Providential Preservation

Why We Do Not Accept the Doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP), and a Better Alternative

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❌ Why We Do Not Accept VPP

The doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) teaches that God has preserved every single word (verbal) of Scripture, perfectly and entirely (plenary), without error, in specific manuscript texts (the Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Textus Receptus), and only in those. But this view is problematic for several reasons:

1. No Scriptural Proof for “Where” or “How” Preservation Happens
   While the Bible promises God’s Word will be preserved (e.g., Isaiah 40:8), it never specifies which exact manuscript or text line contains all preserved words without error. VPP assumes too much.

2. Presumes Infallibility of Certain Texts
   VPP teaches that certain edited texts (like Scrivener’s TR, 1894) are identical to the original autographs, effectively elevating them to inspired status. This amounts to a dangerous and new doctrine, not supported by Scripture or the historical church.

3. Contradicts Historical and Manuscript Evidence
   History shows no single perfect manuscript exists. Even the best manuscripts differ slightly from each other. Yet all faithful manuscripts together help us recover the original text reliably. VPP ignores this process.

4. Creates Confusion and Division
   VPP insists only Bibles translated from TR and MT (like the KJV) are the true Word of God, implying that all others (like the NIV or CUV) are corrupt. This leads to unwarranted rejection of faithful translations and causes unnecessary division within churches.

5. It’s a Recent and Evolving Teaching
   VPP is not part of the historic Christian faith or the Westminster Confession. It emerged only in the 1990s and has been changing its definitions and standards, further showing its instability.

6. Logical Inconsistencies
   For example, some VPP proponents affirm the Chinese Union Version (CUV) as the best Bible for Chinese readers, even though it is based on manuscripts VPP labels as corrupt.

7. Spiritual Danger
   VPP can cause sincere believers to doubt their Bibles unless they use one specific translation, like the KJV. This undermines confidence in God's Word and adds man-made requirements to God’s promises.

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✅ A Better Alternative: Providential Preservation

Instead of VPP, we affirm the doctrine of Providential Preservation, which aligns with both Scripture and the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF 1.8).

This view teaches:

• God has preserved His Word faithfully through the centuries, not through one manuscript or translation, but through the entire witness of the church and the abundance of manuscripts.

• No single copy or translation is perfect, but all trustworthy ones preserve the meaning and message of the original.

• Faithful translations like the KJV, ESV, NIV, and CUV can be used with confidence.

• This view affirms the inerrancy of the original autographs, and the trustworthiness of the Bible today, without demanding artificial perfection in later copies or translations.

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In Conclusion

We reject VPP because it goes beyond Scripture, creates confusion, and undermines the true doctrine of Scripture’s preservation. Instead, we hold to Providential Preservation—the historic, balanced, and biblically faithful view that assures believers that God’s Word has not been lost, and that our Bibles today are trustworthy and sufficient for salvation and life.