III. The Holy Ghost Bears Witness to the Authentic Texts
1. The Doctrine of Providential Preservation
The doctrine of providential preservation asserts that God has preserved His Word throughout history in a manner consistent with His character and promises. This doctrine is not a peripheral issue but a central tenet of the Christian faith, as it ensures the Church possesses a reliable foundation for faith and practice. Providential preservation affirms that the authentic Greek and Hebrew texts, represented by the Textus Receptus and Masoretic Text, are the divinely preserved Word of God. This understanding directly opposes the critical text, which rests on the claim that the Scriptures were subject to corruption for centuries and only recently restored by textual critics.
A. Scriptural Basis for Preservation
- Psalm 12:6-7: “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 forever.”
- This passage explicitly ties God’s faithfulness to the preservation of His Word, guaranteeing its purity across all generations.
- 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.”
- Christ’s declaration emphasizes the enduring nature of Scripture, down to the smallest elements of the text, affirming that not a single jot or tittle will be lost.
- Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.”
- This verse underscores the permanence of God’s Word, contrasting its enduring nature with the fleeting realities of the created world.
B. Confessional Support
The Reformed confessions explicitly affirm the doctrine of providential preservation:
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1.8):
- “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.”
- This statement affirms that the authentic texts have been preserved by God’s providence and remain the authoritative standard for the Church.
- Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1.8):
- The Baptist confession mirrors the Westminster in affirming the divine preservation of the authentic texts.
These confessions reflect the historic belief of the Church that God’s providence guarantees the integrity of His Word, rendering any accusation of divine deception an affront to His character.
2. The Witness of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost plays an essential role in affirming the authenticity of Scripture. Through His internal testimony, the Spirit assures believers of the truthfulness and authority of God’s Word. This witness, which the Church has historically recognized in the authentic Greek and Hebrew texts, stands in direct opposition to the claims of the critical text.
A. The Internal Testimony of the Spirit
- John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…”
- The Holy Ghost, as the Spirit of truth, leads believers into the truth of God’s Word, confirming its authenticity and reliability.
- 1 John 5:6-9: “…And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
- The Spirit’s witness validates the Scriptures as the true Word of God. This witness has consistently affirmed the authentic texts preserved by God’s providence.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12-14: “…the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God… the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God…”
- Only through the Spirit can believers recognize the divine nature of Scripture. The Spirit confirms the reliability of the authentic texts while exposing the errors of human-centered approaches like textual criticism.
B. The Accusation of Divine Deception
To reject the authentic texts in favor of the critical text is, in effect, to accuse the Holy Ghost of deception. This accusation arises from the logical implications of critical text advocacy:
- Implicating the Holy Ghost in Failure:
- The critical text asserts that the Church lacked the pure Word of God for centuries, with corrupted manuscripts prevailing until the advent of modern textual criticism. This implies that the Holy Ghost failed to preserve the Scriptures or guide the Church into all truth during this period.
- Asserting a False Witness:
- The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, has historically recognized the Textus Receptus and Masoretic Text as the preserved Word of God. To claim that these texts are corrupt is to accuse the Holy Ghost of bearing false witness to the Church.
- Undermining Divine Truthfulness:
- Titus 1:2 declares that God cannot lie, and John 17:17 affirms that His Word is truth. To claim that the Scriptures used by the Church for centuries were corrupt is to accuse God of allowing a lie to persist under His name, a blasphemous affront to His character.
C. Theological and Practical Consequences
- Erosion of Trust in God’s Character:
- If the Holy Ghost allowed the Church to rely on a corrupt text for centuries, it calls into question His faithfulness and reliability, undermining the believer’s trust in God.
- Denial of the Doctrine of Preservation:
- By rejecting the authentic texts, proponents of the critical text deny the historic doctrine of providential preservation, substituting human judgment for divine promise.
- Loss of Scriptural Authority:
- The critical text, with its omissions and alterations, undermines the authority of Scripture, leading to doctrinal confusion and skepticism.
3. Accusations Against God’s Epistemic Foundation
The rejection of the authentic texts in favor of the critical text is not merely an academic error but a sin against God’s revealed truth. It represents a departure from Scripture as the ultimate epistemic foundation and a reliance on human autonomy, which Scripture itself condemns.
A. Scripture as the Epistemic Foundation
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
- Scripture, as divinely inspired, is the ultimate standard for truth and practice.
- Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
- The Word of God is the definitive guide for discerning truth. Any deviation from it leads to error.
- Psalm 119:89: “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
- The Word of God is eternal and unchanging, providing a sure foundation for faith.
B. The Sin of Abandoning Scripture
- Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
- Modern textual criticism, rooted in human reasoning, directly contradicts this command.
- Jeremiah 17:5: “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…”
- By prioritizing human methodologies over divine revelation, proponents of the critical text fall under this curse.
- Revelation 22:18-19: The warning against adding to or taking away from God’s Word highlights the sinfulness of textual tampering, for which advocates of the critical text will be held accountable.
C. Blaspheming the Holy Ghost
- Matthew 12:31-32: “But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
- To attribute deception or failure to the Holy Ghost is a grave sin with eternal consequences. Critical text advocacy risks this sin by accusing the Spirit of failing to preserve the Scriptures or misleading the Church for centuries.
Conclusion of Section 3
The Holy Ghost bears faithful witness to the authentic Greek and Hebrew texts, which God has preserved by His providence. To reject these texts in favor of the critical text is to accuse the Holy Ghost of deception and failure, undermining the character of God and the authority of His Word. This rejection is not merely an academic matter but a theological affront with eternal consequences. Believers must recognize the critical text as the fruit of human autonomy and reaffirm their trust in the authentic texts preserved by God’s providence.
IV. Rejection of Scripture as the Epistemic Foundation
1. Scripture as the Ultimate Epistemic Foundation
The Christian faith is built on the premise that God’s Word is the ultimate standard of truth and the foundation for all knowledge of God, man, and the world. Scripture is self-authenticating, sufficient, and divinely inspired, providing the Church with an infallible rule for faith and practice. The rejection of this epistemic foundation in favor of human reasoning, as seen in modern textual criticism, represents a direct affront to the authority of Scripture and the character of God.
A. The Self-Attestation of Scripture
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
- Scripture claims divine inspiration, affirming its sufficiency and authority in all matters of faith and practice.
- Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
- Scripture illuminates the path of truth, serving as the believer’s ultimate guide.
- John 17:17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
- Christ declares the Word of God to be the definitive standard of truth, emphasizing its role as the foundation for sanctification and understanding.
B. The Role of the Holy Ghost in Testifying to Scripture
- 1 Corinthians 2:12-14: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
- The Holy Ghost enables believers to understand and recognize the truth of Scripture.
- John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
- The Holy Ghost serves as the divine teacher, affirming the truth of God’s Word to the Church.
By rejecting the authentic texts preserved by God’s providence, modern textual critics implicitly deny the Spirit’s role in guiding the Church into all truth and preserving His Word.
2. The Sin of Abandoning Scripture
Rejecting Scripture as the ultimate epistemic foundation is not merely an academic error but a theological and moral failing. Scripture repeatedly warns against placing trust in human reasoning over divine revelation, identifying such actions as sinful and destructive.
A. Biblical Warnings Against Human Autonomy
- Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
- This passage explicitly condemns reliance on human reasoning, urging believers to trust in God’s revealed Word.
- Jeremiah 17:5: “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
- The rejection of God’s Word in favor of human methodologies brings a curse upon those who place their trust in man.
- Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
- Modern textual criticism, rooted in Enlightenment philosophy and humanistic reasoning, falls under the category of vain deceit warned against in this passage.
B. Examples of Sinful Rejection in Modern Textual Criticism
- Epistemological Shift to Human Autonomy:
- Modern textual criticism prioritizes external evidence (e.g., manuscript age, geographic location) and speculative theories over the internal consistency of Scripture and the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
- Undermining Biblical Authority:
- By treating Scripture as a fallible document subject to human correction, proponents of the critical text undermine the authority and reliability of God’s Word.
- Doctrinal Compromise:
- The acceptance of doctrinally problematic readings (e.g., Matthew 1:7-10, Matthew 5:22) demonstrates the practical consequences of rejecting Scripture as the epistemic foundation.
3. The Accusation of Divine Deception
The rejection of the authentic texts in favor of the critical text carries a chilling implication: that God either allowed His Word to be corrupted for centuries or that He failed to preserve it altogether. This accusation strikes at the heart of God’s character, suggesting that He is either unfaithful, deceptive, or powerless to fulfill His promises.
A. Accusing God of Unfaithfulness
- Psalm 89:33-34: “Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”
- God’s faithfulness to His covenant and His Word is unchanging. To claim that the Church lacked access to the preserved Word of God for centuries is to accuse God of breaking His covenant.
- Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent.”
- This verse affirms that God cannot lie or fail in His purposes, contradicting the implication that He allowed His Word to be lost or corrupted.
B. Accusing God of Deception
- John 14:26: The Holy Ghost was given to guide the Church into all truth. If the Church was led to embrace a corrupt text for centuries, this implies that the Holy Ghost failed or deliberately deceived His people.
- Titus 1:2: God’s nature as the “God who cannot lie” is incompatible with the notion that He would allow His Church to rely on a corrupted text.
The logical implication of critical text advocacy is that God allowed a false witness to prevail under His name. Such a claim is tantamount to blasphemy, as it accuses God of violating His own nature.
C. Theological and Practical Implications
- Erosion of Trust in God:
- If God failed to preserve His Word, how can believers trust His other promises? This accusation undermines the very foundation of faith.
- Loss of Scriptural Authority:
- By suggesting that the Church lacked access to the true Word of God, proponents of the critical text weaken the authority of Scripture and leave the Church vulnerable to skepticism and error.
- Judgment for Blasphemy:
- Matthew 12:31-32 warns that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is an unforgivable sin. By accusing the Holy Ghost of deception or failure, advocates of the critical text risk falling under this grave judgment.
4. The Biblical Condemnation of Tampering with God’s Word
The rejection of the authentic texts not only accuses God of deception but also violates explicit biblical commands regarding the integrity of Scripture.
- Deuteronomy 4:2: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it.”
- This verse forbids altering the Word of God, a prohibition consistently violated by the critical text’s omissions and alterations.
- Revelation 22:18-19: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. 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.”
- The warnings in Revelation underscore the eternal consequences of tampering with Scripture.
- Proverbs 30:5-6: “Every word of God is pure… Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
- To alter God’s Word is to make oneself a liar before God.
Conclusion of Section 4
The rejection of Scripture as the epistemic foundation is a sin of profound theological and practical consequences. By abandoning the authentic texts in favor of the critical text, modern textual criticism accuses God of unfaithfulness and deception, undermining His character and the authority of His Word. Scripture itself condemns such actions as blasphemous and warns of the eternal judgment awaiting those who tamper with the Word of God. Believers must reaffirm their trust in the authentic texts, preserved by God’s providence, and reject the humanistic philosophies that seek to supplant divine revelation.
