The Preservation and Availability of the Holy Scripture

Nehemiah 8:1-8

(1689 BCF 1.8)

Issue: Throughout church history, errors concerning the Bible have often come not from denying Scripture outright, but from handling it wrongly—either by restricting it from God’s people or by binding God to one human form of it.

• Pre-Reformation Era (Roman Catholic Practice) - The Scripture is inaccessible to the common people during their time due to the the bible translation they used—Latin.
• • The people were taught to rely on: the Priest, Mass, Church Tradition.
• Post-Reformation Era (KJV-Onlyism) - The only English translation that the Lord has preserved is the King James Version. They believe that this translation is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Hence, they deem other modern English translations as demonic and blasphemous.

I. God Preserved His Word for Us

Note: In this passage, we see that the focus was not only on rebuilding physical structures, but also on reading the Law of Moses and renewing the Israelites’ covenant with Yahweh.

Key verses: Nehemiah 8:1-3

• By His providence, the Lord has preserved thousands of Greek manuscripts, so that we may be confident that the Bible we hold today is the same Word confessed and preached by the early Christians.
• [John Owen] Though there are various readings, yet the whole Word of God, in every letter and tittle, is preserved without corruption… God permitted lesser variations for the exercise of our diligence.
• [1689 BCF 1.8] 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 authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them…
• Our God did not allow His Word to be lost to His people. Rather, He preserved it not merely so that we might know the historical accounts recorded in the Bible, but for our growth in our Christian life.

II. God Made His Word Accessible for Us

Note: As the Torah was read, Ezra read it in Hebrew. At that time, many of the people were still able to understand Hebrew. However, the succeeding generations who were born during the Babylonian captivity commonly spoke Aramaic.

Key verses: Nehemiah 8:3, 4-8

• Not all Israelites fully understood Hebrew, and so the Levites helped them by translating and explaining the Torah or the Law of Moses. This ensured that the Word of God was clearly understood by everyone.
• [1689 BCF 1.8] …But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a 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.
• Today, though most of us cannot read Hebrew or Greek, God has graciously provided His Word in many translations, through our faithful brethren whom He has used to serve His church.
• God has given us His Word to read—the very means He uses to call sinners and to sanctify believers.
• And He has given us a faithful pastor, along with leaders in our church, who not only faithfully preach His Word but also shepherd us with love.

Sin Problem: Laziness in reading the Word of God

Gospel Cure: Cultivate your habit of reading the Bible in private and with your family, and, most importantly, listen attentively to the preaching of God’s Word.