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VPI and VPP: Does It Concern Me?

Boaz Boon

Recently, you may have heard or read about the issue regarding the VPI and VPP in the 2003 edition of the ‘Burning Bush’ and/or the Oct-Dec edition of the ‘Bible Witness’ publication. In short, VPI stands for ‘Verbal-Plenary Inspiration’ while VPP stands for ‘Verbal-Plenary Preservation’. (The word ‘plenary’ means entire, absolute, unqualified). Does this issue concern you and me? Of course it does and very much so! Please read on.

We are aware (or at least have been made aware) that God’s Word has been under attack throughout all the ages by Satan, our adversary. He who is the father of lies (John 8:44) has caused us to doubt the inerrancy (accuracy) of God’s Word through carnal human understanding, wisdom and reasoning. The latest attack on God’s Word is absolutely subtle. The controversy at hand among fundamentalists is whether God’s Word is perfect in the originals and still is perfect today and even for ever more. The stand of FEBC is that God’s Word is perfect in the originals (autographs) and has been preserved perfectly in the copied texts or apographs (Textus Receptus or TR in short) underlying the King James Version (KJV) or King James Bible. This simply means that when we read the King James Bible, we can say with full confidence that we are reading the very Word of God – inerrant and infallible – every jot and every tittle of it!

The alternative view is that God’s Word is perfect in the originals (autographs) but is not certain in respect to a 100% preserved accurate text from which our King James Bible is based upon. This is dangerous thinking because if we subscribe to the fact that God inspired His Word in the original writings but does not ensure a 100% preservation of it, how can we then even trust in God for our salvation?

I believe that God has preserved his entire Word – absolutely without error in the apographs underlying the King James Bible. In addition, the faithful translation (word for word) by godly scholars makes it the purest English language Bible preserved by God for our instruction. By using it, we can say with utmost certainty that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) It is by faith in the Almighty who is the Unchangeable (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8), Omnipotent and Omniscient (Psalm 139:1–6; 13–15) God. If He had inspired the original, will He not preserve its absolute purity throughout all the ages? In Psalm 12:6–7 it is stated that “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.” My Almighty God shall keep His Word and has preserved it for us today. In our case, He has preserved His Word in the English language (in the King James Bible) according to His promise. We must therefore hold dearly to His Word, study it, meditate upon it and live it in our daily lives. Indeed, God’s Word is the ultimate authority in Christian doctrines and living.

Remember, it is by faith in our Living God for “without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”(Hebrews 11:6) Recall the apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthian Christians, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Corinthians 2:14–16) If you would like to know more, read the Oct–Dec edition of the ‘Bible Witness’ which has been made available to all of us in Tengah. Make sure to have your copy and read it for yourself.

The VPI and VPP issue touches upon the very character of God and will influence our attitude toward the Word of God. Does it concern you? Pray for spiritual understanding, wisdom from above “that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17) and conviction of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Read the King James Bible with full attention and obey it for “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.” (Joshua 1:8) Amen.

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