An SBC reader wrote sometime Dec. 07 (with responses changed in some
places to make it more reader friendly):
Hello Tom,
I'd like to know
more about what you mean by bible correcting.
A Bible corrector is someone who wants the limelight in the art of
biblical exposition. He (or she) will use every possible argument and
hermeneutical
technicality he can get his hands on to prove the Bible is
unreliable. His whole aim is to get YOU off the Bible as final
authority and onto HIM as final authority, by quoting commentaries and
dodgy manuscripts in order to throw YOU and plant seeds of doubt in
YOU, in regards to the genuine authenticity of scripture. He does not
want YOU to trust in the Bible (the word of God) but in HIM (the words
of man) to justify the high ground HE and HIS cronies (partners in
crime) have taken for THEIR own selfish ambition.
Furthermore, this is also known
in Bible believing circles as the Alexandrian Cult, or what I have
termed the Alexandrian spirit.
I say
spirit because you are actually dealing with a spiritual enmity here
(the serpentine trick),
hiding behind the Bible corrector himself. In other words, in reality,
the Bible believer is actually up against something greater than just
clever 'flesh and blood', but a devil called the
spirit of delusion, also known biblically as the spirit of error. As a
Bible believer you
are actually confronted with this spirit constantly, where it is
imperative we learn how to deal with it in Jesus name, by using the
sword of the Spirit ... the word of God. This is why it is also
paramount that we know what the written word of God is, where it is
found, and how to accurately handle it.
The Alexandrian Cult is so named because it is linked with
its modern day scholarly
critics that go way back to the Alexandrian theological schools of
thought,
during the early centuries. This is when Alexandria in Egypt was the
greatest
centre in the world for higher learning and academia, as opposed to the
called in Antioch in Syria where the believers, first called
Christians, received from the apostles (Acts 11:26; 15:35 etc.). This
is also
where
these correctors were incubated and the manuscripts they used to
correct the New Testament are still being used and promoted today by
their
successors, and their contemporaries and counterparts in turn.
In a
line ... the Alexandrian Cult is to do with wouldbe leaders going to
Bible
college or seminary to be "biblically" undermined by the experts, so
they
too can learn the art of "biblically" undermining others. Hence the
Alexandrian school of higher learning, camouflaged by 'the need to
learn
more about the Bible' and become a qualified minister in order to teach
others also, the so-called truths you have taken onboard! An unending
vicious circle and trap many fall into, because folk are too
intimidated or ignorant to question man (no matter how plausible and
professional he articulates himself) and go for broke for the Lord.
I get the part
about the [so called] originals and all that. But, what about ..
people like me?
Trust God not man! Trust He has kept and preserved His word, and that
His written record (the Holy Bible - His book) is fully inspired,
infallible, and
totally
trustworthy.
Would you
consider me a b.c. if I believe that looking at a Strong's for the
meanings of the words used in the KJV is a part of bible study?
Not at all! I use the dictionary everyday plus google and other aids
I can get my hands on at the time, if need be. I don't trust Strong's
(the word of man for revelation that is) so I
use it and compare and balance it up with everything else. I do not
rubbish it as an aid ... it is just that it is not the final authority
whereas the Bible is.
Alot of times
words change their meaning over the years.
Exactly! I keep reminding my readers of this!
A common example
is John 3:16, it's more rightly understood after using a concordance.
I think not knowing what the word believe really means there is the #1
cause for all the multitudes of people who believe they're Christians
because they 'believe' in Jesus. Another example are the words pastor,
elder, deacon, etc. I used to take for granted that the 'leadership'
had rule and authority over everyone else. Looking up what all these
words mean made a huge difference. I guess what I'm asking is, do you
feel that
looking up the meaning of words is the same as bible correcting? [I
hope not!]
Yes, there are many biblical words that either have dual or multi
meanings. Or as you say ... have changed in meaning over time,
sometimes. Like the word 'wine' f'instance! Or the word 'gay'! Or
other more common words like 'church', 'preaching' or 'faith' that have
been hi
jacked and distorted by religionists. Another word you missed by the
way, was the word 'bishop', mentioned many
times in
the New Testament. Whereas the word 'pastor' is never used and the
word 'pastors'
(plural) is only used ONCE, believe it or not!
However, they are all there as God's word,
coz He has put them there for His own reason and wisdom, and for our
edification and instruction. It is not a
matter of ruling them out, nor
omitting them. It is a matter of asking God WHY! This is where our
relationship with Him comes in and where we learn to not lean on our
own
understanding. It may mean going to a dictionary or google or another
source. However, at the end of the day, if we are going to these
places just to prove God's word
wrong ...
then we are a
Bible
corrector!
If we happen to be going to aids just to
confirm the word ...
then
we
are a Bible
believer!
If we do not understand, we do not rule something out based on this
premise, but wait on God
to reveal the truth to us, in His time. There may be a waiting process
before we hear (days, weeks, months, even years). This is God's
prerogative for His good intentions and our spiritual benefit in
the end. It is also a good way to build faith into our lives as we
learn to depend on Him and not on our own ability or intellect. We
also learn to discern between what is revelation and what is just mere
information. He knows best! We don't! Moreover, this is why we trust
Him and
what He has said and written, which is "profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the
man of God may be
perfect,
throughly furnished unto all
good works."
Thanks for your
time, and for your articles..... named removed for confidentiality
You are welcome! Just remember and ask yourself this ... is the truth
I am learning or
receiving to do with me binding myself to someone, his teaching, or an
organization or movement? Or is it helping me in my relationship with
the Lord and keeping me focused on His divinity and Lordship, as well
as seeing things His way?