Some Brief Thoughts
I just thought it would be good to take a minute to discuss a couple things about this doctrine of Bible preservation.
Because it is such a lightning rod for emotional response among Christians.
Sadly, this should not be the case. Christians should be very deeply informed and readily able to discuss this whole doctrine.
But the church has purposefully stayed away from this.
Except to merely touch on it to reassure Christians that the current state of popular texts and translations is perfectly fine. And that the biggest problem a Christian may face is to find a translation that “speaks to them” or which they can understand.
The Layman’s Approach
I believe that we must study and understand this doctrine. If we don’t, we will not be able to protect the flock of God from error.
It is as simple as that.
Nor we will be able to properly feed His sheep. But we’ll be left with an artificial and poisonous food with which to feed them.
Which is precisely where we are right now.
I am not an expert on these topics. Most of my life has been spent floating on the sea of multiple translations. With no clue about the underlying issues with those versions.
And the course I have taken here is to present these issues from the vantage point of a layman. As a guy that has studied many different translations and has read deeply on this subject.
And as a fellow Christian who believes that any believer can arrive at a conclusion on this matter based solely on what the scriptures teach.
A Higher Calling
In other words, one doesn’t have to be an expert in Hebrew or Greek in order to understand this issue. Nor does one have to be a textual scholar in order to understand what God has already said about this in His written word.
All of this said, with the intent that each of us can make a decision without allowing someone else to make that decision for us. Which is what most people in Christian circles do today.
Believing that the popular scholars are the only ones that really know what is going on. That they are the ones who must tell us what is and isn’t true.
Which is, if you will think about it, no different than say, what the Catholics or the Mormons believe. Who trust the priesthood or the elders to tell them what the truth of God really is. And what it means.
But we have a higher calling than that.
All believers are priests and kings in God’s plan. And, as such, are given the tools, by His Spirit, His word, and a sound mind, to determine what God has said, And what He means.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (Matthew 10:27)
Some Helpful Resources
To Help anyone wanting additional material to study on this subject, here is a list of posts that are in this site that have dealt with this issue.
Also, here are a few links to review, in greater depth, the doctrine of Bible Preservation along with information on Textual History.
PREVIOUS POSTS:
Go to the Select Categories area at the bottom of this website Then click on The Preserved Word of God. It will then list the the links to any of the posts listed below.
The Miracle of Inspiration & Preservation
The Perfectly-Preserved Written Word
Bible Translation or Interpretation?
The Fallacy of Biblical Criticism: Part 1
The Fallacy of Biblical Criticism: Part 2: Back to Basics
Bible Preservation: The Old Testament
Bible Preservation: Part 2: The Written Language of Eden
Perfect Preservation: Part 1 – Foundation
Perfect Preservation: Part 2 – The Promise
Perfect Preservation: Part 3 – Thoughts or Words?
Perfect Preservation: Part 4 – Conclusion
Words Mean Things
Words Mean Things: Part 2 – What is the Word of God?
Words Mean Things: Part 3 – A Pocketful of Translations
Words Mean Things: Conclusion – If the Foundation is Destroyed
Recommended WEBSITES:
Note: You will find a great deal of overlap in this and the Bible for Today site. In fact, they may be basically the same. I did not make a clear comparison between these two. But, both are worth your time in investigating.
Note: Especially check out the Timely Articles. DA Waite and Jack Moorman are without peer in their understanding and in-depth analysis of Texts, Textual History and Bible Preservation. Their sermons also will give you much more teaching and explanation on a topic that demands deep investigation.
Note: Go to Reports and then the Topical Library. This is one of the best collection of reports on texts, translations and movements you will ever find.
A NOTE about all Referenced Sites:
I may be stating the obvious here, but I don’t agree with all the stuff you will find on these sites. However, each of these websites has a tremendous wealth of information to help in studying these matters.
In fact, it is very difficult to find websites that could be more helpful. One will also find a library of reports, in these sites, about trends and movements that most churches never take the trouble to even mention.
Also, some of these sites get a bit legalistic at times on various subjects. Some of these things I agree with; some I do not.
But, that does not negate the truth or urgency of their positions. We are foolish to discard truth because of the personality of the messenger. Or because we think that the messenger is overzealous in some areas.
Wherever we choose to search for truth, we must sift through the wheat and the chaff. But you will find more good wheat here than chaff. And there are very few places in the whole wide world of web archives that one can safely make that claim.
It all comes with the territory. It is just part of the job of being defenders of the faith.
Eternal Approach 
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