The Bible continues to be the best-selling book of all time. It is also the most widely-translated book of all the books ever written, having a huge impact on peoples and nations worldwide.
The Bible has been called “one of the most important books in English culture, and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world.”[1]
The Bible is a writing like no other! The Words of the Bible have the ability to meet the needs of people everywhere. It has the ability to have a unique and transforming effect on all that believe its contents. Millions of people have been changed for the better, simply because they have read and followed the teachings in the Bible.
The Bible is a harmonious book in its overall content, even though it was written by many different writers, in different places and ages, and written by people of every social rank — respected leaders, peasants, kings, herdsmen, fishermen, priests, tax-gatherers, tentmakers — and most of them unknown to each other. The writers were supernaturally guided to write exactly what God intended. Their writings, consisting of sixty-six different books bound together into one volume, have been preserved, and have more manuscript evidence to support them than any other book in the world.[2][3][4]
When we honestly and objectively examine the Bible, as many have done, there is no question that the Bible is a supernatural Book, and that it comes from God. All the Biblical Scriptures are Words given by inspiration of God (2Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12).
The Bible has One Author and One Purpose – to reveal “the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.” — The Gideons [5]
My goal here is to introduce you to a very brief overview of the history and validity of the Bible. I am certainly not a Hebrew or Greek scholar, and studying the history of the Bible has proved to be a complex and difficult research project. I have only scratched the surface on this subject. But hopefully, this overview will persuade you to do your own research, and that you become a ‘noble Berean’ by seeking to prove for yourself if what I say is true. (Acts 17:10-11; 1Thessalonians 5:21)
Truth #1 – The Bible Has Influenced Multitudes: A Few Quotes About the Bible
Let me begin with a look at a few quotes about the Bible by some men who were very influential in their time, and who continue to be influential:
“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.” — Ronald Reagan
“The Bible is the revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God, and the spiritual nature need of men. It is the only guide of life which leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation.” — Woodrow Wilson
“I have examined numerous books, wherever my time allowed me, and I found that the Holy Bible is the best book in the world.” — John Adams
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education…. If a man is not familiar with the Bible, he has suffered a loss which he had better make all possible haste to correct.” — Theodore Roosevelt
“In regard to this Great Book [the Bible], I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.” — Abraham Lincoln
“It is impossible for the world to enjoy a rule of justice and stability without depending on God and His Bible.” — George Washington
The Bible obviously had an impact on these leaders. All these men were American presidents, which illustrates in one small way, the tremendous importance the Bible has had on the United States of America.
Truth #2 – The Author of the Bible is Greater and Mightier!
There is a great deal of misinformation regarding the Bible. This is not unusual because, from the beginning, Satan has injected doubt into multitudes regarding the Bible, the Words of God:
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1)
Satan, who is the deceiving serpent, (“there is no truth in him” – (John 8:44), consistently challenges the authority of God’s Word with his cunning, subtle question: “Yea, hath God said…??”
Yet Yahuwah Elohim [the Hebrew name for the LORD God] is greater and is mightier than Satan! (1John 4:4; 2Corinthians 6:16)
As the Bible reveals, Yahuwah Elohim is able to overrule the wicked devices (the constant noises) of the wicked. Yahuwah Elohim, the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, is above all as the absolute King. The Deceiver cannot defeat God’s designs and purposes:
The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. (Psalms 93:4)
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalms 24:8)
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
And (John) preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. (Mark 1:7)
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, and he in God. (1John 4:15)
These verses confirm that the Greater One is within His beloved children.
The counsel and eternal plans of Yahuwah Elohim will stand firm, throughout all generations, regardless of anyone’s ignorance, disobedience, or sinfulness. God sees the wickedness of this world more clearly than we do, and yet, He permits it.
Why does God permit the wickedness?
Because He has given to each one of us the ability to choose what we do, and He is testing everyone to see what they will choose (Jeremiah 17:10).
But ultimately, in the perfect timing and in the appointed Day, the mighty King of the universe will judge the wickedness of the human race, and everyone will see the divine justice of God (Acts 17:31; see also Romans 2:16; 2Corinthians 5:10).
Truth #3 – The Truth of the Bible Endures Forever!
Yahuwah Elohim, by His Holy Spirit here on earth, is the spirit of truth, and He is more powerful than the spirit of error! Yahuwah [the LORD] has promised that His Word, and therefore His truth, shall be preserved and will endure throughout all generations. And Yahuwah Elohim cannot lie!
Yahuwah has preserved His incorruptible Word and He will continue to preserve it! And as His Word declares, the sovereign purposes of Yahuwah Elohim will prevail:
The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. (Psalms 33:11)
For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. (Psalms 100:5)
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them [God’s Words], O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psalms 12:6-7)
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. (Titus 1:1-2)
See also Daniel 4:37; Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 46:9-10; Proverbs 19:21.
Truth #4 – The Words of the Bible are Pure Words!
Notice above in Psalms 12:6, it says “The words of the LORD are pure words.” God’s ‘words’ are pure! This verse reveals the great importance of each specific word within the Bible. We are not to minimize the importance of a single word, just as Yahushua [the Hebrew name for Jesus] Messiah instructed:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18)
In this passage, we see that the smallest letter or part of a letter is to be regarded as a significant, authoritative part of ‘God’s Word’!
Sadly, many of the modern versions of the Bible do not respect the sanctity of the individual words within the Bible. Many modern translations remove individual words and phrases, and even whole verses, based on the translator’s particular bias, theology, and whims.
In order to support their changing of the exact wording of Scripture, the modern translators invented the term ‘Dynamic Equivalence’ to represent a ‘thought-for-thought’ translation as opposed to a word-for-word translation. This removal of Scripture Words violates Scripture (see #7 below), and opens the door to many man-made notions, false interpretations, and the doctrines of men.
This practice of using ‘dynamic equivalence’ is apostasy, a falling-away from God’s truth! It is an abandonment of the divinely-inspired Word of God, treating the Word as not valid, implying it is not worthy of preservation.
We must keep in mind that ALL of God’s Word, and each of those Words, is indispensable, and is absolutely necessary to His divinely-inspired Word:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2Timothy 3:16-17)
Yahushua [Jesus] tells us … “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
Truth #5 – The Bible is the Inspired Word of the Living God!
As we can see in the above Scripture from 2Timothy, the Scriptures are the inspired, God-breathed Word of God! Specifically, the King James Version Bible is the essential and trustworthy guide for the English-speaking world.
The reason I focus specifically on the King James Version is because the King James Version (KJV) is based on the most reliable, consistent, and accurate original manuscripts, and is thus the most accurate English translation available today! Upon careful study and research, one can come to see that compared to most modern English translations, the KJV translation was not influenced by liberal theology, Gnosticism, evolutionism, political-correctness, or ecumenicism.
At least fifty scholars were assembled to translate the King James Version Bible. These learned men had the work divided up between them into six committees. These men were leading Biblical scholars in England, men of deep religious conviction, having the highest degree of academic excellence, and who were men of much prayer. These men were masters in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, as well as the related languages such as Aramaic, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic. Their linguistic abilities and skills, and their strict procedures, far out weigh the learned men of modern translators. [6][7]
The Masoretic Text was used for the translation of the Old Testament for the KJV.
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible for Rabbinic Judaism. It was primarily copied, edited and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries of the Common Era (CE). [8]
The Textus Receptus, or the Received Text, was used for the translation of the New Testament for the KJV.
The Textus Receptus represents 90 to 95% of all existing Greek manuscripts. These manuscripts are referred to as the Byzantine Text, also known by some as the Traditional Text. The Textus Receptus agrees with the earliest versions of the Bible: Peshita (AD150), Old Latin Vulgate (AD157), the Italic Bible (AD157), the Waldensian (AD120 and onwards), the Gallic Bible in southern France (AD177), the Gothic Bible (AD330-350). These versions clearly predate the Minority Texts (the Alexandrian manuscripts) such as Vaticanus and Sinaiticus.
Textus Receptus also agrees with the vast majority of the citations from Scripture by the early church fathers. It has now been calculated that there are more than one million quotations of the New Testament (the Textus Receptus manuscripts) by the early church fathers! These fathers come from as early as the late first century and the middle ages. [9][10]
For 400 years, the King James Version Bible has been carefully proof-read!! Any mistranslations or printing errors have been minor and have been corrected. Today’s KJV editions are reliable and trustworthy.
Of course, no translation is completely without some mistakes because language translations can be very difficult. But to truly understand the Scriptures, we must begin to learn at least some of the meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words, and dig in and study the Scriptures for ourselves.
The Bible was not written by authors having a western, Greek-oriented mind-set. If our worldview is based on a western, Greek-oriented thinking, then we will not understand many of the verses in the Bible.
Both the Old and New Testament writings are written from a worldview that is based on a Middle Eastern language and culture. In order to have a correct understanding of both the Old and New Testament writings, we need to have some understanding of the language of the Hebrew people who penned the Scriptures. Such a worldview does not in any way weaken the authority of the Scriptures, rather it confirms the authority of God’s Word! In fact, we will discover that the Old and New Testament teachings complement one another, and blend together in harmony with one another.
Truth #6 – The Bible is Much More Than ‘Great Literature’!
The King James Bible is considered by some to be ‘a great work of literature’. But this is a misleading idea!! The King James Bible is not to be considered as simply a beautiful and elegant work of ‘prose’. Such a notion puts the King James Bible on the level of secularism, thereby rejecting its contents as holy and timeless.
Yes, the KJV is a very exquisite example of excellent English writing. But it is much more than that!! The KJV Bible is a writing based on God’s incorruptible Word. The writing is a sacred writing, and it is never to be considered ‘secular’. Such a view rejects the inspiration of divine authorship. God’s Word is to be read on its own terms — that every Word of God is true:
Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. (Psalms 119:128)
Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Psalms 119:160)
But He [Yahushua/Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
Truth #7 – The Word of God is Not to be Altered!
The addition or removal of Scripture’s words or verses violates clear warnings in the Bible:
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought (anything) from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the Words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the Words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
The practice of altering God’s written Word — additions or removal of words and verses — is common among most modern English translations of the Bible. As the above verses teach, such additions, subtractions, and re-wording of the Scriptures are clear violations of God’s Word!
Most modern English translations (e.g. NASB, NIV, ESV) are based on the Nestle-Aland Greek text, which is a translation of the corrupt Alexandrian manuscripts (the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus). Translations based on these Alexandrian manuscripts omit many important words and verses, as well as edit out certain essential doctrines!
The underlying text for the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Society versions has been heavily edited, being a combination of readings from Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and other manuscripts, all of which disagree with each other in thousands of places! These translations are filled with troubling inconsistencies and inaccuracies, and can only be considered as corrupted versions of the Bible.[11]
The differences between the two manuscript texts for the New Testament (Textus Receptus vs. Nestle-Aland/United Bible Society) are many and important! The Textus Receptus readings generally provide stronger doctrine, supporting such vital teachings as the deity of Messiah, the bodily resurrection of Messiah, and the true message of the Gospel. The list at Textus Receptus Bibles shows approximately 150 of the more doctrinally significant readings that exist in the Textus Receptus, but are missing in the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Society text.
As I said, I have only scratched the surface here in this very brief section on the history of Bible translations. There is much, much more that could be said, and many others have published much more about this subject! Below is a list of helpful links below to give you a start in your own study.
Truth #8 – God’s Word is as A Seed Planted in The Heart: My Own Experience With the Bible
Let me briefly mention my own experience with the Bible, which began at a very early age. For me, my experience proves some important Scripture verses.
I was raised in a nominal Christian home, yet I could sense an unspoken respect for some of God’s Word, the Bible. As a family, we rarely discussed the importance of God’s Word, but it was assumed that all of us were to follow the basics of a Christian life. Thankfully, my parents made sure that I attended the Baptist Sunday School, starting at a very early age. By the time I became a pre-teen, I was allowed to decide for myself if I wanted to continue attending Sunday School. Of course, being raised during the 1960’s, in which I was bombarded by the many anti-God influences, I decided to stop attending Sunday School.
However, the ‘seed’ of God’s incorruptible Word was planted in my heart, and for this I am eternally grateful that I was exposed to God’s Word at a very young age by way of that Sunday School! When I was older, in my early twenties, I finally, seriously and sincerely, sought God and His Word, and the seed of His Word began to take root and sprout, and I was subsequently Born Again:
Yahushua [Jesus] said, … Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. (Luke 8:11)
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23)
But that (seed) on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (seed), by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1Peter 1:23)
And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Those few years of exposure to God’s Word when I was a young child, taught me one important principle that I recently found expressed in a quote by Aimee Semple McPherson:
“When you pray, you are talking to God; when you read the Word, He is talking to you.” — Aimee Semple McPherson
When I seriously and sincerely sought God, this principle was lodged (planted) deep inside my heart. Therefore upon reading and studying the Bible, God’s Word became that powerful, life-changing Word that it claims to be, and it began to bear fruit in my life (Matthew 13:23; Hebrews 4:12)!
Truth #9 – The Divine Author of the Bible is Abundantly Merciful!
Over and over, the Scriptures confirm the abundant mercy and lovingkindness of the Creator of the universe, the Mighty One of Israel, Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD God]. His great mercy over-rides the ignorance of anyone who is truly hungry for Him, who sincerely wants to know Him.
This means that anyone who genuinely seeks God with a true heart — even when reading one of the corrupted versions of the Bible — they will be rewarded!
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. (Psalms 145:18)
The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him [them that look expectantly to Him], to the soul that seeketh Him. (Lamentations 3:25)
Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (James 4:8)
Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me [revive me] according to thy judgments. (Psalms 119:156)
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. (Psalms 107:13; see also Psalms 25:7)
God’s Word clearly declares His mercies and grace will be manifested to the truly humble of heart. (James 4:6 see also Proverbs 3:34)
However, once we know the truth about the differences among the various Bible versions, then God expects us to begin to make responsible and mature choices. He expects us to seek out His pure, uncorrupted Word, and thereby learn further the teachings He has for His mature sons and daughters, discerning between good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14).
Conclusion
For those of us who love Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD God] and desire to follow Yahushua the Messiah [Jesus Christ], then it is vital that God’s Word be paramount in our life.
Let us remember the strong warning from the prophet Hosea: the lack of knowledge of Yahuwah’s Word and His ways has a devastating outcome for the people of God (Hosea 4:6)! If we are to live a life in harmony with God, it is essential that we come to know the incorruptible, written Word of God, and that we endeavour to obey His Word.
The ‘world’ snarls at our devotion to God’s written, incorruptible Word. The world, as a noisy, roaring lion, has endless ways of discrediting the Bible. It is Satan, the adversary and accuser, who is the Deceiver that misleads the gullible, and those who are willfully ignorant. But anyone who sincerely wants to know what God’s Word teaches, will discover the absolute truth of the Scriptures, and will experience the awesome understanding and wisdom of the loving, eternal Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD God]! (John 7:16-17)
God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and is sovereign over the universe. And one day there will be a resurrection and final judgment day, when God shall bring all things into the light of His truth. Until then, it is absolutely necessary for us to seek God and His Word and follow Him.
Throughout history, God has sent His messengers to urge people to come to Him. And, God has given us His divinely-inspired Scriptures [the Bible] to guide us according to His absolute truth, so that we may inherit the gift of everlasting, eternal life through His Son, Yahushua Messiah our Master (Romans 2:7; Romans 6:23).
This is why Thirsty Souls who desire to be fruitful, will endeavour to embrace these 9 Truths. We therefore, ‘by patience in well-doing’, are seeking to do all we can to learn God’s ways, to walk in His truth, and to follow His incorruptible, God-breathed, divinely-inspired Scriptures!
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Footnotes:
- King James Version
- Why You Can Believe the Bible
- The Apostles and their Manuscripts
- Bible
- The Gideons
- How We Got Our English Bible (pdf)
- King James Version
- Masoretic Text
- What is the Textus Receptus?
- The Authorised Version: Why the Authorised Version (pdf)
- Bible Translations: An Excellent 4-Part Video Series (YouTube):
- The Untold History of the Bible – Adullam Films, Sharing Edition (Intro) – 1:46:19
- A Lamp in the Dark: The Untold History of the Bible – 2:58:12
- Tares Among the Wheat: Sequel to A Lamp in the Dark – 2:57:44
- Bridge To Babylon: Rome, Ecumenism & The Bible – A Lamp In The Dark, Part 3 – 2:51:22
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A very good resource for studying the Bible on your computer, is to download the King James Version Bible for free at E-Sword.net. You can download other versions at E-Sword, such as the King James Version with Strong’s Numbers. This version allows you to see the meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words, which is very helpful. It is so important that we are reading a Bible version that does not contain humanistic, twisted doctrines with spurious additions or eliminations! (See the above warnings for Truth #7)
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Related Links & Articles:
- Why the KJV is the Best” – D.A. Waite (video – 1:01:14)
- Excerpt – “Bridge To Babylon” (video – 7:40) – at approx 4:39 begins the testimony by Frank Logsdon, a Bible Translation leader: “I’m In Trouble With The Lord.”
- KJV Today – many articles regarding the accuracy, reliability and relevance of the KJV
- Articles & PDFs at Trinitarian Bible Society – articles on various aspects and history of the Holy Scriptures
- Textus Receptus Bibles – many articles on the History of the Textus Receptus
- The Holy Spirit Will Guide You Into All Truth
- Acquiring a Teachable Heart
- Thy Torah is My Delight
- Lead Me In Your Truth: Part 1 – The Basics
- Lead Me In Your Truth: Part 2 – The Ancient Paths
- Lead Me In Your Truth: Part 3 – The Person of Truth
- A Way That Seems Right: Avoiding the Deceit of Falsehoods
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Cold Waters to a Thirsty Soul
Cold Waters to a Thirsty Soul 
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