A Message of Warning

A Message of Warning Regarding Verbal Plenary Preservation and the Pursuit of a Perfect Textus Receptus

I hope this message finds you well. I write with a sincere heart, burdened by the direction some teachings are taking in regard to the doctrine of Bible preservation, particularly concerning Verbal Plenary Preservation and the pursuit of a perfect Textus Receptus (TR). While I understand the deep desire for truth, clarity, and fidelity to Scripture, I believe it is important to remind you of the scriptural warnings concerning division and discord within the Body of Christ.

In Galatians 5:15-21, Paul warns us about the dangers of quarrels, strife, and division: “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:15). 

"But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another." (CBS)

Paul goes on to explain that those who engage in such contentious behaviors, who promote division and factions within the Church, are walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit. These behaviors, he says, lead to destruction. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like…” (Galatians 5:19-21).

I raise this passage because I fear that the emphasis on the perfect preservation of a single manuscript family, such as the Textus Receptus, can inadvertently fuel divisions within the Church—divisions that the New Testament so strongly warns against. When we elevate one translation or manuscript tradition above all others, asserting its perfection and exclusive authority, we risk causing unnecessary conflict and division. In doing so, we may find ourselves biting and devouring one another over an issue that, while important, should not divide the body of Christ.

The pursuit of "perfect preservation"—whether through the Textus Receptus or any other text—can become an idol if it leads to factionalism. While I wholeheartedly affirm the importance of safeguarding the truth and the integrity of Scripture, we must remember that the central message of the Bible is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the unity of the Church in Him is paramount. Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 1:10 is clear: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

When we divide the body of Christ over debates regarding the perfection of a specific text or translation, we risk falling into the very patterns of division Paul warned against. The Bible itself calls us to prioritize love, unity, and peace within the Body. Jesus prayed for the unity of believers, “That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me” (John 17:21). Our mission is to be one in Christ, not divided over secondary issues.

The stakes are higher than just doctrinal purity—they involve the witness of the Church to the world. When Christians bicker over textual minutiae, especially over issues of translation or preservation, we run the risk of damaging our collective testimony and hindering the gospel message.

Additionally, the idea of a "perfect" manuscript or translation often ignores the reality of how God’s Word has been preserved through history. The Bible was not originally given in English, and God’s Spirit has worked through countless translations, versions, and manuscripts to bring His Word to believers across cultures and times. We cannot lose sight of the fact that the power of God’s Word is not in a particular manuscript tradition, but in the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of believers. The Scriptures are living and active, and the message of salvation remains unchanged even through translation.

Finally, I must warn against the spiritual dangers of pushing divisive doctrines that elevate human tradition over the unity of the Church. Those who persist in factionalism and division over the nature of biblical preservation may, in effect, be sowing seeds of destruction rather than seeds of peace. As Paul wrote in Galatians 5:21, “I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The divisive spirit that promotes strife and division—whether over the Textus Receptus, the King James Version, or any other issue—poses a real danger to one’s spiritual health and testimony.

Let us remember that our mission is to preach the gospel, not to engage in endless debates over textual minutiae. God has preserved His Word, and He has done so in a way that makes it accessible to all nations and peoples. Our task is to faithfully proclaim that Word, to live by it, and to share it with others—not to divide the Body of Christ over issues that should not separate us.

I urge you to consider the weight of these warnings and to reflect on the broader purpose of our work as teachers and servants of the Word. Let us seek peace, unity, and mutual understanding in all things, and remember that the gospel message is far greater than any one translation or manuscript tradition.

With love and concern for the Body of Christ,

Russell Joel