Which Word? – Part 2

TimeWatch Editorial
January 12, 2017

In continuation of our last editorial, we first will look at the statement made on page 1 of “Answers to Objections A reply to the "Review" Of My BookOur Authorized Bible Vindicated.”

“At the time OUR AUTHORIZED BIBLE VINDICATED was published, the NIV had not come on the scene. Wilkinson's main concern was with the Revised Version and the American Revision, both springing from the works of Westcott and Hort (on the RV), all modern versions also have taken their basis from the Westcott-Hort Greek Text, It is time we re-examined their sources and reasoning. Our very denomination is at stake!” Dr. Benjamin George Wilkinson, “Answers to Objections a Reply to the "Review" Of My Book Our Authorized Bible Vindicated” Page 1

First of all, who are Westcott and Hort? According to his website, “Dr. Samuel Gipp is a former pastor, an evangelist, teacher, author and Bible conference speaker. He has the unique ability to digest large amounts of information and then present it in an analytical, understandable, format. His humorous, informative and forceful preaching style makes him popular with all ages and keeps him in demand as a Revivalist and Bible conference speaker.” In the year 1987, Dr. Gipp published a book entitled “An Understandable History of the Bible.” In the eighth chapter of that book, he deals with the work of Westcott and Hort. Listen to what Dr. Gipp says:

“Westcott and Hort were responsible for the greatest feat in textual criticism. They were responsible for replacing the Universal Text of the Authorized Version with the Local Text of Egypt and the Roman Catholic Church. Both Westcott and Hort were known to have resented the pre-eminence given to the Authorized Version and its underlying Greek Text. They had been deceived into believing that the Roman Catholic manuscripts, Vaticanus and Aleph, were better because they were "older." Dr. Samuel Gipp, “An Understandable History of the Bible.” Page 58

What is interesting is that fact that The Truth for Today website says that the Codex Vaticanus was written during the fourth century and contains Matthew–2 Thessalonians, Hebrews 1.1–9.13, and James–Jude. However, The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts makes it clear that the Vaticanus lacks the Pastorals, Philemon, and Revelation. It was catalogued in the Vatican Library in 1481. The Codex Sinaiticus contains the Old Testament in Greek, the entire New Testament, and the epistle of Barnabas and part of the Shepherd of Hermas. It was “discovered” by Dr. Tischendorf in 1859 in the monastery of St. Catherine at Mt. Sinai. Notice then how Dr. Gipp continues in defense of the King James Version.

“As has already been established, both Drs. Westcott and Hort were hostile to the true Greek text of the King James Bible. Dr. Westcott has been unconsciously influenced into a pro-Roman Catholic attitude. It must also be pointed out that earlier Dr. Hort had been a student of Dr. Westcott's, as Arthur Westcott points out: "Another of Westcott's private pupils was F.J.A. Hort." Dr. Samuel Gipp, “An Understandable History of the Bible.” Page 78

If you recall in part 1 of this subject, Dr. Benjamin George Wilkinson in his “Answers To Objections A Reply To The "Review" Of My Book Our Authorized Bible Vindicated” Page 1, made the point that our doctrines, particularly the Investigative Judgment and 2300-Day Prophecy cannot be taught from the NIV, it is easy then to recognize the dangerous impact upon the delivery of truth. It must be noted that even though Dr. Gipp has been harshly criticized for his work, and still is, his revelations are compelling. Notice how he continues.

“The common desire of these two Cambridge scholars was to eliminate the authority of the Universal Greek Text of the King James Bible. Scholars had long sought to do this, but were baffled by the obvious evidence testifying that the Universal Text was indeed the true text of the Bible, and in that, a preservation of the original autographs. These scholars, subtly influenced by Rome, knew that their duty was to overthrow this pure, Protestant, Christ-honoring text and replace it with the Local Text of Alexandria, Egypt, but the overwhelming evidence was always weighted in God's favor. No one, even the Roman Catholic Church, could find a way to explain why 95% of all extant MSS belonged to the Universal Text. "Textual criticism" was at a standstill until this roadblock could be circumvented.” Dr. Samuel Gipp, “An Understandable History of the Bible.” Page 78

Dr. Gipp then describes the circumvention that removes the roadblock and allows Westcott and Hort to cheapen the impact of the King James Version.

“It was the genius of Fenton John Anthony Hort which rode to the rescue of the forlorn Roman Catholic text. This man used the same method to overthrow the authority of the Universal Text that Charles Darwin used to overthrow the fact of creation. He used a THEORY! His theory was that the "originals" agreed with the Local Text, and that this Local Text was "edited" by the Syrian church at Antioch in the Fourth Century to become what we know as the Universal Text, and then forced upon the people by the church council.” Dr. Samuel Gipp, “An Understandable History of the Bible.” Page 78

So the debate continues. The reason why it has so much life is because it is drenched in academia. The “learned” continues to confuse those who are easily impressed with their “learning.” The greater the number of letters that follow their names, the more familiar we become with those letters, the more impressed we are. Soon, we succumb to the dominant articulation of these individuals and follow their lead. As Dr. Gipp puts it:

The feeling of power, to be the judge of God's Word, coupled with the old nature which exists in the flesh of all men, even in Christian scholars, becomes overwhelming to the mind. As Paul stated in Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not." Jeremiah concluded in chapter 17, verse 9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Even a saved man has bad flesh. Give this flesh the authority to change God's Word, and he will soon plant himself on God's throne. As it has been said "Put a beggar on horseback, and he will ride off at a gallop." Dr. Samuel Gipp, “An Understandable History of the Bible.” Page 79

Be careful, therefore, be very careful

Cameron A. Bowen