Historical Importance

Antioch was located in Syria on the Asian continent.  The native inhabitants of Antioch descended from Shem, one of the sons of Noah, through Aram (Genesis 10:22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
See All...).  Please notice that God did not use the Japhethites of Europe or the Hamites of Africa to preserve His Word.  He used the Shemites of Asia of whom Noah prophesied, “Blessed be the LORD God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
See All...).  This scripture shows that God is going to use the Shemites throughout history in a special way.  He established His chosen nation, the nation of Israel, through Abraham who was a descendent of Shem.  He offered salvation to mankind through the Jews, for Christ declared, “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
See All...).  He also revealed Himself to mankind in the Bible which was written by Jews and given to Jews (Romans 3:1-2 [1] What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? [2] Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
See All...).  If God’s chosen people, His offer of salvation, and His written Word all came through the children of Shem in accordance with the prophecy of Noah, why then would God not use the children of Shem to preserve His book?  The Syrians of Antioch were the Shemites which God used to preserve His New Testament during the first centuries after it was written.

Antioch has a great influence in the area of Asia Minor as well as in Syria.  These areas were the early locations of the greatest revivals and most extensive evangelism.  Most of the New Testament books were either written or received in this part of the world.  By His wonderful providence, God had placed Antioch in a special place of importance.  Antioch became the early center for Bible-believing Christians and Bible preservation.

Much is revealed about a Bible teacher or Christian group by examining their approach in interpreting scripture.  The same is true in the study of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch.  Rome took the approach of ecclesiastical interpretation.  In other words, the past traditions of the church and church theologians determine the meaning of the passage.  The approach of Alexandria was that of allegorical interpretation.  Scripture was to be spiritualized by scholars in order to conform it to their philosophical beliefs.  Only Antioch took the literal approach to Biblical interpretation.  According to this approach, the Bible means what it says and says what it means.  There is no need to change or manipulate scripture because the Word of God is already perfect.  Now who do you want to copy your next Bible manuscript:  the traditionalists from Rome, the scholars from Alexandria, or the literalists from Antioch?

Biblical Mention

No matter how much we know about a place historically, the bottom line is still, “What saith the Scripture?"  The city of Rome is mentioned nine times in the New Testament and is characterized as a place of persecution (II Timothy 1:15-17 [15] They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. [16] Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. [17] Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
See All...).  Although only mentioned three times by name, Alexandria is clearly a place of false doctrine according to scripture (Acts 6:9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
See All...; 18:24-26
See All...).  But our greatest amount of Biblical information is reserved for the city of Antioch.  It is mentioned by name nineteen times and has great importance for us today.  In fact, the church at Antioch is the greatest example of Biblical Christianity in the entire New Testament.

The founding and early ministry of the church at Antioch are described in Acts 11:19-30 [19] Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. [20] And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus. [21] And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. [22] Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. [23] Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. [24] For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. [25] Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: [26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. [27] And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. [28] And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. [29] Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: [30] Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
See All....  Acts 13:1-4 [1] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
See All... narrates the calling and sending of the first missionaries out of Antioch:  Barnabas and Paul.  From these two passages we learn seven basic characteristics of the church at Antioch.  First, the church at Antioch was a preaching church (Acts 11:20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
See All...,23).  Second, it was a witnessing church (Acts 11:21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
See All...,24).  Third, it was a teaching church (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...; 13:1
See All...).  Fourth, the church at Antioch was a serving church:  “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...).  Fifth, it was a giving church (Acts 11:29-10
See All...).  Sixth, it was a praying church (Acts 13:2-3 [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
See All...).  And seventh, the church at Antioch was a missionary church (Acts 13:3-4 [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
See All...).  Being founded on these principles, the church at Antioch continued in its Biblical ministry for several centuries.  Why then should any one think it strange that God would use the influence of Antioch in the preservation of scripture?  That is exactly what He did.

New Testament Preservation

There are about 4,000 or 5,000 existing manuscripts of the New Testament.  They have been classified according to their characteristic readings by various scholars and divided into families.  Although all divisions of manuscripts are manmade and therefore subject to dispute, one of the most accepted divisions separates the manuscripts into three families.  These families are called the Western, the Alexandrian and the Syrian.  The Western Text is related to Rome, the Alexandrian Text is related to Alexandria and the Syrian Text is related to Antioch.  The Western and Alexandrian Texts are represented by a minority of manuscripts and corrupt the pure Word of God.  The Syrian Text represents the great majority of manuscripts and, as a whole, preserves the pure Word of God.  This pure text is still preserved for us today in the English of the King James Version of 1611.

Book after book has been written in the last hundred years on both sides of the issue of textual differences.  But the real question is whether God preserved His Word or not.  If He did, He could have used anyone in any way, although history definitely points to Antioch.  If He did not, then our Bible is corrupted beyond repair, and we are left without any final authority for truth.  We are left blind in a world blackened by sin and rebellion toward God.  But we do have the pure and preserved words of God.  Open up your King James Version of 1611 and read, study, teach, and preach it.   Its words are without error and without mistake.  Therefore, we can proclaim its message without apology.