Introduction

This paper states my understanding of God’s teaching in His Word concerning the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation and the position I must take with regard to this Doctrine.

I am no linguist or scholar of theology but I am a child of God. And I write with that as my only credential. My heavenly Father’s revelation through His Word to me and all His children is clear (John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice …,” John 18:37: “… Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”) and can be understood with the illumination of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26: “… the Holy Ghost … shall teach you …,” Ps 119:18: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”)

I therefore write as one child of God to another. It is hoped that this paper will help the God-fearing and God-honouring reader to come to an equally biblical understanding of (and response to) this Doctrine.

Definition

While God has inspired men of old to write His Word in Hebrew and Greek (ie, the divine, Verbal Plenary Inspiration of the autographs), God also has taken it upon Himself to providentially preserve all of His own words in Hebrew and Greek, so that they can never be lost. This is the Doctrine of Verbal (words) Plenary (all, full, complete) Preservation and this Doctrine is taught in the Word of God.

The Bible Teaches the Doctrine of 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 for ever.

Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 78:1–7 Give ear, O my people, [to] my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.

Psalm 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word [which] he commanded to a thousand generations.

Psalm 111:7–8 The works of his hands [are] verity and judgment; all his commandments [are] sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, [and are] done in truth and uprightness.

Psalm 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

Psalm 119:160 Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 59:21 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.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 5:17–18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

1 Peter 1:23–25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The Bible Teaches the Preservation of All the Words (Not Just Doctrines) of God

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 for ever.

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 5:17–18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

1 Peter 1:24–25 For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The Purpose of Verbal Plenary Preservation is to Sanctify God’s Children When They Obey His Word

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God: but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children for ever, that [we] may do all the words of this law.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 78:1–7 Give ear, O my people, [to] my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

Proverbs 5:7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

John 20:30–31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Romans 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

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, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

My Belief on the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation

Just as I believe by faith that God created out of nothing and that He created over a literal six-day period because the Word of God says so (no matter what the scientists or the science text books say!), I believe by faith that God can and has preserved His words for us because the Word of God says so (no matter what the textual critics, scholarly linguists, commentators, etc may say!). (See above for the biblical teaching.)

Just as much have been written against the literal six-day creation (and the other miracles in the Bible), much have also been (and will continue to be) written against the verbal, plenary preservation of the Word of God.

But, finally, it is not what the “experts” or “godly men” say but what God’s Word says. It is not what I can see with my eyes and touch with my hands, it is what is revealed to me (and you) in God’s Word. (“The Word of God says it. That settles it. I believe it.”)

I believe in Jesus. I believe in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. I believe there is a literal heaven and a literal hell. I believe in the rapture of saints (although it defies the law of gravity!). I believe not because I have seen all these with my eyes or that the “experts” or “godly men” confirm that these are possible in reality. I believe because God’s Word tells me so, and I believe by faith. It is enough that God’s Word says so.

Believing in God’s Word may cause me difficulties. For example, it means that I must believe that my unsaved loved ones will be left behind during the rapture. I must believe that my unsaved loved ones will end up suffering in a literal hell. Yet I must believe because God’s Word says so. I cannot twist God’s Word to make it say that my unsaved loved ones can be found in heaven. Let us never twist God’s Word to make our difficulties or problems go away. The criterion for what I believe, or do not believe, is not whether it suits me or not, not whether it is convenient for me or not, not whether I want to believe or not, not whether it will cause me problems or not, not whether my intellectual curiosity is satisfied or not. The criterion is and must be whether God’s Word teaches it or not.

Hebrews 11:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Hebrews 11:7–8 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house …. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Let us take God at His Word and trust the words He has revealed to us. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” God’s Word is rich with the teaching of the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation. Let us believe God’s clear revelation to us. Let us not lean on our own understanding and start to doubt His Word.

Hebrews 11:7 tells us that “by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house …”. While Noah by faith obediently did all that the Lord commanded him (Gen 6:22, 7:5) and preached God’s Word to the people (2 Pet 2:5), the people carried on with their lives as per normal (Matt 24:38–39), ignoring the Word of God. Luke 17:26 says, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” And so we must be ready for God’s Word to be rejected today when we by faith believe and teach what God says in His Word.

Much have been written and spoken against the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation, but one thing that is glaring in all these is the lack of Bible support for the doctrine of non-verbal, non-plenary preservation. No where in the Bible does it teach that God’s Word will be preserved only in part. Nor does it teach that God’s Word is accurate only in the areas of faith and salvation and not in the areas of geography and history.

Let us not be hoodwinked into believing the lie of the evil one, couched in scholarly words, words that appeal to our intellect and pride. Remember the strategies the evil one used with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1), and with our Lord Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1–12). Let us learn from the mistake made by Adam and Eve and not repeat it. Let us learn from our Lord how not to fall into the trap of the evil one.

We believe in God, we must also believe in His Word. We must take God at His Word. I cannot explain how God can create over a mere, literal six-day period. But I believe in the literal six-day creation because the Word of God teaches that. I cannot explain how Christ can be born of a virgin. But I believe in His virgin birth because God’s Word says so. I cannot explain how God can preserve His every word, even to the jot and tittle. But I believe He can because He revealed in His Word that He will. Let us take God at His Word. “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is…” (Heb 11:6). “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar …” (Rom 3:3–4). Yes, “let God be true.” If He says He will preserve His words to the jot and tittle, let us “let God be true.”

You may ask: “What if I cannot reconcile God’s verses? What if I discover ‘mistakes’ or discrepancies in God’s Word?” Reader, ask yourself: “Am I smarter than God? Do I detect errors that God has missed? Is my God not capable of keeping His own words intact?”

God says He will preserve. Surely my almighty Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, is able to preserve accurately and perfectly the words that He has taken the trouble to inspire men of old to write.

If I cannot reconcile certain verses (and I believe God has promised to providentially preserve His Word Himself), it must then be because of my limited intelligence or understanding. The discrepancies must be apparent discrepancies, not real discrepancies. Perhaps, God may use a human teacher to enlighten me. Even if He does not, then I will wait till I see Him face to face and I am confident He will be able to explain those verses to me.

The Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation is Not a New Teaching

It is not a new teaching but a very old doctrine that is being taught in the Bible itself (Ps 12:6–7, Matt 5:18, 24:35).

In addition, when the New Testament writers and Jesus referred to the “scriptures” (eg, 2 Tim 3:16, John 10:35), they were not referring to the autographs but the faithfully copied apographs. They (Jesus included) accepted without question the apographs as scriptures, as the very Word of God. If the apographs are good enough for Jesus, they are good enough for me.

Various confessional statements from the days of old have also revealed their belief in the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1643–1648) states:

The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), 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.¹

Note that the Westminster Confession did not use the term “autographs” but spoke of the Scriptures in terms of the original LANGUAGES. What are “by His singular care and providence” being “kept pure in all ages”? The Hebrew words and the Greek words which God has inspired men of old to put down in writing! The Westminster Confession of Faith clearly teaches the 100% preservation of the Hebrew words and Greek words of the Holy Scriptures.

Both the Westminster Confession (1643–48) and the Helvetic Consensus Formula (1675) cite Matthew 5:18 as proof of the divine inspiration and special providential preservation of the Holy Scripture.

The Helvetic Consensus Formula (1675) states:

God, the supreme Judge, not only took care to have His Word, which is the ‘power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth’ (Rom 1:16), committed to writing by Moses, the prophets, and the apostles, but has also watched and cherished it with paternal care ever since it was written up to the present time, so that it could not be corrupted by craft of Satan or fraud of man. Therefore, the church justly ascribes it to His singular grace and goodness that she has, and will have to the end of the world, a ‘sure word of prophecy’ (2 Pet 1:19) and ‘holy Scriptures’ (2 Tim 3:15), from which, though heaven and earth perish, ‘one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass’ (Matt 5:18).²

Francis Turretin (1623–1687) expounded on the early confessional doctrine of Biblical preservation and understood it to mean “entire preservation”:

Nor can we readily believe that God, who dictated and inspired each and every word to these inspired men, would not take care of their entire preservation.³

The Baptist New Hampshire Confession (1833) states:

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is an infallible and inerrant treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter … and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true centre of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.⁴

More recent statements have also revealed their belief in the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation. The International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC) 16^th World Congress in Jerusalem 2000, Statement #2, “On the Word of God Forever Inerrant and Infallible” declares:

The first historic doctrine of the Christian Church presented in the doctrinal statement of this Council of churches is its belief in the inerrancy and infallibility of the entire Bible … God’s Word has been given to us directly from heaven by the Holy Spirit and Jesus, while He was here, said that the Father had sent Him and had given to Him the words which He had delivered to man. Jesus was explicit when he said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.” … It is this Bible and its record of past prophecies that have been seen to be fulfilled in the smallest level, and every Word of God is true …. The ICCC reaffirms all the statements carefully and prayerfully worked out … all of which are based squarely on this holy and perfect record which came from heaven, of which God is the Author and that indeed is why it is called the Word of God.⁵

Dr E F Hills (1912–1981) wrote:

If the doctrine of divine inspiration of the Old and New Testament Scriptures is a true doctrine, the doctrine of the providential preservation of these Scriptures must also be a true doctrine. It must be that down through the centuries God has exercised a special, providential control over the copying of the Scriptures and the preservation and use of the original text have been available to God’s people in every age.⁶

An Acid Test

Reader, if you are unable to accept God’s teaching concerning the verbal, plenary preservation of God’s Word, may I suggest that you make a list of your objections and examine them one by one. Do you object because of your need to “see” in order to believe? (John 20:25, “… Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”) Do you object because believing will cause you problems or difficulties, and therefore you decide to twist God’s Word and make it say something else? Do you object because you refuse to admit your limited intellect when you are unable to understand or reconcile certain portions of God’s Word?

Perhaps, in the process, you will discover your lack of biblical support for your objection, that you actually have no real good reason for opposing God’s teaching on the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation except your own lack of faith and trust in Him and the teaching in His Word!

Twelve Possible Dangerous Outcomes if the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation is Rejected⁷

1. No inspired Word of God intact.
2. No absolutely infallible, inerrant Word of God.
3. God is unfaithful in keeping His repeated promise that He will preserve His Word forever.
4. Jesus’ promises are unreliable (eg, “My words shall not pass away.”)
5. Jesus did not mean what He said.
6. God is so incapacitated by the errors of man and dark events of history that He is unable to keep His promises.
7. Faith of Old Testament prophets and saints that God’s Word will be kept intact is a false faith.
8. Affirmation of apostles and New Testament writers that God’s Word will be kept intact is false.
9. Our forefathers’ faith that the Word of God “by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages” is not acceptable.
10. Any one can question the authenticity and authority of the words in the Bible.
11. Believe “scholars” as to which part of Bible is wrong, instead of believing God.
12. No more absolutely trustworthy, perfect Word of God.

The Church Response and Responsibility

The Word of God is the authority on which our doctrines are based. It is the authority for all our preaching and teaching. Over the years, the church has found it necessary and important enough (rightly so) to make a stand for all the various doctrines and positions of the church especially when these are being attacked. Now, when the “root” of all our doctrines and positions is being attacked, it is imperative that the church makes a stand for the “root,” the very Word of God itself.

In our Bible-Presbyterian church history, we see that the church took the stand of biblical separation (against Billy Graham and ecumenism). The church also took the stand that the gift of tongue-speaking has ceased. It was a credit to the church that amidst much controversy and debate, it courageously stood on the Lord’s side. There was unhappiness in certain quarters. With much sadness, the church lost some members in the process. But this is a price that the church had to pay (and was willing to pay) for obedience to her Lord and Master. Jesus has set us the example (Phil 2:8: “… he humbled himself, and became obedient …,” Luke 22:42: “… not my will, but thine, be done.”) He was obedient to God the Father. He submitted to the will of His Father. So must the church. Such vital issues that pertain to the teachings of God warrant the church making a stand.

The church’s recent uncompromising and vocal teaching against the movie “The Passion of the Christ” and against homosexuality shows that our leaders are diligently performing the task of a good “watchman” as required by God (Ezek 3:17; 33:6–7). When the church makes a stand, effectively three things take place:

1. The leadership clearly teaches the flock what God’s Word says about the issue.
2. The leadership leads the flock in obeying God’s Word.
3. The leadership leads the flock to stand united to speak with one voice for the Lord.

The present issue concerning the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation is a vital issue that hits at the root of our faith and the root of all our doctrines. It is not enough that in the past the church has courageously made stands that are for the Lord. The Word of God is now under attack. The church must once again make that decision to humbly obey her God and stand on the Lord’s side by faithfully teaching what the Bible says about the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation (John 21:15–17: “… lovest thou me …? … Feed my lambs … Feed my sheep … Feed my sheep”). Praise God that a handful of our churches have already made that decision to stand on the Lord’s side. The flock needs such watchful leaders to teach them the truth from God’s Word and to lead them in obeying the truth. May God help our leaders to continue to be diligent, faithful and courageous watchmen for the Lord. May God help every child of God to read His Word and to believe by faith all that He has revealed through His Word.

Conclusion

I give all thanks and praise to my Heavenly Father for assuring me in His own Word that He has taken it upon Himself to keep His own words intact and that I have a most sure Word of God today on which I can be rooted firmly and not be “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14).

“… Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb 12:11). Thank God for the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our hearts when we humbly submit ourselves to our Lord, and just believe and obey Him.

“But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6).

May God help me (and every child of God) to believe, to cling on to, and to be rooted in His precious words as revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.

To God be the glory!

Notes

¹ G I Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co, 1964), 14.

² The Formula Consensus Helvetica (1675), available from http://public.csusm.edu/guests/rsclark/Helvetic_Consensus_Formula.htm. Internet; Accessed on 25 January 2005.

³ Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, trans George Musgrave Giger, ed James T Dennison, Jr (Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1992), 1:71.

⁴ Philip Schaff, ed, The Creeds of Christiandom with a History and Critical Notes. Vol III: The Evangelical Protestant Creed (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1931), 742.

⁵ ICCC 16th World Congress Statements, Jerusalem, November 8–14, 2000, Far Eastern Beacon, 23/17 (Christmas 2000): 14.

⁶ Edward F Hills, The King James Version Defended (Iowa: The Christian Research Press, 1956), 2.

⁷ Prabhudas Koshy, “If We Reject the Doctrine of the Perfect Preservation of the Bible,” Bible Witness, 2/4 (October–December 2002): 16–17.