Modern Textual Criticism as Heresy: A Root Corruption of Autonomous Reason Part 3

Reductio ad Absurdum – The Logical Collapse of Modern Textual Criticism

Modern textual criticism, built on the unstable foundations of Enlightenment rationalism and naturalistic presuppositions, leads to absurd conclusions when subjected to careful logical analysis. The method assumes that Scripture has been corrupted over centuries and requires reconstruction by human scholars to recover its “original” form. This position not only contradicts the promises of God concerning the preservation of His Word but also results in logical contradictions and theological instability. This section will demonstrate, through reductio ad absurdum, how modern textual criticism collapses under its own assumptions and why it must be rejected.

I. The Methodology of Modern Textual Criticism

Modern textual criticism begins with a set of presuppositions that are fundamentally flawed, as explored in earlier sections. Here, we summarize its core principles and show how they lead to logical absurdities.

1. Core Principles of Modern Textual Criticism
   • Textual Corruption Presupposition: Modern textual criticism assumes that no manuscript tradition accurately preserves the original text of Scripture, requiring reconstruction through critical methods.
   • Eclectic Methodology: Critics use subjective criteria such as lectio brevior potior (shorter reading preferred) and lectio difficilior potior (more difficult reading preferred) to choose among variant readings.
   • Manuscript Priority: Older manuscripts, such as Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, are given undue weight based on the assumption that they are closer to the original text.
2. The Implicit Rejection of Providential Preservation
   • Modern textual criticism denies that God has preserved His Word pure in all ages, directly contradicting the biblical teaching (Psalm 12:6–7, Matthew 24:35).
   • This presupposition leads to a view of Scripture that is perpetually uncertain and subject to human correction.
3. The Problem of Endless Revision
   • Each generation of scholars produces new critical editions, often overturning previous conclusions. This perpetual revisionism creates instability and erodes confidence in Scripture’s authority.

II. Reductio ad Absurdum: The Self-Defeating Nature of Modern Textual Criticism

The principles and methodologies of modern textual criticism, when carried to their logical conclusions, result in contradictions that render the approach untenable.

1. If Scripture Has Been Corrupted, It Cannot Be Authoritative
   • Modern textual criticism operates on the assumption that the text of Scripture has been corrupted. If this assumption is true, then no reconstructed text can claim to be the definitive Word of God.
   • This leads to an absurd outcome: the very text critics seek to reconstruct is rendered unreliable by the premise of corruption. A self-authenticating, infallible Bible becomes impossible under such assumptions.
2. Contradictory Textual Choices Undermine Coherence
   • Modern textual criticism produces contradictory textual decisions. For example:
     • In Matthew 5:22, some critical texts omit the phrase “without a cause,” suggesting that Jesus condemned all anger. Other texts retain the phrase, allowing for righteous anger.
     • Such contradictions lead to theological and practical confusion, as different critical editions present conflicting teachings.
   • If critical methodology cannot produce a stable text, it cannot serve as a reliable guide for faith and practice.
3. Critical Texts Lead to Theological Absurdities
   • Variants promoted by modern textual criticism often contradict essential doctrines. For instance:
     • The omission of “God” in 1 Timothy 3:16 (“God was manifest in the flesh”) undermines the doctrine of the Incarnation.
     • The replacement of “only begotten Son” with “only begotten God” in John 1:18 has been used to support Arian and Unitarian heresies.
   • Theologically, these variants create a fragmented and inconsistent witness to the truth of Scripture, leading to absurd conclusions about the nature of God and salvation.
4. Perpetual Revision Destroys Confidence in the Text
   • The critical text is never settled; new discoveries and methodologies lead to constant revision. This perpetual instability is logically incompatible with the Bible’s claim to be the unchanging Word of God (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35).
   • Believers are left in doubt, wondering whether the Bible they read is the Word of God or merely an approximation.

III. The Theological Collapse of Modern Textual Criticism

The logical absurdities of modern textual criticism lead directly to theological collapse, as its principles undermine the doctrines of inspiration, preservation, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

1. Undermining the Doctrine of Inspiration
   • If the text of Scripture has been corrupted and must be reconstructed, then the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration is called into question.
   • The critical text approach implies that God inspired His Word but failed to preserve it, creating a theological inconsistency.
2. Denial of Providential Preservation
   • The doctrine of providential preservation, affirmed by the Reformers and the historic confessions, teaches that God has preserved His Word pure in all ages.
   • By denying this doctrine, modern textual criticism contradicts Scripture’s testimony and accuses God of failing to fulfill His promises (e.g., Psalm 12:6–7).
3. Accusing the Holy Spirit of False Witness
   • Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth (John 16:13) and testifies to the integrity of God’s Word.
   • Modern textual criticism implies that the Holy Spirit has borne false witness to the Church for centuries, allowing a corrupted text to be used as the Word of God. This accusation is blasphemous and heretical.
4. Promoting Relativism in Doctrine
   • If the text of Scripture is uncertain, then the doctrines derived from it are also uncertain. This leads to theological relativism, where no doctrine can be firmly established.
   • Such relativism is incompatible with the biblical mandate to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

IV. The Practical Implications of Modern Textual Criticism

The self-defeating nature of modern textual criticism has practical consequences for the Church and individual believers.

1. Erosion of Confidence in the Bible
   • Believers are left wondering whether they can trust the Bible they hold in their hands. This uncertainty undermines the foundation of faith and weakens the Church’s witness to the world.
2. Division and Confusion in the Church
   • Competing critical editions create divisions within the Church, as different groups adopt different textual traditions. This confusion is contrary to the unity that Scripture is meant to produce (Ephesians 4:3–6).
3. A Return to Roman Catholic Assumptions
   • The reliance on academic elites to determine the “true” text of Scripture mirrors the Roman Catholic claim that only the Church’s magisterium can authoritatively interpret the Bible.
   • This approach undermines the principle of sola Scriptura, replacing the authority of Scripture with the authority of scholars.

V. Conclusion

Modern textual criticism, when examined through the lens of reductio ad absurdum, reveals itself to be a self-defeating methodology that undermines the integrity, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture. Its assumptions lead to theological absurdities, logical contradictions, and practical instability, rendering it incompatible with biblical Christianity.

The Church must reject modern textual criticism and its principles, returning to the doctrine of providential preservation as affirmed by Scripture and the historic confessions. Only by trusting in God’s promises to preserve His Word can believers have confidence in the Bible as the unchanging and infallible foundation for faith and practice.

In the next section, we will explore the biblical call to repentance for those who have embraced the corrupt methodology of modern textual criticism and how the Church can recover a faithful commitment to God’s preserved Word.

The Call to Repentance – Returning to the Foundation of Scripture

Modern textual criticism, with its roots in Enlightenment rationalism and naturalistic assumptions, stands in direct opposition to the biblical doctrine of Scripture. Its rejection of the providential preservation of the Word of God, and the resulting heretical conclusions, necessitate a response from those who uphold the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. This response is not merely academic; it is a call to repentance. Those who promote modern textual criticism must recognize the theological and logical consequences of their position, abandon their adherence to corrupt methodologies, and return to the foundation of Scripture as the divinely inspired and preserved Word of God.

I. The Necessity of Sola Scriptura

The doctrine of sola Scriptura—that Scripture alone is the ultimate authority for faith and practice—is at the heart of the Reformation and biblical Christianity. Modern textual criticism undermines this doctrine by replacing the authority of Scripture with the authority of human reason and scholarly consensus.

1. Scripture’s Self-Testimony
   • Scripture testifies to its own divine origin and authority. Paul writes that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), affirming that the Bible is God’s Word, breathed out by Him.
   • Jesus declares, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17), emphasizing the absolute reliability of Scripture. He also promises that His words “shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35), underscoring the doctrine of providential preservation.
2. The Incompatibility of Modern Textual Criticism with Sola Scriptura
   • Modern textual criticism elevates human judgment above the self-authenticating testimony of Scripture. This is a direct violation of sola Scriptura, which recognizes the Bible as the ultimate and final authority.
   • By treating Scripture as an unstable text subject to perpetual revision, modern textual criticism denies the sufficiency of God’s Word for the Church’s faith and practice.
3. The Role of the Church in Preserving Scripture
   • The Bible teaches that the Church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), a witness to the providential preservation of God’s Word.
   • Modern textual criticism’s denial of the Church’s historical role in preserving Scripture reflects an implicit rejection of this biblical truth.

II. The Call to Confession and Repentance

Those who promote modern textual criticism must recognize its corrupt roots, heretical implications, and destructive fruit. This recognition should lead to confession and repentance.

1. Acknowledging the Sin of Autonomous Reasoning
   • Modern textual criticism is rooted in autonomous reasoning, which exalts human judgment above divine revelation. This sin is condemned in Scripture:
     • “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
     • “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit” (Colossians 2:8).
   • To repent, proponents of modern textual criticism must reject the Enlightenment assumptions that undergird their methodology and submit to the authority of God’s Word.
2. Rejecting the False Witness Against the Holy Spirit
   • Modern textual criticism implicitly accuses the Holy Spirit of bearing false witness by suggesting that He allowed the Church to rely on a corrupted text for centuries. This accusation is blasphemous and requires repentance.
   • Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) who guides believers into all truth. To question His role in preserving Scripture is to deny His divine work in the Church.
3. Returning to the Doctrine of Providential Preservation
   • Repentance requires a return to the biblical and confessional doctrine of providential preservation.
     • The Westminster Confession of Faith (1.8) affirms that the Scriptures have been “kept pure in all ages.” This doctrine is grounded in the promises of God (Psalm 12:6–7, Matthew 5:18).
   • By embracing this doctrine, believers can affirm the integrity and reliability of the Bible as the unchanging Word of God.

III. Practical Steps for Reform

Repentance must be accompanied by practical steps to reform and rebuild confidence in the authority and sufficiency of Scripture.

1. Rejecting Modern Critical Methodologies
   • The Church must reject the principles and practices of modern textual criticism, which are incompatible with the biblical doctrine of Scripture.
   • Instead, it must reaffirm its commitment to the traditional text of Scripture, including the Textus Receptus and the Masoretic Text, as the faithful representation of God’s preserved Word.
2. Rebuilding Confidence in Scripture
   • Pastors and teachers must educate their congregations about the doctrine of providential preservation and the reliability of the traditional text.
   • Resources such as the Westminster Confession, writings of the Reformers, and historical evidence of textual transmission should be used to strengthen believers’ confidence in the Bible.
3. Promoting Faithful Scholarship
   • Faithful scholarship must prioritize the authority of Scripture over human methodologies. Scholars should approach textual studies with a presuppositional commitment to the truth of God’s Word and His promise to preserve it.
   • Theological institutions must abandon the promotion of modern textual criticism and instead train students in the confessional understanding of Scripture.

IV. A Call to the Church

The Church as a whole bears responsibility for addressing the challenges posed by modern textual criticism. This requires collective action and a unified commitment to biblical principles.

1. Proclaiming the Authority of Scripture
   • The Church must boldly proclaim the authority and sufficiency of Scripture in an age of skepticism and relativism. This includes rejecting the notion that the Bible’s text is uncertain or incomplete.
   • By standing on the promises of God’s Word, the Church can offer a clear and unwavering witness to the world.
2. Guarding Against Heretical Influences
   • Modern textual criticism has been a vehicle for heretical teachings, including Arianism and Unitarianism. The Church must guard against these influences by holding fast to the traditional text of Scripture.
   • This vigilance requires discernment and a commitment to sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13–14).
3. Encouraging Unity Around the Confessional Text
   • The Church should seek unity around the traditional text of Scripture, which has been recognized and used by God’s people for centuries.
   • This unity strengthens the Church’s witness and reinforces its confidence in the Bible as the Word of God.

V. Conclusion

Modern textual criticism, with its rejection of providential preservation and its reliance on autonomous reason, represents a serious challenge to the doctrine of Scripture. Its principles and practices have led to heretical conclusions and widespread instability in the Church. The only appropriate response is repentance—a rejection of corrupt methodologies and a return to the biblical foundation of Scripture.

The Church must reaffirm its commitment to sola Scriptura and the doctrine of providential preservation, trusting in the promises of God to keep His Word pure in all ages. By rejecting modern textual criticism and embracing the traditional text of Scripture, believers can rebuild confidence in the Bible as the unchanging, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.

The final section will conclude this series by summarizing the argument and emphasizing the hope of restoration through a return to the biblical doctrine of Scripture.

Chris.Thomas

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