1. Ephesians 4:4–6 Focuses on Spiritual Unity, Not Textual Uniformity
The passage says:
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all...” (Ephesians 4:4–6)
This emphasizes the unity of the Spirit in the body of Christ, focusing on:
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One body – the Church
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One Spirit – the Holy Spirit
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One hope – eternal life in Christ
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One Lord – Jesus Christ
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One faith – the core truths of salvation
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One baptism – initiation into Christ
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One God – our heavenly Father
There is no mention of "one perfect Bible version" or "one preserved Greek text" here. Paul is urging believers to preserve unity in the faith, not to divide over manuscripts or translations.
2. "One Faith" Refers to the Gospel, Not a Particular Bible Text
The "one faith" mentioned here refers to the content of Christian belief—the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. Jude 1:3: “the faith once for all delivered to the saints”).
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Paul never defines this as a particular manuscript or version of the Bible.
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Believers throughout the centuries and across languages have held to “one faith” even while using different translations and textual traditions (e.g., Latin Vulgate, Syriac Peshitta, Septuagint, etc.).
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The essence of the faith is preserved and passed on even with minor textual differences that do not affect core doctrines.
To equate “one faith” with the KJV alone or the TR only is a distortion of the context.
3. God’s Word Is Preserved in the Church Through Many Witnesses
Scripture teaches that God’s Word is preserved (Isa 40:8, Matt 24:35), but it does not teach that preservation must occur through only one perfect edition or translation. Instead:
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God has preserved His Word through the multitude of manuscripts, translations, and faithful witnesses across languages and centuries.
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These witnesses are largely consistent, and no core doctrine is lost, even though minor textual variants exist.
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This reflects God’s wisdom, not disorder—just as He has raised one faith in many languages and cultures, He has preserved His Word in diverse yet faithful forms.
To demand one perfect Bible version undermines this rich, Spirit-guided history of God’s providence in Scripture transmission.
4. KJV-Onlyism and VPP Cause the Very Disunity Paul Warns Against
Ironically, those who insist on “one perfect Bible”—usually meaning the KJV—create division in the body of Christ over something Paul never emphasizes.
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Ephesians 4 is a call to maintain unity in the Spirit, but VPP/KJV-onlyism has divided churches, fellowships, and seminaries.
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It turns secondary matters (textual variants, translation choices) into tests of orthodoxy, which Scripture never authorizes.
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It condemns faithful believers who use modern, accurate translations like the ESV, NASB, or NIV.
This is not preserving “one faith”—it is adding to the faith something Paul never required.
Conclusion: One Bible Faithfully Witnessed, Not One Perfect Edition
I can respectfully say:
“Brother, I too believe God has preserved His Word. But Ephesians 4:4–6 does not teach that He has done so through one perfect version like the KJV. Rather, it calls us to unity in Christ through the one gospel, the one Spirit, and the one Church. The Bible has been faithfully preserved in many languages and manuscripts—not just one stream. To insist on one perfect edition is to go beyond Scripture, and in doing so, we risk dividing the body that Ephesians 4 calls us to protect.”
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