The following lectures are two lectures from the ENGLISH BIBLE:
MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE Lecture notes available from Bible Baptist
Church Publications.

This study in BIBLE INTRODUCTION fully upholds the Authorized,
King James Version as the pure, preserved Word Of God in
English. The notes deal with both Biblical and historical
reasons for this stand, covering the issues causing much
consternation today in a documented, non-inflammatory way.

Pastors will be glad to find these notes also maintain the
historic Baptist position without having to resort to the
'original Greek' or 'a better translation.'

-305 pages of TYPESET Lecture Notes, including CHARTS, STUDY
QUESTIONS, and ASSIGNMENTS.

-52 pages of Appendices, listing major Papyrus, Unical, and
Minuscule manuscripts, PLUS a list of English translations
since 1611 A.D.

-Spiral Bound.

-$25.00 plus shipping and handling (10%)

ORDER FROM: Bible Baptist Church
1219 N. Harns Road
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Telephone: (206) 675-8311

Lecture One is the course description
Lecture Two is a Lecture on Revelation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE - LECTURE 1 - COURSE DESCRIPTION --------------------------------------------------------------------------

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to this series of lectures on the subject of our English Bible. It
is hoped these notes will provide a clear, concise, and accurate study of
the doctrinal, textual, and historical basis for the Bible we hold in our hands - the Authorized, King James Version.

I. AIM OF THE COURSE OF STUDY

The objectives of this course entitled "English Bible: Manuscript
Evidences" are as follows:

A. To acquaint the student with the general history of the Bible as it
came from God to man.

B. To give the student an understanding of the various kinds of
manuscript evidence, their characteristics, and their use in Bible
translations.

C. To instruct the student in lower (textual) criticism by examining
the popular theories held today.

D. To give the student an understanding of the issues relating to Bible
Versions facing believers today.

E. To give the student a firm grasp of the doctrine of the Preservation
Of The Word Of God.

F. To strengthen the student's confidence in the Authorized, King James
Version as the preserved Word of God.

G. To equip the student to defend confidently the Authorized, King James
Version both Scripturally and factually.

H. To foster a greater love and respect for, and to increase the
student's faith in, the Word of God; and to enhance his use of the
Word of God in preaching, soul winning, and personal devotion.

I. To stimulate the student and prepare him for further studies in the
Word of God.

II. IMPORTANCE OF THE COURSE

What we believe about the Bible determines what we believe about all
other doctrines. This is because our faith is BIBLE BASED.
If we are "off" on the Bible, we will be "off" on all the other
doctrines, and, if we have the wrong Bible, we will have wrong
beliefs accordingly.

CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY STAND OR FALL WITH THE BIBLE!

Psalm 11:3 "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

A. Which Bible?

Theological battles have raged throughout most of the centuries of
Christendom's history. All the great doctrines taught in the Bible have
at some point in time been challenged and defended. Creeds have been
written, wars have been fought, and denominations founded as a direct
result of passionate controversy.
To the twentieth century may rightfully be given the title, "The Battle
For The Bible." Of all the issues fought over, that of the Bible ranks
foremost.

In the earlier decades, the battle-lines were formed over the issues of
Authorship (Inspiration) and Authority (credibility), and the outcome
was the broad division of Christendom into two camps - the liberal and
the conservative. It was at this time that the terms "modernist" and
"fundamentalist" came to be used.

The last decades of the 20th Century have seen the matter of the Word of
God become a great issue within the "conservative camp", to the place that
it has now become a point of division amongst fundamentalists. Like all
theological controversies, this has raged with much feeling and fire, and
at times has been fueled with personal abuse rather than substantive facts.
Nevertheless, the burning question facing Bible-believing Baptists in this
present day and age is, "Which Bible?" There is a multiplicity of
Versions available, each with varying claims and style, and each with
significant differences in key doctrinal passages. If truth is narrow,
then they all cannot be right!

A secondary question is, "Do we really have the Word of God available
to us today?" After all, it has been over 1,890 years since the ink
dried on the Book of The Revelation, and are we not taught that the Bible
was a "lost Book" for the best part of 1,000 years?

B. Our God Is At Stake.

What kind of God do we have anyway? When He speaks, is His voice so
"fuzzy" and His words so "garbled" that we can hear Him out of any
Version of the Bible we choose?
When He gives us His Word in writing, is He so inept as to lose it for so
long?

Or can it be that we do in fact have a clear, authoritative Word of God
available to us today - the same Bible as had the early Christians? If
God is truly the God of Heaven, all powerful, all knowing, all loving,
then we can be assured the answer is a resounding "yes!"

This course of study is mainly concerned with the more recent of the
above issues - that of Authenticity. Which Bible is the Word of God,
if indeed we do have it?

The story of our English Bible is fascinating, amazing, and humbling. It
is the story of how the very words of the living God were transmitted
from the throne-room of glory into our frail, trembling hands.

Holding the Bible is like standing in the presence of Almighty God; like
sitting at the feet of Jesus; like watching the workings of the Holy
Ghost.

It is THE WORD OF GOD!

III. OUTLINE OF LECTURES

Lecture 1: INTRODUCTION

I. Aim Of The Course
II. Importance Of Course
III. Outline Of Course
IV. Overview Of Course
V. Grading Of Course
VI. Helpful Texts

Lecture 2: REVELATION

I. Revelation Defined
II. Revelation Explained
A. General revelation
B. Special revelation
III. Revelation Contrasted

Lecture 3: INSPIRATION

I. Biblical Statements Of Inspiration
II. Inspiration Defined
A. Confluent
B. Verbal
C. Plenary
D. Inerrant
E. Infallible
III. Theories Of Inspiration
IV. Old Testament Inspiration
V. New Testament Inspiration
VI. Evidences Of Inspiration

Lecture 4: COMMUNICATION

I. Development Of Languages And Writing.
II. Development Of The English Language
III. Biblical Languages & Writing
IV. Transmission Of Biblical Text
A. Manuscript Types
B. Manuscript Materials
C. Manuscript Terminology

Lecture 5: CANONIZATION

I. The Meaning Of Canon And Canonicity
II. The Standards Or Tests Of Canonicity
III. Terms Used In The Canonical Process
A. Homologoumena
B. Antilogoumena
C. Apocrypha
D. Pseudepigrapha
IV. The Old Testament Canon
V. The New Testament Canon

Lecture 6: PRESERVATION

I. The Doctrine Of Preservation
II. The Logic Of Preservation
III. The Extent Of Preservation
IV. The Various Views Of Preservation
V. The Nature Of Preservation
A. Physical perpetuity
B. Textual purity
VI. The Preservation Of The Old Testament
A. Jewish Witness To The Hebrew Text
B. Samaritan Witness To The Hebrew Text
C. Christian Witness To The Hebrew Text
VII. The Preservation Of The New Testament
A. The Old Latin Bible
B. The Old Syriac Bible
C. The Gothic Bible

Lecture 7: DESECRATION

I. The Nature Of Textual Corruption
II. The Background Of Textual Corruption
III. The Great Center Of Textual Corruption
IV. The Great Agent Of Textual Corruption
V. The Products Of Textual Corruption
A. The Eusebio-Constantine Bible
B. The Latin Vulgate
VI. The Septuagint Question

Lecture 8: EMANCIPATION I

I. Foundations Of The Reformation
II. Desiderius Erasmus
A. The Life Of Erasmus
B. The Works Of Erasmus
C. The Criticisms Of Erasmus
D. The Johannine Comma
III. The Textus Receptus

Lecture 9: EMANCIPATION II

I. The Period Of Manuscript Collection
A. Polyglot Bibles
B. Critical Editions Of The Received Text
C. The Work Of Tischendorf
II. The Major Uncial Manuscripts
III. The Major Minuscule Manuscripts
IV. The Major Papyrus Manuscripts

Lecture 10: TRANSLATION

I. Ancient English Bibles
II. Medieval English Bibles
III. Reformation English Bibles

Lecture 11: CORONATION

The Authorized, King James Version:

I. Its Historical Setting
II. Its Proposal
III. Its Translation
IV. Its Translators
V. Its Textual Basis
VI. Its Language

Lecture 12: PUBLICATION

I. Editions Of The Authorized Version
II. Revisions Of The Authorized Version
III. Reception Of The Authorized Version
IV. Excellence Of The Authorized Version
V. Influence Of The Authorized Version

Lecture 13: DISCRIMINATION

I. Scientific Biblical Criticism Defined
II. The Historical Background Of Scientific Biblical Criticism
III. An Examination Of Higher Criticism
IV. An Examination Of Lower (Textual) Criticism
V. The Westcott And Hort Theory
VI. The Westcott And Hort Theory Refuted
VII. Major Differences With Critical Texts

Lecture 14: PROLIFERATION

I. Early Revisions Of The Authorized Version
II. Early 20th Century Perversions
III. Late 20th Century Perversions
IV. Modern Methods Of Translating
V. Testing Modern Perversions

Lecture 15: ALTERCATION

I. An Overview Of The K.J.V. Issue Today
II. Arguments Against The K.J.V.
III. Arguments For The K.J.V.
IV. Textual Difficulties In The K.J.V.
V. Deceptive Modifications
IV. OVERVIEW OF COURSE

The following diagram shows the rationale of this course of study, and
depicts the historical basis of how we came to receive our Bible. Such an outline may be termed, "From God To Us", since we begin with the
supernatural revelation of the Word of God to holy men of God, and conclude with the printed Word of God we hold in our hands each day.

GOD
REVELATION
INSPIRATION
COMMUNICATION
CANONIZATION
PRESERVATION
DESECRATION
EMANCIPATION
TRANSLATION
CORONATION
PUBLICATION
DISCRIMINATION
PROLIFERATION
ALTERCATION
MAN


IV. GRADING OF THE COURSE

A. Quarterly Grade

This will consist of the following:

1. Average Grade Of Assignments......... 50%
2. Quarterly Examination................ 50%

B. Course Grade

This will consist of the following:

1. Average Of Quarterly Grades.......... 70%
2. Course Paper......................... 30%

C. Grading System

A+ 97 -100%
A- 94 - 96% Excellent work

B+ 90 - 93%
B- 87 - 89% Very Good work

C+ 82 - 86%
C- 79 - 81% Average work

D 70 - 78% Below Average work

F Below 70% Fail

I Incomplete (Return in 1 week for credit)

Grades will be reduced for the following reasons:

Late assignments (unless Providentially hindered).

2 points per day late.

Inexcusable absence from regular lectures.

More than 3 such absences per quarter will result in automatic quarterly
grade of F.

Careless spelling and grammar. (Pastors need to exhibit skill in this
area.)

VI. HELPFUL TEXTS

The following texts are presented for the information of the student.
These, and other books pertaining to the subject, have been consulted or
referred to in the preparation of these lecture notes. They are not
necessarily endorsed as "recommended", and students should be aware that
doctrinal errors are likely to be found, even in books defending the
Authorized Version.

For a guide to purchasing any of the books listed below, the student is
directed to his pastor.

A. General Biblical Introduction:

Ewert, D. From Ancient Tablets To Modern Translations. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1983

Miller, H. S. General Biblical Introduction. Houghton,New York:
Word Bearer Press, 1960

Geisler, N. L. & Nix, W. E. From God To Us. Chicago, Illinois:
Moody Press, 1981

Kenyon, Sir F. The Story Of The Bible. London: John Murray, 1944

Bruce, F. F. The Books And The Parchments. Old Tappan, New Jersey:
Revell, 1984

B. Biblical Texts And Textual Considerations

Pickering, W. N. The Identity Of The New Testament Text. Nashville,
Tennessee: Nelson, 1977

Ruckman, P. S. The Christian's Handbook Of Manuscript Evidence.
Palatka: Pensacola Bible Press

MacLean, W. The Providential Preservation Of The Greek Text Of The
New Testament. Gisborne, New Zealand: Te Rau Press, 1977

Burgon, J. W. The Revision Revised. Collingswood, New Jersey: The
Bible For Today (Classic reprint), 1984

Fuller, D. O. Which Bible? Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids
International Publications, 1975

Fuller, D. O. True Or False? Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids
International Publications, 1973

Hills, E. F. Believing Bible Study Des Moines, Iowa: The Christian
Research Press, 1977

Ruckman P. S. The Christian's Handbook Of Biblical Scholarship.
Pensacola, Florida: Bible Baptist Bookstore, 1988

Robertson A. T. An Introduction To The Textual Criticism Of The New
Testament. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1925.

Sturtz, H. A. The Byzantine Text-Type And New Testament Textual
Criticism. Nashville, Tennessee: Nelson, 1984

C. The King James Version

Grant, F. W. Translating The Bible. Edinburgh: Nelson, 1961

Beale, D. A Pictorial History Of Our English Bible. Greenville,
South Carolina: Bob Jones University Press, 1982

Paine, G. S. The Men Behind The K.J.V. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Baker, 1977

McClure, A. W. Translators Revived. Worthington: Maranatha
Publications

Cloud, D. W. Myths About The King James Bible. Oak Harbor,
Washington: Way Of Life Publications, 1986

Reagan, D. F. The King James Version Of 1611 The Myth Of Early
Revisions. Knoxville: Trinity Baptist Templ

Cimino, D. The Book. Harlingen: Wonderful Word Publishers.

Van Bruggen, J. The Future Of The Bible. Nashville, Tennessee:
Nelson, 1972

Lackey, B. Why I Believe The Old King James Bible. Chattanooga,
Tennessee: Personal publication

Hills, E. F. The King James Version Defended. Des Moines, Iowa:
The Christian Research Press, 1979

D. Examination Of Perversions

Fowler, E. W. Evaluating Versions Of The New Testament. Watertown,
Wisconsin: Maranatha Baptist Press, 1981

Nowlin, G. The Paraphrased Perversion Of The Bible. Collingswood,
New Jersey: The Bible For Today, 1975

Lewis, J. P. The English Bible From KJV To NIV. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker, 1981

Coy, G. H. The Inside Story Of The Anglo American Revised New
Testament. Personal publication, 1973

Countess, R. H. The Jehovah's Witnesses' New Testament.
Phillipsburg: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, 1987

Cloud, D. W. Unholy Hands On God's Holy Book. Oak Harbor,
Washington: Way Of Life, 1985

Moser, M. L. Jr. Good News For Modern Man The Devil's Masterpiece.
Little Rock, Arkansas: Challenge Press, 1970

Cloud, D. W. The Bible Society, The Good News Bible, And The
Apocrypha. Oak Harbor, Washington: Way Of Life

Moser, M. L. Jr. The Case Against The Living Bible. Little Rock,
Arkansas: Challenge Press, 1973

Moser, M. L. Jr. The New English Bible Satan's Polluted
Translation. Little Rock, Arkansas: Challenge Press, 1971

Cloud, D. W. Dynamic Equivalency - Death Knell Of Pure Scripture.
Oak Harbor, Washington: Way Of Life

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE - LECTURE 2 - REVELATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The word "revelation" simply means a revealing, and in theology is applied
to God's revealing of Himself to mankind.

Without revelation, we wouldn't know anything about God - or even that there was a God. Thus we begin this study with the premise that God desires to
make Himself known to man, and has revealed Himself at various times and in different ways - Hebrews 1:1,2; 2:1-4.

I. REVELATION DEFINED

"Revelation is the unveiling of something previously hidden so that it
may be seen for what it is."

All revelation is supernatural in that it has God for its source and
truth as its end. See: Deuteronomy 29:29.

II. REVELATION EXPLAINED

The revelation of God to man falls into two basic categories:

GOD

GENERAL T SPECIAL
REVELATION O REVELATION

MAN

A. General Revelation.

General (or Natural) Revelation is that knowledge of God derived
from the light of natural things.

General Revelation is accessible to all men and is addressed to all
intelligent creatures. It is the revelation of God to man in:

1. Creation.
See: Psalm 19:1-6; Isaiah 40:12,26; Acts 14:17; Psalm 8:1; 104:24.

2. History.
See: Psalm 9:16a

3. Conscience.
See: Romans 2:15

General Revelation bears witness to the existence of God, the
power of God, and the need for God. However it does not testify
to the personality of God or the plan of salvation.

According to Romans 1:18-20, the effect of General Revelation is
to condemn man. Why? See: Romans 1:21.

General Revelation alone is inadequate to save man for two
reasons:

a. Creation has been affected by the entrance of sin.
See: Genesis 3:17; Romans 8:22.

The witness is marred and blurred, and is now a monument to
God's curse upon sin.

b. Man himself has also been affected by sin, to the extent that
he is not able to read the evidences of God afforded in nature
aright.

B. Special Revelation.

Special Revelation is direct, divine intervention in the affairs of
this world, and is God revealing Himself through special acts done
by His Person.

This kind of revelation has come to man by various means -
Hebrews 1:1:

1. Through Dreams.
See: Genesis 37:5-10

2. Through Visions.
See: Daniel 8:1

3. Through Urim And Thummin.
See: Numbers 27:21

4. Through Audible Voices.
See: I Samuel 3:1-10

5. Through Animals.
See: Numbers 22:28

6. Through Angels.
See: Luke 1:26-37

etc.

The "crown" of God's special revelation of Himself to man was in the
coming to earth of the Lord Jesus Christ. See: John 1:14; 14:9.

of God's special revelation of Himself to man is
the BIBLE.

According to Psalm 19:7-14, the effect of special Biblical revelation is to save man. Thus this kind of revelation is redemptive
and remedial.

Special Revelation is necessary because of:

a. The effects of sin (as outlined above).

b. The transcendence of God (the fact that He is so separated, holy,
that man could not find Him).

c. The Personality of God (the fact that He is a God of love Who
desires fellowship with man).

"Without special revelation, general revelation would be for sinful
men incomplete and ineffective, and could issue, as in fact it has
issued wherever it alone has been accessible, only in leaving them
without excuse (Romans 1:20).

"Without general revelation, special revelation would lack that basis
in the fundamental knowledge of God as the mighty and wise, righteous
and good, Maker and Ruler of all things, apart from which the further
revelation of this great God's interventions in the world for the
salvation of sinners could not be either intelligible, credible, or
operative." Warfield B. B. Inspiration And Authority Of The Bible.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Baker, 1948

III. REVELATION CONTRASTED

Several terms are often associated with any discussion on the doctrine
of the Bible. As an aid to understanding what is meant by "Revelation,"
these terms are contrasted below:

A. Revelation vs. Inspiration.

1. Revelation makes truth known.

Inspiration provides for its inerrant recording.

2. The Bible contains Revelation.

The entire Bible is Inspired.

The writers of the Bible drew from two different sources for their
narrative:

a. Special revelation - i.e. things that only God could make
known. e.g. the account of Creation, the fall of Satan, etc.

b. Personal observation - i.e. known facts that resulted from what
the writer saw, e.g. the crossing of the Red Sea, or, from
existing documents, e.g. Ezra 6:1-12.

Both kinds of narrative are recorded for us in the Bible.
Inspiration ensures both are recorded without error.

3. Revelation Is Progressive.

Inspiration is plenary.

God did not reveal all truth at the beginning. Much truth was
revealed progressively over centuries - I Peter 1:9-12. Some
examples of this would be:

a. The Name of God.

b. The Coming of Messiah.

On the contrary, there is NO SUCH THING as progressive
inspiration. All parts of the Bible were inspired of God, and
equally inspired.

B. Revelation vs. Illumination.

Illumination is the Holy Spirit-given understanding of revelation or
revealed truth.

The believer enjoys this blessing today as he studies the Word of
God. See: I John 2:20,21,27.

The presence or absence of illumination with the writers of the Word
of God had no bearing on the inspiration of the Bible.

1. Sometimes the words of the Biblical writers were the result of
careful research. e.g. Luke 1:1-4, where Luke had full
understanding of what he was writing.

2. Sometimes the Biblical writers both understood what they were
writing and recognized the words they were penning as coming
directly from God. e.g. II Samuel 23:2.

In such cases, the writers had full illumination of what was being
written.

3. Sometimes the Biblical writers did not know the importance of the
words they penned, recognizing them as divine, but not
understanding them. e.g. Daniel 12:8,9.

4. Sometimes, the source of the words neither understood the words
nor recognized them as divine. e.g. John 11:49-52.

The point is, whether the writer had illumination or not,
inspiration provided that God's exact message was truthfully
recorded.

I Corinthians 2:9,10 - REVELATION - "Disclosure"
I Corinthians 2:12 - ILLUMINATION - "Discovery"
I Corinthians 2:13 - INSPIRATION - "Documenting"


Eddie,
telnet://ricksbbs.synchro.net:23
http://ricksbbs.synchro.net:8080
---
þ Synchronet þ Rick's BBS telnet://ricksbbs.synchro.net:23