LBCF 1.8 - The Availability of the Word of God

LBCF 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. 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.

There are no differences between the WCF and LBCF in this paragraph, they are word for word the same.

LBCF 1:8 - Survey of Scripture

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 (Isa. 8:20; Matt. 5:18; Acts 15:15)

Isaiah 8:20 NKJV

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Matthew 5:18 NKJV

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Acts 15:15 NKJV

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

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, (John 5:39, 46)

John 5:39 NKJV

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

John 5:46 NKJV

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

therefore they are to be translated in to the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come (1 Cor. 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 27, 28)

1 Corinthians 14:6 NKJV

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

1 Corinthians 14:9 NKJV

So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:11 NKJV

Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

1 Corinthians 14:12 NKJV

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1 Corinthians 14:24 NKJV

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

1 Corinthians 14:27 NKJV

If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:28 NKJV

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner (Col. 3:16)

Colossians 3:16 NKJV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope. (Rom. 15:4)

Romans 15:4 NKJV

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

What Does This Teach Us?

That the absolute rule of faith is the Scripture in the original tongues

This passage teaches us the necessity of translations of Scripture: of which there are a number of fine translations in English and other languages.

This passage also teaches us that the confidence in that we have is not in our translations but in the original languages.

There are a number of helpful tools available - Logos may be the best - where you can hold down on the English word to research the original word.

Just as important is the word but also the tense of the word.

http://ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/inter-tense.htm

While I learned Hebrew I do require Logos to use it effectively but the Hebrew word and its tense also have meanings that are important.

I say all of this to refute those who are KJV only or hold a belief that only the 1611 KJV is the Word of God; this translation existed at this time and they clearly distanced themselves from that perspective.

That we possess an authentic and reliable text.

This is not to say we do not have some minor differences in our Greek texts; there are some but they are not critical in nature nor should they undermine your confidence in your Bible.

The Scriptures came uncorrupted by God and have been preserved, uncorrupted, by Him.

There are two primary texts used for translations:

The most common is the Critical Text from which we have the ESV, CSB, and NASB Bibles

The least common is the Majority Text, which is very similar to the Received Text, from which we have the KJV and NKJV.

I use translations from both texts, without reservation, and also have another Greek text that is majority texts up to the 6th century.

Even if we did not have the older texts we would have confidence in our texts by the large number of quotes from early Christians.

A.A. Hodge states, These are so numerous that the whole New Testament might be gathered from the works of writers dating before the seventh century, and they prove the exact state of the text at the time in which they were made.

We also have early translations into other languages: the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Greek Septuagint (285 BC); the Syriac version (100 AD); Latin Vulgate (385 AD).

That each is commanded to search the Scriptures

We are commanded to search the Scriptures in John 5:39, for they are the words of God and ONLY through them can we know eternal life.

All are enjoined to read the Scriptures (John 5:39); and the laity are commended not only for searching them, but for trying the doctrines of their public teachers by them.—Acts 17:11.

Neglect not the Scriptures - they are the means of your salvation, your sanctification, and your eternal preservation in Christ.

That the Scriptures ought to necessarily be translated into the languages of all people

Since the Scriptures were originally written in the languages which, at the time of writing them, were most generally understood, God has hereby intimated his will, that they should be translated into the vernacular language of different nations, that every one may read and understand them.

Robert Shaw, This we maintain in opposition to the Church of Rome, which forbids the translation of the Scriptures into the vulgar languages, and declares the indiscriminate reading of them to be highly dangerous.

Rome prohibited the free access to the Scriptures.

It is, therefore, necessary that the Scriptures should be translated into the language of every nation; and the use of translations is sanctioned by the apostles, who frequently quoted passages of the Old Testament from the Septuagint.