STAND THOU STILL a WHILE
. . .stand thou still a while, THAT I MAY SHEW thee the WORD OF GOD. -- 1 Samuel 10:27
There are five Biblical principles that will keep a Bible believer out of trouble concerning Bible related issues:
1. Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men --1 Cor. 2:5
2. Search the Scriptures whether the things be so --Acts 17:11
3. View the Bible as being all that is needed to throughly furnish you --2 Tim. 3:17
4. Consider the Bible to be precious. -- 1 Sam. 3:1
5. Let none of His Words fall to the ground. --1 Sam. 3:9
If we apply these principles to the issue of "What Is the Word of God Today," we will have no trouble in determining which one, of the popular views of the day may be the true view. Four of these views are as follows:
1. The Word of God is SOLELY the Originals.
2. The Word of God is SOLELY the Greek/Hebrew Text (copies).
3. The Word of God is mystical1y in all the translations and Texts.
4. The Word of God (for English-speaking people) is the Authorized KJB.
5. The modern translations and paraphrases
First of all, we would like to test these views by asking the question, "Which one of the above Bibles was instrumental in your salvation?" Were you saved by hearing the OriginalManuscripts preached or by hearing the Greek/Hebrew Text preached? Do you know many people, who get saved by hearing the Mystical bible of all the translations and Texts together preached? Romans 10:17 says that "faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” First Peter 1:23 states that folks are "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever." James 1:18 tells us that "of his own will begat he us the word of truth." Does a saved English-speaking American get faith by hearing the Original Autographs? Does an English-speaking person get born again of the incorruptible Greek? Hebrew? Do Canadian people get begotten with a mystical word of truth?
Second, which one of the above Bibles do you think the unsaved American is going to be judged by in the last day in the light of John 12:48, "He that receiveth not my words the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him—in the last day?”
Third, which Bible shall we recommend for newborn babes? We are told in 1 Peter 2:2that "as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” and in Acts 20:32 that "the word of grace, which is able to build you up." Shall we recommend the Original Autographs to him or the Greek/Hebrew Text? Can he grow on the mystical bible of all the translations together?
Fourth, we must decide with which one of these Bibles is to be used to preach, teach, and witness, for Second Timothy 4:12 tells us to “Preach the WORD. Shall we preach the Greek/Hebrew word or the "Original" Word? Hebrews 4:l2 states that the "word of God is quick and powerful” and that it can “divide asunder the soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow" and that it "is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." We must confess that the only Word of God that we have ever seen do this is the Authorized English Bible.
Perhaps we are ignorant and unscholarly, but we have never known of the American people to respond in this way to the “Original’s nor to the Greek/Hebrew Text. Moreover, we have not found anyone successfully using them profitably for instructing people in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Have you done so? Last of all, as we begin to realize the absurdity and impracticality of some of these views to satisfy the demands of the scriptures when dealing with English-speaking people; we ask, "Which one of the above Bibles does Christ use to sanctify and cleanse an English-speaking church "with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:21)???
Conclusion
There once was a Welsh girl, who lived serving as a maid in England. Every Sunday, she would make the long trip from England to go to a church in Wales to the dismay of the people with whom she stayed. One day the woman of the house scolded, her saying, "Young lady, do you realize that Jesus was not Welsh. The young girl responded, "Aye, I know that Jesus was not Welsh, but He speaks to me in Welsh!” We also know that the Bible might have been originally written in Greek and Hebrew (although not proven from the scriptures), but the Holy Spirit speaks to us in English.
Let the scholars match the revivals, missionary endeavors, and millions of conversions produced by the English Bible using the Greek/Hebrew Text or the Original Autographs. Let the critics pit uninspired history, concordances, and Greek Lexicons and Expository Dictionaries against our English Bible. Let them pretend to have found a flaw in our English Bible, and we will remind them that they do not have a cross with a cross member in their Expository Greek Dictionary. All they have is the "Torture Stake" of the Jehovah Witness Bible. We will have none of the folly of relying on "uninspired" helps, for we believe that "All Scripture is inspired" and that this Scripture "is profitable." Let the scholars, professors, and the disciples of Wescott and Hort stand still a while that we may show them the Word of God.
--by Herb Evans, Bible Baptist Church 225 N. Broad St., Griffith, In. 46319 (undated - 1970's)