Authority and Preservation of the Bible: Difference between revisions

As the Bible is the word of [[God]], its authority is absolute. The Bible warns us not to add to or subtract from God’s word.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Deuteronomy+4%3A2&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Deuteronomy 4:2 |publisher= }}</ref> It is because God’s word recorded in the Bible is directly related to the salvation of mankind.  

{{quote5 |내용= I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. |출처= [https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Revelation+22%3A18-19&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 Revelation 22:18-19]}}

This shows God’s will to pass on to mankind the Bible which decides their salvation. Since God wants all people to be saved,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=2+Peter+3%3A9&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=2 Peter 3:9 |publisher= }}</ref> He will not allow the Bible to be distorted and changed. Therefore, we can be convinced that God Almighty has preserved the Bible for the salvation of mankind. In other words, the living God guarantees the authority and value of the Bible. About 2,000 years ago, Jesus, God who came to this earth, quoted many words from the Old Testament while preaching the gospel. He also said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish [[Law of Moses|the Law]] or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Matthew+5%3A17&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Matthew 5:17 |publisher= }}</ref> This shows that Jesus Himself acknowledged the authority of the Old Testament.

The New Testament was recorded in the Apostolic Age during the 1st century. As the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ life and resurrection died one by one, it was necessary to write Jesus’ work and preserve it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Luke+1%3A1-2&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Luke 1:1–2 |publisher= }}</ref>  

On top of that, church leaders, including apostles, could not frequently visit the churches established in each region. In order to build up the faith of the members, they sent letters to the churches. The members made copies of these letters and shared them with other churches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=2+Peter+3%3A15-16&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=2 Peter 3:15–16 |publisher= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Colossians+4%3A16&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Colossians 4:16 |publisher= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=1+Thessalonians+5%3A27&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=1 Thessalonians 5:27 |publisher= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=2+Thessalonians+2%3A15&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=2 Thessalonians 2:15 |publisher= }}</ref>They were later bound together to form the New Testament of today.