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Bibliology - The Preservation of God's Word
- THE MEANING OF PRESERVATION
- Biblical Usage
- Forms: preserve, preserved, preservest, preserveth
- Total references: 56
- References to the preservation of scripture: Psalm 12:6-7 [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
[7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
See All... and possibly Proverbs 22:12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
See All... - Basic Meaning
- Negative meaning used externally – to keep from harm, injury, damage, danger, destruction, evil, etc.
- Negative meaning used internally – to keep from spoiling, rotting or decaying
- Positive meaning – to keep up, carry on, maintain, uphold, sustain; “to keep in a sound state” Webster, 1828
- Doctrinal Definition
- The act of God by which He keeps and protects the Word of God so that every word is exactly of His choosing and completely without error
- More simply, the act of keeping scripture inspired (see 2 Timothy 3:14-16 [14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
See All...) - Scriptural Confirmation of Preservation
- Psalm 12:6-7 [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
[7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
See All... - The purity of God’s words (Psalm 12:6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
See All...) - As silver tried
- Purified seven times
- The preservation of God’s words (Psalm 12:7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
See All...) - Kept
- Preserved
- For ever
- Psalm 100:5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
See All... - God’s truth endures
- To all generations
- Psalm 111:7-8 [7] The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
[8] They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
See All... - God’s commandments are sure
- They shall stand fast
- They stand for ever and ever
- Psalm 119:89For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
See All... - God’s word is settled
- It is settled in heaven
- It is settled for ever
- Psalm 119:152Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
See All... - God’s testimonies are founded
- They are founded for ever
- Psalm 119:160Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
See All... - God’s righteous judgments endure
- Every one of His judgments endure
- His judgments endure for ever
- Ecclesiastes 3:14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
See All... - God’s word stands for ever
- Nothing can be added to it
- Nothing can be taken from it
- Isaiah 40:8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
See All...; 1 Peter 1:25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
See All... - The word of the Lord stands
- It stands for ever
- Matthew 5:18For 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.
See All...; Luke 16:17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
See All... - God’s law will out-survive heaven and earth
- God’s law will be fulfilled
- This preservation and fulfillment apply even to the jot and tittle
- Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
See All...; Luke 21:33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
See All... - Heaven and earth shall pass away
- God’s word will not pass away
- Three Sentinels of God’s Word
- Deuteronomy 4:2Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
See All... - Proverbs 30:5-6 [5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
[6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
See All... - Revelation 22:18-19 [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
See All... - THE METHOD OF PRESERVATION
- By Moving Upon Men
- Moses and Aaron (Exodus 4:10-16 [10] And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
[11] And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
[12] Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
[13] And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
[14] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
[15] And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
[16] And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
See All...,27-31) - From God
- To Moses
- To Aaron
- To the people and to Pharaoh
- Paul and Tertius (Romans 16:22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
See All... with Romans 1:1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
See All...) - From God
- To Paul
- To Tertius
- To the Romans
- Jeremiah and Baruch (Jeremiah 36:1-4 [1] And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
[2] Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
[3] It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
[4] Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
See All...,20-24,32) - From God
- To Jeremiah
- To Baruch
- To Jehudi – burned in the fire
- From God, to Jeremiah, to Baruch all over again (Jeremiah 36:32Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
See All...) - By Guarding the Word
- Against corruption (2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
See All...) - Against forgeries (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 [1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
See All...; 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18) - Against editing (Revelation 22:18-19 [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
See All...) - By Accepting Only God’s Word (Isaiah 8:16Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
See All...) - The form of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
See All...) - The things that are assured (2 Timothy 3:14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
See All...) - The teaching of the faithful word (Titus 1:9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
See All...) - By taking the collective actions of many fallible men and moving among them and upon them so as to produce and preserve an infallible book (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
See All...; Isaiah 46:9-11 [9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: [11] Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
See All...). If God can use even lost and wicked men to bring about His perfect will (Psalm 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
See All...; Proverbs 16:4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
See All...; Revelation 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
See All...), then He can use saved sinners to preserve His perfect book! - OLD TESTAMENT PRESERVATION
- Preserved By the Priests
- They kept the tables of the Law (Deuteronomy 31:24-26 [24] And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
[25] That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
[26] Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
See All...) - They taught the words of the law
- To the courts (Deuteronomy 17:8-13 [8] If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
[9] And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
[10] And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
[11] According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
[12] And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
[13] And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
See All...) - To the people (Deuteronomy 31:9-13 [9] And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.
[10] And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
[11] When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
[12] Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
[13] And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
See All...) - They copied the words of the law
- Before the king (Deuteronomy 17:18-20 [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.
See All...) - By the king’s scribe (2 Samuel 8:15And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
See All...,17) - First mention of “scribe” in the Bible
- A scribe was a copier of manuscripts
- By the men of Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
See All...) - By Baruch, the scribe (Jeremiah 36:4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
See All...,17-18,32) - By Ezra, the priest (Ezra 7:6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
See All...,10-12,21) - Revivals of the Word
- Under Asa (2 Chronicles 15:1-15 [1] And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
[2] And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
[3] Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
[4] But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
[5] And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
[6] And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
[7] Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
[8] And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
[9] And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
[10] So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
[11] And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
[12] And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
[13] That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
[14] And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
[15] And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
See All...) - Under Josiah (2 Kings 22:1Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
See All...,8-20; 2 Kings 23:1-7 [1] And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. [2] And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. [3] And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. [4] And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. [5] And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. [6] And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. [7] And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
See All...; 2 Chronicles 34:14-21 [14] And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. [15] And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. [16] And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. [17] And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. [18] Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. [19] And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. [20] And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, [21] Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
See All...) - Under Ezra (Ezra 7:6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
See All...,10; Nehemiah 8:1-8 [1] And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. [2] And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. [3] And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. [4] And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. [5] And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: [6] And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. [7] Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. [8] So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
See All...; Nehemiah 9:1-3 [1] Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. [2] And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. [3] And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
See All...) - NEW TESTAMENT PRESERVATION
- The New Testament Books Were Immediately Accepted as Scripture
- The claims of the authors
- Apostles (Matthew 10:20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
See All...; Luke 12:12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
See All...; Luke 21:15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
See All...) - Paul (1 Corinthians 2:13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Corinthians 10:7-13 [7] Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. [8] For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: [9] That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. [10] For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. [11] Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. [12] For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. [13] But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 13:3; Galatians 1:6-12 [6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. [10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
See All...; Colossians 4:16And 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.
See All...; 1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
See All...; 1 Thessalonians 4:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
See All...,12-14) - Peter (2 Peter 3:1-2 [1] This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
[2] That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
See All...) - The acceptance of other New Testament authors
- Peter testifies of Paul’s epistles (2 Peter 3:15-16 [15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
See All...) - Paul quotes Luke 10:7And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
See All... in 1 Timothy 5:18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
See All... along with Deuteronomy 25:4Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
See All... and calls them both scripture - Early Quotations
- Clement (c.96) quotes Hebrews as “the holy word”. He also quotes Matthew, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Titus, James and 1 Peter.
- Polycarp (c.115) quotes Matthew, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1 and 2 Peter and 1 John. He alludes to Mark, Hebrews, James and 2 and 3 John. He speaks of Ephesians 4:26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
See All... as “sacred scripture”. - Many other early quotations are also available but the point has been made.
- Warnings Against Textual Corruptions Were Made Immediately
- In the scriptures themselves (2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4 [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
See All...; 2 Peter 2:1-2 [1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
See All...; 2 Peter 3:16; Jude 3-4; Revelation 22:18-19 [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
See All...) - Polycarp (c.115) said, “Whoever perverts the sayings of the Lord…that one is the firstborn of Satan.”
- Irenaeus (c.180) said about his own writing: “I adjure you who shall copy out this book, by out Lord Jesus Christ and by his glorious advent when He comes to judge the living and the dead, that you compare what you transcribe, and correct it carefully against this manuscript from which you copy; and also that you transcribe this adjuration and insert it in the copy.”
- The Making of Good Copies Spread Rapidly
- The copies were to be circulated (see Colossians 4:16And 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.
See All...) - Widespread early quotations prove the existence of numerous copies
- Justin Martyr referred to the weekly practice of reading the Scriptures in the churches about 150 (see 1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
See All...; Luke 4:16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
See All...) - The Rejection of Corrupt Copies was an Early Practice
- New copies were compared with faithful copies
- Corrupt copies were rejected
- Some were destroyed
- Some were put aside unused (like Sinaiticus)
- Pure copies were used
- Used until they were worn out
- Used to make new copies
Proverbs 28:21
To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.