Weekly Question – Do you know that no two Greek manuscripts agree in every place?

Yes, we here at StandardSacredText.com know that no two Greek manuscripts agree in every place. The Reformers knew this 400 years ago [See Turretin’s Institutes Second Topic, Q. 11]. Jerome knew the same. So what are we suppose to do about this fact seeing that we believe in an inerrant standard sacred text and we claim that that text is the Masoretic Hebrew and TR in the original languages and the King James Version in the English?

Well, how do you know you are saved by the blood of Christ when there is plenty of evidence to the contrary [i.e., sin in your life]. Ah, that’s right! You believe what the Bible says about how one is saved from their sin and justified in Christ. Furthermore, you have experienced the saving grace of Christ’s blood applied to your account where sin and the accompanying shame and guilt have been washed away. Then there is the evidence – your growth in sanctification, manifestation of the fruits of the spirit, and the mortification of sin.

Believing is this way is very much like how we here at StandardSacredText.com believe about the Bible. First, we believe what the Bible in our hand says about itself. Furthermore, we have experienced its power in our lives to save us and others, to make us better spouses and parents. Then there is the evidence – the KJV has served the English-speaking church for over 400 years, the KJV is the Bible of the Reformation and the Great Awakenings, and the KJV is a masterpiece of literary content and structure.

You may reply, “But these arguments could be made about my Bible as well.” Indeed, you are correct, and we here at StandardSacredText.com encourage you to do so. In point of fact, if you read the ESV it is probably important for you to know that the word “standard” is right there in the middle of the acronym ESV. If you would like to embrace our arguments then hold to the ESV is the standard sacred text for the English-speaking church and argue that all other texts are not the standard and therefore not the Bible. We would no longer dispute over the question of whether or not there is one standard sacred text. On that we would agree. All that would remain is which one of us is right; the person who holds to the KJV as the standard sacred text for the English-speaking church or the person who holds to the ESV as the standard sacred text for the English-speaking church.

We look forward to the day in which we can have that very conversation.

Happy Thanksgiving.