The answer to the question is yes. But God does not seek to prove this to be so. He simply states it. Individuals are free to do with that what they will.
“The Word of God is alive and powerful” (Hebrews 4:10).
All scripture is given by inspiration (“God-breathed” in the Greek) of God (2 Timothy 3:16), meaning God literally breathed into the very soul of the writers exactly, word for word, what He wanted them to write, and He guided their hand as they wrote. God could not be any more specific nor assuring than this. We have His personal guarantee of the accuracy of His written Word.
“We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). This verse reinforces 1 Timothy 3:16.
God gave us His literal thoughts and the exact knowledge He wanted us to have in His written Word.
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you (by faith) richly” (Colossians 3:16).
“Receive the Word of God (by faith) not as the word of man, but as it is, truth” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Reference this verse in your Bible for yourself. First we receive God’s Word (by faith), then His Word effectually works in us. This means the more we study God’s Word, the more it reinforces our faith (belief).
“Knowing this (absolute assurance) that no Scripture (no portion) is of men, but holy men were guided by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
“The Lord gave the Word (His Word, the Bible); great was the company of those who published it” (Psalm 68:11). This means God used many writers of Scripture, each writer expressing God’s exact intention. The Bible was written by many writers, in many different places, at many different times, and in different languages, but they all have the same message, simply: “Jesus Saves.” They were all inspired by God – guided by Him (John 16:12,13).
“So shall my Word be that goes forth out of my mouth” (Isaiah 55:11). His mouth spoke (by breathing into the souls of the writers of Scripture) exactly what He thought, and they wrote.
“But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). This is Christ speaking to the Apostles regarding the New Testament.
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot hear them now. Nevertheless, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you unto all truth“ (Christ speaking to His disciples just before the crucifixion in John 16:12,13).
We are assured again that this is strictly the work of the Lord, given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to man, for our eternal benefit.
See Revelation 22:18 and 19, which states in no uncertain terms: “For I testify unto every man that hearth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book.”
This verse says a lot regarding the Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness versions of the Bible, both of which claim that God descended to their founders and spoke unto them a “new scripture,” to either replace or “add to” the completed Cannon of Scripture. They both are falsehoods of the highest order.
The Bible, as written by the original writers, at the time in which it was written, expresses exactly what God proposed, nothing more, nothing less – rest assured of this as a fact by God Himself.
“When He (Christ) prepared the heavens I was there” (Proverbs 8:27). “I” is wisdom speaking – doctrine, the “eyewitness.” The Word of God was there before the creation of the world.
“I will pour out my spirit on you, I will make my words known to you” (Proverbs 1:23).
“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth“ (John 17:17).
The Bible speaks of itself – wisdom speaking: “Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the wisdom (God’s Word) is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain of fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13,14).
A lifetime studying the Word of God is not nearly enough. But, in the timelessness of eternity, Jesus Christ will teach us face-to-face.
The theme of the book of Proverbs is wisdom – the Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David. Selections from Proverbs follow:
“To know wisdom and instruction; To perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, righteousness, and justice, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels, to understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sayings.” Dark sayings means that when you know God’s truth, then you can distinguish what’s right from what’s wrong. “The fear (respect) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:1-8).
“Wisdom delivers from evil – God’s Word causes us to know evil or wrong when we see it.”
This is my thought, it is not a direct quote. However, this same basic premise is expressed in the following verse-quotes:
“When wisdom enters into your heart (soul), and knowledge is pleasant unto your soul, discretion will preserve you, understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of the evil from men that speak perverse things, who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice to do evil and delight in the perverseness of the wicked” (Proverbs 2:10-14).
“Let not mercy (God’s ways in dealing with us) and truth (God’s truth – His Word) forsake you (don’t avoid it); bind them about your neck; write them (God’s Word) upon the table of your heart (soul – the inner man, the inner you); (why?) so that you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:3-6).
So, how will God direct our paths? Through the “knowledge of His Word,” that’s how; the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Since there are so many translations of the Bible, how do we know which one is accurate? Which version is God’s Word the way He intended it to be? The answer is not as difficult as you may think. Remember, God is not the author of confusion, satan is, and man is, but not God.
To answer the question of which translation is correct, we simply ask another question: When God “breathed” into the souls of the writers of Scripture exactly what He wanted them to write, and guided their hand, what does this really tell us?
This tells us without any doubt whatsoever, that the original manuscripts, written by the original writers, are perfectly written and accurate. This then becomes the real test: How accurate have the translators been in their scholarly translation from the original written manuscripts?
The answer may surprise you. They have been quite accurate. How do we know? First of all, God has been very protective of His Word, against both man and satan. There have been ongoing attempts down through the centuries by satan to destroy and disqualify God’s Word.
Here is a point of doctrine to always remember: Jesus Christ controls history, which also means He controls the present and the future. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are under His protection. Even more, God’s Word is under His protection. So, I ask you, is there anyone more qualified to protect both? Our concerns about the accuracy of the translators is therefore in the Lord’s hands, and they can be put to rest once and for all.
We must understand the power of God. He is in charge of keeping the accuracy of His Word. He knows exactly what He is doing and exactly how to go about it. Let me give you another illustration of His wonderful working power.
In the last 30 to 50 years, with the advancement of technologies – especially in the fields of printing, publishing, and computers, which are the result of man’s increasing knowledge from God – new, “modern” translations have become available. Some of these modern translations are good, some aren’t.
Billions of years ago in Eternity past, God knew that these new technologies would come about (He gives the knowledge, after all), therefore He made absolute provision for this.
During the last 100 years or so, God caused man to discover long lost manuscripts dating to the time of Jesus and shortly thereafter. One such manuscript is known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, named after the area where they were discovered. From them, by careful comparison, translators could accurately pinpoint any discrepancies and adjust accordingly. Remarkably, there were only a few minor errors. But, what is more important is that there were some definitions of certain words in the New Testament of which scholars disagreed. These were put to rest with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. One such word was “advocate,” found in 1 John 2:1. Translators, linguists, and scholars alike debated if the original word in the Koiné Greek meant the same as it had been translated. Upon examination, they found that “advocacy” meant and was used in the original to mean “defense attorney.” Jesus Christ is our defense attorney, not our accuser. Which means Christ defends believers before the Father against satan’s accusations. Christ simply says, “I paid for that sin, it is covered by my blood.” Case dismissed. Satan accuses believers day and night (Revelation 12:10).
God took great care with the original writers and with the translators down through time to assure the complete accuracy of His Word. Therefore, as these so called “modern” translations come out, beware. In my own personal opinion, modern translations not only water-down God’s Word, but these translations would not be necessary if the clergy would study and teach correctly. It is without a doubt a total disgrace that churches in the world are not academic classrooms teaching from the Hebrew and the Greek by exegesis, isagogics, and categories. If this were to occur (it won’t), we would not have denominations. It will occur, however, during the Millennial Reign of Christ. Christ will set the record straight real quick, doing away with all man-made denominations.
I have been a student of the Word for over 58 years. I do so because I want to be absolutely sure of exactly what God said and meant when He said it. The original writings leave absolutely no doubt whatsoever as to the exact interpretation of Scripture.
The “Scofield Reference Bible” in the King James Version is what I use. I strongly recommend it for the serious student of the Word. Also, “Young’s Analytical Concordance To The Bible” is excellent. It gives the Hebrew and Greek word as it appears in its original, with correct pronunciation in English, and “literal” and “primitive” meaning, along with appearance in parallel passages. These books are available from most Christian Book Stores or online. (Red-Letter editions are nice to have because you can see the very words Christ spoke during His incarnation.)
A word of caution: Many modern translations of the Bible not only water-down Scripture, but they often eliminate entire verses altogether. Other than the King James Version or the New King James Version, other mostly-trustworthy translations include the New International Version, New American Standard Bible, and the New Living Translation, with trust levels descending slightly as the list progresses. I, personally, would trust no others. If one does choose another (other than the King James), it would be wise to cross-reference verses with the KJV or NKJV, just so one is not deceived or led astray, as is the intent of watered-down versions.
Whenever anyone questions or doubts the authenticity of the Bible itself, it is usually because they are not a serious student of the Word of God. If they really want to know and understand just who and what God is, the Bible is the only authority.
“Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life; and they (scriptures) are they which testify of me (Christ, because Christ is speaking). And you will not come to me (Christ), that you might have life (eternal life)“ (John 5:39,40).
“Study to show yourself approved unto God (through believing in the finished work of Christ on the cross), a workman (in Christ, Christ doing the work in you, through you) that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (categorically) the Word of Truth (God’s word, the Bible)“ (2 Timothy 2:15). Also, be sure to reference 2 Timothy 1:9.
Father, we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ who died in our place that we might live, and for your living, breathing Word, the Bible, which is full and overflowing with your knowledge, wisdom, grace, and Son, Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name, amen.