Science and the Bible

Imagine that you are looking at a luxury liner moving through calm waters. To your amazement about a dozen people jump off the ship, and cling to a lifeboat. You watch as the rest of the passengers stand on the ship and laugh at them. You can understand their reaction. What those few people did was foolish. It made no sense. Suddenly, the ship hits an iceberg and sinks, taking with it all who stayed on board. Now you see that those who seemed like fools were wise, but those who stayed on the ship and seemed to be wise, were fools.

We have in the Bible a command to jump off the luxury liner of this world. Before you laugh at stupid Christians, ask yourself if there is any proof that its claims are true. Here is compelling evidence that the Bible is no ordinary book:

The Bible and Stars

Jeremiah 33:22 (written 2500 years ago): "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured." The Bible claimed that there are billions of stars ("host of heaven" is the biblical term for the stars). When it made this statement, no one knew how vast the numbers of stars were as only about 1,100 were observable. Now we know that there are billions of stars, and that they cannot be numbered.

The Earth’s Free-float in Space

Job 26:7 (written 3500 years ago): "He stretches out the north over the empty place, and hangs the earth upon nothing." The Bible claimed that the earth freely floated in space. Science taught for centuries that the earth sat on a large animal. We now know that the earth has a free float in space.

The Bible and Atoms

Hebrews 11:3 (written 2000 years ago): "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” The Bible claims that all creation is made of invisible material. Science 2,000 was ignorant of the subject. We now know that the entire creation is made of invisible elements called "atoms."

Blood is the source of Life

Leviticus 17:11 (written 3000 years ago): "For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” The Scriptures declare that blood is the source of life. Up until 120 years ago, sick people were "bled", and many died because of the practice. We now know that blood is the source of life. If you lose your blood, you will lose your life.

The Bible and Disease

Leviticus 15:13 (written 3000 years ago): "And when he that has an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.” The Bible said that when dealing with disease, hands should be washed under running water. Up until 100 years ago doctors washed their hands in a basin of still water, resulting in the death of multitudes. We now know that doctors must wash their hands under running water. The Encyclopedia Britannica documents that in 1845, a young doctor in Vienna named Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was horrified at the terrible death rate of women who were dying after giving birth in hospitals. As many as 30% of those giving birth died. The Doctor noted that doctors would examine the bodies of those who had died, then, without washing their hands, go straight to the next wards and examine expectant mothers. This was their normal practice, because the presence of microscopic diseases was unknown. Doctor Semmelweis insisted that doctors wash their hands before examinations, and the death rate immediately dropped down to 2%.

The Bible and Radio Waves

Job 38:35 (written 3,500 years ago. God Himself speaking): "Can you send lightnings that they may go and say unto you, Here we are?" This was a scientifically ludicrous statement for centuries -- that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. But did you know that radio waves move at the speed of light? Ever heard of cell phones? This is why you can have instantaneous wireless communication with someone on the other side of the earth. Science didn' t discover this until 1864 when "the British scientist James Clerk Maxwell suggested that electricity and light waves were two forms of the same thing" ( Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia, Vol. 12).

The Bible Reveals the Earth is Round

Isaiah 40:22 (written 2800 years ago): "It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth.” The Bible informs us here that the earth is round. At a time when science believed that the earth was flat, it was the Scriptures that inspired Christopher Columbus to sail around the world. He wrote: "It was the Lord who put it into my mind. I could feel His hand upon me . . . there is no question the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous illumination from the Holy Scriptures . . ." (From his diary, in reference to his discovery of "the New World").

The Bible and Light

Job 38:19 (written 3500 years ago). "Where is the way where light dwells?” Modern man has only just discovered that light (electromagnetic radiation) has a "way," involving motion traveling at 186,000 miles per second.

Time, Space, Matter, Power, and Motion

Genesis 1:1,3 (written 3,450 years ago): "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth . . . And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Science expresses the universe in five terms: time, space, matter, power and motion. "In the beginning (time) God created (power) the Heaven (space) and the earth (matter) . . . And the Spirit of God moved (motion) upon the face of the waters."

The Bible and Dinosaurs

Why did the dinosaur disappear? This is something that has modern science mystified, but the Bible may have the answer (written 3500 years ago. God Himself is speaking): "Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eats grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastens not: he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. He takes it with his eyes: his nose pierces through snares. (Job 40:15-24).

This was the Largest of all creatures He made.

It was plant-eating (herbivorous).

It had its strength in its hips.

Its tail was like a large tree (a cedar).

It had very strong bones.

Its habitat was among the trees.

Drank massive amounts of water.

His nose pierced through snares.

Then Scripture says, " . . . He that made him can make his sword approach to him." In other words, God caused this, the largest of all the creatures He had made, to become extinct.

The Bible and the Science of Oceanography

Psalm 8:8: "And the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.” What does the Bible mean by "paths" of the seas? The sea is just a huge mass of water, how then could it have "paths?" Man discovered the existence of ocean currents in the 1850's, but the Bible declared the science of oceanography 2,800 years ago. Matthew Maury (1806- 1873) is considered to be the father of oceanography. He was bedridden during a serious illness and asked his son to read a portion of the Bible to him. While listening, he noticed the expression "paths of the sea." Upon his recovery, Maury took God at His word and went looking for these paths. His book on oceanography is still considered a basic text on the subject and is still used in universities.

Mountains in the Ocean

Jonah 2:6 (written 2,800 years ago): "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet have you brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.” When Jonah was in the depths of the ocean, he spoke of going down to the "bottoms of the mountains." Only in recent years has man discovered that there are mountains on the ocean floor. The greatest ocean depth has been sounded in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana's Trench, a distance of 35,798 feet below sea level. Mount Everest is 29,035 feet high.

The Water Cycle

Amos 9:6 (written 2,800 years ago): "He . . . calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth; the Lord is His name.” The Mississippi River dumps over six million gallons of water per second into the Gulf of Mexico. Where does all that water go? That's just one of thousands of rivers. The answer lies in the hydrologic cycle, something that was not fully accepted until the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, 2500 years after the Bible said that God takes the waters of the sea, and pours them upon the face of the earth.

The Earth's Rotation

Job 38:12, 14, (written 3500 years ago) God Himself says: "Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? It [the earth] is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.” Modern science has come to understand that the earth's rotation on its axis is responsible for the sun's rising and setting. The picture here is of a vessel of clay being turned or rotated upon the potter's wheel -- an accurate analogy of the earth's rotation.

The Sun's Movement

Psalm 19:4-6: "In them has He set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. His [the sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.”

Bible critics have scoffed at these verses, saying that they teach that the sun revolves around the earth. Science told them that the sun was stationary. Then they discovered that the sun is in fact moving through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is traveling through the heavens and has a "circuit" just as the Bible says. It is estimated that its circuit is so large; it would take 200 million years to complete one orbit.

The Treasure of the Snow

Job 38:22 (written 3,500 years ago). God says: "Have you entered into the treasures of the snow?" It wasn't until the advent of the microscope that man discovered that each and every single snowflake is uniquely a symmetrical "treasure."

The Bible and the First Law of Thermodynamics

Genesis 2:1: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” The Hebrew word used here is the past definite tense for the verb "finished," indicating an action completed in the past, never again to occur. The creation was "finished" -- once and for all. That is what the First Law of Thermodynamics says. It states that neither matter nor energy can be either created or destroyed. There is no "creation" ongoing today. It is”finished" exactly as the Bible states.

The Bible and Entropy

Hebrews 1:10,11 (written 2000 years ago): ". . . And, You, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands: They shall perish; but you remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment.” The Bible tells us that the earth is wearing out. This is what the Second Law of Thermodynamics states. This wasn't discovered by science until comparatively recently.

The Bible and the Immune System

Genesis 17:12: "And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.” Why was circumcision to be carried out on the eighth day? Medical science has discovered that the eighth day is the only day in the entire life of the newborn that the blood clotting element prothrombin is above 100%. Medical science has also discovered that this is when the human body's immune system is at its peak.

Just the Right Amount of Water

Isaiah 40:12 (written 2,800 years ago): "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand . . .” We are told that God has measured the waters and set a proper amount of water on the earth. Modern science has proved that the quantity of water on earth is just enough for our needs. If the sea became three meters deeper, the water would absorb all the carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and no creature could live any longer.

The Empty North

Job 26:7 (written 3500 years ago): "He stretches out the north over the empty place . . .” Less than 200 years ago, through the advent of massive telescopes, science learned about the great empty space in the north.

The Stretching Heavens

Isaiah 40:22 (written 2,800 years ago): "It is He that . . . stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in.” Scientists are beginning to understand that the universe is expanding, or stretching out. At least seven times in Scripture we are clearly told that God stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

Where Did the Bible Come From?

• Psalms 12:6,7- God will preserve His Words from this generation, forever
• Psalms 33:11 - Counsel of the Lord standeth forever
• Psalms 119:89 - Forever O Lord thy Word is settled
• Psalms 119:152 - Thy testimonies founded forever
• Psalms 119:160 - Thy Word is true; judgment endureth forever
• Matthew 5:18 - Not one jot or tittle shall pass till all be fulfilled
• Luke 16:17 - Easier for Heaven to pass than one title of law to fail
• Luke 21:33 - My words shalt not pass away
• 1 Peter 1:23,25 - Word of God liveth, abideth, endureth forever
• Isaiah 40:8 - Word of God shall stand forever
• Isaiah 30:8 - Go write and note in a book that it may be for the time to come forever

In the Old Testament God used the Nation of Israel to write and preserve His Word. What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:1-2)
The Ten Commandments were written by God. Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Moses rewrites a copy of the original Ten Commandments because he broke the original! Ex. 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. - - Ex. 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. 28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
God instructs Moses to make an ark in which to put the copies. Deut. 10:1 At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. 3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand. 4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me. 5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.
The Kings of Israel were to make a Personal Copy of the word of God---Deut. 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Daniel had copies of God’s Word that were written by Jeremiah prior to Babylon captivity---Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Daniel has Word of God that was written through Moses---Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him
Gabriel tells Daniel that the scripture is truth---without error. Dan 10:21 But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Jesus read from a preserved copy of God’s Word and He stated this scripture was fulfilled. What God wrote down in the past, stands today in the present and future tense--Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book (copy) of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Preservation of a Specific Book
Exodus 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Exodus 24:3-4--- And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Moses continues to write in the "BOOK". Ex. 34:27--- And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. Numbers 33:1--- These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
When Moses dies the "BOOK" is passed on to Joshua. Joshua 1:8--- This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. God instructs Joshua to study and meditate on the "BOOK". This is one book that has five parts (Genesis-Deuteronomy). Josh 23:6
Joshua wrote the Book of Joshua and it was added to the books of Moses in the one "BOOK". Now there is one book with six parts. Joshua did not think his book was to be something separate from the writings of Moses. Joshua 24:25-26---So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
Samuel writes his book about the setup of the Kingdom; then presents his writings before the Lord. This writing is added to the "BOOK"; now One Book and seven parts. 1 Samuel 10:25--- Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
The Old Testament books were fixed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 24:44---And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Law Of Moses = Genesis - Deuteronomy
The Prophets = Major & Minor
The Psalms = Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song Of Solomon
When the Nation of Israel was set aside, God changed the "who" in His Divine Program, but not the "how". 2 Peter 3:15-16---And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Note that Peter had a copy of all of Paul’s epistles.
In order to accomplish this right division you would have to have a copy of the BOOK which contains prophecy and mystery. 2 Timothy 2:15---Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
How could we preach the Word if we don’t have the Word? 2 Tim 4:1--- I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
There were some writings from Paul and the other Apostles that did not end up in the Bible and that is because God did not inspire these writings. I Corinthians 5:9--- "I wrote you in an epistle...(before 1 Corinthians was written). Col 4:15--- Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Who put the Bible together? Just as God used certain individuals in the nation of Israel to write and preserve the thirty nine books of the Old Testament in Hebrew, similarly He used Paul to accomplish the work of providing the church with a New Testament…Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  (Col. 1:24-25) As noted previously, the work of writing Scriptures is technically the work of the Holy Spirit; however, He chose to use men to reduce the Scriptures to writing. Although Paul did not personally write all of the New Testament Scriptures himself, his thirteen epistles did “fill up” or complete the 27 books of the New Testament. Further, the Holy Spirit used Paul to put the books in their proper order as a gift to the church, the body of Christ on earth. There is additional scriptural evidence that corroborates the assertion that while Paul was in prison awaiting his imminent death, he was deeply engrossed in what would be his final contribution to the church---a completed Bible…The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. (II Timothy 4:13) Paul was uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to undertake and complete this monumental task... I thank my God, I speak with tongues (known languages) more than ye all: (I Cor. 14:18) As a Pharisee, Paul possessed a fervent love of the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures; his education, training and experience made him ideally suited to travel the Roman Empire as a representative of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles…For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: (Rom. 11:13)

 

1. The original text is written and collected before 70 A.D. in Greek.
2. The Bible is copied and sent out by the church
3. Bible Believers preach and teach from it
This TEXT is called the Textus Receptus (received text); a Latin expression that is used around 1624 AD for this Greek Text. Greek was the trade language of the world at that time.
In 1603 King James takes the throne in England. In 1604 King James appointed 54 scholars to translate the Bible into English based on the Textus Receptus. Only 47 scholars ended up completing the work. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? (Eccl. 8:4) NOTE: Many of the translators were persecuted by the Roman Catholic Church; this is the period just coming out of the Dark Ages. During this same period of time, the RCC produces their own translations; The Protestants reject the Catholic translations and label them corrupt. The Minority Or Corrupt Text line produces the following Bibles:

• In 1881 a Revised Version was published.
• In 1901 the American Standard was published
• In 1913 the Moffet Translation.
• In 1923 the Goodspeed.
• In 1951 the Revised Standard Version
• In 1963 the New American Standard Version.
• In 1973 the New International Version

Which Text Is The Right Text?
1. In the NIV Joseph is called Jesus’ father. Since Jesus was virgin born we know that it would not be correct to call Joseph Jesus’ father. The KJV correctly interprets the verse by stating “Joseph and his mother…”
NIV Luke 2:33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. KJV Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
2. The NIV makes our Lord Jesus Christ a sinner. The NIV leaves out a crucial phrase in Matthew 5:22---“without a cause”. So what difference does it make? Well the Bible tells us that Jesus got angry. (Mark 3:5) If getting angry with your brother puts one ion danger of the judgment, then Jesus is in danger. However, if getting angry with your brother without a cause is the accurate interpretation, as given in the KJV, then Jesus can be our Saviour.
NIV - Mat 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. KJV - Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
3. In Romans 13:9 the NIV arbitrarily leaves out the phrase, “Thou shalt not bear false witness”. Maybe it is because they know they are “bearing false witness” when they call the NIV the Bible.
NIV - Rom 13:9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." KJV - Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
This one leaves out the name of our Lord Jesus…
NIV - Eph 3:9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. KJV - Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
This one leaves out the blood of Jesus Christ…
NIV - Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. KJV - Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
This one leaves out the entire verse…
NIV – Acts 8:37
KJV - Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Jehoiakim's Penknife

Jeremiah was quite a person! The book bearing his name is the second largest in the Bible. There is more biographical material on him than any other Old Testament person. When people saw Jesus, many of them thought of Jeremiah (Matthew 16:14). He was quite a man. Jeremiah’s great work was as a prophet of God with the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the last thirty or so years of the existence of that kingdom. He ministered to the last five kings of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. He is known as “the weeping prophet,” in that he wept for the city of Jerusalem because God’s people had become so hardened that there was little or no hope of repentance and destruction was certain.

Jeremiah chapter 36 relates to us an important event during the reign of Jehoiakim. Verse 1 reads: “And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord,” The fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign was 605 B.C. This was the year Nebuchadnezzar began to reign over Babylon (25:1) and the year he defeated Assyria and Egypt (46:2). This was the year of the first stage of the Babylonian Captivity as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and others were taken away into Babylon. This year was the beginning of the end for the Jews of that day.

This passage of Scripture highlights King Jehoiakim’s response to the Word of God. Today in America we are repeating this grievous error of ancient Israel.

Vs. 1-8…

God had a message for that day. It was an inspired message. God told Jeremiah: “Write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee. . . .” (vs.1). Jeremiah did not write his own thoughts and opinions. He wrote what God told him to write (2 Peter 1:21). It was to be a written message. God told Jeremiah to write down all the prophecies he had made to that point in time (vs. 1-2). Since Jeremiah had already been prophesying for twenty three years (25:1, 3), this was quite a collection.

So Jeremiah calls for Baruch, the scribe (36:4, 32) and dictates God’s message while Baruch writes it down (36:4, 17, 18). This is our introduction to Baruch, who became Jeremiah’s secretary, confidant, and companion (Jeremiah 45; 32:12, 13, 16; 43:3, 6). It was a message of warning. (36:2). The sin of God’s people was long-lived and deep-rooted, and God was angry. “Great is the anger and the fury . . .” (36:7b).

Vs. 9-21…

Baruch went to the temple. A sympathetic government official by the name of Gemariah allowed him to use his chambers which was located high on the outside wall of the inner court. Baruch probably spoke from a balcony to all the people gathered below. So he read “the words of the Lord” (36:8) “. . . in the ears of all the people” (36:10). And what happened? Let it be noted that these were God’s people who had come to God’s house to worship Him, but they remained unmoved by God’s message.

Michaiah, the son of Gemariah (who had provided Baruch’s “pulpit”) responded to the message by running to the palace, to a room where the “princes” (or noblemen) are meeting, to share the message (36:11, 12). After Michaiah gave his version of the message, they sent for Baruch to get it first hand. Baruch came and for a second time the message was read, this time “in the ears” of the princes (36:14, 15). And what kind of response did the message receive this time? They were terrified (36:16); they decided to pass the message on to the king (36:16b). Before they went, they advise Baruch and Jeremiah to hide. Jehoiakim had already killed one prophet with a similar message (Jeremiah 26:20-23).

Vs. 22-26…

The “ninth month” means it was winter. The king and his court were in the part of the palace prepared for cold weather, called the “winterhouse” or winter apartments. In the middle of the room is a brazier, a brass container with a charcoal fire burning within. Sitting before that fire, close enough to feel its warmth is the king, Jehoiakim. His name means “Jehovah will establish.” He is on the throne of David. He is God’s anointed one. He is bound to uphold the laws of God. He is the son of Josiah, who rent his clothing when the law was read and he realized that they had not been keeping God’s commandments (2 Kings 22:11-20). But this king is not like his father. He was a self-centered man. He built costly buildings using enforced, unpaid labor (22:13-17). He oppressed the poor; he shed innocent blood; he killed the prophet Uriah (22:17; 2 Kings 23:27; 2 Chronicles 36:5). This is the tyrant that sits warming his hands as God’s message is read “in his ears.” Notice what happens. The princes had been terrified when God’s message was read . . . but not this man. (36:24). He totally rejected the message and tried to destroy it. He borrowed a “penknife” (this was the knife used by the scribe to sharpen the point of the reed that was used as a pen; it was also used erase letters by scraping the ink off the writing surface). He had the reader hold the scroll where he could cut off the portion already read—and he tossed it into the fire. Three of the princes begged him not to do it, but he would not listen (36:25)

Vs. 26-32…

Jehoiakim did not destroy God’s Word by throwing it in the fire; rather he destroyed himself and his nation (36:27-32). Jehoiakim destroyed the scroll, but he could not destroy the servants of God (36:26). Nor could he destroy the Spirit of God who guided Jeremiah to write the mesage (2 Peter 1:21). By God’s direction, the message was rewritten. Notice these enlightening words… “And there were added besides unto them many like words” (36:32). The message ended up stronger than before! Both messages were inspired of God. This is why I am not troubled with the “added words” in the Authorized 1611 King James Bible. God is at liberty to add words to His inspired message if He so desires without jeopardizing inspiration.

What happened to King Jehoiakim? In Jeremiah 22 it was prophesied that no one would mourn at his death (36:19). Just as Jehoiakim cast God’s Word into the fire, so his dead body was cast into the streets like a wild beast, without a King’s burial (36:30). An attempt was made to place his son Jehoiachin on the throne, but the promise had been made that none of his offspring would sit on the throne (36:30). So after three months Jehoiachin was carried away into Babylon in stage two of the Babylonian Captivity. A few years later, in 598 B.C., in the third and last stage of the Babylonian Captivity, Jerusalem was destroyed, and its walls torn down, and the people carried away.

CONCLUSION The bottom line of Jeremiah 36 is that you do not hurt, nullify, or destroy God’s Word when you reject it; you simply destroy yourself. This Book may look very fragile with its lightweight pages that are easily torn and leather covers that can be cut to pieces. But, in actuality, its message is indestructible (1 Peter 1:23, 25).

Why I Use Only the KJV

There are many good works that one can read on the authority of the King James Bible. I am sure that this discussion adds nothing really new. However, it is my desire to explain the issue in a simple and brief manner for all to understand. Over the last 35 years I have learned a great deal about this issue, and I believe that a truth worth learning is a truth worth telling.

Many preachers and teachers across our land talk about "preferring" and "using" the KJV, but I haven't heard them speak much about BELIEVING it. Many prefer it and use it, because that's what their congregations prefer and use, but they do not BELIEVE it to be the infallible words of God.

 

Here are nine reasons why I have confidence that the KJV is the word of God:

1. God Promised to Preserve His Words
Psalm 12:6-7 says, "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Then we read in Psalm 100:5 that ". . . . his truth endureth to all generations," and Jesus said in John 17:17 that God's WORD is truth. Jesus also said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). If His words didn't pass away, then where are they? I want to read them. These words state very clearly that God's preserved word MUST be available to us today, because God PROMISED to preserve it for us. There MUST be an infallible Book somewhere.

If all of the modern versions are the word of God, then where are the "corrupt" and "perverted" versions that we are warned about in II Corinthians 2:17 and Jeremiah 23:36? If everyone is innocent, then where are those who are said to be GUILTY of subtracting from and adding to the word of God (Rev. 22:18-19)? God wouldn't have warned us about Bible perversion if it wasn't going to be a reality. According to the scriptures, there must be a single Book that is the word of God, and there must be MANY which are involved in CORRUPTING the word of God.

2. The Authorized Version Was Translated Under The Authority of A God-Ordained English King
The major theme of the Bible is the kingdom which God intends to give to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will be crowned "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS," according to Revelation 19:16. Ecclesiastes 8:4 says, "Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?" Unlike the modern versions, the KJV was translated under the direction of a king. In fact, the king's name was "James," which is the English word for "Jacob," whom God renamed "Israel," because he had power with God and with men (Gen. 32:28). The Bible also tells us that “The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Prov. 21:1) The authorized 1611 Bible is the only Bible that has a king's name on it.

3. Because It Has No Copyright
The original crown copyright of 1611 does not forbid anyone from reprinting the Authorized Version. It was only copyrighted then for the purpose of allowing the printer to finance the publication. For nearly four hundred years now we have been printing millions of copies of KJV's without requesting permission from anyone. Over eight-hundred million copies of the Authorized Version have been printed without anyone paying royalties. This cannot be said of any of the new translations. Look in the inside cover of any modern translation and you will find how many verses they will let you use without their permission. If the Bible is the Word of God, why should I have to ask the translator’s permission to use God’s Word? Give me a break!
The new "bibles" are the work of MEN, but the KJV is a divine work of the Holy Spirit. The term "Authorized" has traditionally been applied to the King James Version alone, for this is the one Book which the Holy Spirit has blessed and used for so long. The fact that it bears no copyright allows printing ministries throughout the world to print millions of copies each year for the mission field.

4. Because God Always Translates Perfectly
The words "translate" and "translated" occur three times in the Bible and GOD is the Translator each time. The scholars insist that the KJV cannot be infallible, because it is "only a translation." Do you suppose that such scholars have checked II Samuel 3:10, Colossians 1:13, and Hebrews 11:5 to see what GOD has to say about translating?
In II Samuel 3:10 we are told that it was God Who translated Saul's kingdom to David. We are told in Colossians 1:13 that believers have been translated into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and Hebrews 11:5 tells us that God translated Enoch that he should not see death. God was the One doing the translating each time. What's the point? The point is that a translation CAN be perfect, if God is involved in the translating.
When the New Testament writers would quote the Old Testament (Mt. 1:23; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 4:4; Jn. 15:25; Acts 1:20; 7:42; I Cor. 2:9; Gal. 3:13, etc.), they had to TRANSLATE from Hebrew to Greek, because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, but THEY wrote in Greek. So, if a translation cannot be infallible, then EVEN THE NEW TESTAMENT IN THE "ORIGINAL GREEK" ISN'T INFALLIBLE, because it contains translations from the Hebrew text!
Obviously God assisted them in their translating by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and He assisted the King James translators as well. Today’s arrogant scholars will never understand this, for most of them have QUENCHED the Holy Spirit in their own lives by looking to higher education for truth, rather than seeking the Lord's leadership (John. 16:13).
The Holy Spirit Who inspired the word of God through "holy men of God" (II Pet. 1:21) is quite capable of guiding His servants to KEEP the words which Jesus told us to keep (John. 14:23). In essence, the KJV translators were merely INSTRUMENTS which God used in translating and preserving His word. In fact, they said this themselves in the Dedicatory to the Authorized Version: ". . . . because we are poor instruments to make God's holy truth to be yet more and more known to the people. . . "

5. Because It Produces Good Fruit
The Lord Jesus said that every good tree will bring forth good fruit, and we can know them by their fruits (Mt. 7:17-20). God had the KJV translated for the purpose of bringing forth fruit, and it has been very obedient to the call. The greatest preachers of the past four centuries have been King James Bible believers. Billy Sunday is said to have led over one million people to Christ, and he was a KJV believer. Spurgeon, Moody, Whitfield, and Wesley were all KJV men, and the list goes on. God has richly blessed the ministries of such men as these because they stayed busy obeying His word rather than questioning its authority.
The KJV produces good fruit, because the Holy Spirit bears witness to it like no other book in the world. It's easier to memorize than any new version, and the beautiful old English language gives the reader the impression that he is reading a Book very different and far superior to the rest. It reads different because it IS different, and it IS different because it has a different Author. We shall know them "by their fruit", and I know the King James Bible is the word of God, because it produces good fruit.

6. Because the King James Translators Believed They Were Handling the Very Words of God
One can see this truth by reading the Dedicatory remarks in the Authorized Version. These men didn't believe they were handling "God's message" or "reliable manuscripts." They believed they were handling the very words of God Himself. As I Thessalonians 2:13 says, they ". . . . received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
A man who lacks faith in God's word is in no condition to translate it. This eliminates every revision committee in the past one hundred years, because these committees have consisted mostly of highly educated men who were heady, high-minded, and proud, thinking that their intelligence qualified them to tamper with the pure words of God.
The KJV translators were not like this. Their scholarship far exceeded that of modern translators, yet they remained humble and allowed God to use them in order to produce an infallible masterpiece. They didn't set out to "judge" and "correct" the word of God. Their purpose was to translate God's word for the English speaking people, as they were told to do by their appointed king.

7. Because the King James Translators Were Honest In Their Work
The critics of the KJV enjoy making a fuss about the words in italics, which were added by the translators; but the argument is entirely unnecessary and unfair. The italic words in the KJV actually prove that the translators were honest in their work. When translating from one language to another, the idioms change, thus making it necessary to add certain words to help the reader grasp the full meaning of the text. When the KJV translators added such words they set them in italics so that we'd know these words were added, unlike we find it in so many new versions today, which do NOT use the italics.
One good example of this is found in the book of Jeremiah chapter 36. God instructed Jeremiah to write a message to Jehoiakim, King of Judah. King Jehoiakim did not like the message and he responded by cutting up the scroll and throwing it into a fire. Little did the King know that burning the scroll did not destroy God’s original manuscript. Many "Christians" today claim that they believe the Bible was divinely inspired "in the original manuscripts". That is a clever and quite frankly deceitful way of saying I believe in divine inspiration of the Bible centuries ago but I do not believe God has the power to divinely preserve His Word to "all generations" as He promised He would... The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.[7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psa. 12:6-7) As far as I am concerned, divine inspiration requires divine preservation in order to be a correct interpretation and thereby  avoid God's divine condemnation...Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. [6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.  (Prov. 30:5-6) King Jehoiakim learned this lesson many years ago; he destroyed himself and his nation (36:27-32); however, he did not destroy the servants of God (36:26). Nor could he destroy the Spirit of God who guided Jeremiah to write the message (2 Peter 1:21). By God’s direction, the message was rewritten. Notice these enlightening words… “And there were added besides unto them many like words” (36:32). The message ended up stronger than before! Both messages were inspired of God. This is why I am not troubled with the “added words” in the Authorized 1611 King James Bible. God is at liberty to add words to His inspired message if He so desires without jeopardizing inspiration. The italics in the King James Bible are the marks of an honest translation, for no one added these words to mislead us, or to change the word of God. They added the words to help us, and they set the words in italics so we'd know they were added. That's honesty.

8. Because All New Translations Compare Themselves to the KJV
The new versions do not compare themselves with each other, because they're too busy comparing themselves with one Book--the King James Bible. This fact alone proves that there is something very special and unique about the KJV. Why does everyone line up in opposition against the King James Bible? Why not attack one another? That's easy: Satan has no desire to divide his own kingdom (Mt. 12:26). His desire is to discredit the word of GOD, not himself; so he attacks only one Book, God's Book, the KJV.

9. Because It Exalts the Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: And they are they which testify of me." John 5:39. A real Bible will testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. The true word of God will always exalt Jesus Christ, and it will never attack His Deity, His Virgin Birth, His Blood Atonement, His Bodily Resurrection, His Glorious Second Coming, or any other doctrines concerning His Person. However, the new versions attack all of the fundamental doctrines concerning the Lord Jesus Christ at one time or another.
By perverting the many important verses of scripture which deal with the fundamental doctrines of Christ, the new "bibles" have a continuous attack launched against our beloved Savior. His Virgin Birth is under attack in Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:34, and Luke 2:33. His Blood Atonement is under attack in Colossians 1:14, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, and Revelation 1:5. The Bodily Resurrection is under attack in Acts 1:3, Luke chapter 24, and the last twelve verses of Mark. His Deity is under attack in Acts 10:28, John 9:35, and I Timothy 3:16. The new versions attack the Second Coming in Revelation 11:15, and Titus 2:13, and the list goes on, because the new versions have an attitude of superiority over the Authorized Version and the way it gives the Lord Jesus Christ His preeminent place. The King James Bible never attacks our Lord. More than any book in the world, the Authorized Version of the Protestant Reformation exalts the Lord Jesus Christ