8. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the native language of the ancient people of God.14  The New Testament was written in Greek, which at the time it was written was most widely known to the nations. These Testaments were inspired directly by God and by his unique care and providence were kept pure down through the ages. They are therefore true and authoritativea, so that in all religious controversies the church must make their ultimate appeal to them.15 All God’s people have a right to and a claim on the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read16 and search them.17  Not all of God’s people know these original languages, so the Scriptures are to be translated into the common language of every nation to which they come.18  In this way the Word of God may dwell richly in all, so that they may worship him in an acceptable manner and through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.19

aauthentical
14Romans 3:2. 15Isaiah 8:20. 16Acts 15:15. 17John 5:39. 181 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 28. 19Colossians 3:16.

Commentary

This is not an insignificant statement and it is one that is under attack in our day and age. It raises an important question: Is the Bible you hold in your hands the inspired Scripture of God? Many scholars today utilize the language that the 'original manuscripts' were inspired and inerrant, but that inspiration/inerrancy doesn't transfer to the copies of the manuscripts. Now, this is a significant issue and I've only just begun to study much of what you will read here. I am beginning to flesh out some of the implications of modern text criticism so bear with me in this brief article.

I would like to raise a few questions for you to think about. And by raising these questions I pray you see the value in entering into this debate/dialogue. Is it not problematic if the inspiration/inerrancy of Scripture is limited to the original manuscripts we haven't even seen? Can God, who is the ultimate author of the Scriptures preserve His Scriptures? This seems to be one of the issues being addressed by the framers of the Confession and it shouldn't be lost today.

It seems to me that God not only inspired human authors to write His Holy Words, but He has kept those words 'pure down through the ages'. This means that there has never been an age without God's pure Word. If there was an age without it, how could we have confidence we have the Scripture now? Is it complete? Are we missing bits and pieces of it? I don't think so, but that is because I am convinced God's Word has been kept pure in all ages.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:18, 18 "For 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."

Not one jot or one tittle shall pass away. Today we have well-meaning scholars who's approach to text criticism is contradicting this statement made by Jesus and the belief of Christians for thousands of years. Upon discoveries of older manuscripts we are now modifying and even editing out (or bracketing) certain parts of Scripture (the longer ending of Mark, for example) that Christians all throughout church history accepted as canon and taught as such. We have well-meaning scholars who are standing separate from those who have gone before us by omitting texts of Scripture or not preaching certain texts of Scripture because these texts of Scripture aren't found in certain fewer older manuscripts.

I ask again: Is God's Word kept pure in all ages? Will a jot or tittle pass from the Law? What does it mean when Christ says, 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." (Revelation 22:19 KJV).

This is no small matter for the church today. We need to be very careful when we begin to tamper with the closed accepted canon of Scripture.

Here is what our framers seemed to believe wholeheartedly: God's Scripture is pure in all ages. The inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture extends even to the translations (copies). Those who have a copy of God's Word in their vernacular have a copy of God's Word. They should trust it, believe it, and obey it. And I am inclined to agree with them.