In This Issue

• DO WE HAVE A GENUINE BIBLE?

• THE ANTICHRIST

• MORE INFORMATION...

DO WE HAVE A GENUINE BIBLE?

Since no original copy of any of the Bible has been discovered, some raise questions or express statements that suggest doubt, if not outright denial of the genuineness of the Bible. We have heard statements like: “Haven’t some books of the Bible been lost?” or “How do we know we have all the books? or “How can we be sure the Bible has not been perverted by scribes or translators?” or “How do we know the books were not written long after they claim to have been written?”

Not all who cast doubt are atheists, infidels or the usual kind of skeptics. Roman Catholicism claims it has given and preserved the Bible. Mormonism claims a great abominable church has taken away from the covenant of the Lord many parts that are plain and most precious. Orson Pratt, an early Mormon leader said, “We do not know that one single verse in the New Testament has come down to us without change.” They say this to open the door to their so-called later “revelations.” It is amazing that the book of Mormon has many verses, paragraphs and even chapters taken from the King James version of the Bible. The Watchtower Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) undermines faith in all translations except its own garbled and unjustified translation, the New World Translation.

CLAIMS

The Bible claims to be of God. Often we read of statements similar to that in Exodus 33:11-“And the Lord spoke unto Moses…” In the books of the prophets, usually in the opening verses there is a claim that what is being written is the word of God.

The word of God also claims a perfection that would be marred by the additions or subtractions of man. See Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18, 19. In view of this, the new law is referred to as the “perfect law of liberty.” James 1:25.

Jesus promised “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35. Peter spoke of the word of God “Which lives and abides forever.” I Peter 1:23, 25.

THE OLD TESTAMENT

The last book of the Old Testament was completed about 400 B. C. Internal evidence points to this and external evidence from historians verifies it. The Old Testament was translated from its original Hebrew (some Aramaic) into Greek beginning about 285 B.C. - long before the coming of Jesus.

Some have learned that our Hebrew manuscripts, from which our translations were made, date back to about the ninth century. They felt this may have allowed many errors to creep in, but a find several years ago of the an Isaiah manuscript dated about 1000 years earlier than other existing ones was found in a cave near the Dead Sea. Scholars marveled at the accuracy of our existing texts.

We might add that the Jews to whom God’s oracles were entrusted, have the same books we have. By groupings and names they do not have the same number, but the content is the same. The real discussion is over the New Testament scriptures.

NEW TESTAMENT

The oldest manuscripts (MSS) of the New Testament date to about 350 A. D. The three oldest that are also considered the best are the VATICAN, SINAITIC, and the ALEXANDRIAN. These were found in different places. The Sinaitic was found in a Greek Orthodox monastery at Mount Sinai. It must be obvious that the Roman Catholic Church did not tamper with the text for it never had a chance. If it had changed the text, it would have made it favorable to its position in any one of a thousand passages.

The heart of the question is, “What happened to the New Testament between the time the original copies were in existence (say about 100 A.D.) and 350 A.D.?” There are two strong lines of evidences showing the integrity of existing copies:

1. VERSIONS. Translations of the New Testament from its original Greek into other languages began very early. One of the early translations was the Old Syrian or Syriac made around 150 A.D. This was for use in areas around Antioch of Syria. Also the Old Latin translation was made in North Africa. Tertullian (150-220 A.D.) referred to it. Here then are two translations made within a generation or two of the apostles. These translations have been used to check our old Greek manuscripts.

2. QUOTATIONS. Early Christians were prolific writers. They wrote sermons, commentaries, harmonies and debates. These writings of the “fathers” of the first three centuries have been preserved and may be read in any large library. These men wrote so extensively that almost the entire New Testament could be reproduced from their quotations alone. One expert claimed he could reproduce the entire New Testament except for about eleven verses. See A General Introduction to the Bible by Geisler and Nix, Moody Press, 1968.

These men include Polycarp whose life overlapped that of the apostle John, Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165), Irenaeus (A.D. 170), Ignatius (A.D. 50-115), Hermas (A.D. 95), and Tatian (A.D. 170). Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150-212) gave 2,400 quotations from the New Testament, Tertullian (A.D. 160-220) more than 7,000 quotations, and Origin (A.D. 185-254) left over 18,000 quotations. Up until 325 A. D. there have been 32,000 New Testament quotations located verifying both the books and the accuracy of our Greek manuscripts.

VARIATIONS

Some have heard that our Greek MSS are filled with errors. There are variations in the approximately 5000 MSS. Most of these are over variations in spelling through the years, word endings, or order of words, additions or omissions of articles. There is not one doctrine in God’s word that stands in doubt because of manuscript difficulties.

The next time some one indicates uncertainty about our text, ask them if they have studied the subject for themselves. Most of those who raise questions or make accusations, are parroting false charges by the misinformed. There will always be a need for updated translations, but we can have confidence in our texts. 

Robert W. Goodman

THE ANTICHRIST

“The time is ripe and getting riper for the Great Dictator, the one we call the ‘Future Fuehrer.’ This is the one who is predicted in the Scriptures very clearly and called the ‘Antichrist’” (Hal Lindsey, “The Late Great Planet Earth,” pg. 92).

The dictator’s agenda is summarized by John Walvoord in “Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis”: “A new world dictator will first reveal himself in the role of a peacemaker in the Middle East… This event will take place during the first stage of the revived Roman Empire, the fourth world empire described by Daniel… The leaders of the ten nations will consolidate the power lost by the fall of Rome. The future Mediterranean leader will await the right moment to… seize control of the Ten-Nation Confederacy. For three and a half years he will masquerade as a prince of peace, the savior of the world. For the next three and a half years he will use satanic wonders and power to declare himself god and ruthlessly crush all opposition. Near the end of the period the nations of the world will field armies to challenge him. Gripped in a dramatic world war, the armies will converge to begin the suicidal battle of Armageddon… (138, 142).

This is what premillennialists say. What does the Bible say?

REVISED ROMAN EMPIRE?

Not once does Daniel or any other prophet refer to a “Revived Roman Empire.” Not one verse refers to ancient Rome “disappearing to emerge again just before Christ returns to establish the kingdom of God” (Lindsey, pg. 81).

Dan. 2:44 identifies the days of ancient Rome, the fourth empire in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, as the time when God’s kingdom would be established. That is when Christ came, and that is when He took His place on the throne at God’s right hand, establishing His kingdom, Acts 2:33-36; Rev. 3:21; Col. 1:13-14. Only the presupposition of an earthly kingdom requires revamping the prophet’s time frame.

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY DICTATOR?

Premillennialists insist that the beast out of the sea in Rev. 13 is the Antichrist, this “Future Fuehrer” who will bring on the great tribulation. But John, the author of the book, said he was describing “the things which must shortly take place,” (1:1), “for the time is near” (1:3; 22:10). He said he was a “fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus” (1:9). What he was describing, ancient Rome’s opposition to Christianity, was already underway nearly 2,000 years ago!

Premillennialists insist that the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thess. 2 is the Antichrist. Paul, the author, said “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (vs. 7). Who he was describing was also already underway nearly 2,000 years ago!

THE ANTICHRIST?

The Bible nowhere mentions a specific character named Antichrist. It does identify an attitude as antichrist.

“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).

“Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).

“And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” (1 John 4:3).

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist” (2 John 7).

Do these descriptions sound like a world dictator 2,000 years removed from John’s day or false teachers already active in the first century? Countless men in our time have been thought by some to be the Antichrist: Hitler, Mussolini (he was Italian!), Khomeini, Kissinger, Gorbachev, and Hussein – the list goes on and on. Each has come and gone from the political scene. They may all be antichrist in the Bible sense of denying Jesus. But NONE are the Antichrist, nor shall any other be the “Future Fuehrer” of Bible prophecy. There is no such prophecy.

–Frank Himmel, Truth Magazine, Jan. 20, 2005

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