What is the preservation of the Bible? Is the doctrine of preservation biblical?

what does the bible say?

We are exhorted in Scripture to be good students of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15), and we should not let doubts about the doctrine of preservation keep us from diligent study. Although the manuscripts that the writers of the Old and New Testament used are not available to us, God’s inspired truths that were delivered to us through copies of these manuscripts are just as powerful and applicable to our life now as they were to believers in ancient times. In fact, Romans 15:4 indicates that Scripture has been “written for our instruction” and to give us “encouragement” and “hope.” Jesus affirmed that preservation of Scripture(Matthew 5:18). We can count on the preservation of the Bible because of these statements, along with Isaiah 40:8 which communicates that “the word of our God will st and forever.”

from the old testament

• The Bible indicates that it will last forever. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will st and forever.” This claim has been proven.

from the new testament

• In Matthew 5:18, Jesus noted the Scriptures would remain completely intact: “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” The iota and dot referred to in this verse are the smallest marks in the Hebrew alphabet.
• We should diligently study God’s word in a way that helps us handle His truth correctly (2 Timothy 2:15). For example, this could include word studies or using Hebrew and Greek Lexicons to interpret Scripture as closely to the original text as possible.
• Although the original manuscripts for the Bible are considered ancient, Romans 15:4 assures us that the Bible is applicable to our lives and vital for our spiritual development today just as much as it was centuries ago.

implications for today

The doctrine of preservation is the teaching that God’s Word has been preserved, and its original meaning has been kept intact. Some argue that the Bible does not explicitly teach that His Word would be accurately preserved; therefore, they say that the doctrine of preservation is not a biblical teaching. Others refer to the Bible’s theological teachings regarding God’s Word lasting forever as evidence to support the doctrine of preservation. A look at the history of God’s preservation of Scripture reveals some of the amazing ways in which God has kept His Word for us. Despite the attempts of enemies to destroy the Word of God, far more ancient copies of biblical manuscripts exist than any other ancient document. Further, a close examination of the thousands of ancient Bible manuscripts reveal that the text of the Bible has remained amazingly stable. For example, prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the twentieth century, the earliest portions of many Old Testament writings dated from about AD 1000. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls included Hebrew copies of Old Testament books from more than 1,000 years earlier that affirmed the accurate nature of the copies we continue to use today. While we don’t have any of the original manuscripts of the Bible’s books, many early copies have helped reveal the important work of Scripture preservation that has continued from the past to our day.

Recap

understand

• God’s Word endures forever and cannot be destroyed or altered by time or opposition.
• Thousands of ancient manuscripts confirm the remarkable consistency of the Bible’s message.
• The preservation of the Bible proves God’s faithfulness and calls us to study and trust His Word.

reflect

• How does knowing God preserved His Word strengthen your confidence in reading the Bible?
• How do you apply the Bible’s truths to your own life?
• How can you become a more diligent student of the Bible to honor its preservation?

engage

• What does the enduring accuracy of biblical manuscripts reveal about God’s character?
• How can we explain the preservation of the Bible to those who doubt its reliability?
• How does understanding preservation deepen our respect for the authority of Scripture?