To understand the importance of our King James Bible it is important to note the process from which it came. We got our Bible through the providentially preserved process naturally occurring in the doctrines of inspiration and preservation.
Revelation
Revelation is the content of God’s communication to man i.e. God has spoken!
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
There are three types of revelation:
- Natural Revelation: The creation of the world clearly seen, i.e. man himself and creation, manifested in them.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
- Special Revelation: Different times and different ways God has revealed himself.
Genesis 18 – God spoke to Abraham
Exodus 3 – God appeared to Moses in a burning bush
Genesis 32 – God wrestled with Jacob
Another example of special revelation is when God spoke through the prophets and through miracles.
God has also manifested His will personally:
Matthew 16:17 – special revelation from God to Peter
Galatians 1:11-12 – God communicated to man (Paul)
Ephesians 3:3 – revelation of the mystery to Paul
- Written Revelation: Things written down
John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
John 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
The Mechanics Of How We Got Our Bible…
Revelation: God to man. As we have shown above this comes in three forms.
Inspiration: Man to paper.
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
All scripture is given by inspiration and is always concerned with what is written down, from God to man. The words that the men wrote down were inspired as opposed to the men being inspired. The very W-O-R-D-S on the page are the issue.
Illumination: How information comes off of the page of the Bible into the soul of the believer.
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Revealed by the spirit as the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Preservation: How the things written down go on from generation to generation.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Preserved throughout history via the Church. Instead of one manuscript for all times, God has the Church as the pillar of truth. The Holy Spirit in the believer is illuminated to the truth and is able to identify what is God’s Word or not as he is instructed.
Revelation and Inspiration are a unit. The only way Inspiration is possible is through Revelation. These are completed in the form of the Bible. There is no more Revelation nor Inspiration.
Illumination and Preservation are a unit. The only way Preservation is possible is through Illumination. These are continuations processed down through time, and still ongoing today.
Revelation and Illumination are similar. They are subjective things in the heart of man (God to man types of communications).
Inspiration and Preservation are similar. They are objective things that have to do with the production and preservation of the written Word of God.
Churches today have one of the following views or theories of Inspiration from human viewpoint:
- Natural View – The Bible is inspired in the same way Shakespeare’s writings or Homer’s writings were inspired. The Bible is high level of human achievement; smart men, gifted men, but not God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 rebukes this thinking.
2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Pet 1:21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- Dynamic View – A living document, the words on the page are not static. Thoughts are important. The meaning behind the words are more important than the words. Matthew 5:18 rebukes this thinking.
Mat 5:18 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.
- Partial View – Only certain parts of the Bible are inspired, for example, Love, Brotherhood, etc. 2 Timothy 3:16 rebukes this thinking.
2 Tim 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Spiritual Rule View – The Bible is used for spiritual values, for example, Ethics, Religion, etc., but not for Scientific things or Historical things.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Rebukes this thinking, ..”God tells you heavenly and earthly things…”
- Existential View – The only parts of the Bible that are inspired are the parts that speak to you. In other words, the Bible is true when it speaks to you and builds you up.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Rebukes this thinking.
- Plenary Verbal View – All of the words are inspired by God. This is the view of true Bible believers.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
1 Cor 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.
The words written on a page! Plenary Verbal View is a good and true view, however it is not complete in that it does not reveal:
- how to identify the inspired words,
- how the inspired words are preserved,
- where the inspired words are
- Bible Believer View – We can hold in our hands the inspired & preserved Word of God. God has preserved it down through history through a multiplicity of copies that are as accurate and reliable as the originals. For English speaking peoples it is found in The Authorized King James Version. This view answers the questions:
- how to identify the inspired words
- how the inspired words are preserved
- where the inspired words are
If you are going to lay claim to the bible as an authority in your life and the lives of others then you will also have to recognize the claim that the Word of God makes of itself. It is not only an authority it is the Final Authority or it is of no authority at all.
Therefore it would be a really good idea to have as your final authority God’s final authority….