There are three really big mistakes that modern Text Critics make.
You know, the guys who tell you
what ancient, hidden manuscripts you should trust
to change your Bible, because what was passed down
through the ages isn't it.
They literally made up one thing, and they forget two things.
Would you like to hear what they are, and judge for yourself?
Hi, I'm David Daniels from Chick Publications.
1. Text Critics made up a rule. Then they judged the scriptures
by that rule. And they didn't even get that rule
from the scriptures. Think about this.
The basic principle of Textual Criticism,
I have it in Chapter 7, "the harder reading
is to be preferred." That's not a rule that
comes from scripture.
It's exactly the opposite. God wrote things down,
and had man write them down, to make it easy, not hard.
Look at Luke 10:21.
"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said,
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes:
even so, Father; for so it seemed good
in thy sight."
And God told us what He has chosen
through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men
after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,
are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise; and God hath chosen
the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence."
God doesn't reserve truths only for the scholars.
He makes things simple for us ordinary folks.
God gave us the ability to check all things by scripture,
and commanded it:
In 2 Timothy 3:16, God said "All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
So we are to judge truth by scripture. We are to
"search the scriptures," John 5:39. Modern Bibles change that
so it is not a command to search the scriptures.
Ever wonder why?
God says to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth," (2 Timothy 2:15).
Modern Bibles change the word from "Study." They say it is
"Be diligent." How are you diligent
with "the word of truth"? How can you be diligent with a book?
You study it, of course!
Their rule, "the harder reading is to be preferred,"
leads you to look for and expect a text that is inconsistent,
contradictory, incomplete, even grammatically incorrect.
But God made His words so easy to understand,
that harlots and publicans --tax collectors--
could understand and get saved.
2. Text Critics forget the active presence of the Devil.
If you read the writings of Tischendorf, Westcott, Hort,
or even most professors, including mine,
they will make it sound like everyone was basically
well-intentioned. Everything was hunky dory,
--but-- some Christian copyists
wanted to make the text a little smoother.
So they smoothed things (the critics say),
they harmonized things, to make the Bible read easier.
So on the one hand, your teacher will tell you,
"All Bibles are generally the same. But on the other hand, they warn,
"Watch out! Stay away from that King James!
It's filled with errors!"
How many of you have heard this? Bible college students,
I know you have, just like I did.
But let's consider a simple fact.
There IS a Devil. So, if you were the Devil,
which of the two Bibles would you choose?
Because there are two.
If you were the Devil, would you choose the one
that lifts up Jesus Christ, proclaims clearly His Godhood
and the Godhead, that proclaims salvation is a free gift
obtainable only by faith, and the consequences,
either of faith leading to everlasting life,
or rejection of Christ leading to eternal damnation?
Or, if you were the Devil, would you choose the one
that lowers Jesus Christ, that makes people
question His Godhood, question the Godhead,
that shows a mixture of works and faith in salvation
(like every other religion), and that makes people
unsure of the existence of heaven and hell?
If you were the Devil, which would you choose?
I think the answer is rather obvious. The King James Bible
has 400+ years of fruit, bolstering faith and
encouraging soul winning and repentance
and holy lives.
The other Bibles have nothing but that bitter fruit
of a man-made gospel: doubts, disbelief,
being unsure even about the basic doctrines
or an outright rejection of the faith, like with people like Bart Ehrman.
He simply followed the principles of Textual Criticism
to their logical ends.
That's why modern Text Critics have to downplay
or even dismiss any activities of the Devil
in the making of one of the two Bibles.
Nothing could be more clear, when you put it that way,
about which Bible God supports, and which one the Devil supports.
That brings us to the third mistake of Textual Critics.
3. Text Critics forget the power of God.
Text Critics act as if God had nothing to do with the Bible,
once He handed off the originals. He inspired their production,
then did nothing to preserve those scriptures
after that moment.
You don't need a perfect Bible to prove that's wrong.
I can even prove that wrong with a Jehovah's Witness Bible.
Here, look at God's pattern. Even the New World Translation
has it. Check it by your Bible!
Look at Jeremiah 26:2 2 "This is what Jehovah has said,
"Stand in the courtyard of the house of Jehovah,
and you must speak concerning all the cities of Judah
that are coming in to bow down at the house of Jehovah
all the words that I will command you
to speak to them. Do not take away a word."
Do not take away a word. That is God's pattern.
Now look at Proverbs 30:5-6, Jehovah's Witness Bible.
Check it in yours. 5 "Every saying of God is refined.
He is a shield to those taking refuge in him.
6 Add nothing to his words, that he may not reprove you,
and that you may not have to be proved a liar."
Add nothing to His words. That is also God's pattern.
Even in a JW Bible you can see that God commands us
not to take away or add anything to His words.
Now back to the real one in English.
In Mark 12, the Sadducees questioned Jesus.
Please note, the Sadducees accepted nothing
but the Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers and Deuteronomy. So notice that every time
Jesus answers their unbelief, he uses those books
to put them to shame! It's awesome!
Sadducees were Text Critics. They denied the prophetic writings,
the Psalms of David, and Solomon's books.
They also denied angels and bodily resurrection.
So they asked a question about the resurrection,
thoroughly disbelieving that there is a physical afterlife.
What did Jesus answer them? Mark 12:24,
"And Jesus answering said unto them,
Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures,
neither the power of God?"
The Scriptures and the power of God!
That's two of the three things listed here,
and by the mouth of the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, Himself!
So don't feel bad, if the critics are against you.
If you remember nothing else, please remember these two things.
1. I do not judge the scriptures. The scriptures judge me.
2. I do not change the scriptures. The scriptures change me.
God bless you, and have a wonderful day.