I’m reading through the latest translation post of my friend Dr. Steven Dilday. Of course this is way above my job description but I found that it was pretty easy to follow, though I get lost in the details. Here’s a short background on his work.
Bernardinus de Moor (1709-1780) studied at the great Dutch University of Leiden, under some of the great Reformed theologians of the age. He was especially attached to Johannes à Marck, and à Marck, shortly before his death, asked De Moor to continue his work, and perpetuate the tradition of orthodox Reformed Scholasticism. “[Bernardinus de Moor] wrote a commentary on à Marck’s dogmatic compendium…which represents the most comprehensive dogmatic text that was ever produced in the Netherlands. In this work of seven volumes (1761-1778), de Moor classified and combined material from the Reformed dogmatics produced by his predecessors at Utrecht and Leiden into a whole.” –van Asselt, Introduction to Reformed Scholasticism This second chapter is devoted to the Doctrine of Scripture, the Principium of Sacred Theology. New material from the ongoing translation of De Moor’s Didactico-Elenctic Theology is being published almost daily at http://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/blog.
Some of the points that I noted are the discussion of the capturing of the speeches in the NT, particularly those around Jesus’ birth; the discussion of the dialogue in Job; the Books of Moses, particularly the Genesis account.
De Moor II:5: The Infallible Inspiration of the Scriptures
Here is a taste:
γ. the Divine Preservation of the Scriptures as God’s peculiar property in the midst of the power of the Babylonians, Syrians, and Romans. But the principal reason that it is so called is its Infallible Inspiration, according to 2 Timothy 3:16, πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Peter 1:21: οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη ποτὲ προφητεία, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου φερόμενοι ἐλάλησαν ἅγιοι Θεοῦ ἄνθρωποι, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, on which passage see my Commentarium.
α. In vain is the Diversity of Styles and Expressions in the diverse Writers Objected. Since to this God prudently accommodated Himself in writing, as to the sound of one’s voice in speaking; as one had a greater and clearer, and another a more feeble, which here implies no difference. The Diversity of Styles is also able to be compared with the diverse sounds of Musical Instruments, although they be played and beaten by the same Artist. That is, on the one hand, the Holy Spirit by His supernatural influence did not overwhelm the natural faculty of the holy Prophets and Amanuenses, and so dictate by some ἐνθουσιασμῷ/ enthusiasm the particular Words that they should write, that no rational operation of the Men of God in considering and arranging them intervened; that in their own mind they conceived, arranged, and shaped nothing. For this does not agree with a difference of Style.
In my own witness, over the 55+ years of my Christian walk, I’ve been led deeper and deeper in God’s word and it’s trust worthiness. Like Christian in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress I had my adventures off the narrow path. But as to the Bible I’ve grown to believe the truth of Genesis accounts, the relevancy of the whole Old Testament and the amazing depth of the New Testament Books. Even today in the Ephesians sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones I’m being pulled deeper into an appreciation of the meaning behind even the individual words passed on to us.
I love the supporting structures that provide details that draw you deeper into the Bible itself…our historical Confessions and Catechisms. And as you know if you have read my blog, a number of years ago I came to find the KJV to be the best English translation of the best original Hebrew and Greek texts.
Having done so, I do still use the KJV, though I’ve started also doing some reading the Old Geneva Bible. but do note, I came to faith through a string of the modern Bibles, even though they are based on the minority Alexandrian texts, which possibly have some Gnostic influences, more in the lines of leaving things unsaid that in adding doctrine, at least as I can tell in the few textual copies we have. That’s a study in itself. And still after 150-200 years quite controversial. But my path was through the RSV, NASB, NIV, and ESV before the KJV. I have one blogger friend who uses the newer LSB, a supposedly more accurate update of the NASB.
I firmly believe that any of God’s elect, who are called before the foundation of the world will be able to be drawn to faith through any of these Bibles and proper reading and preaching. None will be lost.
John 6:37-45 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Ephesians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
1611 King James Bible Introduction
Link at the bottom of that article to 1769 Introduction might read easier.
Rainbow Trout 