THE  MIRACLE  OF BIBLICAL  INSPIRATION

 INTRODUCTION

The Purpose of This Work

The purpose of this brief work is to identify the various positions and relate them to which Words are “given by inspiration of God” or are “inspired.” Many disagreements concerning the correct Biblical texts, translations, and “inspiration” of the Words can be traced to a misunderstanding of terms. Standardization of the terms must be sought. Confusion among thoselistening to pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and teachers results if God’s saints are not in agreement about specific definitions, doctrines, and applications. God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). Therefore, we must define terms biblically. Our bibliology must be correct. Surely, most teachers understand that the Scripture defines important Words. “Inspiration” is defined in the Bible and men would benefit greatly if they would let the Scripture speak to them and not let other men determine their “belief.”

The necessity to define words, especially when dealing with Biblical precepts, results from (1) differences in the meaning or signification of words in context in Scripture and (2) the divergence of opinions between those who are students of God’s Words. The inattention to these aspects of linguistics has caused endless discussions among theologians, pastors, teachers, missionaries, evangelists, and translators. Often, it has prompted needless confusion and angst, particularly over the word, “inspiration” (theopneustos) and its use in context.

Furthermore, the books and articles about “inspiration” are almost limitless and opinions in the works vary GREATLY. The task at hand to evaluate the current discussion among religious leaders about “inspiration” is no small chore. Certain words are particularly sensitive. An attempt was made to keep this discussion short, but the author soon discovered that to be impossible.

The Attempts to Explain the Miracle

The attempt by many men to explain the unexplainable process and product of “inspiration,” which is a miracle, has resulted in wide-ranging and often confusing opinions. For example, Dr. Charles Ryrie lists eight different definitions for “inspiration.”[v] They are summarized here:

(1)              Ryrie’s definition:

“[B]iblical inspiration is that it is Gods superintendence of the human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error His revelation to man in the words of the original autographs. Several features of the definition are worth emphasizing: (1) God superintended but did not dictate the material. (2) He used human authors and their own individual styles. (3) Nevertheless, the product was, in its original manuscripts, without error.

(2)              Natural Inspiration:

“…the “writers of the Bible were men of great genius, but that their writings were inspired no more than those of other geniuses throughout history.”

(3)               The Mystical or Illuminated view:

“…sees the writers of the Bible as Spirit-filed and guided believers, just as any believer may be even today.”

(4)               Dictation view:

…”verbal inspiration is that it means dictation; that is, the writers were completely passive and God simply dictated to them what was to be recorded. Of course it is true that some parts of the Bible were dictated (like the Ten commandments and the rest of the law),  but [his] definition proposed above incorporates the idea that God allowed the writers varying degrees of self-expression as they wrote.”

(5)               Partial Inspiration views:

“…certain parts of the bible as supernaturally inspired, namely, portions which would otherwise have been unknowable…”

(6)               Concept Inspiration:

 “…only the concepts but not the very words were inspired.”

(7)               Neoorthodox View:

 “…Barthian view…is that the bible is a witness to the Word of God…[and] is full of errors because it is merely the product of fallible writers.”

(8)              Inspired Purpose view:

“…that while the Bible contains factual errors and insoluble discrepancies in its content, it does have “doctrinal intergrity” and thus accomplishes perfectly God’s purpose for it.”

This author submits that every one of these views places a limit upon an Almighty Eternal God who exists as three persons, who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, and who operates inside or outside the laws of nature and physics as we know them. Once again, “inspiration” is a miraculous process that is unexplainable in human terms. Any definition must yield to God’s way of presenting it. It is a miracle. We should recognize and accept it by faith no less than we recognize the virgin birth, the resurrection, the ascension and many other Biblical miracles.

At the suggestion of Dr. Phil Stringer, various common dictionaries[vi] were consulted to see if any commonly used definitions would match the use of “inspiration” in Scripture. This author could not find one dictionary that defined the word “inspiration” according to its Biblical use. What follows is the exegesis and definition of inspiration:

“Inspiration is (1) the miracle whereby the Words of Scripture in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek were (2) God-breathed and “once delivered” using “holy men of God” and their vocabulary, (3) who perfectly recorded them “once” as they were “moved” along by the Holy Spirit (4) in such a way that “all” the Words written are infallible and ierrant in the sixty-six books of the canon of Scripture.”

There were not “dual authors” of the Bible. There was one Author, “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.” (1 Tim. 1:17). A succinct way of stating the same thing is: “The perfect author of the perfect Bible is God.” If stated in this way, one must understand the preceding four points. God did not “breathe-out” (1) an more or any less Words to be recorded as a product of “inspiration” than the canon of Scripture or (2) any translation of the Words into any receptor-language. The Words were “once delivered” by “inspiration” (Jude 3). The King James Bible states it better in a few verses than this author could ever express or sum up the Greek text that underlies it:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Tim. 3:16a) “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needfl for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3 (HDW, my emphasis, note that the word order in Scripture is for emphasis).

The result of inspiration is “revelation” of the “mind” of God in precise, infallible, and inerrant Words that man can understand, which are to act as absolute authority in all that pertains to life. The Words were provided because of God’s grace. Accepting God’s grace through faith leads to salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is th gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8), which results in the indwelling Holy Spirit in this dispensation. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Words for believers. Illumination is another miraculous process that helps sinful man to interpret the Words in context and apply them to life. The result of illumination is complete and utter awe of our Great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is:

“worthy… to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev. 4:11

What follows is an explanation of the Biblical use of “inspiration” in context and an examination of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Preserve the inspired Words for “the saints.” His promise of Preservation is so vast and extensve in Scripture that it cannot be denied except by the unbelief of unregenerate man.

There has not been an attempt to cover every aspect becaus it would take many books. There has been an attempt to repeat and emphasize certain precepts often. There will be no consideration given to the “pagan view,” the “partial view,” natural view, or any view of “inspiration” of Scripture that does not recognize our Great God by His view of Himself presented in the Bible.[vii] The Bible is God’s love letter to man to explain man’s failures and His hope for all men. This work is presented as a polemic for our brothers and sisters to turn to Scripture for understanding “inspiration,” and not rely on what other men say. It is recognized that the word, “inspiration,” is technically difficult to apprehend, but we must try.

Use of the Word “Inspiration” in Scripture

The King James Bible uses the word, “inspiration,” in two places, Job 32:8 and 2 Timothy 3:16. The passage in Job in the Hebrew language indicates that man should be able to “know” and “teach” “wisdom,”[viii] but only the Spirit can teach God’s “wisdom” or “revelation” so that it may be understood spiritually. The receptin and understanding of “revelation” can only be ahieved through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, spiritual ‘things’ can not be received or understood by men, even if they are “aged” or “great men” or “wise” (Job 32:9). The passage indicates that the Words of Scripture given by “inspiration,” which is “wisdom,” are received by certain men to be recorded for us. The men selected to record them are without consideration of being “aged” or “great” (Acts 10:34). Subsequently, their full understanding must come from God, the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul recorded similar Words in Greek informing us that he was instructed and taught to “speak…words” that are  “spiritual things” by the Holy Ghost. In other words, he received Words (wisdom) from the Holy Spirit which he spoke, taught, and preached and either he or his amanuensis recorded them “once” as they were God-breathed. He said:

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

“Theopneustos” and the Greek onstruction in Context

“All scripture (pasa graphe) is given by inspiration of God (theopneustos), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16) (HDW, my addition).

Second Timothy 3:16 is a very technical verse. It was placed in Scripture to refute those who would claim: (1)only “parts” of the canon of Scripture are inspired, (2) inspred men wrote the words as coauthors, (3) an inspired message was given without regard to precise, perfect, infallible, inerrant Words, or (4) a translation of the God-breathed Words is inspired. In the context of all ofScripture, the God-breathed Words were given “once” by God to man as revelation.

A careful analysis (an exegesis in regard to all of Scripture) of the passage where this verse occurs counters these four false claims. A part of the problem today associated with interpretation of this verse concerns some technical grammatical features that some may not fully understand. First, the phrase translated “by inspiration of God” comes from one Greek word, qeopneusto", theopneustos, which is used in an adjectival position in this verse without the article “the.” If the verse is translated as an attributive adjective with the article (which is not there in the underlying Greek text), then the verb, “is” would be placed after God and would read, “All given by inspiration of God is scripture.” This construction would concur with those who believe only parts of Scripture are inspired. However, the Greek construction is a predicate adjective construction without the article “the,” which requires the verbs “is given” before, qeopneusto",which is appropriately translated syntactically as a prepositional phrase “by inspiration of God.”[ix]

Furthermore, a translation that reads like the NASB, NIV, or NLT such as “All scripture is God-breathed” by this construction leaves the open-ended question of deciding: “What are the God-breathed Words?” For example, “Is a translation called Scripture or the Word of God, in a receptor-language such as English, God-breathed?” or (2) “What parts of Scripture in the canon are inspired?” In other words, a person could again claim only a part of Scripture is God-breathed or a translation of the God-breathed Words are inspired. Only the KJB in context, particularly along with 1 Timothy 3:15, and all of the remainder of Scripture, allows the proper understanding that: all the Scripture (all the God-breathed Words) of the Bible in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words in the sixty-six books of the canon of Scripture “is given by inspiration” and “once delivered”(Jude 1:3) as the prophets and by extension, the Apostles, were “moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pe. 1:21).

Explanation of “Moved” in 2 Peter 1:21

The word, “moved,” is from the Greek Word, phero, which in this verse is synonymous with being driven or being led by the Holy Spirit. Pastor D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D., gives this excellent explanation of “moved” in 2 Pe. 1:21:

“The definition of "moved" as used in 2 Peter 1:21 is the following. Of the 18 times the word, "moved," is used in the New Testamnt, the Greek Word underlying it in 2 Peter 1:2 is unique. The word translated "moved" in this verse is PHERO. It means many things, but the specific meaning in this verse is "to carry or move along as a sail boat is moved or carried by the wind." The meaning of PHERO is furthr illustrated in Acts 27. As in Acts 27:15 "And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive." PHERO is the word which is used here. The ship was unable to be controlled either by the rudder or by the sails. It was at the mercy of this powerful wind and was simply "carried or borne along." Again in Acts 27:17, "Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven." The Word which is used is PHERO. In this case, they "strake sail" and "were driven, carried, or borne along" by this fierce wind, totally unable to do anything in order to control the ship. In Acts 27:27, "But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; " In the words, "we were driven up and down" the word used is DIAPHERO which is a compound of PHERO. The ship was "driven, carried, or borne along" by that strong wind. The meaning of "moved (PHERO) by the Holy Ghost" in 2 Peter 1:21, is graphically illustrated by the account of the tempetuous storm described in Acts 27 where that little ship was under the complete control of that moving wind.”[x]

Explanation of 2 Timothy 3:15

In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul is referring to copies of the canon of the Old Testament in Hebrew and Aramaic that were Preserved to the “jot and tittle” (apographs) and were available to Timothy for salvation. Then, he explains in verse 3:16 why the canon of Scripture was preserved in copies and available for salvation. The reason is because “all” the Words of Scripture in the original languaes are God-Breathed (autographs) by a iraculous process. The Words were not God-breathed in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, etc., but were God-breathed in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Theologians call this “verbal, plenary inspiration,” which refers to all the Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek “given by inspiration of God” and “once delivered.” It is a miraculous process. Some men claim only parts of the Bible are “given by inspiration of God.” The Scripture does not indicate anywhere or in any part that the Words are limited or restricted in any sense. As a matter of fact, the Apostles, prophets, and our Lord’s own Words affirm the verbal, plenary “inspiration” of the canon of Scripture, which cannot be explained in this short work. There are many works available that link other passages in Scripture to the doctrine of “inspiration” and preservation.

One of our present day scholars, Dr. D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D., confirms these doctrines in his many works and a scholar in the past, Dean John William Burgon, affirms them also. In Dean Burgon’s book, Inspiration and Interpretation, written in 1861, he said:

“But this day’s Sermon,…has had for its object to remind you, that THE BIBLE is none other than the voice of Him that sitteth upon the Throne!  Every Book of it,—every Chapter of it,—every Verse of it,—every word of it,—every syllable of it,—(where are we to stop?)—every letter of it—is the direct utterance of the Most High! Pasa graphé theopneustos. “Well spake the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of” the many blessed Men who rote it.—The Bible is none other than the Word of God: not some part of it, more, some part of it, less; but all alike, the utterance of Him who sitteth upon the Throne;--absolute,--faultless,--unerring,--supreme![xi]

“Inspiration” of the Words is complete, full, and perfect. Furthermore, the doctrine of verbal, plenary “inspiration” has been the dogma in the church since the early post-Apostolic era (q.v.).[xii] All the Words in the passage, 2 Timothy 3:15-16, influence this conclusion when compared to each other and to the context of the whole Bible. Again, the unparalleled equivalent translating over a total of 7 years[xiii] by the King James Bile translators is seen by their precise handling of these verses through the method of verbal, plenary, formal, equivalent translating. The task of translating is not easy and can not be done quickly. The method and art of translating must be carefully performed. It requires great meditation, prayer, MANY “counsellers,” knowledge of cultures and languages, patience, longsuffering, money, and time. It is hard work that must be done diligently, throughly, and conscientiously.

Pasa Means “All,” Not “Every”

The Greek pa?sa (pasa) translated “all,” is used with an anarthrous (without an article such as “the”) Greek noun, grafh> (graphé), which is translated “scripture.”[xiv] It is well documented that this construction is translated “all” and not “every” (see Mat. 3:15, Acts 2:36, 7:22, Col. 4:12).[xv] Young’s Literal Translation, The Amplified Bible, and Darby’s Translation inappropriately transate pasa as “every.” The translations using “every” leave the door open for man to select what is, or is not, considered Scripture.

The Greek Word, Graphe, Means the Writings

Graphe is a technical word which is used to refer to the writings of Scripture, not the writers (cf. Jn. 5:39, Acts 17:2 Rom. 1:2 with Mat. 21:42, Jn. 13:18, Gal. 4:30). You cannot have writings without Words. In 2 Timothy 3:15, the Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, uses the Greek word, grammata (grammata) in a phrase: “he hagia grammata,” which is translated “the holy scriptures.” Grammata refers to he temple’s copies or apographs of the Old Testamet Scriptures to the “jot and tittle.” The Greek word, graphe, in 2 Tim. 3:16 refers to the autographs or the original Words in Hebrew and Aramaic.[xvi] The passage is clear that the Old Testament Words “given by inspiration of God” in the autographs were still present in the Apostolic era as apographs. By extension, and by the acknowledgement in Scripture by the Apostles and prophets that their Words were Scripture, the New Testament Greek text is included also (q.v.).

Some authors conclude that Timothy used Greek translations of the Old Testament and more specifically the Septuagint. This can not be substantiated. First, Timothy’s mother was a Jew. Jewish mothers exerted a great influence in the home. Jews characteristically learned the Jewish language and Greek during the Apostolic era. Also, Timothy traveled with Paul, who visited Jewish synagogues. Surely, the “Law” was read from the Torah in Hebrew. For anyone to claim that Timothy did not know Hebrew and read only “copies” of the Greek translation in order to attribute” inspiration” to translations in the meaning and exegesis of 2 Timothy 2:15-16, is pushing history and accuracy of facts. Furthermore, if the Septuagint (LXX) existed as a complete translation of the Old Testament, and it probably did not, it was a VERY poor paraphrase, which Paul would have known.[xvii] 

Dean John William Burgon succinctly points out that in 2 Timothy 3:16 there is no Greek eta, (H) between pasa and graphe. The significance is ‘that’ the word “that,” if an eta were present, would be placed in the verse to read: “All Scripture that is given…” Burgon said:

“St. Paul does not say that the whole of Scripture, collectively, is inspired. More than that: what he says is, that every writing,—every several book of those i[era< gra<mmata, or Holy Scriptures, in which Timothy had been instructed from his childhood,—is inspired by God…St. Paul is careful to remind us that every Book in the Bible is an inspired Book.[xviii]

These very purposeful technical verses, 2 Timothy 3:15-16, were given to Paul to record. They ae carefully constructed verses by the Holy Spirit to defend the verbal (Words), plenary (all the Words), inspiration of Scripture given in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek as “the foundation” (i.e. translations of those Words are not the foundation). The understanding of the technical verses, 2 Timothy 3:15-16, in English, Spanish, German, etc. cannot be garnered without the understanding an comprehension of the original inspired Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Preserved by our God. The original Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that lie behind the King James Bible are Preserved so that we might have recourse to them as a “foundation.”

The Process and Product of Inspiration

The “process” of inspiration, the receiving of the God-breathed Words by the Apostles and prophets, is poorly understood by many of the saints because none of us has ever received “inspired” Words of God to be recorded as Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pe. 1:19-21, 3:2, Eph. 2:20) through the miraculous process of “inspiration.” The “product” of inspiration is obvious; it is the original Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek recorded by te Apostles and prophets. It is the end result o the miracle of “inspiration” and is a part of “inspiration.” In addition, inspiration and Preservation are about the Words, because:

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words (given by inspiration) shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 (HDW, my addition).

The end result of “inspiration” will be a message, but a specific message, resulting from specific, miraculous, perfect Words received to be recorded in sixty-six books, “once delivered.” The conclusion of the miraculous process ended with the recording of the Words “given by inspiration of God.” “Inspiration” does not extend to providential preservation r to translating the Words, but certainly these two aspects are linked to:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in th name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

The product of “inspiration” is not a translation into the receptor-languages of the world. This can easily be demonstrated by examination of various translations throughout the centuries. They are not perfect. For exampe, the Syriac Peshetta is a translation that is based upon the TR/TT. In 1 Timothy 3:16 in several Syriac versions it has “he was manifest in the flesh” instead of “God was manifest in the flesh.” In one translation, it has the following:

“and truly great, is this mystery o righteousness, which was revealed in the flesh, and justified in the spirit, and seen by angels, and proclaimed among the Gentiles, and believed on in the world, and received up into glory.” (The Syriac New Testament, Murdock Translation,[xix] 1 Tim. 3:16)

This translation is from the 9th edition in 1915 of James Murdock, D. D. from 1893. Which edition is “inspired”? Of course, none of them are “inspired” and it is insulting to the people of other recepor-languages to claim that the only English King James Bible is doubly or derivatively “given by inspiration of God” (q.v.), although its accuracy and faithfulness is inferior to no other translation.

We Accept by Faith the Miraculous Process of Inspiration

We must accept by faith the poclamations of Scripture concerning the reception and recording of special revelation “given by inspiration of God” to God’s prophets and Apostles. The corollary doctrine of Preservation goes hand in hand with “inspiration” (Psa. 12:6-7, 1 Pe. 1:23-25, etc.). No amount of jockeying the context of many passages by some exegetes will “cast behind” anyone’s back the outcome of “inspiration” (Neh. 9:26; that is, the Truth, which is the “jot and tittle” recording o the Words and subsequently their Preservation. Theories must be cast aside! God did not try to hide the message only to be understood by mystics, ‘scholars,’ or teachers. The plan of God that the literal plain interpretation of Scripture is intended cannot be denied.

“therefore, the literal method must be accepted as the basic method for the right interpretation in any field of doctrine today.”[xx]

Other “literal” verses teach the process of “inspiration” as men were “moved by the Holy Ghost” to record the Words in the autographa, the Words on the original manuscripts, which is the product of “inspiration.” The following verses confirm that the Scriptures are the “literal” Words of God received by the Apostles and prophets from the Holy Spirit, not their intrpretation of the Words.

“knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20 ““For the rophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

Paul records his knowledge that the Words he recorded were inspired and that their source was the Holy Spirit. He said:

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with piritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13).

Peter identifies the Words given to Paul by the Holy Spirit to record as Scripture. He said:

“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter3:16).

We find the OT prophets were repeatedly commanded to record the inspired Words describing a vision, commands, dream, etc. (Ex. 17:14, 34:1, 27, Deut. 10:2, Jer. 30:2, Hab. 2:2). Many excellent books relate the overwhelming references in Scripture to the doctrines of inspiration and preservation.

The Model For Making Copies

The model for Preservation of the inspired Words is also included in the Bible. God made the first copy of His inspired Words. He copied the exact same Words that were on the first tablet containing the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:1). He also commanded Jeremiah to make a copy of the exact Words He gave him to record in the scroll that King Jehoiakim destroyed by cutting with a penknife and then burning the manuscript (Jer. 36ff).

Many good theologians do not express “inspiration” completely, which includes the process of inspiration as well as the product of inspiration. This leaves the door open for people to declare God has preserved His message, but not every precise Word perfectly; that is, to the “jot and tittle”.

The Influence of Higher and Lower Criticism

The erosion of belief in the orthodox doctrine of “inspiration” by (1) the apostate and heretical higher and lower modern critics along with (2) the almost universal acceptance of evolution has almost led to total abandonment of the doctrine of perfect “inspiration” and preservation. For example, the almost universal acceptance of the theory of evolution has led most institutions of higher learning, including established biblical schools, to view the Genesisaccount of creation and miracles as myth or allegory Charles F. Kraft said:

“Clearly, then, the Book of Genesis is a remarkable combination of ancient folklore, tradition, custom, myth”…Is the astounding story of the marriage of the ‘sons of God’ and the ‘daughters of men’ not ancient folklore to explain the origin of giants, ‘Nephilim,” on the earth in prehistoric time…?”[xxi]

Modernists such as Kraft, Bruce Metzger, and many others cast theories such as the JEDP Theory,[xxii] which is also known as the Graf/Wellhausen Theory, before students and pompously claim that they are true Furthermore, as neo-evangelicalism,[xxiii] which started with Fuller University in California, Christianity Today, and Billy Graham, spread through our universities and schools in the mid-twentieth century, the doctrine of inspiration was softened or rejected. Subsequently, the emerging church arose andmen began to latch onto and promote the claims that (1) only certain parts of Scripture were important to emphasize, or (2) that the Scriptures were only a part of the revelation, the other part being a literal hearing of God’s voice. In other words, personal communication with a believer was as important as Scripture and could act as revelation. They seemed to forget:

“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 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:” 2 Peter 1:18-19 (HDW, my emphasis).

These tenets would eventually lead to the apostate postmodern emerging church’s false approach to evangelism and the Biblical doctrines of church administration and organization.[xxiv] Included i postmodern theology is a rejection of the omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God of the Bible in favor of a god who is ever learning. Obviously, the Biblical doctrine of “inspiration” can not stand or be tolerated in such an environment.[xxv]

Furthermore, many men are couching their definition of inspiration by oloring or altering what they mean by inspiration, because:

“We must warn that many today who use the term inspiration, and who speak of an inspired Bible, do not necessarily mean that the Bible is the absolutely perfect Word of God…Dr. David O. Beale, in writing of the doctrinal battles which are raging in the Southern Baptist Convention, speaks of the deceptiveness of those who use the term "infallible Bible" apart from a historical definition of such:

“The doctrinal guideline for the [Southern Baptist] Peace Committee is the Baptist Faith and Message, a statement of faith adoptd by the SBC in 1925 and revised in 1963. Article one of the statement says that the Bible HAS truth, without any mixture of error.' Fundamentalists, to the contrary, have always maintained that the Bible IS `truth, without any mixture of error.' One can readily see that the Baptist Faith and Message is actually a protector of liberals, who would of course agree that truth has no mixture of error. That is a far cry from asserting the Bible is totally and absolutely inerrant. Much more significant, however, is the fact that liberals are being acknowledged as conservatives, simply because they use the word `inerrant' to describe the Bible. Actually, they are using what Francis A. Schaeffer called `a new loophole.' They readily use the word inerrancy, but they do not define the word in its historic, orthodox sense. Says Schaeffer, `There are those within evangelicalism who are quite happy to use the words "infallibility," "inerrancy," and "without error," but upon careful analysis they really mean something quite different from what these words have meant to the church historically' (Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster, p. 56). The use of these words will, no doubt, save the jobs of many SBC seminary professors. A recent article in SBC Today describes at least six different current usages of the word inerrancy: critical inerrancy, limited inerrancy, qualified inerrancy, nuanced inerrancy, functional inerrancy, and absolute inerrancy. Only the last one is the orthodox view, but liberals often do not explain their own use of the word (Beale, "The Southern Baptist Convention's Ongoing Battle," The Baptist Bulletin, Sept. 1986).” [xxvi]

Overreaction to Extreme Beliefs

In reaction to these attacks and many more, an attempt to counter them has been made by good soldiers of the Lord. This author believes that some good men have gone too far in opposing these scurrilous attacks. They have erred by going beyond the Biblical definition in an attempt to defend the “inspiration” of Scripture. This author understands the displeasure directed toward obviously unregenerate men who have done much to usher this age toward the days of Armageddon. However, we mst not overreact to the point that sanctfied believers add to the Scripture what is not revealed.

We plead for calmness, peace, civility, and patience among brothers in Christ as we work through the differences and the discussions of the issues surrounding “inspiration” of the Words of God” over the next few years. There is much material on the subject of “inspiration” in the literature that extends from the early post-Apostolic era to the present age. We could not in one lifetime review it all.

Our plea is that men who have held certain positions will not be insulted or believe that THEY are being attacked. However, there are positions that are untenable according to Scripture such as: (1) no part of Scripture is inspired, (2) parts of scripture are inspired, or (3) a translation is inspired. In case number three, perhaps it is a matter of definition, but if so, it causes confusion. We do not claim to have all the answers. We do claim that the answers are in Scripture, but as sinners, none of us always see clearly on this side of glory. We do not claim that every word written in this document will be understood the same by the author and by those reading it. Anyone who has written anything for public review will attest to the difficulty of covering “all the bases.” But, the author would very much appreciate feedback and comments.

Therefore, in an attempt to assuage disagreements and accusations, certain words must be defined as documented above so that the author and reader are hopefully ‘on the same page.’ Certainly, it is difficult to express all that needs to be said in a brief work. Thousands of pages would be necessary. It is this author’s primary hope that how he uses certain words will help toward the mark of “unity” concerning the proper use of “inspiration.” Our aim as believers is not to please others, but to honour and glorify our Lord and His matchless Words that determine “the faith”  “once delivered” by “inspiration” “unto the saints” (Jude 3).

A Few Definitions

(1) In this work, “inspiration” means “God-breathed” from the Greek word theopneustos (2 Tim. 3:16). It was a miraculous process that resulted in a miraculous product that has not been duplicated since the Scriptures were completed with the recording of the Words of the book of Revelation. The Words originally given in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to selected, special “holy men of God” to record were “God-breathed.” They are perfect as defined in this work (q.v.).

(2) Idealism means ‘belie in perfection’ of men orthe products of men.

(3) Perfection or perfect[xxvii] IN THIS WORK means without sin, incapable of error of any sort, faultless, infallible, pure, without blemish, without spot, or without ANY contamination and therefore, complete. This author believes that such strong terms as these should only be applied theologically to God and His God-breathed Words. Otherwise, calling something “perfect” may cause someone to claim man or something produced by man is equal to: (A) Our “perfect,” sinless God who only could act as the “perfect,” “without blemish,” and “without spot” “Lamb of God;” or (B) His “inspired” infallible Words, which were given “once” to man by “inspiration” as a perfect “foundation” for ever.

(a) In the King James Bible, perfect may mean complete or undefiled in the sense of “without spot,” “without blemish,” incapable of error, or sinless, as in Deut. 32:4, Psa. 18:30, James 1:17.

(b) In many other places, the context demands a sense of sinful man being complete, mature, or whole as in 2 Timothy 3:17, but retaining the capacity for sinning or of being influenced by sin. Paul clearly relates that he had not reached perfection, and if the great Apostle Paul had not, others have not either (Phil. 3:12).

(c) In the writings of some authors, perfect often means complete or mature or based upon the proper textual source, but that is not the way perfect is defined in this work.

(4) Plenary means “all” or complete and full and not limited in any respect.

(5) Infallible means incapable of error.

(6) Inerrant simply means without error or mistake. We hesitate to use this strong word for the King James Bible because of various revisions over the years; although this author believes the translating of the King James Bible by the guidance of the Holy Spirit was without any translational errors. But it had mistakes in printing, orthography, etc. (see below), which seems to be the plague of this author and others.

(7) Verbal means the words. Therefore, verbal, plenary simply means “all the words.”

(8) Formal means a noun is translated for a noun, a verb for a verb, a pronoun for a pronoun, etc. so far as syntax of a language-group will allow.

(9) Equivalence = corresponds, sameness (meaning of a word) (e.g. a dozen is equivalent to twelve). This is synonymous translating. For example, there may be 7 or 8 synonymous receptor-language words, but only one was chosen to translate an original-language Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek Word. Equal implies exactly the same. Translations are not equal to the “once delivered” Words “given by inspiration of God.”

(10) Equal = the same, identical (word)(e.g. twelve = twelve).

(11) Error = mistake, blunder, inaccuracy, inexactness, confusion by disagreement of parts of Scripture; the antonym is accuracy.

(12) Translations vary depending on the method chosen to translate (e.g. verbal, formal equivalent (FE) versus dynamic equivalent (DE) or interpretive translating). The words chosen by man to translate the original ‘received’ inspired Words in the original-languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek may be accurate, faithful, and without translational errors if they are translated by FE, but the words may not be perfect as defined in this work secondary to four reasons:

(1) Printing mistakes;

(2) Orthographic mistakes;

(3) Words chosen to translate an original-language word accurately and faithfully can be considered without error, but not so perfect that another word might not possibly be used (see equivalence above). This is synonymous translating, which may or may not be accurate, because all synonyms do not carry the same signification. The King James Bible translators were superior skilled linguists, but they expressed the possibility that another word with the same “sense” (e.g. a synonym) might be possible to use in translating an “inspired” Word and even included some of them in the margin of the KJB.[xxviii] In an accurate, faithful translation in any language, a synonym substitution or change could be found to be better in future revisions. This is the reason for some revisions. This author does not know of ANY translation that has not undergone either a revision or another edition.[xxix]

(4) The rules of grammar when translating to properly express the meaning may vary from the original-language texts (Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek) to the receptor-language (English, Spanish, etc.). For example, a particle may be translated as an imperative as in Mat. 28:20. This is in contrast to the original Words ‘received’ “once” because they were perfect in every sense, grammar included. God gave them perfectly the first time they were recorded as revelation by the Apostles and prophets to act as a “foundation.” An accurate and faithful translation that is without translational errors may be called the Word of God in English, Spanish, French, Latin, etc., but it is not the inspired Word of God, which was given “once” and should not be referred to as inspired or given by inspiration because of the confusion it generates.

Lastly, before a translation is released to the public, those responsible for a translation should be as certain as possible that it is correct. It should not be subjected to constant or frequent manipulation by revisions or editions. This causes confusion comparable to the multiple modern version fiasco. The properly translated KJB words should never be changed for these reasons in addition to the fact that it is an unparalleled English work in history.

Please refer back to these definitions as this sinner saved by grace tries to offer a clear explanation of a topic that is separating many good and godly men, which should not be the case. Brothers and sisters in Christ should be unified (Eph. 4:11-16). Many acknowledge the extreme difficulty of expressing spiritual things with words and therefore must receive the incredible gift of God’s Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek as being superior to any word chosen by man.

The Words chosen by man to translate God’s Words into a laguage-group may be watched over by God the Holy Spirit, but the idea that those words, which are chosen by man, are perfect (as defined in this work) or equal to the inspired Words is untenable. The Scripture given in the original Words is God-breathed by a miraculous process. The Holy Spirit’s superintendence of a translation is no different than His assistance to sanctified pastors, missionaries, evangelists, teachers or saints preaching the Words of God. Hopefully, no individual attributes perfection, as it is defined in this work, to his preaching. However, the preaching of God’s Words may be accurate, faithful, complete, mature, and without interpretive or translational mistakes or problems of application. If so, that kind of preaching can be called “preaching the Words of God.” Anyone who has taught or preached knows that occasionally a wrong word or reference or similar is spoken, but it does not negate the other parts. This is similar to a printing or spelling error in a translation. The mistakes, like a printing mistake, do not negate the rest of the work or the preaching. The preaching or work can still be said to be accurate, faithful, and without translational or interpretive mistakes. However, it is not perfection as defined in this work. To hold a man preaching or a translation to such a high standard would be to insist that he is inspired, perfect, or breathing out words like God is capable of doing. Who has not made a slip of the tongue or wrongly quoted a verse. Man is not inspired and the words he speaks or writes are not inspired or perfect. Do any of you who are pastors, teachers, missionaries, or evangelists make the claim of perfection or inspiration for or of yourself or of the words you speak? Yet, you have often chosen words that translate or interpret the Words of God. Since you were called of God to your ministry, your preaching and teaching is superintended by God and you may be preaching or teaching the Words of god in English, or Spanish, or French, etc., but not inspired (God-breathed). Without a doubt, the blessings of God on the plenary, accurate, faithful, without translational errors King James Bible can be called the Words of God in English. I do not see how this could be denied. These concepts will be explained and repeated several times throughout this work and this author prays for understanding by the readers.

A Glimpse at History

The doctrine of verbal plenary “inspiration” has been one of the most widely held doctrines down through the centuries. Some men have tried to make the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration a recent development. This claim can not be substantiated. Writing in the nineteen-fifties, Dr. R. Laird Harris said that there are those who claim that the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration is:

“a recent growth, the product of the Hodge-Warfield-Machen School of Princeton Seminary.”[xxx]

The doctrine of “inspiration” is not “a recent growth” or claim about the Bible (q.v.). However, there is a battle raging today about the meaning of “inspiration,” a Biblical term. We are not talking about the common secular meaning of inspiration or inspired such as motivation, enthused, insight, moved, and similar things.

Where did this modern battle concerning Biblical “inspiration” begin? The most serious attacks orignated in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Men began to widely publish the heretical theories of higher and lowe criticism from ‘scholars’ and universities such as the school located in Tubingen, Germany. They were encouraged by the humanistic work, On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin released in 1859. Anglican churchmen, Westcott and Hort, were particularly influenced by the work, which they believed could “not be answered.”

After lower and higher textual critics like Westcott and Hort influenced the Committee of the Southern Convocation of the Anglican Church and numerous ‘scholars’ all over the world and particularly in America, Pandora’s box of evil was opened. The attacks on “inspiration” intensified. The attempts to hold the assault in check would fail. The wounds from the attack were particularly evident in the Presbyterian denomination.

A Pivotal Point in the Battle For Biblical Inspiration

In the early nineteen hundreds, one group in the Presbyterian Church defended the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). They asserted that the doctrine of verbal inspiration had been held by the saints in sanctified churches since Apostolic times. They wanted churches to affirm (1) the inerrancy of Scripture, (2) the virgin birth and deity of Jesus Christ, (3) the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, (4) the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and (5) the authenticity of miracls. A second group, which produced the Auburn Affirmation in 124, challenged the “Westminster” group’s right to impose the five “fundamentals.” The Auburn group argued that the Bible is not “an infallible guide” and that the “Westminster Standards” did not teach inerrancy of the Scriptures. The battle seems to have begun in the two influential seminaries of Auburn and Princeton. Phillip Schaff and C. A. Briggs of Princeton were apparently the instigators. Schaff wrote:

“the theory of a literal inspiration and inerrancy was not held by the Reformers.”[xxxi]

Of course, this is not true, nor is it true of the early church. The early church elder writings, as we shall demonstrate, as well as the WCF, speak about: (1) “infallible truth,” (2) “nothing at any time is to be added” to the Scriptures, (3) the authority of Scripture “depends upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; and therefore is to be received, because it is the Word of God.” In other words, the Scriptures are God-breathed (Greek, theoneustos), the biblical definition of inspiration. The WCF speaks of the:

“consent of all the arts,” “The Old Testament in Hebrew…and the New Testament in Greek…being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical…the Church is finally to appeal unto them.”

Three to four hundred years ago the claims of modern textual critics were in their infancy and were nowhere near the intensity of the attacks today. The alleged serious questions and conflicts of science and historical accuracy over the Bible had not yet arisen. Before these attacks began in th modern era, the authors spoke about:

“the infallible truth” of the Word of God and this should be sufficient. “Inerrant” means “without mistake”; infallible means “incapable of error.” It is actually a stronger word”[xxxii]

Similarly, the author of tis work who defends the King James Bible (KJB), believes that the KJB is without translational errors. It does not contain any errors or contradictions as a result of translating. It does contain those mistakes of printing and spelling in the various editions so common in any product produced by man. The King James Bible does not cotain any errors or mistakes or conflicts in its parts because it is an accurate and faithful translation of the infallible, inerrant Preserved Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words “given by inspiraton of God” by the method of formal, plenary, verbal, word-for-word translating. However, men are capable of error. Therefore, care must be exercised in calling any translation of the Bible infallible (incapable of error), or inerrant (without any errors), which are strong words by definition. Similarly, we must be careful calling a translation “given by inspiration of God” or “inspired” because of its Biblical definition. At the same time, we must understand:

“that the original writers of Scripture were “indued with the infallible Spirit” and “might not err.”[xxxiii] (HDW, my emphasis, indued means endowed, indue is now spelled endue).

In contrast, the apocryphal books are viewed by the WCF as mere “human writings,” which are filled with errors (q.v.); therefore, they are not inerrant or infallible. Martin Luther did not accept the Apocrypha as canonical. Many authors before and after him also agreed. Similarly, many authors before and after Luther agree on the doctrine of “inspiration” espoused b the Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact:

“The earliest writers know no other doctrine.”[xxxiv]

Clement of Rome (c. died 101 A.D.) quoted from the Old Testament and attributesthe Words “to God, Christ, or the Holy Ghost.”[xxxv] Clement said:

“Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them.”[xxxvi] (HDW, my emphasis)

From Clement on, the writers such as Ignatius (martyred c. 117 AD), Polycarp (c. 69-155), Tertullian (160-220 AD), Hippolytus (170-236 AD), nd MANY others have affirmed these same beliefs about “inspiraton” of Scripture. In essence, the Words are God-breathed; they are “without error in any part;” “they are infallible;” “the recorders have not erred;” andsimilar expressions. By the mid-nineteen hundreds, most universities and even seminaries had fallen under the spell of higher and lower critical theories. For example, Reinhold Niebuhr, a professor at Unio Theological Seminary in New York, Wilhelm Pauck, a teacher at the Chicago Theological Seminary, E. C. Homrighausen of Princeton University, Edwin Lewis of Drew Theological Seminary, John Sutherland Bonnell, a Presbyterian minister of note, and G. Bromley Oxnam, a Methodist, began producing works denying inspiration or asserting claims such as:

“the view that the Bible is infallible has largely died out among informed Protestants” and “except for a minority, Presbyterians do not believe in the literal inerrancy of the Scriptures” and “the virgin birth is not used as a test of orthodoxy in receiving new members or in ordaining ministers and elders” and “With few exceptions…do not interpret the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed ‘the resurrection of the body’ as meaning the physical body.”[xxxvii]

The doctrine of verbal “inspiration” was then on the chopping block. Attacks from every angle were intiated. For example, inspiration was attacked from the position that it precluded the use of non-inspired documents such as genealogical records. Inspiration does not preclude that “homework” could not have been done by the Apostles and prophets prior to receiving the Words “given by inspiration of God.” In other words, the Holy Spirit may have placed the desire in the Apostles and prophets to study documents, to speak with elders in the nation Israel, to seek out witnesses as the physician Luke did, and other comparable “homework” assignments before receiving by “inspiration” the precise, pure, perfect, infallible, inerrant, God-breathed Words.

The Depravity of Man

The Bible makes it clear that man is not perfect and cannot be perfect in this present world. Man is depraved (Jer. 17:9). This aspect of man is often called the “old man.” After salvation and regeneration of the spiritual part of man by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the “old man” is still present and battles with the “spiritual man.” The Apostle Paul acknowledged this battle (Rom. 7). Not only that, the Bible makes it clear that it is possible for man to change God’s “judgments,” which were given by “inspiration,” ino “gall” (i. e. depravity, Je. 8:14, Am. 6:12, Acts 8:23). The great preachers of this age such a Spurgeon, Edwards, Whitefield and others drove these facts home. They were preaching the Words of God accurately and faithfully. In these days, there is far too much “gall” (depravity) in preaching and in modern versions because they have not translated, interpreted, and applied the Preserved Words of God “given by inspiration of God” in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek by the method given in Scripture, word-for-word translating using the syntax of a receptor-language.

It seems that many of us do not get this message and believe that man is perfect after salvation. He is not. A man may be complete and faithful by being in Christ, but he is not perfect as defined in this work. He can do good things if he “walks in the Spirit” and follows the revealed will of God given by “inspiration” and properly translated and interpreted. This is an important message, because if man is not perfect (in contrast to the spotless Lamb of God), then he cannot cause or bring about something perfect. In order to do good as defined in Scripture, a man must “walk in the Spirit” by allowing the indwelling Spirit to direct him by the Words of God. Therefore, if a translator follows the method of translating given by God, which the KJB translators did, he will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce a translation that can be called the Words of God and without translational errors. Thus, the King James Bible is complete, accurate and faithful to the Words of God and can be said to be the Words of God in English without error, but this author does not believe it can be called inspired or God-breathed by derivative inspiration or given by double inspiration. Inspiration was a miraculous process that delivered the Words “once.” (q.v.).

Humanistic Idealism

In the modern age, there is a large segment of academia that is touting “humanistic idealism” (perfection) which is ‘one hundred and eighty degrees in the opposite direction’ from Biblical idealism or perfection. Many are falling into the trap. The Bible declares man is not perfect as defined in this work. Secular or humanistic idealism is the sine qua non (Latin, absolute essential) of the atheistic Humanist Manifesto:

“Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsiblity to lead ethical lives o personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.”[xxxviii] (HDW, my emphasis).

But like most documents of man, the original Humanist Manifesto has undergone three revisions.[xxxix] Therefore, man’s “idealism” fails immediately. The humanist responds to this obvious contradiction by stating that man is “evolving” and once he is freed from the shackles of religion, man will progress toward an “ideaist” state. The thinking of the humanist can be seen in the recent Christmas sign placed next to a nativity scene at the state of Washington’s capital. The sign states:

“At this season of the winter solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens our hearts and enslaves our mind.”

Without a doubt, this statement is filled with hate and animosity toward God (Psa. 53). It is the hope of the atheist to remove any authority of a supreme being. This is the idealism (belief in perfection) of humanists.

The Believer’s Idealism:  Inspiration

In contrast, the idealism of believers is based upon the assurance of our“hope” by the revelation of God the Father in “the great God and our Saviour,” Jesus Christ, and by His revealed will received by “inspiration” (Jn. 14:10, 2 Tim. 3:16, Tit. 2:13); not by words breathed-out by man. The perfect,pure, inspired, infallible, inerrant (without error), eternal Words of God, were given “once” (Jude 3). They were given “once” in perfection by “inspiration” (2 Tim. 3:16). They will never need revision as any work ofman would need. Translations of God’s Words unergo frequent revision of the words and cannot be declared “given by inspiration,” which by definition means infallible (incapable of error) and inerrant (without any error.) If words are “given by inspiration of God,” they would not require editing or revision because of the specific Biblical definition of a technical biblical term, “inspiration.” The Holy Spirit, who is incapable of error because He is God, gave the Words. Dr. Harry E. Carr states it this way:

“By inspiration, we mean the Holy Spirit selected each human author of the Scriptures and superintended them so that the writing was according to their personality and style, thus enabling them to record, without error, the Word of God. The word inspiration means God breathed.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16

“This indicates the method of transmission overseen by the Holy Spirit.

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but hol men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21

“The Scriptures are “God breathed”, which means that their source is God. Holy men of God wrote them as the Holy Spirit directed them. Each and every word of the Scripture is inspired.”[xl] (HDW, my emphasis)

This is the true “ideal” that man needs to follow. The God-breathed Words of God are true perfection; they are without spot or blemish, incapable of containing any error, and are without error. But, NO translation of the Scriptures has ever been perfect, incapable of error, or without error of any sort from the very first edition or in any subsequent revision. There are a few translations which meet certain criteria, such as the proper text and the proper method of translating the perfect Words of God, that can be declared to be accurate, faithful, and without translaional error, which is accurate and faithful synonymous translating by word-for-word FE translating, but man cannot declare that they were “given by “inspiration of God” or perfect as defined in this work. The Words of God given by “inspiration” as the “foundation” of our faith were given “once” without error or capable of error.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3 (HDW, my emphasis)

Men That Deny the Words “Once Delivered” and Preserved

In order to defend various positions (q.v. below), some individuals will immediately reply that we do not have any originals and we do not have any “perfect” copy of any of the original books of the Bible and therefore the Words in the copies cannot be declred inspired. For example, Dr. William W. Combs, Academic Dean of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary wrongly reports:

“It is the original text (words, script, autograph—graphe, 2 Tim 3:16) that partakes of inspiration proper. All other texts, copies, eproductions, translations, and versions partake of inspirationin an indirect, linear fashion from previous copies and translations to the extent that they reproduce the text of the original manuscripts. We hold that only the autographs of Scripture are inerrant and that copies and translations of Scripture are inerrant insofar as they are true to the inerrant autographs. Thus any translation or version of Scripture in any language is the Wod of God if it accurately reproduces what is in the original manuscripts.

“Thus, our Seminary statement limits inspiration primarily to the original manuscripts.”[xli]

Surely, he realizes the doctrine of “inspiration” cannot be separated from the doctrine of Preservation. The problem with this statement, which is similar to the proclamations of many authors, is the failure to identify: (1) which text is the specific, inspired Preserved (capital “P”) Words of God, and (2) which specific translation(s) is or are the preserved (small “p”) Words of God. His fear must be the ridicule by other ‘scholars’ for maintaining that God fulfilled His promises of Preservation. If God did not fulfill his promise of Preservation, then the authority of God in all mtters pertaining to life is moot. Many ‘scholars’ and Bible teachers proclaim that there are thousands of errors in the Received Text/Traditional Preserved Text. Have they not understood the words of ‘scholars’ far better trained, such as Dean John William Burgon, Edward Hills, D. A. Waite, Herman Hoskier, and others? For example, Dr. Hills said:[xlii]

“The texts of the several editions of the Textus Receptus were God-guided. They were set up under the leading of God’s special providence. Hence the differences between them were kept down to a minimum. But these disagreements were not eliminated altogether, for this would require not merely providential guidance but a miracle. In short, God chose to preserve the New Testament text providentially rather than miraculously, and this is why even the several editions of the Textus Receptus vary from each other slightly. But what do we do in these few places in which the several editions of theTextus Receptus disagree with one another? Which text do we follow? The answer to this question is easy. We are guided by the common faith. Hence we favor that form of the Textus Receptus upon which more than any other God, working providentially, has placed the stamp of His approval, namely, the King James Version, or, more precisely, the Greek text underlying the King James Version.”[xliii]

The Words underlying the King James Bible is where we find the immutable, inspired, infallible, inerrant, Preserved Words of God. If Dr. Combs cannot identify these two texts, he cannot tell his students where the Words of God are to be found in the original and where the most accurate and faithful translation of them in English is located that can be called the Words of God in English (or any language). This is a significant failure of a teacher because the student will not have complete confidence in his Bible, nor will the student be convinced of a firm unchanging “foundation” that is is absolute authority (Psa. 11:3). In essence, Dr. Combs is essentially leaving the Words of God in “cyberspace” or in “all” the manuscripts. He has failed to confirm our Lord’s promise to His students that:

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6-7) “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 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: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this i the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

These promises are established in so many places by so many Words in Scripture that they cannot be twisted as so many ‘scholars’ try to do (q.v.). Without a doubt, God said it so many times and in so many ways in Scripture that any honest sincere student of God’s Words appropriating this Truth would fall to his knees in adoration and thankfulness for His precious Words. Remember, His promises were signed and sealed by His amazing act of grace on the Cross of Calvary where His blood was shed. The blood was typically the ink by which His “testament” was signed, sealing them for ever (Heb. 9:16-6). This author cannot believe that God would subsequently let any of His “inspired” Words be unavailable to generations of saints by allowing the MSS to be hidden for hundreds of years in graves, the Vatican, or monasteries.

The only thing left for any saint to do is to identify where the text and translations are that were and are overseen by the providence of God the Holy Spirit. A sincere prayer to God for assistance will help any child of God to recognize them. The evidence is overwhelming, which is exactly what any honest man of God would expect. So, any text or translation built upon little evidence and constructed by apostate and heretical men should be suspect immediately. It would be honouring to the doctrine of separation to “avoid” texts produced by men who deny many clear, plain doctrines of Scripture.

Dr. Combs wrongly proclaims that no text except the original or any text existing today can be called the Words “given by inspiration of God” and no manuscript can claim to be perfect or inspired because they claim no copy has ever been without error of any kind. No one knows this for certain; but we do know that the Words of God accurately copied without error do carry the original “inspiration” as it is defined in this work. If the Words are copied exactly, they are the same Words that were God-breathed. It would be ridiculous to claim the same Words when copied exactly, are not inspired. “Inspiration” is not dependent upon the material upon which the Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are written, nor is “inspiration” dependent upon the recorders or the scribes who copied them.

Excellent, faithful men of God, superior students of God’s Words, advanced linguists, and brilliant historians have one and all pointed to those matchless Words and where they can be found. Where are you looking? Are you looking at the texts of unregenerate men that were deniers of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the perfect infallible Preserved Words of God given by “inspiration” and preserved (small “p”) by formal, verbal, plenary equivalent translations? My plea to those of you on the wrong side of God’s proclamations is to wake-up. Time is short. Cast aside pride and believe and trust God. Men in the past have admitted the error of their ways, such as Dr. Frank Logsdon. Check it out. Don’t fall for the lies about him and others on the web or in a few articles. In the same Spirit of Christ, why don’t you join with him and many of us who have repented of having any doubt about the perfect Preservation of the Words of a Holy God? God’s Words are not nebulous about all of these things:

“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:47-48

How could He rightly judge us if the “foundation” is not perfectly saved for man to study, know, and live by? Our God would be unjust. He would not be the just and the justifier (Rom. 3:26).

The Evidence of Preservation of the Words Given by Inspiration

Here is another consideration about thosespecific Words which will judge us. How do we know that we have the exact Words originally given by “inspiration”? First, God promised that He would preserve them as recorded in many passages in the Scripture (Psa. 12:6-7, 119:89, Mat. 24:35, 1 Pe 1:23-25, etc.). God’s promise should e enough, but secondly, He has also provided other significant evidence by His superintendence of His Words. It is the testimony of history. It is the testimony of the Old Testament and New Testaent Words “kept” by those who were given the responsibility. Those “saits” assigned the job are the nation Israel and the sanctified churches (Rom. 3:1-2, 1 Tim. 3:15). The Lord Jesus Christ said:

If ye love me, keep[xliv] my commandments. John 14:15 (cf. 14:23, 15:10, Mat. 19:17, 1 Jn. 3:22, keep and do, Jn. 3:24).

Do you love Him? Are you keeping His Words “once delivered” and “given by inspiration of God” in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek? The evidence of history is overwhelming by many infallible proofs that the “saints” have done it in the past and are doing it today.

We have MANY very early manuscripts (MSS), versions, lectionaries, and church elder writings that are filled with quotes that go back to the Apostles and prophets that are copies of the same original Words “one delivered” by “inspiration.” The number of copies and quotes are overwhelming. They are from the nation Israel, many churche, cities, areas, and nations. Obviously, a few manuscripts have been purposefully tampered with and are not reliable (about one percent (1%), such as MSS Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, D, C, and Alexandrinus[xlv]), but the Words in ninety-nine percent (99%) of the MSS are easily recognizable. Furthermore, the differences within the ninety-nine percent (99%) of the MSS are easily resolved except for a few (less than nine are significant) according to several of the great “reviewers” of the “received” Words of God. Dean John William Burgon and his most capable assistant, Edward Miller, in addition to other significant and well trained scholars such as Herman Hoskier and Edward F. Hills, are a few affirming their Preservation. There are few differences, other than spelling differences, in the various editions of the Received Text/Traditional Text behind the most accurate and faithful translations of the Words of God. Those Words were affirmed in 99% of MSS from the early post-Apostolic age.[xlvi]

Tertullian (c.155–230) refuted the claims very early in the apostolic age that all the MSS were corrupted by indicating that the apographs (originals from the pens of the Apostles and prophets were still available. He said:

“I hold sure title-deeds from the original owners themselves…I am the heir of the Apostles just as they carefully prepared their will and testament, and committed it to a trust…even so I hold it.”[xlvii]

And he said:

“run to the apostolic churches, in which the very thrones of the apostles are still pre-eminent in their places, IN WHICH THEIR OWN AUTHENTIC WRITINGS ARE READ, UTTERING THE VOICE AND REPRESENTING THE FACE OF EACH OF THEM SEVERALLY. Achaia is very near you, (in which) you find CORINTH. Since you are not far from Macedonia, you have PHILIPPI; (and there too) you hve the THESSALONIANS. Since you are able to cross to Asia, you get EPHESUS. Since, moreover, you are close upon Italy, you have Rome, from which there comes even into our own hands the very authority (of the apostles themselves)” (Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics).[xlviii]

Clement of Rome said:

“Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered not only us, but also all the generations before us, better; even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth.”[xlix] (my emphasis, HDW)

Dean Burgon said:

“…it will be perceived that a three-fold security has been provided for the integrity of the Deposit:—Copies,—Versions,—Fathers.”[l]

And he said:

“The  Traditional  Text,…has been  traced  back  to  the earliest  ages  in  the  existence  of  those  sacred  writings…It is evident that the turning-point of he controversy between ourelves and the Neologian[li] school must lie in the centuries before St. Chrysostom. If, as Dr. Hort maintains, the Traditional Text not only gained supremacy at that era but did not exist in the early ages, then our contention is vain. That Text an be Traditional onlyif it goes back without break or intermission to the original autographs, because if through break or intermission it ceased or failed to eist, it loses theessential feature of genuine tradition…I claim to have proved Dr. Hort to have been conspicuously wrong, and our maintenance of the Traditional Text in unbroken succession to be eminently right.”[lii] [HDW, my emphasis]

And he said:

“The one great Fact, which especially troubles him [HORT] and his joint Editor [WESTCOTT],—(as well it may)—is The Traditional Greek Text of the New Testament Scriptures.  Call this Text Erasmian or Complutensian,—the Text of Stephens, or of Beza, or of the Elzevirs,—call it the ‘Received,’ or Traditional Greek Text, or whatever other name you please;—the fact remains, that a Text has come down to us which is attested by a general consensus of ancient Copies, ancient Fathers, ancient Versions.”[liii]  

And in addition he said:

“Variety distinguishing witness massedtogether must nees constitute a most powerful argument for believing such Evidence to be true. Witnesses of different kinds; from different countries; speaking different tongues:--witnesses who can never have met, and between whom it is incredible that there should exist collusion of any kind:--such witnesses deserve to be listened to most respectfully. Indeed, when witnesses of so varied a sort agree in large numbers, they must needs be accounted worthy of even implicit confidence… Variety it is which imparts virtue to mere Number, prevents the witnes-box from being filled with pcked deponents, ensures genuine testimony. False witness is thus detected and condemned, because it agrees not with the rest. Variety is the consent of independent witnesses,… It is precisely this consideration which constrains us to pay supreme attention to the combined testimony of the Uncials and of the whole body of the Cursive Copies. They are (a) dotted over at least 1000 years: (b) they evidently [Burgon means by evidence, there is no doubt here, HDW] belong to so many divers countries,—Greece, Constantin­ople, Asia Minor, Palestine, Syria, Alexandria, and other part of Africa, not to say Sicily, Southern Italy, Gaul, England and Ireland: (c) they exhibit so many strange characteristics and peculiar sympathies: (d) they so clearly represent countless families of MSS., being in no single instance absolutely identical in their text, and certainly not being copies of any other Codex in existence,--that their unanimous decision I hold to be an absolutely irrefragable evidence of the Truth.”[liv] [my addition, HDW]

In conclusion, we believe by faith that God Preserved His Words. It is not a position that is not without overwhelming evidence. The printing press invention allowed men to more easily filter the “virtually identical” ninety-nine percent (99%) MSS group called the Textus Receptus or Traditional Text into one final text. This author believes the final edition was honed by approximately fifty great historically unmatched scholars and godly translators of the King James Bible. The Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek behind the King James Bible are the Words of God given “once” by “inspiration.” History has affirmed Gods blessings on this translation.

An  Example

An example is necessary at this point. Many of you reading this document have been involved in constructing a building. The most important aspect of any building is the “foundation.” When my wife and I built our home, we were approached by the contractor to consider various types of cement for the foundation. We were asked to decide whether to add fiber or rebar, a rod of iron. He reported that recently experts (‘scholars’) were recommending fiber to be added to the cement. Our simple question was which one had withstood the ‘test of time’? His response was rebar. He said fiber was ‘new.’ We chose rebar. his account is similr to ‘scholars’ recommending ‘new’ English versions of the ‘bible’ based upon ‘new’ texts. Shouldn’t we ask, “Which version has withstood the test of time?” Without a doubt, it is the King James Bible and the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek text that underlies it that has been blessed. The test of time reaffirms our belief that it alone is an accurate, faithful, inerrant translation in English of the Preserved Words of God given by “inspiration.” It is the “rod of iron” in the English language.

The Various Positions of Men

In addition to the confusion of terms, there are also definite diverse positions regarding “inspiration,” some of which are strongly held. Furthermore, the positions and the men holding to various texts and translations are frequently misrepresented.[lv] The debates over the last several centuries can be tied to: (1) several distinct original language texts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek and (2) the translation of those texts, which are all claiming to be the Words of God (q.v.).

Some of those positions can be tied to man’s desire for idealism (the achievement of perfection) inthis life, which is theologically impssible. We know that we will not be free from sin until we are ‘glorified’ with our Lord in Heaven (Phil. 3:21, 2 Cor. 1:10); therefore the works of man will not be perfect (as defined in this work!). Some may immediately claim that the Holy Spirit causes some works of man to be perfect by His superintendence or watchful guidance. No passage in Scripture affirms this untenable position of “perfection” in man (as defined in this work!). Man may do “good” works and may have the possibility of being “perfect” (incapable of error), but neither man nor his works are perfect because of sin (2 Tim. 3:17).[lvi] We are to strive for perfection, but we have not reached it; even the great Apostle Paul confessed his failure to reach perfection although it was his “ideal.”

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12 (cf. Phil. 1:6)

Ideologically, man uses “idealism” in many ways. For example:

(1) In relation to the Scripture, idealism implies without sin or the state of sinlessness. It may have reference to the state of man prior to the fall. It would be an “ideal” state, but it is no longer achievable secondary to the “fall of man.” Unfortunately, many individuals believe that after salvation they are no longer sinners. That would be ideal, but of couse, it is a false position and contrary to Scripture. This work cannot explore the Biblical answer to this false position, but many theological works investigate why this is not true from a sound Biblicalpoint of view.

(2) The term “Biblical Idealism” is sometimes used as: (a) a reference to an occurrence, an idea, concept, type, or representation in prophecy that repeatedly occurs in history. It is often an appeal to treating the Scripture as allegory. (b) It may refer to an event that actually occurred or existed, such as Babylon’s destruction, which is touted as an event that is repeated throughout history. For example, Hitler’s downfall in Berlin is an “ideal” occurrence and is a reoccurrence of Babylon’s fall. (c) Others wrongly believe that Jesus’ second coming occurred in 70 AD (preterism) and allegorically is continuing to happen every day in the lives of some men.

(3) In philosophy (the study of wisdom), idealism is understood to be an impossible goal to obtain when faced with the reality of the world, but that the “imperfect reality” (the world) reflects the invisible ideal. Philosophers, such as Plato (429-347 BC), have:

“postulated the existence of a realm of Ideas that the varied objects of common experience imperfectly reflect. He maintained that these ideal Forms are not only more clearly intelligible but also more real than the transient and essentially illusory objects themselves.”[lvii]

George Berkeley (1665-1753 AD), Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), George Wilhelm Frederick Hegel (1770-1831), and others continued a philosophical foray into the concepts of idealism. Ultimately, philosophers conclude some truth(s) separate from what believers in the Lord Jesus Christ consider the absolute Truth, the Bible. In other words, for philosophers, anideal realization can be achieved by dialectical interaction, logic, or “critical analysis” of the material or real world. Philosophical beliefs of this nature, which ultimately stemmed from the unholy Greek triumvirate of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, were the great downfall of biblical textual critics through the centuries. Men such as Origen, Bengel, Semler, Griesbach, Westcott, and Hort were involved in scholastics (mixing Greek philosophy with the Bible). Westcott and Hort made Greek philosophy the centerpiece of their reading. They believed that they could establish the original text of Scripture by “critical analysis” and knowledge, a form of Gnosticism. God clearly rejects such thinking by recording for us:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

God calls man’s words, “lying words” and “chaff” (Isa. 32:7, 59:13, Jer. 7:8, Jer. 23:28). Obviously, Old Testament leaders in Israel were taking God’s Words and interpreting (translating) them to benefit their lusts. This tendency persists into modern times.

Translational Idealism

(4) “Translational Idealism” is related to the belief that certain translations of the Bible have reached or ae equivalent to the perfection of the ‘received’ original Words of God and can be called “inspired.” This is “idealism” that stems all the way back to Plato et al. The conclusion that a perfect translation as defined in this wok or even a perfect ‘original’ text can be achieved by reasoning is the result of the “logic” or the “critical analysis” of men. This is the reasoning of men that was first heralded by Platonism, but it is inappropriate.[lviii] It is a result of “idealim” or “idealistic” goals. Many ndividuals may not realize that their claims of a “perfect” or “inspired” ideal translation(s) stem from Greek philosophy. According to Scripture, this cannot be. First, man is depraved; he is a sinner. Secondly, in a “born-again” man, the old man is still present (Eph. 4:22, Rom. 7:13-25). Words chosen by man to translate the ‘received’ Words of God may reflect the original perfect “ideal” Words that are God-breathed, but they are not the God-breathed Words. This concept is similar to the doctrine that a born-again man may be complete, but certainly not equivalent to the “perfect” indwelling Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Father. A man is never perfect or equal to any one of the three persons of the Trinity, just as a translated word is never perfect or equal to the “once delivered” inspired Words.

Many will immediately jump to the conclusion that this author believes that the King James Bible has errors. It does not have any translational errors, although many opponents of the KJB have tried their best to prove a translational error. They have been unable to demonstrate any true errors except for the printing, orthographic, singular words recorded as plural words (and vice versa), the omission of a phrase or word, and occasional translational differences (e.g. word inversions), which I do not consider translational errors. Dr. Edward F. Hills concurs with this position.[lix] Errors of disagreement between parts, confusion of precepts, of fact, of contradictions, of serious anomalies or aberrations have never been demonstrated in the KJB.[lx] The modern versions are rife with these problems and cannot be considered as not having translational errors. The King James Bible is without translational errors in all its particulars because it is based on the proper text, proper method of translating, and proper art of translating.[lxi] The fact that it is a translation removes it from the category of an inspired text (q.v.); that is, God-breathed Words, given “once,” and from every possibility that it is inspired.

Some very important scholars who are far better than many so-called ‘scholars’ today and who have defended the King James Bible do not believe that the KJB is inspired. Dr. Edward F. Hills (1912-1981), speaking about the KJB, said:

“Admittedly this venerable version is not absolutely perfect, but it is trustworthy.”[lxii]

Which text is “perfect”? Irenaeus (c. 115-202 A.D.) knew. He was a student of Polycarp, who in turn was a student of the Apostle John. It is the Words “uttered by” the Holy Spirit. He said:

“…The Scriptures are perfect, inasmuch as they were uttered by the Word of God and His Spirit.”[lxiii]

Furthermore, the translated Words may reflect the perfect Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Words of God, but they are not the perfect Words. Translated Words may be accurate, faithful, and without error because they are based on the proper text, but thy are not perfect as defined in this work. The whole of Scripture indicates that there are only fourperfect gifts from heaven: (1) The Lord Jesus Christ, who is God, (2) The Holy Spirit, who is God, (3) The Father, who is God, and (4) The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words of God, “forever settld in heaven” that came down from heaven (Psa. 119:89, James 1:17, 3:15, 17) “once.”

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17, cf. 3:15, 17 (HDW, my emphasis)

There is “no variableness, neither shadow of turning” in the Trinity or the Words of the Trinity. The Words are perfect as defined by this work and have no spelling errors, no “printing” errors, and no interpretations. They were recorded as “holy men of God…were moved along by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pe. 1:20-21). A translation is variable and shows a “shadow of turning” through editions and revisions.

An Example

The tabernaclein the wilderness was an accurate and faithful “shadow” or representative of the true tabernacle in heaven. It was constructed from the pattern given to Moses on the Mount. It was a true representation of te heavenly tabernacle. Therefore, God accepted it as set aside, sanctified, or holy to Him (Ex. 29:43, 40:34). Otherwise, He would not have accepted it. A proper translation is an accurate, faithful representative of the true Words given by “inspiration.” The tabernacle in the wilderness was set aside (holy) to God, but it was not free from the presence of sin (consider Lev. 10:1-2, 1 Sam.2:28-34). In addition, why else woul it have been necessary for the Lord Jesus Christ to ascend into heaven to the ‘true’ tabernacle to sprinkle His perfect blood on the mercy seat?

A proper translation is set aside (holy) to God, but it is not infallible, incapable of error, by virtue of the fall of man, although it may be without translational errors. God gave the design of the tabernacle in heaven, just as he gave the design to the “jot and tittle” of the Words “forever settled in heaven” in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Man is commanded to make the Words known by translating them with Words that are accurate and faithful representatives of the original words that have been Preserved to the “jot and tittle.” The Apostle Paul said:

“But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” Romans 16:26 (HDW, my emphasis).

In other words, “the scriptures” were translated. The Lord said:

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips (languages) will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 14:21 (HDW, my addition).

He speaks to men through accurate and faithful translations of Scripture. The method of translating is also clearly given in Scripture, which is word-fr-word (e.g. Mat. 1:23, Mr. 5:41, 15:34, Jn. 1:38, 41, etc. interpreted = translated).

The Word “Inspiration” is a Highly Technical Term

The original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words of God from heaven wee supernaturally given to man by inspiration, a highly technical Biblial term (Psa. 119:89, Dan. 10:21, 2 Tim. 3:16). No translation produced by logic, critical analysis, textual criticism or equivalence, whether formal, verbal, plenary or dynamic equivalency, could equal the matchless ords of God received “once” for “obedience to the faith.” The perfect Words must be ‘received’ (Jn. 17:8). This is similar to receiving the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation. Both are related to faith—“So then faith cometh by hearing and hering by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17) You cannot receive savation without ‘receiving’ the Words of God as Truth through faith. The Preserved Words of God received by the process of “inspiration” and verbally, plenarily, accurately, and faithfully translated into a receptor-language without translational error can be called the preserved Words of God in English, Spanish, French, Africanis, etc. However, a translation can never be called inspired, a technical term, because the words are chosen by man to accurately and faithfully represent the Words given by “inspiration.”

Dr. Phil Stringer makes this sagacious point:

“If a translation were inspired, it could be done within a few days because God would be breathing-out the words. Every accurate and faithful translation takes from a few to many years.”[lxiv]

The words chosen by the translator will not be “inspired,” but if they are accurate and faithful, they will be inerrant and carry the full authority (q.v. see the discussion about authority below) of the perfect, pure, inspired, inerrant, infallible, Preserved Words of God. God’s reputation (character) will stand behind them.

Properly Translated Preserved Words

Possess the Properties of the Words of God

Without a doubt, the preserved Words of God though proper translating of the Preserved Words of God in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek possess the properties of authority outlined so clearly in Hebrews 4:12, which says:

“For the word of God is quck, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Properly translated Bibles are:

(1) quick (alive),

(2) powerful (2 Tim. 3:16-17),

(3)piercing (providing signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts, Heb. 2:4), and 

(4) a discerner Ecc. 8:5, Eze. 44:23, Mal. 3:18, 1 Co. 12:10).

Therefore, the Preserved Words of God in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek accurately and faithfully translated will carry the authority of the original perfect Words. But, the trnslated words are not derivatively inspired or doubly inspired (q.v.) because the Word “inspiration” is a biblically technical term meaning God-breathed. It is used only ONCE in the New Testament. In other words, translated Words are not God-breathed, but they may be he preserved Words of God in a receptor-language (such as Spanish, English, German, French, etc.) if they are accurately and faithfully translated by plenary, verbal, formal equivalent translating using the method of “word-for-word” translating so far as the syntax of a receptor-language will allow.

There is ample evidence that translations are not inspired. They may have many printing errors, may have words that could be represented by another word, may be based upon the wrong text, and may have orthographic problems (spelling errors). To deny these things would be equivalent to calling black white or white black. Only the original Words given in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that were recorded by “holy men of God…as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pe. 1:21) are the inerrant, infallible, inspired, pure, perfect, immutable, eternal, and Preserved Words given by God through the methods mentioned below.

The God-Breathed Words Are a Product of a Miraculous Process.

The original God-breathed Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are the result of a miraculous process. It is another miracle among many recorded in the Scriptures such as the iron axe floating, the virgin birth, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension, people raised from the dead, healed, or caught-up to heaven, manna from heaven, the calming of storms, and many others. Those Words recorded by this miraculous process produced a product (the written Words) that the prophets and Apostles recognized as Scripture.

The miraculous process which produced the product of “inspiration” ceased with the copletion of the recording of the book of Revelation. One of the reasonsexegetes (expositors) claim that revelation, and therefore Words given by “inspiration,” ceased after the book of Revelation was written is the proper exegesis of 1 Cor. 13:10. One must note the gender agreements in this verse in the Greek with “perfect.” The word, “perfect,” is a neuter word in Greek. Both heaven and Jesus Christ are masculine words so that the neuter word, “perfect” is not referring to them. However, the Greek word, biblia, meaning book (or bible) is neuter, agreeing with “perfect.” Therefore, when the “perfect” Bible was finished, “then that which is in part shall be done away.”

Furthermore, the prophets and Apostles realized that they were receiving “God-breathed” Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that could be called Scripture. In 2 Pe. 1:2o-21, Peter calls the prophet’s writings Scripture; in 2 Pe. 3:16, the Apostle Peter calls the Apostle Paul’s Words, Scripture; in 1 Tim. 5:18, the Apostle Paul calls Luke’s Words, Scripture. It was a miraculous process that no man since the Apostle John (the recorder of last book in the Bible, Revelation) has experienced. Lastly, 1 Cor. 2:11-16 indicates that we have “the mind of Christ.” How could we have the “mind of Christ” without His recorded Words? They are “the voice of God” recorded for us and are sufficient and authoritative for all things pertaining to life.

Our Lord stated that the original Words in Hebrew and Aramaic were perfectly Preserved to the “jot and tittle” when He walked the face of this planet in the flesh (Mat. 5:17-18). Undoubtedly, the Words Preserved to the “jot and tittle” were copies (apographs of the autographs). Paul indicated the same thing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15; that is, copies of “the holy scriptures” were Preserved Words and available to Timothy for salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is “the word of God” (Jn. 1:1-2), indicated that His “words shall not pass away” or disappear (Mat. 24:35, cf. Mk. 13:31, Lk. 21:33) by the strongest negative, “ou me,” in the Greek language.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not (Greek, ou me) pass away.” Matthew 24:35

By extension, His Words include “all” the Words recorded by holy (set aside, special) men in the canon of the Old Testament and the New Testament, which are “forever settled in heaven” (Psa. 119:89, 2 Pe. 1:20-21). The Words are one of the perfect gifts that came down from heaven; another perfect, sinless gift is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek were not interpreted by man and then recorded:

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cmeth down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:7, cf. James 3:15, 17)

The Foundation

The inspired Words are the same Words “yesterday, today and forever” just as “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). The Words of God that define Christian doctrine were received “once” without error (Jude 3). As the Words are copied down through history, the original Words given by inspiration that are accurately copied retain their inspiratio. They are the exact same Words given “once.” A man copying the Words is not inspired or “moved by the Holy Ghost” to copy the Words without error or in other words, perfectly. However, God insured their Preservation by creating the desire in the saints of the nation Israel and sanctified chuches to copy the originl perfect Words accurately and faithfully. He superintended their Preservation. He did not God-breathe the Words a second time or each time they were copied. The OT Words were guarded, watched over, protected and Preserved by the scribes in the nation Israel by VERY specific rules for copying.[lxv] The sanctified churches were scattered in many nations and the saints in those churches, who were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, would never intentionally corrupt the Words of God when copying. Thus, many manuscripts, versions in other languages, church elder writings, and lectionaries confirm the almost seamless, error free, “virtually identical” stream of Preserved Words from many areas that are found in the manuscripts.[lxvi] These mechanisms are the ways in which God’s original Words were Preserved in order to act as a foundation for translating. We must build on that foundation.[lxvii] In other words, we must translate from that foundation. Just as God promised us that He would watch over their Preservation (Psa. 12:6-7, Mat. 24:25), we believe that He superintends the accurate and faithful translation of the original God-breathed Words as well. However, no amount of “idealism” will cause a translation to be or become a result of “inspiration.”

In a private email to this author, Dr. D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D. said:

We must be nailed down to Biblical definitions in all of our theological parlance. I think of the popular definition of "inspire," "inspiring," inspired," and "inspirational" which are used about poems, songs, books, and other things. And then I think of the Biblical definition of "inspiration" which is limited and closeted in 2 Timothy 3:16: "all Scripture (PASA GRAPHE) is given by inspiration of God (THEOPNEUSTOS)." It means all the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words that were written down in the 66 books of the Old and the New Testaments were GOD-BREATHED. or BREATHED OUT BY GOD. There can be none other Biblical definition of the term of inspiration than this. The doctrine of inspiration mst be just as Biblically tied down and limited as any other major doctrine such as the deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection of Christ, the substitutionary death of Christ, the power of the Blood of Christ, the incarnation of Christ, or any other Biblical doctrine. We cannot and we must not define or redefine inspiration in any other manner than what the Bible does. If we do, we are humanizing (and idealizing) this important definition much like the modernists and the neo-orthodox theologians do with Biblical words and doctrines, or like John MacArthur does with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.”[lxviii] (HDW, my emphasis).

Men influenced by “idealism,” “idealizing,” or idolizing are being prejudiced by man’s reasoning, which emanates from Greek philosophy (q.v.). Without a doubt, man is commanded to translate the Words of God in order to make them known to other nations or language-groups for the “obedience of faith” (Rom. 16:25-26, 1 Cor. 14:21, Col. 1:5-6, Mk. 13:10). But a translation must come from the original foundational Words given by inspiration. The original Words were given for a (one) “foundation,” which by commandment are never to be altered (Deut. 4:1-2, Pro. 30:5-6, Rev. 22:18-19).

We may ask: “Why did God do it this way?” He could easily breathe-out perfect, inspired Words in any language, but He chos Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. We believe that He uses man to translate His “foundation” in order for man to study and learn His Words. Similarly, God could breathe-out absolutely perfect copies of His Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words for every generation. He did not, so man must study and research for a purpose. What is that purpose? Man would be more likely to be able to commit to faithful men His Words and doctrine in a group-language such as French, German, Spanish, English, Swahili, Pigeon, or any other language (2 Tim. 2:15). The translated Words of the Preserved Words carry the authority of God, IF they are translated accurately and faithfully by verbal, formal plenary equivalent translation technique clearly outlined in God’s Words (see below).

God’s  Method  of  Translating

God instructions for accurate and faithful translating are in His Words that are given by “inspiration.” The method of the translation of the Words of God is by word-for-word translating (Jn. 1:42, Acts 9:36, Heb. 7:2, etc., interpretation = translation). Nowhere in Scripture does He indicate that the Words which man translates into the languages of the world from the original Words are “inspired.” The inspired Words were given only “once” by “inspiration” as a foundation for doctrine, examples, commandments, precepts, judgments, etc. The Apostle Paul, as a “wise masterbuilder” and one sent by God, said:

“saints…are built upon the foundation of the postles and prophets, Jesus Christ himslf being the chief corner stone;” Ephesians 2:19-20. “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” 1 Corinthians 3:10 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19 (HDW, my emphasis)

God promised that His Words would be Preserved, perfect, “incorruptible,” and available for ever (Psa. 11:3, Mat. 4:4, 24:35, 1 Pe. 1:3-25, 2 Pe. 1:21, Jude 3). Anytime a question arises in any translation of the Words into any language anywhere in the world, the original Words “given by inspiration” in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are to be consulted as “the foundation” for a final determination; not another translation, and certainly not man’s words as final authority. Rather, man is to reference the original Words given “once” and Preserved. The Words given “once” are “the foundation”!

“Perfection” Defined

No translation has reached perfection like the Words of God recorded by God’s special desgnees (q.v.). The various books in the Bible do reflect the linguistic vocabulary of the prophets and Apostles, but this does not negate the selection or perfection of the Words by the Trinity. It would be nothing for God to use the vocabulary of an individual. As Dr. D. A. Waite has said: “It is all of God.” Here is the proof. The Words of God “given by inspiration of God” using a special “holy man of God’s” vocabulary and recorded by a man, on occasion, were (1) not understood by the man selected to record them (e.g. Dan. 12:8). Yet, (2) the Words were recorded without error. These two facts give great cedence to the doctrine that te Words “once delivered” were inspired and they were “settled in heaven” among the Trinity before they were given to man to record (Psa 119:89).

In the King James Bible, the word perfect may be interpreted as ‘complete’ in certain passages. In this work, perfection does not mean ‘complete.’ Therefore, in this work, translations may be plenarily complete, accurate, faithful, and without translational errors, but not perfect. If you are reading this document and you mean by your use of “perfect” that the KJB is accurate, faithful, and without translational errors, then we are in agreement. Translations may be accurate and faithful to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek God-breathed perfect, infallible, pure, inerrant, Preserved Words, which were “delivered once” (Jude 3) and which have been, are, and will be “the faith,” the final authority, the foundation, the doctrines, and the beliefs for “the body of Christ.” All too frequently, the modern textual debate uses the reasoning of men, which has led to a false “idealism” (perfection) in translations. Attributing perfection or inspiration to the building (the translation) on the inspired “foundation” approaches a type of mysticism that we see in the emerging church. This is similar to claiming any church built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets is perfect. Without a doubt, the third person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, superintends the selection of words by sanctified God-believing individuals who are desirous of an accurate and faithful translation of the proper text by the proper method. That is why some translations retain the “living water” or Spirit of God (Jn. 7:38). Who has not read a ‘new’ modern version and discovered the Spirit missing? Furthermore, the confusion generated by ‘new’ versions is deeply disappointing.

The only perfect things that came down from heaven and exist materially (e.g. in the flesh or having a material existence) are the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Words. Even Adam and Eve were created in innocence, not perfection, with the possibility of being perfect (without sin). But by choice, they yielded to that old Devil in the Garden. Man, who is depraved as a result of the fall (Jer. 17:9), can choose words that reflect the words of God by the process of translation, but because of man’s imperfection, the Words can only be complete, accurate, faithful, and without translational mistakes, but not perfect. Perfection begets perfection. Imperfection may reflect the perfect, but not be perfect; that is without spelling, printing, or similar deficiencies. Possibly, men who claim “inspiration” for the preserved (small “p”) Words of God in a translation by accurate and faithful translating are confusing terms. If someone looks into a quiet stream, the reflection of himself is accurate and faithful, but not a perfect image in three dimensions. The perfect, inspired Words of God in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are infinitely perfect and came down from the infinite dimensions of God (heaven).

Various  Positions

Many authors in one way or another have identified their positions as:

1. A Critical Text (CT) position: endorses the CT that was constructed by the method of choosing words by eclecticism and subjectivism from a few (about 5) corrupted MSS (primarily MS B); endorses translating of the CT as the Words of God and approves the modern versions based upon it.

2. A Majority Text position:  asserts the Words of God are to be found in “all” the manuscripts (MSS); the text is constructed allegedly from “most” of the MSS and is closest to the original. From this text, translations are made. There are two competing Majority Texts, which are: (1) the Robinson and Pierpont text (1991), and (2) Hodges andFarstad text (1982).

3. A Received Text or Textus Receptus/Traditional Text (TR/TT) position: vares depending upon whether an individual supports,

(A) a particular TR/TT edition of Erasmus, Stephens, Beza, or Elziver. Some individuals select one or the other.

(B) an eclectic approach to the TR/TT, which is illustrated by those who continue to pick and choose words from the various editions of the TR/TT or

(C) the single text believed to be the result of a purification process. This position is based upon the success of a single TR/TT edition that lies behind the King James Bible, which has succeeded beyond man’s imagination or ability. In other words, it has been blessed mightily by God. This text is the 1598 edition of Beza with few exceptions.

4. An Inspired Translation Text Position: which can also be divided into several camps, which are:

(A) God directly inspired a translation such as the KJB and it can be used to correct the original language texts. This is a Peter Ruckman position called Ruckmanism. He has made the following statements:

“The A.V. 1611 reading, here, is superior to any Greek text” (Peter Ruckman, The Christian’s Handbook of Manuscript Evidence, Pensacola Bible Press, 1970, p. 118).

“Mistakes in the A.V. 1611 are advanced revelation!” (Ruckman, Manuscript Evidence, p. 126).

“A little English will clear up the obscurities in any Greek text” (Ruckman, Manuscript Evidence, p. 147).

“If all you have is the ‘original Greek,’ you lose light” (Ruckman, Manuscript Evidence, p. 336).

“If you are able to obtain a copy [of Ruckman’s proposed new book] you will have, in your hands, a minimum of 200 advanced revelations that came from the inerrant English text, that were completely overlooked (or ignored) by every major Christian scholar since 90 A.D.” (Bble Believers’ Bulletin, Jan. 1994, pp. 2,4).

“We shall deal with the English Text of the Protestant Reformation, and our references to Greek or Hebrew will only be made to enforce the authority of that text or to demonstrate the superiority of that text to Greek and Hebrew.” (Peter Ruckman, Problem Texts, Preface, Pensacola Bible Institute Press, 1980, p. vii).

“Observe how accurately and beautifully the infallible English text straightens out Erasmus, Griesbach, Beza, Nestle, Aland, Metzger, Trench, Vincent, Davis, Wuest, Zodhiates, Elzevir, and Stephanus with the poise and grace of a swan as it smoothly and effectively breaks your arm with one flap of its wings. Beautiful, isn’t it? If the mood or tense isn’t right in any Greek text, the King James Bible will straighten it out in a hurry” (Ruckman, Problem Texts, pp. 348, 349). [Editor: Why does Ruckman put critical, modernistic textual editors Nestle, Aland, and Metzger on the same level with Beza, Elzevir, and Stephanus who honored the Word of God and handed down to us the Text Received from the Apostles?]

“The King James test is the last and final statement that God has given to the world, and He has given it in the universal language of the 20th century ... The truth is that God slammed the door of revelation shut in 389 BC and slammed it shut again in 1611” (Peter Ruckman, The Monarch of Books, Pensacola, 1973, p. 9).

(B) Derivative inspiration, which states that a translated Bible receives inspiration from the underlying original Words. It ignores the biblical definition of inspiration, theopnuestos (theos = God; pnuestos = breathed). This position also ignores the Bible’s declaration that the Words of God were “once delivered” by “inspiration.” (Jude 1: 3) The word order in the Greek text, as in the KJB, is for emphasis on “ONCE.”

(C) Double inspiration, which means that God gave the words of the translation by “inspiration.” This position is so far out of the ballpark that it will not be considered in this work because Scripture indicates the inspired words were given “once.”

(D) Translations from the TR/TT into the languages of the world are inspird.

Which Version of the King James Bible Is Inspired?

Perhaps many teachers of God’s Words do not realize that the first editions of the KJB contained the apocrypha; non-canonical books written during the 400 silent years between the completion of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The books of the apocrypha:

(1)  are not in Hebrew;

(2)  do not contain statements by the writers that would lead anyone to conclude the apocrypha was inspired (e.g. “the Lord spoke through me” or “these are the words of God”);

(3)  have never been acknowledged as Scripture by the Jews;

(4)  were not used or allowed by Christian churches in the first four centuries;

(5)  contain fabulous statements;

(6)  have many doctrines that conlict with orthodox doctrines;

(7)  teach immoral doctines such as lying, suicide, assassination, etc. [lxix]

What about the versions of the King James Bible that contain printing errors? Men claiming inspiration of a King James Bible must answer critics’ questions such as those found on the web in an article “Which King James Bible?”:

“Few people seem conscious of the fact that a currently circulating King James Bible differs in significant details (though not in general content) from the one issued in 1611. They assume that the King James is a fixed phenomenon like "the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3; ASV). However, a current KJV differs from the 1611 edition in numerous details. According to modern standards, books produced in the seventeenth century were carelessly printed. The 1611 editions of the KJV had "Then cometh Juda" in Matthew 26:36, which should have been "Then cometh Jesus." The second edition by dittography repeated twenty words of Exodus 14:10. The two editions of the KJV issued in 1611 differ from each other in several other respects. Prnters errors in various later printings created oddities like the "Wicked Bible" (which omitted "not" from the seventh of the ten commandments), the "Unrighteous Bible" (in which the unrighteous inherit the Kingdom), the "Vinegar Bible" (with its "Parable of the Vinegar") the Ears to Ear Bible, and many others.”[lxx]

In this article, many other questions are raised. Some of them are easily answered, but the question, “Which King James Bible edition or revision is inspired?” cannot be answered. No pounding of the pulpit, threats, proclamations, emotional declarations, or similar can make the legitimate questions go away. Some mystical text that no one has ever seen or held in their hands is not tenable. Contemplative mysticism about the Words of God is a product of modernism, neo-orthodoxy, and trust in man rather than in a Rock solid “foundation.” Furthermore, mysticism is the modern ecumenical approach of the emerging church to the Words of God.[lxxi] God’s special, called-out “holy men of God” recorded His Words perfectly. God promised their Preservation. Histoy affirms the Preservation of the Preserved Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. History affirms the accurate and faithful translation of them, but not the perfection of a translation. Belief in a perfect translation “given by inspiration of God” is the result of a tendency towards “mysticism.”

The  Greatest  Failures

There are two significant failures or denials associated with several of the false positions above.

(1) The greatest failure of most positions is the lack of a specific definition for “inspiration,” a highly technical Biblical term meaning God-breathed (q.v.).

(2) The second significant failure is the denial of perfect Preservation of the Words of God in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek as promised in the Scripture. Evidence of the Preservation of the ‘received’ Words of God abounds (q.v.).

Biblical “inspiration” is a VERY technical term. This cannot be stated enough because of the modern confusion concerning this word. Secular definitions, theories, or ideas cannot be used to define the term.

The following quote demonstrate how many individuals deny thePreservation of the inspired Words of God as promised by our God and recorded in Scripture in dozens of verses such Psalm 12:6-7, Matthew 24:25, 1 Peter 1 21-23, etc., It is a poor answer to the following good question in a book titled, One Bible Only:

“Hasn’t God promised to preserve all of the words of Scripture?”

“Most careful interpreters would say that no such specific promise can be found in the Bible itself. In fact, even John Burgon—something of a hero to the King James-Only advocates—insisted that the Bible contains no promise of textual preservation. The passages that are supposed to contain this promise do not stand up to careful scrutiny. Without exception, they appear to be talking about something besides the written preservation of all of the words of Scripture.”[lxxii]

In my opinion, the authors of this quote go to extremes to deny the Preservation of the Words of God by twisting the exegesis and interpretation of the clear literal statements of Scripture. Furthermore, they havenot understood Dean Burgon’s words in the context of all his writings. bviously, they consider their convoluted, twisted exegesis as the way God intends the Scripture to be evaluated or interpreted. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Abundant books by numerous authors have documented the Preservation of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Words. Furthermore, many books have documented their accurate and faithful translation into several languages of the world. Those translations that are properly translated can be called a Bible because they preserv the Words of God in a receptor-language. In addition, numerous books demonstrate proper literal hermeneutics of the Words of God as opposed to twisting the language as too many modern exegetes do.

Derivative Inspiration

At this point, we must consider a frequent claim which cannot be validated from Scripture. It is the claim of derivative inspiration of a translated Biblical text. In the discussions to follow, the terms and concepts related to innate and inherent compared to inherited and acquired are important.

God is an eternal being. He does not inherit or acquire abilities. He is not the product of a birth; he is not a creation. Therefore, God’s power, authority, and characteristics are inherent or innate without any relationship to being born, created, or genetically made. His traits are inherent and not secondary to inherited abilities. His power and authority are not acquired or inherited; they are inherent. His abilitiesand character traits are not eveloped, learned, or conditioned by the environment. Therefore, we speak of God’s power, authority, and knowledge as stemming from His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. We do not consider His knowledge, power, and authority as derived from any source. Nothing about God is a result of a derivative.

God’s ability to cause or create miracles is inherent. A miracle is an event that occurs outside of or beyond the limits or laws of nature. Man cannot perform a miracle. He must operate within the laws of nature. God is not restrained or limited by the laws of nature. He created them. Providential events are akin to miracles, but are within the limits of physical laws. God can and does use providence to control His universe.

Similarly, God’s ability to breathe-out inspired Words is inherent. His innate or inherent ability, authority, and power to speak Words given by “inspiration” is not transferable to man, just as His ability to create or cause a miracle is not transferable to man. Man must operate within the laws of nature. God is beyond the restraint of nature in every way.

God can and does grant “acquired authority or power” to certain men such as the Apostles and prophets to perform miracles, but the inherent ability is not transferrable. The inherent ability remains with God who alone has none of the restraints of man’s dimensions. The Holy Spirit, who indwelt the Apostles, actually performed the miracles based on the acquired authority (power) granted to those ‘certain’ men (Acts 3:12).

In like fashion, God grants man the authority to translate His Words into the languages of the world. However, the innate power of “inspiration” inherent in God is not transferrable to man. Men simply recorded the original inspired Words breathed-out by the innate power of God. The men who recorded the Words were not inspired and did not possess the inherent power of God to inspire Words.

The inspired Words given by an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God and translated into words chosen by man have “acquired authority” or “acquired power.” The Words do not have the innate or inherent power or authority of the original inspired Words given by God. The ‘original’ Words of God are fixed, permanent, unchanging, inspired, inerrant, infallible, and Preserved by His innate or inherent power. Therefore, we do not call the words chosen to translate the original Words of God inspired, although God grants acquired authority or power to them, if they are accurate and faithful translations of His Words (see the policeman illustration below). Surely, many people are aware of the diminished power present in dynamic equivalent translations when compared to the dynamic power of formal, verbal equivalent translations.

Translations are not Derivatively Inspired

Some people are attributing derivative inspiration to translations. Many people teach that the King James Bible is derivatively inspired. A derivative implies change. Synonyms of “derivative” are unoriginal, imitative, plagiaristic, copied, derived, lacking in originality, offshoot, by-product, spin-off, and end-product of something that is changing. The antonym of derivative is original. A derivative word in linguistics is a word formed from another word. The word is similar but can and usually does have a significantly different meaning. It is very likely not to be synonymous (e.g. adding a suffix or prefix to a word may change the meaning significantly). In calculus, a derivative is a measurement of how a valu changes as its inputs change.

Since the Wods of God are unchanging in their original pure, perfect, inspired “jots and tittles,” no derivative can be formed. They are the original. Their ‘value’ or input is not changing from moment to moment or culture to culture. They are fixed. Translating is simply choosing a word among many possibilities in a receptor-language according to syntax that comes closest to the original-language word. It is not a derivative word, which implies change based on changing ‘values,’ but it is an accurate representation of the fixed inspired Word. The best Biblical translation is a verbal, plenary and formal equivalent translation. This kind of translation matches as closely as possible the original, unchanging input, by translating a verb for a verb, a noun for a noun, etc.. The input is the fixed “foundation,” the Words of God. This “foundation” is more reliable and fixed than the foundation of the largest skyscraper in the world. God’s Words are fixed by an eternal, immutable, invisible, God and His immutable promises (1 Tim. 1:17, Heb. 6:18, 8:6, 13:8, 1 Pe. 1:4, 2 Pe. 3:9, 1 Jn. 2:25).

A derivative translation would be akin to a dynamic equivalent translation(s), which changes over time to suit evolving cultures and words. It would be more appropriate to call translations such as the NIV, NLT, and others based upon dynamic equivalent translating, derivative translating. This is suggestive of a changing foundation. In fact, this is true. The corrupted foundation of the new versions changes frequently. This is the reason for the numerous editions of the United Bible Society Texts (USB4) and Nestle/Aland Texts (NA28) Imagine a changing skyscraper foundation. Eventually, the entire building would fall as a result. Is this why the dynamic equivalent translations adopted by many churches around the world demonstrate “falling” doctrine, “falling” faithfulness, “falling” morals, and many other “falling” things?

A derivative is a function that changes from moment to moment because it is dependent upon variables. There is no variableness, nor waxing, nor waning with God or His Words (Heb. 13:8, Jam. 1:17). God and His Words are unchangeable. If we claim any translation has derivative inspiration and purity, we are essentially giving those who produce translations every six months in English and frequently in other languages the tacit approval to continue to produce changing ‘derivatives’ every six months. They may also assume the right to claim their ‘new’ derivative translation is inspired and pure, which many are presently doing. Where will it stop? Besides, it is a misnomer to claim derivative inspiration for a translation, because the input, which is the original Words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek from God, is fixed. These misunderstandings of inspiration, derivative inspiration, inherent, inherited, innate, and acquired are causing monstrous problems.

For example, the following quotes are from men who are incorrectly claiming derivative inspiration of translations. One author, Dr. Cassidy, said:

“The year before I had presented a paper that dealt with the doctrine of derivative inspiration. I believe translations are inspired in the derivative sense. That is, the history of the translation is inspired history, the promises are inspired promises, and the prophecy is inspired prophecy. In the plenary sense a bible translation can be said to be inspired, but not in the verbal sense. That has been the orthodox position for several centuries, possibly for a couple of millennia."[lxxiii]

Where he goes astray is assigning inspiration to history, promises, and prophecy. This is very similar to the claim that God left us a message and not specific, precise Words. God breathed the Words. They are the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek inspired Words. They were given “once” (Jude 1:3). He did not inspire history, providence, promises, or prophecy. Furthermore, this author cannot find any proof that derivative inspiration has been an orthodox position for several centuries or is from ancient times. Another website maintained by “Baptistpillars” has another article by the same author, which discusses derivative inspiration. Again, no documentation of “historical” orthodox support for a “derived” text could be found.

Other authors make similar statement about inspiration. They are good brothers, but perhaps they have not thought through their claims or they are attempting to be mediators and ‘to soothe ruffled feathers.’ We agree that accurate and faithful translations carry imputed or acquired authority (see below), but they are not inspired by imputation. “Inspiration” is a very special process and results in a specific product of God, which cannot be transferred and cannot be applied to man’s productions. Dr. Ken Matto said:

“Since the King James Bible is based on these pure manuscripts, this authority is imputed to the KJV and is evident because people are still getting saved and lives are changed through the teaching and preaching of the King James Bible…God's Word is preserved for us in the King James Bible and although not inspired as the original autographs were, they carry the authority of the original autographs. We can also refer to it as "imputed or derivative inspiration" since the King James Bible carries as much authority as the original manuscripts did. Let me repeat, the difference between preservation and inspiration is, inspiration was when God penned the original manuscripts through the holy men of old and preservation is the keeping of those manuscripts down through time. I hope this clears up the misconception of an "Inspired Translation." The King James Bible is a guided translation of the manuscripts handed down to us which had its birth in the original manuscripts which God gave with appended Divine authority.”[lxxiv]

Conferred Authority or Inspiration?

There is no comparison of imputed authority to alleged derivative, double, or imputed “inspiration.” “Inspiration” is a theological and biblical technical term. God cannot impute the ability to inspire Words any more than He can impute the innate or inherent ability to perform miracles. Similarly, imputed righteousness resulting from faith in the completed work of Christ on the Cross of Calvary does not cause righteousness to be innate in man. It is conferred righteousness. Similarly, authority is conferred upon a representative by a superior authority, but not inherent “inspiration,” an ability possessed by God only, or the innate ability to perform miracles. Again, “inspiration” refers solely to the original and Preserve God-breathed Words “once delivered,” which were recorded by the prophets and Apostles.

An Example

For example, a policeman has authority conferred upon him by the laws of a society to hold up his hand and stop a speeding eighteen-wheeler, but he does not have sufficient innate or inherent power or strength to stop the vehicle. Similarly, authority is conferred upon an accurate, faithful, verbal, formal translation, but it is not “inspired.” “Inspiration” is a specific biblical process that produced a specific product. Similarly, the power, muscle, strength, or ability to perform miracles rested with God; it could not be transferred to the prophets or Apostles, but they were granted conferred power or authority at times. Without reliance on conferred or imputed authority, the policeman mentioned above or the Apostles and prophets would have no power. In other words, power can be (1) authority conferred upon others or (2) inherent power such as that authority and power possessed by God. Similarly, the ability to cause “inspiration” of Words was not conferred upon the Apostles and prophets nor is it conferred upon translators. Inspiration is a miraculous process possessed by God, only. Many men claim the men who recorded the Words were inspired. The recorders of the inspired Words of God were not inspired themselves. God did not breathe-out men who then recorded inspired Words. They were simply the agents God chose to record the Words; that is, their “tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” The men were not inspired. In other words, they could not speak inspired Words nor have the inherent power to speak or write inspired Words. Only God has that kind of power and ability. Paul said:

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13).   

The King James Bible is Not Inspired

Every person holding the view that the King James Bible is doubly inspired, derivatively inspired, or derivatively perfect as defined in this work, is not only linguistically and historically incorrect, he is theologically incorrect. The King James Bible is plenarily complete and if that is what a person means by perfect, then that is just fine. In addition, the authority of the King James Bible is conferred upon it by the inherent power of a Holy God, who commanded translations (Rom. 16:25-27, 1 Cor. 14:21). Therefore, the King James Bible has acquired power, because of the inherent power behind it. Its power is evident from the obvious blessing by God of the King James Bible through the changed lives of people and the revivals it has instigated. No modern ‘bible’ based on corrupted texts has ever started a national revival. This is similar to the authority of the Apostles to perform miracles. Lives were changed; bodies were healed; people were brought back to life; other similar events occurred, all because God conferred authority and power; not because of inherent or innate power and authority of men. The Apostles and prophets were representatives of God, similar to a “representative” policeman of the laws of a community. The King James Bible is a “representative” of God’s inspired Words. 

Calling a Translation Inspired Causes Confusion

A person calling any translation “inspired” is simply adding to the widespread and growing confusion facing churches in these last days. Certainly, many people have been seeking new ideas or other ways to exalt the glory of the Words of God and the conferred authority of accurate and faithful translations, but there has been a “muddying of the water.”

It is hoped that men would drop their use of the word inspired to refer to any translation because of the tremendous confusion that is generated by these claims. The claims cannot be supported by a careful examination of the Biblical meaning of the word “inspiration” in the Bible, which should be our final authority, not some ‘scholar,’ pastor, missionary, or teacher.

Furthermore, great scorn is generated around the world by the false claims of inspiration for the English King James Bible only. Lastly, the incorrect application of these terms is transferring God’s innate power and character to man. In effect, it is transferring God’s glory to man by claiming man’s translations are equivalent to the God-breathed (inspired) Words “once delivered.” God help those who have consciously contributed to this confusion among God’s people in these last days. Those who have participated in innocence need to change directions.

Proper Use of Inspiration and Authority Will Generate Student Interest in the Original-Language Words of the Bible

Hopefully, proper definitions and application of the words will once again motivate more students to at least study the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. This desire has been lost over the last several centuries. Now, a plumber, electrician, fireman, construction worker, doctor, lawyer, etc., who has no training at all in the original languages and who desires to “preach,” takes his place in the pulpit and begins to proclaim his improper exegesis that is based upon his thoughts and emotions. They have far too often gone awry. This does not mean a pastor/teacher has to be an expert linguist, but he should at least have the tools to use Hebrew and Greek lexicons and dictionaries such as knowing the Hebrew and Greek alphabet. We remember Paul’s commandment to Timothy, his son in the faith:

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Paul said, “that thou hast heard of me.” He spoke Koiné Greek, which was the common-language of the Roman Empire while Latin was the trade-language. These verses (2 Tim. 2:1-2) are a strong statement that relates to the proper training of men who would desire to be teachers because “they...must give account”:

“…they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).

Conclusion

One conclusion this author has made and now realizes: “The multiple “opinions”, “positions”, “views” and similar in the literature concerning “inspiration” are related to theologians trying to explain “inspiration” as a human process because man was involved in the process whenin fact the process and product (His recorded Words), are A MIRACLE “once delivered.” I now believe that this is the great failure of many views. It would be similar to a physician (as opposed to a theologian) trying to explain the virgin birth (a human was involved), or the resurrection (a human was involved), etc. in human terms or abilities. It cannot be done. “Inspiration” (the process and product) has to be received by faith as a miracle just like other Biblical miracles. Oe thing for certain the Words we have received and their “inspiration,” infallibility and inerrancy are a miracle. No human(s) could ever write such a book (the canon of Scripture).

God is the author of the bible, Jesus the subject of the Bible, and the Holy Spirit, the preserver. Make no mistake; it is “all of God.”

Amen.