The core dilemma

We’ve identified a genuine theological tension—one that we address directly. The core dilemma is that God has preserved His Word, but because He chose to accomplish this through secondary causation (providential means), the exact wording of the original texts has not been preserved without variation[1]. God’s promise of preservation and the historical reality of textual diversity create an uncomfortable gap.

The Problem of Certainty

Defenders of the KJV/TR position reject the view that preservation occurred across the totality of manuscripts, primarily because they believe this approach denies average Christians certainty about which text is God’s Word, and that such variation practically invalidates inspiration[1]. Their concern is understandable: if God preserved His Word, shouldn’t we be able to identify it with confidence?

The Resolution Offered

However, God allowed variations to occur in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek copies, providentially providing all these copies to preserve Scripture—meaning preservation occurred in the totality of manuscripts rather than in a single perfect text[1]. Because God chose this method, a perfectly pure text with no variations was not possible, yet this level of purity was sufficient for His purposes[1].

Historical Precedent

Notably, early church fathers recognized variants among their biblical manuscripts but did not view these variants as damaging to Scripture’s authority[2]. Additionally, Greek New Testament manuscripts are so early and numerous that no other writing of antiquity begins to compare with their textual attestation[3].

The dilemma persists because no arguments or historical evidence are offered to identify which specific manuscript tradition represents God’s preserved Word—the claim is simply asserted[4]. This remains the unresolved tension: God promises preservation but doesn’t specify where it resides.

[1] William W. Combs, “The Preservation of Scripture,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal Volume 5 (2000), 5:36–37.
[2] Amy Anderson and Wendy Widder, Textual Criticism of the Bible, ed. Douglas Mangum, Lexham Methods Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018), 183.
[3] D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Scripture and Truth (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1992), 148.
[4] Michael W. Holmes, “The ‘Majority Text Debate’: New Form of an Old Issue,” Themelios (1983), 8:2:14.