My dear readers,

The Bible of Bible-Presbyterianism - I
Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor, Calvary Pandan BP Church
(Message to FEBC Vacation Bible College, 1 May 2007)

The subject for our consideration is: The Bible of Bible-Presbyterianism. To help focus our thoughts on the things which matter, let me ask you three questions:

a) Did you read your Bible this morning?

b) Do you do what God’s Word says to do?

c) Which Bible version do you use?

On “reading” and “doing”

Let us seriously examine ourselves. What does God’s Word mean to you? Is it your daily food which nourishes and strengthens your soul and spirit? Is it the light on the pathway that guides your footsteps each day?

The Psalmist says, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Does this speak of you? God’s Word is our only protection and security in the present evil world. Dear fellow believer, let us exhort one another in the Lord as we see the day of His glorious return approaching. Let our interest in Bible versions be translated into action for the propagation of God’s Word and for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Which Bible?

Coming to the third question, which Bible do you use? Does it matter?

It does! Today there are many English Bibles available, and you have to make a choice. That may not be easy.

How do you choose? What is the difference between one Bible and another? The cover tells you little. They all display the same label: “Holy Bible” and the name of the version. What’s in a name? Do you know the difference between King James Version (KJV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), and New International Version (NIV)?

You must know! There are serious differences which are not readily obvious. False teachings lie hidden in innocent sounding statements. You need to be discerning.

Let’s look into just two passages to prove the point. Take the book of Isaiah, the “Gospel Prophet” who prophesied the coming of God’s Messiah and the restored Kingdom of God. That the Messiah from God would be born of a virgin is clearly stated in the Gospel records and in the KJV Isaiah 7:14 -“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

But what does the RSV say in Isaiah 7:14? Read: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

At Bible Study, the discussion centres around the “Virgin Birth.” Questions are asked: Was Mary a virgin? Was Jesus born by Mary out of wedlock? Is it necesary to believe in the “Virgin Birth?” The discussion goes round. Opinions differ; Bible Versions too. But the RSV says, our Lord was born of a “young woman,” not “virgin!”

Then someone asks about our Lord’s parentage. Did Jesus have a father like we do? Bible versions disagree. The KJV says the angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream that Mary was with child “of the Holy Ghost,” and Joseph was not the father (Matt 1:18-20). But the NIV in Luke 2:33 calls Joseph “the child’s father.” Which is right?

Someone says, “That’s only a small point, let’s not argue.” Not so. Is it a small point if someone insults your parentage? or says that your mother was pregnant out of wedlock?

Coming back to the NIV, the serious error I had drawn attention to is only the “tip of the iceberg.” Within the covers of the NIV are dozens of other false statements which are aimed to destroy the divine status of our Lord Jesus, His eternal pre-existence, His deity, Sonship of God, virgin birth, the redemption effected through His blood, His ascension and coming again. It is incredible that the NIV translators could pervert the Word of God and attack the person of the Lord Jesus.

In 1978 Zondervan Publishing House released the NIV with the following commendation of the Book: “ ... most exact, illuminating rendering of the original languages into English ... so faithfully accurate, that it ushers in a new era of Scriptural clarity for Christians around the world.” More deception.

The Satanic deception begun in the Garden gets worse with time. Let’s return to our subject matter: the Bible of the Bible-Presbyterians. In 1950 when the BP Church of Singapore was founded, we used one Bible, the KJV. Today the ranks have broken. Since the BP Synod dissolved in 1988, some BPs have adopted the NIV. These have forsaken, knowingly or unknowingly, the original BP stand, and the “BP Bible,” our precious heritage.

Those who have forsaken the KJV do not realize that the change to a “Modern English Bible” involves much, much more than a change of language. Indeed the entire fabric and contents of modern versions have been doctored to distort, deny and destroy vital doctrines. The father of lies has not stopped attacking God’s Word. (To be continued)

Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor