Temple Baptist Church - 1-30-2022
2 Timothy 3:10-17; Psalm 12:6-8
A. Last week, we saw biblical inspiration: a one-time act where God gave mankind His inerrant, infallible Word. God infused (inspiration) the Word of God with eternality and life. This morning, I want to answer the question: "Why the big fuss about Divine Preservation?"
1. Without Divine Preservation of Scripture, we cannot know for certain that our Bible is correct in every aspect! If preservation of Scripture is an act of man, then there can be mistranslations, additions, omissions, copyright issues that cause huge changes (plagiarism), and the usage of synonyms which are like words but not exact words.
2. Without Divine Preservation of Scripture, we can only have a Bible that contains the Word of God and not the actual Word of God. If there are errors because of deviations from the original manuscripts, and no one in our world has an original or even seen a copy, then we have no way to correct errors.
3. Without Divine Preservation of Scripture, then we must rely on the "experts" in Greek and Hebrew as our final authority as they continually change bibles while disagreeing with each other on words and translations. Who corrects the authority becomes the authority. WE HAVE AN AUTHORITY PROBLEM IN SO-CALLED FUNDAMENTALISM TODAY!
B. I also ended the message with this thought: biblical inspiration means nothing without divine preservation. Most will agree that God inspired His Word in the original manuscripts, but many believe that inspiration died with the original manuscripts. I see this in the Statemen of Faith of many churches, mission boards, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and universities.
C. If this be so, then we cannot have an inerrant, infallible Bible today! Divine Inspiration without divine preservation is NOTHING! I want to reiterate that no one has an original manuscript nor has anyone seen an original manuscript in our time. The original manuscripts are NOT what Paul referenced in 2 Timothy! Paul was speaking to Timothy about the Holy Scriptures that he had from his youth. The Holy Scriptures that led him to a saving knowledge of Christ. Therefore, without Divine Preservation, no one can be assured of exactly what those inspired words were in the originals.
Psalms 118:8-9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (9) It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Human preservation of Scripture is confidence in fallible men to bring to us an infallible Bible. This is an impossibility.
D. Therefore, biblical preservation cannot be an act of mane alone! Let me give you an example of what I am talking about.
1. The Pentateuch, Genesis-Deuteronomy, were written by Moses 3500 years ago. The completed canon of the Old Testament was finished 2400 years ago. The New Testament canon of scriptures is almost 2000 years old. Thus, biblical preservation has been an ongoing thing for 2000-3500 years.
2. So, let us just look at the past 140 of those 3500 years. In the 1800's, the Wescott-Hort Text or line of scriptures were found.
3. In 1881-1885, the Wescott-Hort text was translated and printed in the Revised Version. Since that date, 141 years ago, we have seen the multiplicity of "bibles" come upon the scene that have cast doubt upon the King James Bible bringing confusion and division among Christendom. For centuries prior to the Critical Text, there was NO confusion among Bible believers about where or what God's Word was.
4. So, let me share with you what this means. For 3360 years, the Word of God was preserved and translated without confusion and division? You either believed the Word of God or you did not. There was no middle ground. The Bible declares that God is not the Author of confusion, so who is? Man! And man has become the source of biblical criticism and confusion that we now endure.
E. Now, we will begin to answer the question: "How can we be sure that we have the very Word of God and not just a book that contains the Word of God. Biblical Inspiration without Divine Preservation makes no sense.
2. Since this time, there have been numerous "bibles" produced off the Wescott-Hort with each new version contradicting all others. Whereas from 1611 until 1881 (the Revised Version of the New Testament), there was no confusion concerning the Bible. You either believed it or you did not.
3. THINGS have not changed: you still believe it, or you do not. If you correct it, you do not believe it. It is as simple as that!
4. I have chosen to believe the Bible! I am neither uneducated not am I an ignorant man. I chose over the past 45 years to read and study what the King James Bible says. Because of this, I have been scoffed at, maligned, and castigated. Pleases, just let this poor old Bible believer continue to be ignorant enough to believe the Bible!
F. As we get to Timothy's Day, possibly 2200 years since the Book of Job was written (Job probably lived in Abraham's day as the land of UZ was mentioned in genealogy [Genesis, chapter 10]), over 1500 years has passed since Moses recorded the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy). It has also been over 400 years since Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament was written. As God the Holy Ghost moved the Apostle Paul to write 2 Timothy and mention Biblical Inspiration, He refers to the inspired Scriptures in 3 distinct tenses which denote preservation of inspiration.
G. Now, let us tie our two texts together.
1. God gave us the promise of Divine Inspiration and Divine Preservation.
Psalms 12:6-8 (Divine Inspiration) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) (Divine Preservation) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (8) The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
2. God faithfully gave to Timothy as well as you and me that save promise.
a. The Scriptures Inspired in the Past Tense. 2 Timothy 3:15 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.
Timothy is no longer a child. He is the pastor of the Church of Ephesus! The Scriptures that Timothy grew up with were not the original manuscripts. They were divinely preserved copies! Every synagogue had copies of the Law and the Prophets. Our Lord Jesus said time and time again, "IT IS WRITTEN," because He knew that the people knew what was written in the Holy Scriptures.
b. The Scriptures Inspired in the Present Tense. 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 divinely preserved Scriptures is given by inspiration of God and continues to be profitable to those who now read. "Holy Bible" (biblia sacra) is still used to refer to the Word of God. Those two words were placed on yor 1611 King James Bible!
c. The Scriptures Inspired in the Future Tense. 2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
This refers to every man of God to come. Without the Divinely Preserved Inspired Word of God, no man of God can be "perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." The Bible that I hold in my hand will perfect me, the Bible that I hold in my hand will thoroughly furnish me for the work of the ministry.
Conclusion: Do I fully understand Divine Preservation? The answer is no. I believe Divine Inspiration because God said it and the Bible declares it.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
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.
1 Peter 1:23-25 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.
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:
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