“Therefore blessed be they, and most honoured be their name, that break the ice, and give the onset upon that which helpeth toward the saving of souls. Now what can be more available thereto, than to deliver God’s book unto God’s people in a tongue which they understand…but how shall men meditate in that which they cannot understand? (From the original preface to the KJV Bible)

Today we discuss the process by which God preserved His Word. As such there are some technical things that need to be understood. We discuss manuscripts and translation.

A manuscript is a handwritten document. As such, probably none of us has a book in our personal library that can justifiably be called a manuscript. Our books today are facsimiles that are produced by means of printing presses and computers. Therefore, it is easier to proof read texts and to ensure that the original is correctly reproduced in each edition.
This was not the case in the first century! In fact it was not until Gutenberg invented moveable type in 1450 that this was possible.
Thus the production of a book was a slow and laborious task making books highly prized and treasured items.

There are essentially 5,000 manuscripts that contain all or a portion of our NT. The NT is the best-attested book from antiquity. However, because these manuscripts are handwritten documents, it is important we realize there are discrepancies between them. In our study today, we want to study the nature of these manuscripts and the type of discrepancies that are in them.
Lastly, we want to show how this does not affect our confidence in God’s Word in the least but rather gives a strong basis for absolute certainty that the Lord has preserved His Word.

Because of grace,
Tim

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“Prayer is either the steering wheel of your life or your spare tire.”
– Corrie Ten Boom

Corrie Ten Boom, the author of the Hiding Place, suffered much at the hands of Nazi thugs. Imprisoned in the brutal SS concentration camps she lost her sister Betsy, and the rest of her family. Her Christian faith dictated that she be willing to sacrifice her life for the Jewish people, so she and her family were part of the network that sought to give a “Hiding place” to God’s covenant people. When discovered, they were punished and sent to the brutal camps.

After the war, rather than sulking in obscurity licking her wounds and nursing resentments; Corrie turned instead to traveling the war ravaged nations with a message of God’s forgiveness and grace. Even some of her former captors came to faith and found the forgiveness that only Christ can offer. In Corrie’s case it is obvious that what some meant for evil against her, God turned too good to bring about much salvation.

Corrie’s simple homespun manner connected with people, and her simple message born out of deep personal suffering resonated as truth. God’ used her in a mighty way.

This reminds me, as Corrie once said: “There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still.” No matter how deep the pit may feel that you have fallen into- God’s grace is there with you in it and has strength to take you through it- Look to Him- Our Rock and our Redeemer!

Because of grace,
Tim

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