Maintain (something) in its original or existing state; Maintain or keep alive; Keep safe from harm or injury.
It is mandatory that we first dispel the misconception that there are any original writings, also known as autographs, available to anyone anywhere today. God did not design Preservation to be accomplished through the safeguarding of the originals, but instead through the multiplicity of copies in the language of commerce. God’s design for the Preservation of His Word is providential, not by Divine Intervention.
So where are the originals? Let’s see what Scripture tells us.
As for the first mention, we have Moses.
Exodus 32:15-19 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. [16] And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. [17] And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. [18] And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. [19] And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
The tablets were destroyed. However, this is not the only place that we find the destruction of originals. Look also at Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36:21-24 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. [22] Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. [23] And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. [24] Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
Notice also that God did not get upset about the destruction of the original writings. Why not?
In Jeremiah 51:63 God instructed Jeremiah to destroy the original writing.
Jeremiah 51:63 And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:
God allowed and instituted the destruction of the originals, or autographs. He then provided for, and instructed, the making of copies, or apographs. By God’s design for the preservation of His Word, He determined that it is not through the protection of the originals, but is in fact through the multiplicity of copies, apographs, in the language of commerce.
God knew that if the originals were available that man would worship the original manuscripts, the autographs, and not Him.
II Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
In Exodus 31:18 and Jeremiah 36:2 we saw the originals formed, in Exodus 32:19 and Jeremiah 36:23 we saw them destroyed, and in Exodus 34:1 and Jeremiah 36:27-32 we see God’s command to make copies.
Exodus 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
Jeremiah 36:27-32 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, [28] Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. [29] And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim the king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? [30] Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. [31] And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. [32] Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
According to Scripture, the copies are as equally valid as the originals.
When a king is crowned, he receives his own copy.
II Kings 11:12 And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.
Deuteronomy 17:18-19 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
We see David reading from his copy.
Psalm 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
He was to use his copy in judging the people; to keep it, read it, study it, and obey it.
Deuteronomy 17:9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
David testifies to the nature of the copies in Psalm 19:7-9 as being perfect, sure, right, pure, true, and righteous.
Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. [8] The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. [9] The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true 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.
These are copies of the Proverbs of Solomon.
Proverbs 25:1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
In fact, copies of Scripture were so readily available that we find that even gentiles had copies, even though the Scripture was not for them
Acts 8:27,28 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, [28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
God had ordained that in Israel, His people are given His Word, and specifically the tribe of Levi is to be the scribes and priests. The duty of a scribe is to produce and distribute copies of the Scripture to the people. The duty of the priest was to read and teach the Scripture to the people.
As priests
Deuteronomy 31:9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.
As priests and scribes
II Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
Scribes were to make copies
Jeremiah 8:8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
Active in making copies
Ezra 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Teachers, priests, scribes
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Ezra 7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
II Chronicles 34:13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
It is interesting to note, and needs to be completely understood, that the term “original manuscripts” was first used in 1878 by Garland and referred to apographs; copies that are exactly transcribed.
About 50 years ago (mid 1900’s) in a public debate against the Modernists, J.C. O’Hair and Ironside together erroneously re-translated the term “original manuscripts” to mean autograph. The term ‘original manuscripts’, because of that debate, became universally accepted and applied in its erroneous usage. This simple error has led to a gross misconception and general confusion concerning the manuscripts used in the translation process. At the time of that debate, O’Hair and Ironside, with good intentions, ignorantly and erroneously redefined a term in order to win the debate.
Theologians are still using that erroneous re-translation today. They are not concerned with the truth. They employ the erroneous re-translation because it facilitates the promotion of their private agendas.
The truth is that there are very old copies (apographs) available today. These copies, which are very old, are in fact original copies (apographs). From those apographs, we have been able to make new apographs. However, there are no original writings (autographs) in existence today, nor have there been for centuries. These very old copies (apographs) known as manuscripts, are original apograph manuscripts. However, these manuscripts are still apographs of the original autographs that no longer exist.
If the copy of your Bible, which is a translated modern apograph, is accurate, it is equal in value as the manuscripts: the ancient apographs. They are each copies but in different languages, which are equal in value to the original autographs, which no longer exist; which are equal to God and therefore are Scripture.
Simply put, your copy, if it is a true apograph, is equal to God Himself and is therefore Scripture.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
There are no autographs. The only true apograph in the language of commerce in today’s world, English, is the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611.
If you employ any other book in relation to faith, you cannot please the God of Israel because you do not actually possess His Scripture. Therefore, by using a variant version you are serving a variant god and not serving the God of creation; the God of Israel. You will know which god a person serves by the version that they employ; the most common god served is self; men’s private agendas and denominational doctrine.
What the Levites produced as the finished product, which God inspired every word of, is the Hebrew Masoretic Text. It contains three divisions. The Old Testament of the Authorized Version King James Bible contains the exact books contained in all three divisions, but the books are arranged in a different order. The three divisions of the Masoretic Text are:
- The Torah (Law) also known as the Pentateuch – the first five books, the books of Moses. They are in the same order in both the Masoretic Text and the Authorized Version King James Bible; they are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. All of the words are exactly the same and translated, literally equivalent, into English, without any textual changes.
- The Nabisheim (Prophets) – in the Masoretic Text are the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and The Twelve. The Masoretic Text has all the Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi) in the book called ‘The Twelve’. In the King James Bible “The Twelve” are divided into separate books, as well as the books of Samuel and Kings being divided into first and second books (I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings). Although the divisions are made and the order is different, all of the words are exactly the same and translated, literally equivalent, into English, without any textual changes.
- The Kethubim (Psalms) – in the Masoretic Text are the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles. Again, the King James Bible divided the book of Chronicles into first and second books and the books are arranged in a different order. Although the division is made and the order is different, all of the words are exactly the same and translated, literally equivalent, into English, without any textual changes.
There are no apocrypha; it does not exist in the Hebrew Masoretic Text. Since it does not exist in the Masoretic Text, it does not exist in the King James Bible. The apocrypha are a fabrication by the apostate northern tribes of Israel around the time of Judges 17, before Israel had a human king. Following that time, when Israel had a human king, the apostate northern tribes rejected God and continued to use the apocrypha, which they designed to promote their private agenda when they abandoned God.
I Kings 13:33-34 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. [34] And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
II Kings 17:19-22 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. [20] And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. [21] For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. [22] For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
II Chronicles 11:13-17 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. [14] For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD: [15] And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. [16] And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. [17] So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
The apocrypha are not from God, and it is not by any stretch of the imagination Scripture. In corrupt versions of so-called “bibles” it is located either after the three Masoretic texts or following the book of Revelation.
So how do we confirm that what we have is actually true and accurate? Since God is whom we seek to serve, let’s ask God. Since He answered everything through His Word, and His Word is equal to Himself, let us explore Scripture for the answer. We can confirm the Old Testament by and through the New Testament writings.
Scripture proves, defines, and views itself; God is equal to His Word; the Word of God is always the final and absolute authority.
Christ validated and confirmed the Old Testament as being complete and fixed in its subject, content, and canon. The blood of Abel is found in Genesis, and the blood of Zacharias is found in II Chronicles 24:21; thus, the first and last books in the Hebrew Masoretic Text: it verifies that the first three divisions are true and accurate but it also precludes and eliminates the apocrypha as it existed during Christ’s time on earth in the flesh. According to Christ, the apocrypha are not Scripture; it is not from God.
Luke 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
At no time did Christ ever deny, disclaim, disregard, or in any manner discredit the Old Testament as being Scripture, in fact He always confirmed it to be so. Christ must have used His copy at home in His childhood, being raised by devout parents, and thus He learned the Scripture.
Luke 2:21-24 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [22] And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; [23] (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) [24] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Luke 2:39-42 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. [40] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. [41] Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. [42] And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Although Christ was God from birth, we see that He was raised as a normal child in a devout home by Godly parents. He was under the same system as any child; learning, correction, training, etc. Jesus did not take His place as the Messiah until His baptism by John. He did not take His place as the redeemer until the cross. He did not become the God-man until His resurrection.
He was always God’s son but did not have any Divine infusion of knowledge as a child. He experienced every aspect of humanity from birth, through His childhood, into adulthood, and even to His death, but He did so without committing sin. (Luke 2 gives an overview of the birth and childhood of Jesus Christ.)
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ used the copy in the synagogue for His public reading.
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Christ used His learned Scripture as a defense against Satan in the wilderness; He used what He had learned while growing up. Following His wilderness experience, He used His learned knowledge along with His Divine Knowledge in His ministry to Israel. He constantly refuted men and Satan with ‘it is written’; not only exemplifying for us how to live, but proving that copies of Scripture are valid and are readily available; we are to study, know, and answer strictly according to God’s Word.
There are 26 references of “it is written” found in the gospel accounts, contained here are only a few.
Matthew 4:4 But he 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 4:6-7 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. [7] Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mark 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
The term “it is written” appears 63 times in the New Testament alone: 26 times to Israel in the gospel accounts, 31 times to the Body of Christ in Romans through Philemon, and 6 times to Israel in the tribulation books of Hebrews through Revelation. So, we can conclude with confidence not only that copies of the Scripture were readily available to everyone at that time, and they are readily available to everyone today, but also that the copies were and are valid.
Christ’s use of “have ye not read” is further proof that copies must have been available to everyone then, just like today, and that the copies are indeed valid.
Matthew 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Matthew 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
Mark 2:25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
We see in II Timothy 3:15 that Paul reminds Timothy about the copy that must have been in his home during his youth
II Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
This evidence not only proves that copies are valid, but that they were available then (as they are now), and that the words recorded are truly the Words breathed by God, Scripture. It also proves that anyone choosing to serve their own agenda had corruptions available to them, as we do today.
For those who would dispute that the book of Daniel was not actually given by God for Daniel to record, they need only to read Matthew 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
And if you suspect that the book of Isaiah was not given by God for Isaiah to record, read Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
We have proven through references in the New Testament Scripture that the Old Testament is Scripture and does not include the apocrypha.
If the New Testament is, and can be, valid enough to prove the Old Testament, it must be equally valid in proving itself. The New Testament writers of God viewed the Old Testament as Scripture, and they recognized that what they were recording was also Scripture.
God says through Paul that his Words are the commandments of the Lord
I Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
God says through Paul that Christ is speaking in Paul
II Corinthians 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
I Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
God says through Paul that these are God’s Words
I Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
I Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
God says through Paul that these epistles are from God
II Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
II Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
We see a side-by-side comparison of the New Testament with the Old Testament
I Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Here we have the statement that the New Testament apostles are equal to the prophets of the Old Testament
II Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
God says through Peter that Paul’s epistles are Scripture
II Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] 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.
Christ not only states that He is fulfilling Scripture
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Matthew 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Christ also verifies that the Scripture cannot be broken
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Moreover, He pre-authenticates the New Testament writings
John 16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
We have seen that the Old Testament is finished; it is complete in subject, content, and canon. The New Testament is also finished; it is complete in subject, content, and canon. Inspiration and Revelation are a completed work.
Anyone today, specifically the Charismatics and Mormons, who profess to receive ‘words of knowledge’, prophecy, revelation, newly discovered scrolls, or tablets from angels, etc. are liars.
If they are indeed getting these things from God, God lied. If God is truly giving these things today, they need to be recorded in the Scripture because they are Scripture. If God is still giving Scripture then the Scripture is not yet complete, and therefore the Scripture we have is in error. If the Scripture we have is incomplete or in error then God lied.
So, are these people’s claims true and accurate? I think not!
We know that someone is lying. We know that God cannot lie. We know that the Scripture says that Inspiration and Revelation are finished. Therefore, the Scripture is complete in subject, content, and canon. Therefore, anyone claiming the articles mentioned above are obviously liars. The only way that God talks to anyone today is through His Word, the Scripture; only to the redeemed, only during study, and only in the absence of any private agenda.
God concludes through Paul that all Scripture, Revelation and Inspiration, concerning the mystery (grace) are complete – a finished work.
Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
II Timothy 2:2 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.
God concludes through John that all Scripture, Revelation and Inspiration, concerning the promise (kingdom and law), are complete – a finished work.
Revelation 22:18-21 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: [19] 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. [20] He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. [21] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Since all Revelation and Inspiration is complete, we know that God has included in a book, as Scripture, everything that He wanted us to know and excluded everything else. God has not told us everything, but he has told us everything He wanted us to know, as is evidenced in
Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
II Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
The Scripture as we now have it in the language of commerce, English (the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611), is complete in subject, content, and canon. Therefore, the Scripture is infallible, without error, authoritative, sufficient, and effective; the Scripture is finished and is the final and absolute authority for us from God Himself. If it isn’t, throw it in the trash and just go fishing.
No one disbelieves or rejects the King James Bible unless taught to do so by someone in trust; be it a relative, a friend, or religion.
If you take exception to this statement, keep reading.
Just as was true in the Old Testament verification that precluded and eliminated fraudulent writings (the apocrypha), if you want to serve your own agenda, fraudulent copies still exist today (variant versions and new-discovery scrolls).
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
I Timothy 6:3-11 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. [9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
You must be able to accurately identify the false doctrine and counterfeit text, as well as the deviant messages; which is the purpose of this writing.
The New Testament quotes the Old Testament over 250 times, and alludes to the Old Testament over 850 times. The New Testament makes reference to every Old Testament book except the books of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. However, as we saw earlier, Christ included them.
It is finished! If anyone today tells you that they ‘got a word from God’, or that ‘God spoke to them’, or that they ‘prayed, and God answered their prayer’, with what you now know, you know for a fact that they are lying.
See also Revelation, Illumination, Inspiration