From the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1:
"The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by his singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical..."
I have always understood the phrase "by his singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages" to mean that the Westminster theologians believed that God had preserved His Word through time as would be found in the Textus Receptus, the collection of the Greek Text the Church has always used. Meaning, that God has so preserved His word such that what was immediately inspired by God...has been kept pure and entire to this day so that we can trust the Word we have to truly be God's Word.
Recently, I heard a seminary professor (who has spent much study on the Westminster Assembly) say that this was not the intention of the theologians. He said this phrase instead referred to them only saying that God had preserved His word in Greek & Hebrew...combating the Roman Catholics who believed God had given His word in the Vulgate.
*Please note: I'm not starting this thread to be a debate on the Textus Receptus issue so much as to know the intention of the Westminster divines.*
"The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by his singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical..."
I have always understood the phrase "by his singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages" to mean that the Westminster theologians believed that God had preserved His Word through time as would be found in the Textus Receptus, the collection of the Greek Text the Church has always used. Meaning, that God has so preserved His word such that what was immediately inspired by God...has been kept pure and entire to this day so that we can trust the Word we have to truly be God's Word.
Recently, I heard a seminary professor (who has spent much study on the Westminster Assembly) say that this was not the intention of the theologians. He said this phrase instead referred to them only saying that God had preserved His word in Greek & Hebrew...combating the Roman Catholics who believed God had given His word in the Vulgate.
*Please note: I'm not starting this thread to be a debate on the Textus Receptus issue so much as to know the intention of the Westminster divines.*