In every generation, Christians are called to defend the authority, reliability, and sufficiency of God’s Word. As a theologian, I share that deep commitment. Scripture is the foundation of our faith, the revelation of God’s will, and the guide for Christian life and doctrine. However, in our zeal to defend Scripture, we must be careful not to go beyond what Scripture itself teaches—or to elevate human traditions and historical artifacts to a level of divine perfection.
This article is written to affirm the trustworthiness of the Bible while addressing a growing concern: the claims of those who promote Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP), KJV-onlyism, and the idea of a "Perfect Textus Receptus (TR)." While these views are often motivated by a desire to honor God’s Word, I believe they ultimately do more harm than good, and confuse the doctrine of Scripture with man-made theories about translations and textual history.
1. What Does It Mean to Defend God’s Word?
To defend God’s Word is not to claim that any one translation or edition of the Bible is flawless or divinely preserved to the letter. Rather, it is to affirm that:
God has spoken through human authors (Hebrews 1:1–2);
The Bible, as originally given, is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16);
The message of the gospel and the truth of God’s revelation has been faithfully preserved throughout history;
God’s Word is sufficient, clear, and authoritative for salvation and godly living.
This is the historic, orthodox position of the Church, held by countless faithful believers long before the rise of the KJV-only movement or the idea of a “perfect TR.”
2. Why I Reject Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP)
The doctrine of Verbal Plenary Inspiration teaches that all the words of Scripture were inspired by God—this I affirm wholeheartedly. But Verbal Plenary Preservation, as some define it today, asserts that God has preserved every single word of the original autographs without variation, and that such preservation can be found in a specific printed text (the TR) and translation (the KJV).
This claim is not only historically and textually unsupported—it is theologically unsound.
Why?
Scripture never teaches that one printed edition of a text would be preserved perfectly. It speaks of the preservation of God’s Word (meaning His truth, message, and promises), not of one manuscript family or translation.
Manuscript evidence is complex and rich, with thousands of Greek manuscripts, none of which are completely identical. God’s providence has preserved His Word through this diversity, not through a frozen, flawless form.
VPP elevates human tradition—especially post-Reformation editorial decisions—into dogma. This risks confusing the authority of Scripture with the authority of a 16th–17th century editing process.
3. Why I’m Not a KJV-Only Advocate
The King James Version (KJV) is a monumental translation. It has shaped the English-speaking church for centuries and continues to be cherished for its literary beauty and theological depth. I respect it. But I do not idolize it.
KJV-onlyism teaches that the KJV is the only valid English Bible and that all other translations are corrupt or inferior. This view is flawed for several reasons:
- God’s Word is not bound to one language or version. The early church read the Scriptures in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and later in Latin, Syriac, and Coptic. No generation insisted on a single translation as “the only” preserved Word of God.
- The KJV itself has undergone many revisions. The version most people use today is not the original 1611 edition.
- Many faithful translations exist today—ESV, NASB, CSB, NKJV, NIV—produced with scholarship, reverence, and accuracy. To claim that God only blesses one version is to misrepresent both history and God’s providence.
4. The Problem with a "Perfect TR"
The Textus Receptus (TR) was the Greek text used during the time of the Reformation. It was based on a limited number of late Byzantine manuscripts and edited by scholars like Erasmus and Stephanus. It played an important role in history, but it is not perfect or identical to the original autographs.
- There are known errors in early TR editions, including back-translations from the Latin Vulgate.
- Later TR editions disagree among themselves—raising the question: which TR is perfect?
- Modern textual criticism (based on thousands more manuscripts than were available in the 16th century) allows us to approach the original text with greater accuracy than ever before.
To claim that the TR is perfect is to ignore the historical and textual reality of how the Bible was transmitted and preserved.
5. What Do We Trust, Then?
We trust that God, in His providence, has preserved His Word faithfully. Not perfectly in one edition, but reliably through a wealth of manuscript witnesses, ancient versions, and faithful translations.
Our confidence is not in any one human product of translation or editing, but in the God who speaks.
Yes, we must be discerning about translations. Yes, we must reject those that twist doctrine or downplay divine truth. But we must also avoid the opposite error: turning a good translation into an idol, or insisting that one form of the text is the only form God can use.
Conclusion: Let the Bible Be the Bible
To defend God’s Word is not to defend a particular version or text-type, but to affirm the living, powerful, life-giving message of Scripture. Let us not fall into the trap of building walls where God has given freedom. Let us not elevate human editorial choices above God’s providential care.
God’s Word is eternal (Isaiah 40:8), sharper than any sword (Hebrews 4:12), and trustworthy (Psalm 19:7). That truth does not depend on one version, one manuscript, or one tradition—it depends on the faithfulness of the God who speaks and the Spirit who opens our hearts to hear.
Let us hold fast to Scripture, not as a museum piece, but as the living voice of our Lord. And let us defend it—not with narrow dogma—but with truth, humility, and grace.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” —Isaiah 40:8
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