April 9, 2000 Humble Messenger
Humble Messenger
Volume 8, Week 15 April 9,
2000
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Building Stronger Faith
Bible Text Trustworthy Robert Turner
We need not fear textual investigation. We quote from "Biblical
Introduction," by H. S. Miller; pp. 280-f. [Robert Turner, Plain Talk]
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Dr. Ezra Abbot, "the foremost textual scholar in America," and a member of the
revision committee, said that about nineteen-twentieths of the various readings have so
little weight that, although they are various readings, no one would think of them as
rival readings; and nineteen-twentieths of the remainder are of so little importance that
their adoption or rejection would make no appreciable difference in the sense of a passage
where they occur.
Schaff says that of the 150,000 variations only about 400 affect the sense; and of these
400 only about 50 are of real significance for one reason or another, and again, not one
of these 50 "affect an article of faith or a precept of duty which is not abundantly
sustained by other and undoubted passages, or by the whole tenor of Scriptural
teaching."
Says Dr. Hort, "With regard to the great bulk of the words of the New Testament, as
of most other ancient writings, there is no variation or other ground of doubt, and
therefore no room for textual criticism. The proportion of words virtually accepted on all
hands as raised above doubt is very great; not less, on rough computation, than
seven-eighths of the whole. The remaining eighth, therefore, formed in great part by
changes of order and other trivialities, constitutes the whole area of criticism.
...Setting aside differences in orthography, the words in our opinion still subject to
doubt only make up about one-sixtieth of the whole New Testament. In the second estimate
the proportion of comparatively trivial variations is beyond measure larger than in the
former; so that the amount of what can in any sense be called substantial variation is but
a small fraction of the whole residuary variation, and can hardly form more than a
thousandth part of the entire text."
And adds A.T. Robertson "The real conflict in the textual criticism of the New
Testament is concerning this 'thousandth part of the entire text.'" "The great
mass of the New Testament, in other words, has been transmitted to us with no, or next to
no variations." (this from Warfield, rft)
Many of these variations are of no more importance than the failure to dot an i or to
cross a t would be in English, yet so vitally precious is every word of the Bible that the
textual critic leaves no stone unturned, and omits no variation, however infinitesimal it
may be, in his effort to reproduce the original text. It is then, a cause for rejoicing
that our New Testament was considered so important as to be early represented by more than
4000 manuscript copies, the work of a great army of copyists, and by more that 9000
version copies and many thousand patristic quotation copies; and the 200,000 or more
variant readings are witnesses to the faithful toil of the textualists who deemed the New
Testament worthy of such labor, and they are a guarantee for the integrity of the text.
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If you are interested in studying further about the reliability of the text of our Bible,
the following books can be of help: Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1, Josh
McDowell ; Evidences of Christianity, J. W, McGarvey; A General Introduction to
the Bible, Norman Geisler and William Nix; "How We Got Our Bible", Wally
Ottersbach, class material. There are several class books available on the subject of
"How We Got Our Bible."
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Toni Heuhnerfuss' mother was operated on Wednesday and
the gall stones removal went fine. She was due to be released, however a different problem
developed. She was taken to Methodist Hospital by ambulance. The last word was she must
receive a pacemaker . . . The directory recently published has an error on the McCaskill's
address. The correct address is 2538 Longleaf Pines lane . . . GOSPEL MEETINGS: April
9-14, Cy-Fair, Clark Dugger . . . April 9-12, Sunday-Wednesday, Goose Creek, 4211
N. Main, Baytown, Luther Bolenbarker . . . April 9-12, Sunday- Wednesday, 249
Church of Christ, 11707 Hwy. 249, different speakers. See announcement in foyer . . .
"When people are drawn by ice tea, ice cream, and chicken, they'll be as weak as the
tea, as cold as the ice cream, and as dead as the chicken." "For I am not
ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone
who believes..." Rom. 1:16. "... He called you through our gospel, that
you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 2:14. "...faith
comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Rom 10:17.
"It is written in the prophets, 'and they shall all be taught of God.'
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." Jn. 6:45.
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Wednesday Evening Close
Apr. 12 Matthew Hodges
Apr. 19 John Knudsen
Apr. 26 Mark Laburt
May 3 Jay Lietka
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Wednesday April 12
Song Leader: David Dickey
Close: Matthew Hodges
Sunday AM, April 16
Announcements: Boyd Hurst
Song Leader: Craig Ottersbach
First Prayer: Derek Huddleston
Lord's Table
_ Bread: David
Osteen
_ Fruit of the Vine: John
Knudsen
_ Contribution: Mark LaBurt
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Assistant: Larry Legg
Preaching: Steve Fontenot
Closing Prayer: Craig Moore
Sunday PM, April 16
Song Leader: Gary Tuttle
First Prayer: Jay Lietka
Lord's Table
_ Bread: David
Osteen
_ Fruit of the Vine: JohnKnudsen
_ Contribution: Mark LaBurt
Preaching: Steve Fontenot
Closing Prayer: John Lowrance
If you are a scheduled song leader but know
you will be unavailable, please notify Jim Crain. If you are scheduled to serve in
any other capacity but cannot serve as scheduled, please notify Boyd Hurst.
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Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt APRIL
Sun. 9 pm W. L. Ottersbach
Wed. 12 pm Jim Porterfield
Sun. 16 pm
Wed. 19 pm
Sun. 23 pm
Wed. 26 pm Rocky Rodriguez
Sun. 30 pm
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