Results 161 - 180 of 6029
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Results from: Notes Author: DocTrinsograce Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
161 | No Understanding No Power of God | Matt 22:29 | DocTrinsograce | 243607 | ||
The old problem of not knowing the Scriptures, which leads to not knowing the power of God; it pervades every place where believers still try to hold a high view of the Word. "You will realize that doctrines are inventions of the human mind, as it tried to penetrate the mystery of God. You will realize that Scripture itself is the work of human minds, recording the example and teaching of Jesus. Thus it is not what you believe that matters; it is how you respond with your heart and your actions. It is not believing in Christ that matters; it is becoming like him." --Pelagius (354-420) The church recognized the heresy of Pelagianism, and sought to correct this among the churches in the Council of Orange (529): https://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/ORANGE.HTM Nonetheless, it continued to be the pervasive view in the Eastern and Western Churches. Then it was picked up and embraced by the anti-intellectual and anti-historical and anti-biblical churches that came into being in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Now it remains the pervasive view of the non-reformed churches across the globe. Read and watch... the truth always surfaces (Isaiah 29:15; Luke 8:17). The Bereans left an example of searching to see what is true (Acts 17;11); contrariwise these others are cover their ears and eyes, unwilling to believe what they prefer, exemplifying those that Paul talks about in 2 Timothy 4:4. |
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162 | Is the Reformation Over? | 2 Cor 11:28 | DocTrinsograce | 243606 | ||
"For many Christians around the globe the Reformation may never have seemed quite as remote as it might seem today but never has it been more needed and relevant. At the moment the Reformation was inaugurated, the Scripture had been displaced by ecclesiastical authority, tradition, and subjective (mystical) experience. Fear of Christ as judge and devotion to saints and to the blessed virgin as intercessors had pushed Christ the Mediator to the margins of churchly and popular piety. The gospel message of free salvation by divine favor alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, had become obscured. In its desire to produce sanctification, the church turned grace into works. Ironically, despite the emphasis on the necessity of holiness for acceptance with God (justification), holiness in the church had reached a low-point. Church councils complained bitterly about the degree of impiety that scandalized the church but no one seemed to know what to do. "Of course, this litany of complaints might have come from any website covering the late-modern Christian world. These very same characteristics mark the Christianity of our age. The mainline churches have fallen into skepticism and mock those who still believe the historic Christian confessions. Rome still sells indulgences but health and wealth preachers sell favor with God in a way that would make Tetzel blush. Pastors and teachers report that we are apparently descending into a period of ignorance of Scripture. Public scandals rock evangelical Christianity. Impiety seems rampant. The gospel seems hard to find and confusion over basic Christian doctrines seems to reign. "There is hope. Christ is still Lord. Salvation is still free. The Bible is still God’s holy Word. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Christ’s church. There are places committed to the Scriptures as the sole, final, authoritative, true, and inerrant revelation of God’s holy law and gospel. There are places where men are still being educated to become faithful ministers of the Word and the sacraments. There are places where the Reformation banner is still cherished, where it is more than a historical relic in glass case. The Reformation is not over." --Dr. R. Scott Clark (September 8, 2016) |
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163 | No Such Thing as an Historic Arminian | Gal 4:25 | DocTrinsograce | 243605 | ||
"But in his lapsed and sinful state, man is not capable, of any by himself, either to think, to will, or to do that which is really good, but it is necessary for him to be regenerated and renewed in his intellect, affections or will, and in all his powers, by God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, that he may be qualified rightly to understand, esteem, consider, will, and perform whatever is truly good. When he is made a partaker of this regeneration or renovation, I consider that, since he is delivered from sin, he is capable of thinking, willing, and doing that which is good, but yet not without the continued aids of Divine Grace." --James Arminius (1516-1609) |
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164 | The Lens the World Uses | Amos 5:10 | DocTrinsograce | 243602 | ||
"Truth as a proposition is found to be offensive by what it implies. That is, if the proposition is correct I must be wrong, ergo you are judging me. Or, if we are passionate about the truth the response is normally, ‘why are you so loud or emotional. I am offended.’ Instead of asking, ‘what is it that drives you so.’ Even in our own church your banner statement, Recovering the reformed confession by Recovering reformed theology, piety, and practice offends some because it implies they need reforming. The common thread is a pervasive self centeredness that becomes the lens by which truth is viewed and ultimately rejected because the discomfort it causes takes focus off self and requires a submission to some reference point other than self." --Rev. Tom Schnable | ||||||
165 | Early Christians charged as "Atheists" | 1 Cor 10:19 | DocTrinsograce | 243598 | ||
"Why, then, should this be [Christians charged with being atheists]? In our case, who pledge ourselves to do no wickedness, nor to hold these atheistic opinions, you do not examine the charges made against us; but, yielding to unreasoning passion, and to the instigation of evil demons, you punish us without consideration or judgment. For the truth shall be spoken; since of old these evil demons, effecting apparitions of themselves, both defiled women and corrupted boys, and showed such fearful sights to men, that those who did not use their reason in judging of the actions that were done, were struck with terror; and being carried away by fear, and not knowing that these were demons, they called them gods, and gave to each the name which each of the demons chose for himself. And when Socrates endeavoured, by true reason and examination, to bring these things to light, and deliver men from the demons, then the demons themselves, by means of men who rejoiced in iniquity, compassed his death, as an atheist and a profane person, on the charge that 'he was introducing new divinities;' and in our case they display a similar activity. For not only among the Greeks did reason (Logos) prevail to condemn these things through Socrates, but also among the Barbarians were they condemned by Reason (or the Word, the Logos) Himself, who took shape, and became man, and was called Jesus Christ; and in obedience to Him, we not only deny that they who did such things as these are gods, but assert that they are wicked and impious demons, whose actions will not bear comparison with those even of men desirous of virtue. "Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that we are atheists, so far as gods of this sort are concerned, but not with respect to the most true God, the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is free from all impurity. But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels who follow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit, we worship and adore, knowing them in reason and truth, and declaring without grudging to every one who wishes to learn, as we have been taught." --Justin Martyr (c. 100 AD - c. 165 AD) from his Second Apology |
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166 | A work of God's Free Grace | John 17:17 | DocTrinsograce | 243597 | ||
Hi, Ed... You have asked about James a number of times, mostly en toto. Here is a discussion that you might find interesting: https://www.whitehorseinn.org/show/paul-james-on-justification/ The discussion is summarized with: "Paul in Romans 4 says that 'the one who does not work but trusts in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.' Yet we also read in James 2:24 that 'a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.' Do Paul and James contradict each other in the matter of justification? How are these two passages to be reconciled? That’s the focus of this edition of White Horse Inn." It includes Dr. Robert Godfrey (United Reformed Church), Dr. Whitney Gamble (Reformed Presbyterian), Dr. Justin Holcomb (an Episcopal priest), and Dr. Michael Horton (Orthodox Presbyterian Church). All of them are professors at various seminaries. They are also, with the sole exception of Dr. Gamble, ordained ministers. I know you don't much care for educated people or what they have to say, think, do, or believe. Nonetheless, their discussion will give you a far superior answer to your question than I could have done. In Him, Doc |
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167 | Doing all for the gospel... | 1 Cor 9:23 | DocTrinsograce | 243591 | ||
"Someone asked, 'Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved?' It is more a question with me whether we -- who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not -- can be saved." --Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) "To know the will of God we need an open Bible and an open map." --William Carey (1761-1834) "Some missionaries go to Africa—others travel to the Orient or to Europe. Every missionary goes somewhere. We all have a mission field, if only our own neighborhood or office building. Every corner of the world is a mission field. There are no boundaries in this world beyond which Christian witness is out of bounds." --R. C. Sproul (2011) |
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168 | The wise of heart will receive.. | Prov 10:8 | DocTrinsograce | 243590 | ||
The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction), But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin. (Proverbs 10:8 AMP) Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Proverbs 26:12) "Give yourself unto reading. The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read." --Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) "Anyone who looks down on language, ought to simply stop using it." --Anonymous (2014) |
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169 | Even Heathens Know the Value of Fruit | Titus 3:14 | DocTrinsograce | 243586 | ||
"Never call yourself a philosopher, nor talk a great deal among the unlearned about theorems, but act conformably to them. Thus, at an entertainment, don't talk how persons ought to eat, but eat as you ought. For remember that in this manner Socrates also universally avoided all ostentation. And when persons came to him and desired to be recommended by him to philosophers, he took and recommended them, so well did he bear being overlooked. So that if ever any talk should happen among the unlearned concerning philosophic theorems, be you, for the most part, silent. For there is great danger in immediately throwing out what you have not digested. And, if anyone tells you that you know nothing, and you are not nettled at it, then you may be sure that you have begun your business. For sheep don't throw up the grass to show the shepherds how much they have eaten; but, inwardly digesting their food, they outwardly produce wool and milk. Thus, therefore, do you likewise not show theorems to the unlearned, but the actions produced by them after they have been digested." --Epictetus (55-135) |
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170 | The Ninth Commandment | Ex 23:1 | DocTrinsograce | 243585 | ||
"You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute." (Exodus 23:1-3) "Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing?" (Psalms 2:1) Denialism is a practice that is a common practice in our world, dating back to our First Parents themselves. We may think of historical revisionism as a practice primarily belonging to Marxism. However, it is not just a matter of class politics or even reactionism. We also see this in various manifestations in the Scriptures. It can be traced to this very day, and, no doubt, until God's eternal purpose is fulfilled (Revelation 22:15b). This bearing of a false report is even common in among the "People of the Book." It can even be found, much to our shame, in evangelicalism. Thus, the contemporary Christian joins hands with atheist, the malicious witness. How is it that those who take the name Christian, can be so much like the heathen, devising a vain thing? Ask the believers around you if they even know the Ninth Commandment. On this Labor Day, I have been contemplating this thing. We see in the Word that it God gives this commandment in a negative form; i.e., do not lie. Yet not lying is only half of what is intended. We are to love the truth, live the truth, know the truth. Doing this is a costly thing. Does it surprise anyone that it would be otherwise? Not only is striving for the truth a matter of continuous effort, but may well cost us our life. The martyrs knew this. Is there anyone who can look at things that are happening here and around the world who do not understand that this struggle is a matter of life and death? Yet even more than this, it is the very nature and character of our King -- as we see in the last chapter of Revelation, for example. Digging for the truth is certainly an effort of Biblical study; it is why we want a translation like the NASB. It also means having great suspicion concerning what the world says across the Internet. It is having great suspicion for what our pastors, elders, and teachers say. More than that, it is having even greater suspicion about what we ourselves feel and think (Jeremiah 17:9). As children of the King, we strive for truth in this earth, in its past, in our nations, in our communities, in our church, and -- most of all -- in our selves. Absurd things are happening in our world, as we see the psalmist tell us in Psalm 2. But we are called to do homage to the Son. It starts right here. Knowing the truth in our head; loving the truth in our hearts; doing the truth in our hands; and living the truth by our habits. To that end let us pray for grace from our God who has not spared anything that we need unto righteousness. |
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171 | The right Bible for you? | Bible general | DocTrinsograce | 243584 | ||
Dear Justme, Reformed theology is the orthodox Biblical teaching known as the Five Solas; Faith alone, Scripture alone, Grace alone, Christ alone, and Glory to God alone. These doctrines were primarily articulated by Martin Luther in the 16th century. The Roman Church did a very thorough explanation and denial of them in the Canons of the Council of Trent over a . The Solas are the superset of Biblical Christian teaching; sometimes it is even called the Five Pillars of Christianity. http://www.alliancenet.org/cambridge-declaration Calvinism is a subset of Biblical teaching. Not all who are Reformed are Calvinists (e.g., Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopalian, Methodism, and the majority of other denominations (independent or otherwise), particularly those which originated here in America.) Calvinism is often called the Doctrines of Grace (something that John Calvin would have much preferred). These Biblical teachings are a subset of Reformed theology; indeed, one cannot be a Calvinist if they are not also Reformed. An analogy would be: No horse can be an animal that is not a mammal. (If you meet anyone who claims to be a Calvinist but not Reformed, they simply do not understand the categories properly.) The doctrines of Grace were most clearly documented in the Netherlands in the Council of Dort (1619); although they are also articulated in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, written a century before; and by Augustine of Hippo in the 4th century; however Calvinists are persuaded that they were originally expressed in the greatest systematic theology by Paul in his epistle to the Romans. These doctrines are remembered with the acronym TULIP, although there are far more to them than just that mnemonic. https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/gracelist.html Replacement theology is also known as supersessionism; it is something that does not necessarily fall into Reformed thinking. Basically, it asserts that Biblical Judaism falls short of God's eternal purpose, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ; thus the Old Covenant is replaced by the New Covenant. That is the traditional Christian perspective, all the way back to the earliest times of the church. There are many variations that now form a spectrum from one extreme to another. On one side, there are those who assert that Jews have no place at all in God's redemptive plan; that they are not part of His plan at all. On the other side, people maintain that the Jews will be saved in addition to Christians without the necessity to find that salvation in Christ. I hope that these brief paragraphs will be helpful to you. There is a book that is very short and easy to read, written by Rev. Daniel R. Hyde, that is entitled "Welcome to a Reformed Church." The book is very inexpensive. However, you can read it free here: http://www.wtsbooks.com/common/pdf_links/9781567692037.pdf In Him, Doc |
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172 | Promise of Eternal Blessedness to Adam | Lev 18:5 | DocTrinsograce | 243582 | ||
"III. However, the received opinion among the orthodox is that the promise given to Adam was not only of a happy life to be continued in paradise, but of a heavenly and eternal life (to which he was to be carried after the course of perfect obedience and perseverance had been run and which God had prescribed to him as a trial of his faith). Hence it is evident that the question is not whether Adam had the privilege of immortality in his upright state (which we have proved before against Socinus). The question is not whether the promise was given to him of happiness and life perpetually to endure, if he had persisted in integrity (which the learned men, with whom we here dispute, do not deny). Rather the question is whether that happiness and life were to be passed in heaven or only upon the earth and in paradise. The latter, they affirm; we the former. "IV. The reasons are: (1) The law of works had the promise of heavenly and eternal life; therefore also the law prescribed to Adam. In each instance, it is the same law as to substance. The former is evident from 'who doeth these things, shall live by them' (Lev. 18:5); 'if thou wilt enter into life' (namely, the heavenly) 'keep the commandments' (Mt. 19:16, 17); and 'the commandment was ordained to life' (Rom. 7:10) assuredly, not earthly, but heavenly. Since however, after the fall, the law can justify no one, this promise must necessarily have had place in upright Adam." --Francis Turretin, from his book "Institutes of Elenctic Theology" (1997) |
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173 | The right Bible for you? | Bible general | DocTrinsograce | 243581 | ||
Dear Justme, Yes, I know Jim White. I probably don't know him as well as you do. I have talked to him at a number of conferences and by email. I am more acquainted with some of the congregants at the church in Phoenix where he is an elder. I also follow his ministry, through articles and messages posted at aomin.org. Consequently, I keep up with his ministry. James White is a brilliant man. Sometimes I think of him as our generation's Walter Martin. In Him, Doc |
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174 | The right Bible for you? | Bible general | DocTrinsograce | 243579 | ||
Hi, Justme... For me, one of the best things about the KJV, is the distinction between the pronouns: singular nominative (thou), possessive (thy/thine); second person singular (you), plural (ye). It is the only English version that provides this for us. I like it because it is a good reminder, which otherwise causes me to make contemporary English assumptions. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, "How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:24-29) My professors who were involved in the ESV translation have a great advantage in being able to read the Bible in its original languages. (Indeed, I do not know any Reformed Baptists or Orthodox Presbyterian pastors who cannot at least read the Greek.) By the way, the following version comparison chart, seeks to render a comparison in various ways. In the context of our discussion, the grade level necessary for each are estimated. http://dwightgingrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bibletranslationcompv7.1440.jpg Here is another that uses the Flecsh-Kincaid language complexity comparison. (I have used that method on much of my writing. It is very helpful.) http://www.balancingthesword.com/study_support/english_bible_translations.asp In Him, Doc |
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175 | Grace from Start to Front | Lev 18:5 | DocTrinsograce | 243576 | ||
"The same doctrine Moses repeated in his ministry. For he also inculcated the same precepts upon which the covenant of works had been built: he both repeated the same solemn saying, He who doeth these things shall live in them, Lev. 18:5 and also added another, Cursed be he who shall not perform the words of this law in doing them, Deut. 27:26. That this is the curse of the law, as it stands opposed to the covenant of grace, Paul teacheth, Gal. 3:10. which, however, is not so to be understood, as if God had intended, by the ministry of Moses, to make a new covenant of works with Israel, with a view to obtain righteousness and salvation by such a covenant. But that repetition of the covenant of works was designed to convince the Israelites of their sin and misery, to drive them out of themselves, to teach them the necessity of a satisfaction, and to compel them to cleave to Christ: and thus it was subservient to the covenant of grace, Rom. 10:4." --Herman Witsius (1805) |
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176 | Our Covenant Keep God | Gen 9:9 | DocTrinsograce | 243574 | ||
"How hath the Moral Law been delivered since the Fall? "The Sum thereof was comprised in ten Words, (Exod. 34:28; Deut. 4:13.) commonly called the Decalogue or Ten Commandments; solemnly published and engraved in Table of Stone by God himself, (Deut. 4:14 and 10:4.) Afterwards the same was more fully delivered in the Books of Holy Scripture, and so committed to the Church for all Ages, as the Royal Law for Direction of our Obedience to God our King, (James 1:8.) and for the Discovery of Sin, and the Punishment due thereto, Deut. 27:26; Rom. 1:31 and 3:20. "What then doth the Law now require of us? "All such Duties as were required of Adam in his Innocency, (Levit. 18:5.) and all such as are required since by reason of his Fall, (Deut. 17:2–6.) binding us to eternal Death for our least defect therein. "Declare now out of that which hath been said, what the Covenant of Works is? "It is a Conditional Covenant between God and Man, whereby on the one side God commandeth the Perfection of Godliness and Righteousness, and promiseth that he will be our God, if we keep all his Commandments; and on the other side, Man bindeth himself to perform entire and perfect Obedience to God’s Law, by that Strength wherewith God hath imbued him by the Nature of his first Creation. "What was done in this Covenant on God’s part? "There was His Law, backed with Promises and Threatenings; and unto them were added outward Seals. "What was the Sum of this Law? "Do this, and thou shalt live: If thou dost it not, thou shalt die the Death. "What is meant by, Do this? "Keep all my Commandments in Thought, Word, and Deed. "What is meant by Life, promised to those that should keep all the Commandments? "The Reward of Blessedness and Everlasting Life, Levit. 18:5; Luk. 10:28. "What is meant by Death threatened to those that should transgress? "In this World the Curse of God, and Death, with manifold Miseries both of Body and Soul: And (where this Curse is not taken away) Everlasting Death both of Body and Soul in the World to come, Deut. 27:26 and 29:19, 20 and 32:22; Levit. 26; Deut. 28. "What were the outward Seals added hereunto? "The two Trees, planted by God for that purpose in the midst of the Garden, Gen. 2:9 and 3:3. that Adam before and in the sight of them might resort to some special place to serve God in, and might by the Sight of them be put in mind of those things whereof they were Signs and Seals." --James Usher (1581-1656) The word covenant appears almost 300 times in the Bible! |
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177 | Unleashed it Will Defend Itself | Is 2:3 | DocTrinsograce | 243566 | ||
"There seems to me to have been twice as much done in some ages in defending the Bible as in expounding it, but if the whole of our strength shall henceforth go to the exposition and spreading of it, we may leave it pretty much to defend itself. I do not know whether you see that lion—it is very distinctly before my eyes; a number of persons advance to attack him, while a host of us would defend [Him]. . . . Pardon me if I offer a quiet suggestion. Open the door and let the lion out; he will take care of himself. Why, they are gone! He no sooner goes forth in his strength than his assailants flee. The way to meet infidelity is to spread the Bible. The answer to every objection against the Bible is the Bible." --Tim Keller, from his book "Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism" Referencing Charles H. Spurgeon's statement, "Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion! Unchain it and it will defend itself." |
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178 | The Angry Man and the Angry Tongue | Prov 25:23 | DocTrinsograce | 243565 | ||
"Anybody can become angry -- that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way -- that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." --Aristotle (384-322BC) |
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179 | Calling | 1 Sam 3:19 | DocTrinsograce | 243564 | ||
"Considering myself called of my God to instruct the ignorant [Hebrews 5:2], comfort the sorrowful [2 Corinthians 1:4], confirm the weak [1 Peter 3:7], and rebuke the proud [1 Timothy 5:20]; by tongue and lively voice in these corrupt days rather than to compose books for the age to come, seeing that so much is written, and yet so little well observed, I decree to contain myself within the bounds of that vocation [calling] whereunto I found myself especially called [1 Corinthians 1:24]." --John Knox (1513-1572) |
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180 | To Those who Feared the Lord | Mal 3:16 | DocTrinsograce | 243559 | ||
"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; so as in all controversies of religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope." --Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) chapter 1, paragraph 8 |
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