Exposing the Error of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP)

 📚 Exposing the Error of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP)

Introduction:

Today we are going to talk about a belief that sounds very spiritual at first, but actually causes confusion and even division in churches. It is called Verbal Plenary Preservation, or VPP for short.

We already believe that the Bible was verbally and fully inspired by God. That means every word (verbal) and all parts (plenary) of Scripture were given by God. This is called Verbal Plenary Inspiration (VPI). It is the true and historical doctrine of the Christian faith.

But some people go further and say something extra, something not taught in the Bible. They say:

“Not only did God inspire every word of the Bible, but He also perfectly preserved every single word in one manuscript family or in one Bible translation only, like the King James Version.”

This is where VPP goes wrong.

🚫 What’s the Error in VPP?

It Adds to the Bible What God Did Not Say

The Bible tells us that God’s Word is perfect and eternal (Psalm 119:89). It also tells us that God’s Word will not pass away (Matthew 24:35). But nowhere does it say that God preserved every word in one exact copy or version, like the King James Bible.

That is an assumption. That is reading something into Scripture, not reading Scripture from the text.

It Confuses Inspiration with Preservation

Inspiration means: God breathed out His Word through the prophets and apostles.

Preservation means: God kept His truth available and trustworthy for every generation.

VPP wrongly teaches that preservation must be word-for-word perfect in one single manuscript or translation. But that is not what the Bible or church history teaches. In fact, God preserved His truth through many copies, across many centuries, using many faithful scribes and translators.

It Elevates One Translation Above Others

VPP believers often say, “Only the King James Bible is perfectly preserved.” But that turns a translation into a sacred object, almost like an idol. It also wrongly condemns other good and faithful translations like the ESV, NASB, or NIV.

We must remember: no translation is perfect, but many are faithful. God’s truth can be faithfully passed on without every word being exactly the same.

It Divides the Church Over Man-Made Ideas

Because of VPP, some churches fight over Bible versions. Some even say other believers who use a different translation are heretics or less spiritual.

But this is not how the Spirit of Christ works. The Holy Spirit unites us around truth, not around human traditions. Jesus prayed that His followers would be one—not divided over Bible versions (John 17:21).

✅ What Is the Right Belief?

We believe the Bible is inspired, fully and completely, in the original writings.

We believe God has preserved His truth faithfully, though not necessarily in one perfect copy.

We believe that we can trust the Bible today, through careful translations, scholarship, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We believe that no translation should be worshipped or treated as perfect—only God’s Word is perfect, and His truth remains clear and powerful through many versions.

📖 Conclusion:

Friends, let us stay humble. Let us trust God’s Word as He gave it. Let us be careful not to build man-made doctrines that the Bible itself does not teach. VPP is not only wrong—it divides, confuses, and leads people away from true faith and unity.

We do not need to believe in Verbal Plenary Preservation to trust the Bible.

We trust the Bible because God inspired it, and because He is faithful to make sure His message is still reaching us today.