Did Our Inspired Bible Expire?
By Herb Evans, Ltt.D.
"...the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever..." (1Peter 1:23).
"...the Word of God is quick ... and is a DISCERNER of the thoughts and intents of the
heart..."(Heb.4:12).
We must admit that there was a time when we were terrified at the prospect of defending the
"inspiration" of the A.V. 1611 (King James) Bible. Of course, like many Christians, we were influenced by Bible correcting educators and scholars and their accepted, traditional, man-made, theological definition of "inspiration".
Define Your Terms.
As with all theological definitions, the Bible correcting educator's definition of inspiration is not infallible and is subject to error. Moreover, any error in definition can mean a more serious error in concept. Bible correcting educators, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, have discovered that if they are allowed to define (or redefine) Bible Words, then they can easily establish their pet doctrines and theories. Bible correctors and Jehovah's Witnesses both must be challenged as to whether they have a Scriptural basis for these definitions. Transmission Bible correcting educators contend that only the "Original" transmission of the Scriptures constitutes "inspiration". They hold that the "inspiration of the Scriptures" and the "transmission of the Scriptures" are perfectly synonymous terms. All emphasis, in most fundamental universities, is placed on whether the "Originals" were transmitted mechanically, dynamically, or by illumination; while the quality of the Scriptures, after they have been transmitted, is practically ignored.
The Originals.
The "Original Manuscripts" are lost and no living person has ever seen them ( a serious flaw in the Bible educator's theory). Moreover, if anyone would ever find the "Originals"; they would not be able to tell if they really were the "Originals".
We have been told for years that the Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew. However, no one can actually prove that they were so written. They assume, suppose, surmise, and deduce; but no one can come up with either a Proof Text or concrete evidence.
The first five Books could have been written in Egyptian, the language in which Moses was educated and the country where Israel had lived for years. One thing is for sure, it twarn't Hebrew that Moses was a speakin' down thayer in Egypt", and conversations in the Greek were certainly not spoken in Greek. There had to be some translating going on somewhere either way you look at it. Selah (think of that D.A.W.)! Just because you have second and third century Manuscripts that are written in Greek, does not mean that they were originally written in that language.
Whenever we make dogmatic assertions without the benefit of concrete evidence or a Proof Text; we are guilty of pure assumption. Therefore, if we are expected to submit to this intangible, unprovable basis for an inspired Greek/Hebrew only argument; then if you don't mind, we will look elsewhere for our views.
God Breathed
After the "Originals" had been initially transmitted, or inspired, or "God Breathed" (as our scholar friend love to emphasize the literal meaning of the Greek), what then ? Do the "Originals" cease to be inspired, or do they cease to contain the Breath of God after the initial act of transmission is over? Are they still inspired after forty years have passed ? Are they still alive ? Are they still inspired ? Do they still contain God's Breath ? Let us go a step further; suppose that we made photocopies of the "Originals" before they either perished or were lost. Would the Photocopy Scriptures be alive ? Inspired ? Have God's Breath in them ?
We insist that these questions must be answered with an emphatic "Yes" ! It is not the parchment or the ink that is alive; it is the Words! The inspired Copies of Copies that Timothy knew as a child (II Timothy 3:15-16) were certainly not the "Originals" as admitted by the Bible correctors themselves. God did not preserve the parchment and the ink; He preserved His "Word", the "Scriptures". He did not preserve an uninspired Bible: He preserved an inspired Bible, and it's alive ! It has not expired !
Alive
Anything that God breathes into or inspires is alive for eternity. God breathed in Adam a living soul.
Now, God did not have to breathe into every man a living soul thereafter. (Man's fall complicates our parallel; however, man's soul still lives on somewhere forever). God breathed the breath of life into the Scriptures, never to be breathed into again. The Bible that we have today (A.V. 1611) is alive ! Inspired ! It still has God's Breath in it and will never expire, because it lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).
http://www.baptistpillar.com/bd0277.htm