Whenever God spoke in the Bible, whether in a vision or directly, it was always to be taken word-for-word. God never gave extra words – or superfluous ones (no fluff). Therefore, every word was significant, filled with the precise meaning that God wanted it to have, and it was intended to be eternal. Once given, His precious Word would never need updating or amending in any way.
The Lord Jesus made it clear – even centuries after the original Old Testament books were given – that the Word of God as it stood in that day, is correct. It had not changed. He declared that even “one jot or one tittle” (Matthew 5:18) would not be changed as long as there was a “heaven and earth” – they would remain intact forever. Today, many preachers believe that God’s Word is accurately preserved in the King James Version.
Careful study of the Word quickly reveals that words are very significant to God. Accuracy depends on it – and so does God’s reputation. He told His people that if a prophecy does not come to pass exactly as given by a prophet that declared to have a message from God, then you can be certain that it was not God that gave it (Deuteronomy 18:21,22).
Besides Bible prophecy, all doctrines also depend on the meaning of every word. Some of the changes made in the newer Bible versions illustrate this perfectly. For instance, in I Corinthians 1:18, the KJV reads: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Note especially that the phrase “unto us which are saved” – is in the present tense.
This verse is important because it is often used to verify the Bible’s teaching of the assurance of salvation. It makes it clear that salvation takes place the moment the sinner asks for it in faith. Other versions, such as the NKJV and the NIV (among others) use the words: “to us who are being saved.” This wording denies the fact that a believer can know that he or she has a sure and complete salvation. These Bible’s teach that salvation is a process and not an instant transaction as the Bible (KJV) teaches in many places. Satan has caused confusion through the changing of just a couple of words.
The changing of words to produce doubt has been Satan’s tactic from the beginning of time.
God told Adam (Eve was not created yet) in the Garden that if he ever ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).
After a brief discussion with Satan, and when he saw that Eve did not know the exact words of the command not to eat of the tree (she said: “Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”), then he knew he had her right where he wanted her. He saw her vulnerability and then introduced words that caused further doubt as to what God said and meant – the rest is tragedy.
Eve’s problem (and ours) begins when changes are tolerated – even slight ones – in the Word of God. God never intended His Word to be evolutionary – changing over time. Once written, it was never to be changed. God strongly warned against changing it either by adding or subtracting anything in Revelation 22:18,19.
Satan knows the power of the Word. He fears it and knows that God will use it to take souls out of his evil kingdom and put them into His own Kingdom. So he fights the Word and if he cannot prevent people from hearing it as given by God, Mark 4:15 tells us that “where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.”
Because Satan continuously fights against the Word, God’s people need to continually be on the alert – constantly fighting for its accuracy, veracity, and preservation. A warning must be given to God’s people not to tolerate compromise – in the Word, in doctrine, or Bible practice. Compromise in any of these areas admits the Wicked One into the midst – enabling him to wreak havoc among the people of God and in the world.
We must be always like Paul, who said, in II Corinthians 2:17: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” May God help us to uphold the accuracy of the preserved Word in the King James Version which God holds more precious than His own Name (Psalm 138:2 “for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”). For His glory, may His Word be strongly defended against changes – whether done intentionally, carelessly, or accidentally.
