The Holy Spirit’s Amazing Work of Art

A fresh reminder from Chas Carrin about how amazing the Bible is and how the Spirit speaks through it today.

Pentecost exploded onto the ancient world with such power that it forever altered the work of scribes and the production of books. The overwhelming demand for the written account of Jesus had no precedent in world history. As a result, the New Testament numerically eclipsed all the combined works of Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus, Euripides, Homer, and other ancient writers. Today, there are 5,686 ancient Greek New Testament manuscripts still surviving. In contrast, only 7 copies of Plato survive, 49 of Aristotle, 8 of Herodotus, 9 of Euripides, etc., and all of these were copied at least 1,000 years after the original. This is not true of the New Testament; we have portions of the gospels going back to the first century and a fragment of the Book of John that was written about 29 years after the original. None of the secular books can make such a claim.

Copyright Stan Myers. Used with permission.

But there is more to tell. Besides Greek copies, there are some 19,000 ancient New Testament transcripts in the Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Aramaic languages. This support-base of 24,000 historic New Testament manuscripts gives scholars opportunity to compare them for accuracy. The result: These books are about 99.5% textually pure. No other ancient writing has such a record. Not only so, but these copies are better preserved than any other document from the past. Also, keep in mind that when the original documents were written there were numerous people still alive who had heard Jesus for themselves and would have protested loudly had the writing been inaccurate. No such complaints exist. None of Plato or Aristotle’s hearers were present to edit the copies we now accept as valid.

Questions: If thousands of New Testaments survived the ravages of time when secular ones did not, how many more must have originally been written?! What was the motivation behind such an explosion of gospel books?

Answer: Pentecost impacted the world of its day with such cataclysmic power that there was an almost frantic-copying of thousands of New Testaments to meet the demand. For example, only 30 years after the death of Jesus, Christians in the city of Rome had become so numerous that when Emperor Nero set fire to the city he blamed them for the destruction. In the frenzy that followed, thousands were slaughtered-many crucified – but instead of eliminating them, Roman Christians grew in unprecedented numbers. They too experienced the same baptismal-power the Holy Spirit put upon disciples in the Upper Room. With that anointing, some preached from their crosses and more unbelievers were saved. Bibles were desperately needed. Today, Pentecost is still bringing people into personal encounters with the Holy Spirit – and intensifying the need for more copies of the New Testament.

The Bible Edition Which Most Impacted The English-Speaking World Is The One Known As The “King James” Or “Authorized” Version.

King James came to the Throne in 1603 when England was gripped in the fiery contest between Puritan “renewal” and Anglican “resistance”. Of himself, the King had little to recommend him. By London’s standards, he was crude and untrustworthy. The French King referred to him as the “wisest fool in Christendom”. Upon his appointment to the English Crown, King James left Stirling Castle in Scotland and by horse-drawn carriage started toward London. But things did not go as planned. On reaching the English border, he was immediately stopped by a group of Puritan ministers who presented him with a list of grievances. The urgency of their cause would not allow them to wait until his Coronation. Puritans demanded change; they were God’s preaching voice in that day. The Church of England, of which King James was titular “Head”, adamantly held to ritual and tradition. Though he responded favorably to the Puritan encounter that day at the border, King James was far from being their friend. Soon after his arrival in England he said of them, “I will make them conform or I will harry them out of the land – or else do worse.” This was not a bluff. In that day, dissenters were still being burned alive at the stake, having their ears or noses cut off, imprisoned, and abused in other horrendous ways. But in spite of King James’ threats, the Puritans had a temporary reprieve and God used the opportunity to bless humanity.

As a result of that encounter on the English border, the King called a meeting, later known as the “Hampton Court Conference”, which convened for three days, January 14-16, 1604. At that Conference Dr. John Rainolds, President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and leader of the Puritan party, requested the King to authorize a new English translation of the Bible. This angered many Anglican clergymen, the majority opposed the request, and the measure would have immediately failed, except for one thing: The King approved. Seven years later, in 1611, as a result of the session at Hampton Court, and the work of fifty-four of England`s best Biblical scholars the King James Bible was presented to the world. That Book has since lighted millions of English-speaking homes in every nation, helped push back the darkness in remote parts of the earth, and advanced the movement of civilization. But – it had little personal effect on the King.

In 1620, after abandoning all hope for renewal in the Church of England, the first band of Pilgrims came to America. They had been “harried out of the land” but, bringing the King James Bible as their guide, they established North America’s first Christian Colony. Their escape was well-timed. A mere 35 years later, 1655, Parliament slammed the door on the Puritan movement in England, expelling more than 2,000 pastors from their pulpits and University professors from their posts. Thankfully, this did not happen before Puritan insistence had safely given Christianity the blessing of the “King James Bible”. This Bible has had critics as well as admirers but probably no one spoke with more authority than did the Catholic scholar, Alexander Geddes, in 1786, when he said,

“If accuracy and strictest attention to the letter of the text be supposed to constitute an excellent version, this is of all versions the most excellent.”

Today, many defenders of the King James version mistakenly assume their current Bible is exactly like the 1611 original. That is not so. Today’s public would have great difficulty – if not impossibility – in comprehending that antique English text. Since its’ first edition, the King James Version has undergone several necessary revisions as the English language has changed. Today’s edition which retains the original message without cumbersome Anglo-Saxon dialect was revised in 1769. In July, 1981, the “New King James” was presented to the world. Interestingly, the final drafting of this edition was completed at St. Andrews University in northeast Scotland, a short distance from King James’ ancestral home of Stirling Castle. This is the version I now use and enjoy. Christians today who insist that the old King James is the only valid translation need to know that the 54 translators did not make that claim for it. Their aim was to use the previous ones and make them better. They had no intention of making an exclusive or final one.

But there is another factor of immeasurable importance to Bible students.. It is this: Unlike Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus, etc., whose understanding requires nothing more than an astute mind, no one can grasp the true message of Scripture apart from the revelation of the Holy Spirit. And that is true regardless of which translation we use. Academic knowledge can never replace Divine revelation. Paul expressed this clearly in II Corinthians 3:6: God has “made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Even the New Testament produces killing doctrines if it is preached apart from the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Whatever translation we use, we must realize that our understanding the spiritual message of the gospel is not achieved by human wisdom. Spiritual truth comes by God’s revelation.

We are to “study to show ourselves approved unto God,” II Timothy 2:15, but Paul goes on to explain, “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-13. Seminaries, Bible Schools, are important, but their efforts are in vain if the student does not receive his own personal anointing from the Holy Spirit. Much “denominationalism” is birthed and sustained by “letter of the law” preaching which lacks revelatory understanding. Personal anointing was necessary even for Jesus: He “came to Nazareth … And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel … ” Luke 4:16-20. Both with Christ or us, kingdom-preaching is inseparably connected to anointing. The words “Christ” and “Christian” – from the Greek word chrios – are designations of anointing. This anointing – which speaks through the preached Word – is able to bring light into darkness, cast down demonic strongholds, transform fallen humanity into Christ’s divine nature, and bring men to salvation.

Then, as now, the Holy Spirit breathes power into preaching that honors Jesus. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit …” 1 Thessalonians 1:5. Paul further explained, “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:19-20. The proof of the gospel is the “mighty signs and wonders” which accompany it. Where there are no “signs” there is no full gospel. Fully presented, the gospel produces the same results today as it did in the first century. Obviously, none of us are yet there. The point is this: Bible literature remains only that until the voice of the Holy Spirit speaks through it.

In the intent of God, the “Gospel of the Kingdom” is the only gospel; ageless, unchanged, eternally the same. Any lessor gospel is insubordination to the Kingdom. The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s anointing is to empower redeemed men and women with Kingdom authority to preach that gospel with all its original, miraculous manifestations. The authentic gospel is therefore an extension of Kingdom power through the human voice. When Peter preached to the household of Cornelius, “The Holy Spirit fell on all them who heard the word,” Acts 10:44-45. Today, as then, the empowered gospel can invade the physical realm, reconnect it to the spiritual by changing natural circumstances with supernatural manifestations. Peter’s presence as a messenger of the Kingdom was essential but the man himself was not the source of power – it was the Holy Spirit’s anointing upon him.

Jesus said to the first disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus was emphatic. His instruction, “teach them all things,” referring specifically to the church at the “end of the age” is unmistakably clear. He expected the 21st century church is to be taught precisely what He taught the first century church. There is no change. In spite of the obvious intent of Jesus, the modern church claims that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit have been withdrawn. Question: Why is this claim made? Answer: To acquit itself of failure and to justify the absence of miracles, the modern church blames God for the power’s disappearance.

But hear Paul’s rebuke to the Galatian Church about such changes: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from him who called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some who trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-10. How could language possibly be more plain? I know not! Speaking on Paul’s authority, any “gospel” which claims to be different from the original is a “perverted” gospel. Scripture severely warns against our preaching a different gospel. In the intent of God there is only one, the original gospel endorsed by and in tribute to His Son. How dare we edit what holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit!!

Can the modern church reclaim “first century” power and operate in it? Yes! Jesus promised to be with the Church until the “end of the age.” The power is absent because the masses of Christianity have replaced faith in Bible truth with doctrines of denial. Jesus established one church for all time; there is no such thing as an “apostolic” and “post-apostolic” gospel with different teachings, different powers, and different expectations. As Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” so His gospel is as unchanging as Himself. Hebrews 13:8. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Ephesians 4:5. Thankfully, new winds are blowing! Millions of believers are returning to faith in the full gospel message. In a world-wide population of two billion, more than 500,000,000 Christians now acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s gifts and power.

The Bible’s Role In The Founding Of America.

When the Pilgrims fled England for America they left behind one of the bright stars of the Puritan movement. That man was Pastor John Robinson who, with others, had guided the Pilgrims through years of political and religious turmoil. He too had hoped, ultimately, to join his flock in the New World. That never happened.Six years after their arrival in North America John Robinson died – still in England. His death was a grievous blow, John was still in his forties, and the cause of truth desperately needed him. But in reality, the Pilgrims would never be without his guidance. Not only did they have his written sermons and numerous letters but one special message would always be engraved upon their heart. It was his farewell address which he delivered at the time of their sailing. In that message, the Holy Spirit gave him a prophetic word which is still a challenge to the church four centuries later. Listen to it carefully. It is this:

“I charge you before God and before his blessed angels, that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal anything to you by any other instrument of his (another minister), be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry: for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a full stop in religion and will go at present, no further than the instruments of their first reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw: whatever part of his will our good God has imparted and revealed unto Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it. And the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God; who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God: but were they now living, they would be as willing to embrace further light, as that which they first received.” (John Fletcher’s History of Independency, Volume 3, page 69.)

The separate messages in this quote are astounding. Some of the radical concepts of truth and liberty that were later birthed in Colonial America and became the foundation of Constitutional Democracy owe their conception to the pen of this man. For example,

“The Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his holy Word.” John Robinson did not believe that theologians of his day had fully exhausted the mine of God’s written truth. Rather, he was thoroughly convinced that they had only broken through the top-soil of what would ultimately prove to be an inexhaustible source of Divine gold. If only Christians today had that same vision!

“The reformed churches … are come to a full stop in religion and will go at present, no further than the instruments of their first reformation.” They “stick fast where they were left by that great man of God”. Though Robinson did not regard himself as belonging to either the Lutheran or the Calvinist camp, he none-the-less experienced true grief that they had become “closed-door” denominations. This is especially significant because it was so unlike the attitude of their founders.

Martin Luther and John Calvin were both willing to accept the fact of “more truth” breaking out of God’s Word. That had been the very enticement that forced them to press into God and the truth of Scripture. In both cases, their efforts had been rewarded by the sudden burst of new, holy revelation. Yet their followers, according to John Robinson, “stick fast where they were left by those great men of God”. Why did Robinson use the expression “first Reformation”? Did he believe that God wanted to lead them into greater revelation of Scripture than their founders experienced? Did God intend that the Reformation be progressive, on-going, with a second, and perhaps a third stage of revelation?

“Whatever part of His will our good God has imparted and revealed unto Calvin, the Lutherans will rather die than embrace it.” The religious trap which Luther and Calvin had both zealously fought to escape, that is, the “polarization, isolation, and stagnation”, of their traditional backgrounds, their own Lutheran and Calvinist disciples not only had fallen into but were frantically defending. Robinson saw this as a “misery much to be lamented”. That quickly, the church had returned to the bondage of a new-style, Protestant tradition.

Though Luther and Calvin “were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God”. Luther knew that he had not explored the “heights and depths” of God; Calvin also knew it. The ultimates of revelation, like a distant star, still shone beyond both of these men, beckoning them on. Oddly, their followers never grasped that truth. And sadly, it is still that way. Denominational Christianity, for the most part, is polarized around itself, isolated from revelation knowledge God has imparted to its’ neighbors, and inbreeding with its own kind. Consequently, each is fighting alone against the death-angel of stagnation. This is always the inescapable result of any Christian group which rejects “more truth” from God and relies instead on the meager supply it already has.

Were Luther and Calvin “now living, they would be as willing to embrace further light, as that which they first received”. Is that an unfounded statement for John Robinson to make of these men? Not at all. That was the very quality that made them what they were in the beginning. They were willing to embrace further light when the opportunity came. And if they had done it the first time and it worked, they would do it again. That simple fact is what made them Martin Luther and John Calvin.

Where does John Robinson’s challenge find most of current Christianity? Answer: On the outside looking in. In most cases, the test of being a Baptist or an Episcopalian, a Presbyterian or a Lutheran, etc., is “What did our ancestors believe?” That is the very mind-set which the Reformers fought to escape – not to preserve. Had that narrow principle been their guide there would have been no Reformation and the Bible would still be a closed, unknown book. Thank God that this “misery much to be lamented”, that is, the refusal of Christians to accept what God has revealed to other believers, is now changing. Baptists and Brethren are receiving “more truth” about the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. So are Methodists and Mennonites. Presbyterians and Pentecostals are learning from each other. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14-15. The Bible’s final word of warning about changing the gospel comes from Jesus. He said: “For I testify unto every man who hears the words of the prophecy of this book … if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:16-20.

As 21st century Christians, we may look gratefully to the first century scribes, the Puritan fathers and to King James. More importantly, we look to the Holy Spirit for wisdom to understand what they have put in our hands: The Bible – the Holy Spirit’s great “work of art.”