God's Preserved, Inspired Word!
Or
Preserved with a capital “P”!
Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD isperfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD issure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD areright, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD ispure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD isclean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD aretrue and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
I. POSITIONS ON THE KJV
*The KJB is Best Translation:“Best Choice” Position
The belief in inspiration of the “originals” only. They believe that the King James Bible is the English translation closest to the originals. They are loyal based upon it's founding manuscripts.
*The KJB is God's Words preserved, but not inspired:“preserved with a little 'p'” Position
The belief that the originals were inspired and the King James Bible contains these Words preserved in English.
*The Ruckman Position:“Peter Ruckman” Position
Peter Ruckman and his constituents believe that the King James Bible is “advanced revelation”. They believe that God inspired the words again during the translation (“second inspiration”). Ruckman believes that the KJB can be used to “correct” the Greek and Hebrew that underlay it.
*The King James Bible is God's Preserved, Inspired Word:“Preserved with a capital 'P'”
The belief that the King James Bible is indeed the Word's of God preserved in the English language, but also that it retains the inspiration of the original Scriptures!
II. PONDERINGS OF THE BELIEVER
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The TERM: meaning of “inspiration”
theopneustos
theh-op'-nyoo-stos
from 2316 and a presumed derivative of 4154; divinely breathed in:--given by inspiration of God.
Or “God breathed”
The TENSE: “is given” and “is profitable”
Present perfect tense: all scripture “is given” and “is profitable” ~ Action continuing into the present time
*Timothy, in the context, is being exhorted to continue in the things he had learned and the things that God had assured him of as he had from a child known through his exposure and experience with the Scriptures! Timothy did not have the “originals” he had a copy of copies of God's word! Timothy was the son of a Greek and a Jewess (Acts 16:1), Paul was writing to him in the Greek.... we really don't know what language the scriptures Timothy read were in! Whether Greek or Hebrew, He unquestionably had the scriptures!
III. PRINCIPLES NOT TO BE IGNORED
A. PRINCIPLE #1“LIFE” ~ The inspiration was not lost!
Scriptural Illustrations:
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
First: “God formed man” ~ Adam was perfectly “formed”
ruy yatsar yaw-tsar'
probably identical with 3334 (through the squeezing into shape); ((compare 3331)); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution):--X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.
*The idea here is formed as a potter would clay! Adam was perfectly formed, but without the breath of God he was not LIVING!
Ezekiel 37:1-10 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Just as God breathed the breath of life ONCE into the nostrils of Adam and that breath lives on in every member of Adam's race, God breathed His Words ONCE into the Scriptures! This breath REMAINS!
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The Word of God is a spiritual Book, it is a LIVING book!
The King James Bible is not merely a “museum” where one can find a perfectly preserved form of God's word. The King James Bible is a spiritual Book, it is a LIVING Book! God's breath remains!
Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, 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. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
B. PRINCIPLE #2 “LANGUAGE” Language is NOT a limiting factor for God!
Acts 8:32-33 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Consider what we are reading here:
Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
The “original” was in Hebrew. What this man was reading is recorded for us originally in Greek. The language was different, yet it was still the Scripture!
Thank God! He, the creator of language, is not limited to His creation!
Acts 2:5-12 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Psalms 12:6-7The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
IV. PLACE TO TAKE MY STAND
A. STAND on the TRUTH
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
B. STAND in FAITH
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.