Solparvus
Puritan Board Senior
Note: All references to the Textus Receptus have been removed from OP since it has caused confusion. The question is over variants in general, particularly disputed longer passages.
I am not highly versed in this debate, and I should be, and hope soon to be. I am interested to pose a question, and see if anyone has resources or insights to share on the matter.
WLC 4
Q. 4. How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?
A. The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.
I don't doubt or question that we should examine historical manuscripts to ascertain what is the purest text, and is one way to help ascertain truth. However, the WLC puts the witness of the Spirit as the final persuader of the truth of the Scriptures.
1 John tells us that no truth is of a lie, and so no passage may be expected to be owned by the Spirit as "the voice of the Lord" (Ps 29) if it not actually is so. Contrarily, that which is the word of God can and will be used to produce faith by its hearing (Romans 10), and all the effects of the Word of God as outlined above. It will ultimately prove itself to be the Word of God by power and demonstration of the Spirit. It will speak like no other man speaks.
So among the disputed passages, we have the alternate ending of Mark, Romans 8:1b, 1 John 5:7, and a few others.
Stepping aside questions of manuscripts, the proposed question:
Have these disputed passages been owned by the Spirit as the very word of God?
Interested in answers, resources, treatises, etc. Please note that manuscript discussion is intended to remain peripheral in this matter--which I don't doubt in some part helps answer the question, but isn't my main interest.
And seeing as the witness of the Spirit is called upon here, let's also bear the fruit of the Spirit in peace (Admins, you are free to shut this down quickly if there is heat)
I am not highly versed in this debate, and I should be, and hope soon to be. I am interested to pose a question, and see if anyone has resources or insights to share on the matter.
WLC 4
Q. 4. How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?
A. The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.
I don't doubt or question that we should examine historical manuscripts to ascertain what is the purest text, and is one way to help ascertain truth. However, the WLC puts the witness of the Spirit as the final persuader of the truth of the Scriptures.
1 John tells us that no truth is of a lie, and so no passage may be expected to be owned by the Spirit as "the voice of the Lord" (Ps 29) if it not actually is so. Contrarily, that which is the word of God can and will be used to produce faith by its hearing (Romans 10), and all the effects of the Word of God as outlined above. It will ultimately prove itself to be the Word of God by power and demonstration of the Spirit. It will speak like no other man speaks.
So among the disputed passages, we have the alternate ending of Mark, Romans 8:1b, 1 John 5:7, and a few others.
Stepping aside questions of manuscripts, the proposed question:
Have these disputed passages been owned by the Spirit as the very word of God?
Interested in answers, resources, treatises, etc. Please note that manuscript discussion is intended to remain peripheral in this matter--which I don't doubt in some part helps answer the question, but isn't my main interest.
And seeing as the witness of the Spirit is called upon here, let's also bear the fruit of the Spirit in peace (Admins, you are free to shut this down quickly if there is heat)
Last edited: