6. The Binding Nature of the Bible and Textual Preservation
If the Bible is a legal document, as Scripture affirms, its preservation is essential for maintaining its authority and efficacy. A covenant or testament cannot remain binding if its terms are corrupted or altered. For this reason, the Bible not only declares itself unchangeable but also promises that its text will be preserved by God’s providence. This preservation ensures that both parties—God and man—have access to the authoritative terms of the covenant, fulfilling the divine guarantee of its immutability and binding nature.
6.1 The Necessity of Preservation for a Legal Document
Legal documents must remain intact for their terms to be binding. Any alteration invalidates their authority and applicability. The Bible, as a covenant and testament, affirms this principle by repeatedly emphasizing the permanence of God’s Word. Isaiah 40:8 declares:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (KJV)
This promise highlights that God’s Word, unlike human documents subject to decay and error, is divinely preserved for all generations. Without such preservation, the covenant’s terms would be inaccessible, undermining its efficacy.
6.2 God’s Promise to Preserve His Word
The preservation of Scripture is explicitly affirmed in the Bible. Psalm 12:6-7 states:
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (KJV)
This passage emphasizes both the purity of God’s Word and His active role in preserving it. Just as silver is refined to remove impurities, so God’s Word is preserved in its purity, free from corruption or alteration.
Jesus Himself affirmed the preservation of Scripture in Matthew 5:18:
“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.” (KJV)
The reference to “jot” and “tittle” underscores the meticulous care with which God preserves His Word, ensuring that even the smallest details remain intact.
6.3 The Necessity of Preservation in the Original Languages
The preservation of Scripture in the original languages—Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament—is essential for its authority as a legal document. Translations of legal documents derive their authority only to the extent that they accurately represent the original text. A flawed or corrupt translation cannot have binding legal force because it fails to reflect the true terms of the original covenant.
This principle applies directly to the Bible. For translations to carry binding authority upon us, they must faithfully convey the meaning of the original texts. This requires that the original Hebrew and Greek texts be preserved in purity, free from corruption or alteration. The Westminster Confession of Faith highlights this necessity:
“The Old Testament in Hebrew…and the New Testament in Greek…being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them.” (WCF 1.8)
The confession emphasizes that the original languages are the final standard of authority. While translations are valuable for teaching and understanding, their authority is derivative, dependent upon their faithfulness to the preserved originals. Without pure originals, it would be impossible to ensure that translations accurately reflect the terms of the covenant, thus compromising their binding nature.
6.4 The Witness of History
Throughout history, God’s providential preservation of Scripture has been evident. Despite persecution, attempts to destroy the Bible, and textual corruption introduced by heretics, the Scriptures have been faithfully transmitted and preserved. Examples include:
- The Masoretic Text: The careful transmission of the Hebrew Old Testament by the Masoretes demonstrates God’s providence in preserving His covenantal Word for His people.
- The Textus Receptus: The preservation of the Greek New Testament through the Byzantine textual tradition, culminating in the Textus Receptus, reflects God’s hand in ensuring the purity and accessibility of the New Testament.
- The King James Version: The translation of the Scriptures into English in the Authorized Version (KJV) is another example of God’s providential preservation, providing His Word to English-speaking believers in a faithful and accessible form.
6.5 The Inseparability of Preservation and Authority
The authority of the Bible as a legal document is inseparable from its preservation. If the text of Scripture were corrupted, its authority would be undermined. This inseparability is evident in passages such as John 10:35:
“If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.” (KJV)
The phrase “the scripture cannot be broken” underscores the Bible’s inviolability. Its preservation ensures that its terms remain binding, and its promises and judgments remain enforceable.
6.6 Implications for Modern Textual Criticism
Modern textual criticism, which often treats the Bible as a fallible human document, undermines the theological necessity of preservation. By questioning the integrity of the biblical text, critics imply that God’s covenant has been compromised. This perspective is incompatible with the Bible’s self-testimony as a preserved and unalterable legal document.
For example, the Critical Text’s frequent omissions and alterations, as seen in passages such as Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53–8:11, challenge the doctrine of providential preservation. In contrast, the Textus Receptus and the King James Version affirm the continuity and integrity of the biblical text, upholding its authority as God’s covenantal Word.
6.7 The Responsibility of the Church
As the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), the Church has a responsibility to safeguard and proclaim the preserved Word of God. This responsibility includes rejecting textual corruption and promoting faithful translations that reflect the purity of the original texts. By doing so, the Church ensures that the covenantal terms of Scripture remain accessible to all generations.
6.8 The Eternal Security of God’s Word
The preservation of Scripture guarantees the eternal security of God’s covenant. Psalm 119:160 declares:
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (KJV)
This verse affirms that God’s Word, as a legal document, is both true and enduring. Its preservation ensures that His promises remain effective and His judgments remain binding.
Conclusion
The Bible’s binding nature as a legal document necessitates its preservation in the original languages. Without the pure Hebrew and Greek texts, translations cannot be guaranteed to carry binding authority. God’s providential care has ensured that His Word is preserved in purity, enabling faithful translations that accurately reflect the original covenant. This preservation underscores the immutability and trustworthiness of the Bible, ensuring that it remains a binding covenant between God and humanity for all time.
7. The Eternal Binding Nature of the Bible as a Legal Document
The Bible’s role as a legal document is not limited to human history but extends into eternity, underscoring its unchanging authority, perpetual relevance, and ultimate fulfillment. Its eternal binding nature serves as the foundation for its preservation, ensuring that its text remains pure and unaltered throughout all ages. As both a covenant and a testament, the Bible is the standard by which all people will be judged, and it guarantees the promises of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. This eternal binding nature necessitates its preservation and transmission by God’s providence, providing His people with the pure text in every generation.
7.1 The Eternal Authority of God’s Word
The Bible’s eternal authority stems from its divine origin. Psalm 119:89 declares:
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (KJV)
This verse reveals that God’s Word is eternally fixed, unchanging, and transcendent. Its authority does not depend on human recognition or transmission but on the nature of God Himself, who cannot lie or alter His promises (Numbers 23:19). Jesus affirmed this eternal authority in Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (KJV)
While the physical creation is subject to change, the Word of God endures forever, maintaining its authority and binding nature for all time.
7.2 The Final Judgment and the Legal Standard
As a legal document, the Bible serves as the standard for the final judgment. Revelation 20:12 states:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (KJV)
The Scriptures are included among the “books” opened at the judgment, emphasizing their role as the divine legal record by which humanity will be held accountable. Those who have obeyed the covenantal terms will receive eternal life, while those who have rejected them will face eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:15).
7.3 The Perpetual Relevance of Scripture
The eternal binding nature of the Bible guarantees its relevance to all generations. Isaiah 59:21 declares:
“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (KJV)
This verse demonstrates that God’s Word is not only preserved but also perpetually transmitted, ensuring its accessibility and relevance for every age and generation. The binding nature of the Bible remains constant, calling all people to submit to its authority.
7.4 The Eternal Consequences of Obedience and Disobedience
The Bible outlines eternal consequences for obedience and disobedience to its terms. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 provides a solemn reminder of this choice:
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days.” (KJV)
This choice between life and death, blessing and cursing, extends beyond the temporal to the eternal. Those who obey the covenant through faith in Christ inherit eternal life (John 3:16), while those who reject it face eternal judgment (Matthew 25:46).
7.5 The Guarantee of God’s Faithfulness
The eternal binding nature of the Bible is guaranteed by God’s faithfulness. Numbers 23:19 affirms:
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (KJV)
God’s unchanging character ensures that His covenantal promises are fulfilled. The legal terms of the Bible are guaranteed by His faithfulness, providing believers with the assurance that His Word is trustworthy and binding for all eternity.
7.6 The Preservation and Transmission of the Pure Text
The eternal binding nature of the Bible as a legal document requires its preservation and transmission throughout history. A corrupted or altered text would compromise its binding authority. However, by His providence and sovereignty, God has ensured the preservation of His Word in its purity, so that nothing has been added or subtracted. This preserved text, the logical equivalent of the autographic text, carries the same legal binding authority as the original manuscripts.
Psalm 12:6-7 affirms this divine preservation:
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (KJV)
God’s promise of preservation has been fulfilled throughout history, ensuring that Christians in every age have access to the pure text of Scripture. With the advent of the printing press, this preservation has been conclusively realized in the Textus Receptus for the Greek New Testament and the Bomberg Hebrew Bible for the Old Testament. These texts represent the culmination of God’s providential care, providing the Church with the authoritative Word of God.
7.7 The Eternal Security of the Bible’s Authority
The preservation of the Bible guarantees its eternal security as a binding legal document. Psalm 119:160 declares:
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (KJV)
This verse highlights the enduring nature of God’s Word, affirming that His judgments are eternal and His promises unbreakable. By preserving the pure text, God has ensured that His covenant remains binding for all generations, carrying the same authority as the original autographs.
Conclusion
The eternal binding nature of the Bible as a legal document reflects its divine authority, perpetual relevance, and ultimate fulfillment. Its preservation and transmission throughout history, accomplished by the providence and sovereignty of God, ensure that nothing has been added or subtracted from its terms. The pure text, equivalent in authority to the autographs, has been available to Christians in every age. With the advent of the printing press, this pure text has been conclusively preserved in the Textus Receptus and the Bomberg Hebrew Bible, providing the Church with the immutable and authoritative Word of God. This eternal preservation affirms the Bible’s role as the unchanging covenant between God and humanity, binding for all time and eternity.
Addendum: Logical Contradictions in the Critical Text
As a binding legal document, the Bible must remain internally consistent to uphold its authority. The presence of even one logical contradiction would invalidate its claim as the infallible Word of God, rendering it unreliable as the covenantal standard between God and man. The critical text, as used in modern Bible versions, introduces several such contradictions, demonstrating that it cannot represent the preserved, pure, and authoritative Word of God. By contrast, the Textus Receptus and the Bomberg Hebrew Bible maintain logical and theological consistency, affirming their status as the infallible Scriptures preserved by God.
1. Genealogical Contradiction (Matthew 1:7-10)
The critical text introduces omissions and alterations in the genealogy of Christ, resulting in a contradictory historical record. For example, the removal of specific names and the inclusion of others that do not align with the historical accounts create a chronological and logical inconsistency. A genealogical record cannot both include and exclude the same individuals without invalidating its reliability.
By contrast, the Textus Receptus preserves the genealogy as recorded in the King James Version, maintaining the logical and historical integrity necessary for a binding legal document.
2. Moral Contradiction (Matthew 5:22)
The critical text removes the phrase “without a cause” from Jesus’ teaching on anger, altering the verse to read:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Critical Text)
The Textus Receptus, reflected in the King James Version, retains the phrase:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (KJV)
This omission creates a moral contradiction. The critical text implies that all anger is sinful, which directly contradicts instances in Scripture where righteous anger is displayed. For example, Mark 3:5 describes Jesus being angry without sinning. The Textus Receptus preserves logical consistency by qualifying anger as sinful only when it lacks just cause, aligning with the broader biblical teaching on righteous anger.
3. Ethical Contradiction (Matthew 5:44)
The critical text shortens Jesus’ command to love one’s enemies, omitting essential parts of His teaching:
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Critical Text)
The Textus Receptus, preserved in the King James Version, provides the full command:
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (KJV)
This truncation introduces an ethical inconsistency by diminishing the comprehensiveness of Christ’s command. By omitting “bless them that curse you” and “do good to them that hate you,” the critical text reduces the ethical and theological depth of Jesus’ instruction, creating ambiguity in its application. The Textus Receptus preserves the fullness of Christ’s teaching, ensuring that it aligns with the broader biblical principles of selfless love and active goodness toward one’s enemies.
Conclusion
Each of these contradictions introduced by the critical text undermines its authority and demonstrates that it cannot be the infallible Word of God. A single logical inconsistency within the Bible invalidates its reliability as a binding legal document, creating uncertainty regarding its terms. The Textus Receptus and the Bomberg Hebrew Bible, by God’s providence, have preserved the pure text without addition or subtraction, ensuring that Christians in every generation have access to the infallible and authoritative Scriptures. These preserved texts stand as the logical equivalent of the autographs, maintaining the Bible’s integrity as the unaltered and binding covenant between God and man.
This analysis reaffirms that the critical text, by introducing logical contradictions, fails to uphold the consistency required of God’s Word. Only the providentially preserved Textus Receptus and Bomberg Hebrew Bible fulfill this requirement, standing as the pure and unchanging standard for Christian faith and practice.
