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What Did Jesus Say About Salvation? Hear. Luke 11: 28 Believe – John 8: 24 Repent – Luke 13: 3 Confess Matthew 10: 32 Be Baptized – Mark 16: 16 Remain Faithful – Matthew 10: 22

RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE Five fundamentals of science Time Force Action Space Matter Beginnin g GEN. God Created Heavens Earth 1: 1

RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE Ocean’s currents Matthew Fontaine Maury 1806 -1873 Psalm 8: 8 – “Paths of the seas” Discovered circulation currents

RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE Ocean’s valleys Job 38: 16 Men thought ocean bottom was flat Valley found in 1870 s – 5 ½ miles deep Philippine valley – 7 miles deep

RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE Other facts Life in the blood, Lev. 17: 11 -14 Female with seed, Gen. 3: 15 Law of Entropy, Heb. 1: 11 Spherical earth, Isa. 40: 22

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated (Isa. 40: 8) [By Ron Halbrook]

• Introduction: God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated 1. God’s promise sure: His Word stands! Isa. 40: 6 -8 Old Testament revelation 8

Isa. 40: 6 -8 Old Testament revelation 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated • Introduction: 1. God’s promise sure: His Word stands! 1 Pet. 1: 23 -25 New Testament revelation 10

1 Peter 1: 23 -25 New Testament revelation 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 11

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated • Introduction: 2. God’s promise about His Word fulfilled: Revealed by miracle Protected, preserved, & translated by providence 12

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated • Introduction: 3. God’s providence fulfills His purpose: Protected & preserved His Word translated by His providence History shows God’s providence accomplished His purpose 13

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word A. God Taught Men to Reverence His Word Because of Its Divine Origin Gen. 2: 16 -17, 20, 23 Made man in His image, gave gift of language 14

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word A. God Taught Men to Reverence His Word Because of Its Divine Origin 3, 808 times Bible writers say they are writing God’s Word! “Thus saith the Lord” 933 times in Old Test. 15

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word A. God Taught Men to Reverence His Word Because of Its Divine Origin Gen. 1: 3 “And God said” Ex. 4: 22 “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn” 16

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word A. God Taught Men to Reverence His Word Because of Its Divine Origin Isa. 1: 2 “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken” Heb. 1: 1 -2 “God…hath…spoken unto us” 17

Heb. 1: 1 -2 “God…hath…spoken unto us” 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; 18

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word B. God Taught Men to Accept & Obey His Word as Final Deut. 4: 1 -2 Do not “add” or “diminish” Deut. 29: 29 Respect “revealed” & “secret” things 19

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word B. God Taught Men to Accept & Obey His Word as Final Rev. 22: 18 -19 Do not “add” or “take away” 20

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word C. God Taught Men to Write & Preserve His Word Ex. 17: 14 Moses to write & rehearse to others Ex. 34: 1, 27 -29 God & Moses wrote the Law Deut. 6: 16 -19 Written into the heart 21

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word C. God Taught Men to Write & Preserve His Word Deut. 17: 18 -20 King to keep written copy of God’s Word 22

Deut. 17: 18 -20 King to keep written copy 18 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: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. 23

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word C. God Taught Men to Write & Preserve His Word Jude 3 “The faith” in written form Rev. 1: 11 “Write in a book [on a scroll] and send it unto the seven churches” 24

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word D. God Gave the Motivation & Means to Record His Word Motivation by instruction, means in nature 25

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word D. God Gave the Motivation & Means to Record His Word Jer. 36: 1 -2 Write “roll of a book” (scroll) Gal. 3: 10 “All things…written” (Old Testament) 26

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated I. God’s Providence Protected & Preserved His Word D. God Gave the Motivation & Means to Record His Word 2 Tim. 4: 13 “The books [scrolls]” & “parchments” Rev. 1: 11 “Write in a book [on a scroll]” 27

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated II. God’s Word Was Translated by His Providence A. Translation Necessary to Preserve & Teach God’s Word Ezra 7: 6, 10 -11 Jews trained scribes: professional copyists 28

Ezra 7: 6, 10 -11 Jews trained scribes: professional copyists 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…. 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. 11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. 29

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated A. Translation Necessary to Preserve & Teach God’s Word Neh. 8: 1 -8 After 70 years foreign captivity, Jews need translation & explanation 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 30

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated A. Translation Necessary to Preserve & Teach God’s Word Acts 2: 4 -11 Lesson translated on Pentecost 6 …every man heard them speak in his own language. 31

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated II. God’s Word Was Translated by His Providence B. Translation Necessary to Wide Circulation of God’s Word Mk. 16: 15 Gospel message for all men 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 32

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated II. God’s Word Was Translated by His Providence B. Translation Necessary to Wide Circulation of God’s Word 1 Cor. 1: 2 New Testament teaching for all 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth… with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 33

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated II. God’s Word Was Translated by His Providence B. Translation Necessary to Wide Circulation of God’s Word Col. 4: 16 Teaching immediately circulated 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 34

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated II. God’s Word Was Translated by His Providence B. Translation Necessary to Wide Circulation of God’s Word 2 Pet. 1: 13 -15 Message valid after apostles die 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 35

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word A. God’s Providence Over Old Testament Scribes like Ezra developed meticulous methods to assure accurate copies 36

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word A. God’s Providence Over Old Testament Alexander the Great spread Greek culture—the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek 250 B. C. 37

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word A. God’s Providence Over Old Testament Hebrew copies of Old Testament still made by scribes (Masoretes) in centuries following LXX 38

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word A. God’s Providence Over Old Testament Oldest Hebrew copy dated A. D. 900 until 1947: find Dead Sea Scrolls dating 100 B. C. 39

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word B. God’s Providence Extended to New Testament Original autograph manuscripts lost, but copies of Greek text abound 40

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word B. God’s Providence Extended to New Testament Four groups or families of Greek manuscripts: Ø Alexandrian text, Egypt, trace back to A. D. 300’s-400’s: Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, papyri (4 % of all handwritten Greek copies) 41

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word B. God’s Providence Extended to New Testament Four groups or families of Greek manuscripts: Ø Byzantine text, Constantinople, trace back to A. D. 300 s-400 s: Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Ephraemi, papyri (94 % of all handwritten Greek copies) 42

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word B. God’s Providence Extended to New Testament Four groups or families of Greek manuscripts: Ø Western text, Rome, Carthage & N. Africa, trace back to A. D. 400’s: Codex Bezae, papyri 43

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word B. God’s Providence Extended to New Testament Four groups or families of Greek manuscripts: Ø Caesarean text, Palestine, trace back to A. D. 400’s: Washington Codex, papyri 44

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Almost immediately translations were made when the New Testament was written 45

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Latin Vulgate was the standard translation in the Middle Ages (A. D. 476 -1453): Bible captive to Catholic hierarchy & elite 46

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Ancient documents preserved in monasteries & libraries Ø Greek manuscripts Ø Ancient translations (versions) Ø Bible quotations by “church fathers” 47

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word 1400’s educated Greeks fled Ottoman Turks, 1453 Constantinople fell Ø Ancient manuscripts poured into Italy: fueled a rising Renaissance (1300’s-1600’s) 48

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word John Wycliffe N. T. 1380, Entire Bible 1382 Ø Archbishop Arundel to Pope John XXIII: “This pestilent and wretched John Wyclif, of cursed memory, that son of the old serpent” 49

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Transition from handwritten to printed copies 50

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Erasmus laid a foundation for future translations 51

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Martin Luther challenged the Pope (1517), made a German translation, & was declared an outlaw 52

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word William Tyndale’s N. T. 1526, O. T. 1534: foundation for many English translations 53

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word The King James Version of 1611: major step in Bible translation Ø Textual resources for translating expanded from Wycliffe to Tyndale to KJV: more accurate 54

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word New Greek & Hebrew manuscripts discovered since 1800’s Ø 1, 500 mss. in 1877; 5, 358 in 1991 Ø Comparison shows slight variations & increases accuracy 55

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word New Greek & Hebrew manuscripts discovered since 1800’s Ø Variations affect no doctrine Ø Substantial variations “a thousandth part of the entire text” (Westcott & Hort, The N. T. in the Original Greek, pp. 2 -3) 56

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word New Greek & Hebrew manuscripts discovered since 1800’s Ø 1 Jn. 5: 7 in late Latin copies, no early Greek ms. Ø Jn. 7: 53 -8: 11 in some early Greek mss. 57

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word New Greek & Hebrew manuscripts discovered since 1800’s Ø Mk. 16: 9 -20 not in Vatican & Sinaitic Mss. , but in many others, in early versions, & in church fathers (100’s) 58

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Hundreds of new translations Ø Must examine each one separately Ø Translated by one person or committee? Ø Philosophy of interpretation? 59

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Hundreds of new translations Ø Read some passages Ø Read some reviews Ø Ask help from knowledgeable brethren 60

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Recommended: Ø King James Version, New King James Version, American Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version 61

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Use cautiously for study or comparison: Ø Revised Standard Version Ø All paraphrases (The Living Bible) 62

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word C. Providence Included Translating His Word Do not use: Ø New World Translation: designed to deny the deity of Jesus Christ (Jehovah’s Witnesses) 63

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated III. History Shows God’s Providence Protected, Preserved, & Translated His Word D. Translating Continues As God Reaches Out to All Men in His Providence 64

• Invitation: God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated 1. God’s promise sure: His Word stands! Isa. 40: 6 -8 Old Testament revelation 65

Isa. 40: 6 -8 Old Testament revelation 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 66

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated • Invitation: 1. God’s promise sure: His Word stands! 1 Pet. 1: 23 -25 New Testament revelation 67

1 Peter 1: 23 -25 New Testament revelation 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 68

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated • Invitation: 2. God’s providence fulfills His purpose: Protected & preserved His Word translated by His providence History shows God’s providence accomplished His purpose 69

God’s Word: Protected, Preserved, Translated • Invitation: 3. God’s ultimate purpose is our salvation: Mk. 16: 16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” Ja. 5: 16 “Confess your faults one to another” 70

What Did Jesus Say About Salvation? Hear. Luke 11: 28 Believe – John 8: 24 Repent – Luke 13: 3 Confess Matthew 10: 32 Be Baptized – Mark 16: 16 Remain Faithful – Matthew 10: 22

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