes the process by which He reshaped a corrupted earth.

The study of textual criticism is too painstaking, involved and intricate to explain here but it is sufficient to say, in the face of all the evidence, that the Bible, in its translations, is a book as close to the original as is humanly possible to achieve.

The outcome for us today should be the confidence that we have access to God’s Word as close to the truth as He intended.