Can the Bible be trusted? There are two major views of the Providential preservation of the biblical record. One group believes that God preserves biblical accuracy in spite of human influence. The other group believes that He preserves accuracy because of human influence.
The great irony is this, the same ones who teach that humans are “totally depraved” are the ones who depend upon human influence in order to know God’s will (Calvinism, Catholicism, etc.).
(Side note: Catholics and Calvinists are not the only ones to make arguments against the Providential protection of Scripture. Muslims also believe that Muhammad’s words (the Qur’an) were necessary in order to edit out the biblical errors brought on by human tampering. Apparently, Muslims quote Muhammad because the Bible can’t be trusted, Calvinists quote Reformation leaders because the Bible can’t be trusted, and Catholics quote the Pope… well, you get the idea.)
Warning! It is a very slippery slope to conclude that God requires human editing in order to keep His Word accurate.
In response to this humanistic accusation against the purity of Scripture, I would like to offer you several promises from God.
Matthew 24:35 (NIV) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Mark 13:31 (NIV) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Luke 21:33 (NIV) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV) “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”
But perhaps the most explicit teaching on the trustworthy nature of Scripture comes from the inspired words of Peter.
1 Peter 1:23-25 (NIV) “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.'”
Conclusion
I realize that I have quoted Scripture in order to validate the accuracy of Scripture, but that IS the point. Let’s revisit the original statement of this chapter, “There are two major views of the Providential preservation of the Bible record. One group believes that God preserves biblical accuracy in spite of human influence. The other group believes that He preserves accuracy because of human influence.”
The question is this, “To which group are you loyal?”
I find it perversely ironic that the same groups who preach “faith only” can’t seem to muster enough faith to trust that God can preserve the accuracy of Scripture without human input.
Beware of the doctrines of human filtering which dominate the hermeneutical agenda of Catholicism, Calvinism, Reformed Theology, Mormonism, Jehovah Witness, Islam, etc. In order to be sure of God’s message, always let the Bible interpret the Bible.