A few years ago I was staying at a friends place in Wellington, and while we were talking about spiritual matters right up into the early hours of the morning, the subject of the authenticity of the Authorized King James Bible came up once again. This time not only was it down graded to just being on a par with modern perversions (whoops! I mean versions!), but it was now discredited to the point of being too out-dated and far too archaic to have much relevance in today's age.

Waiting for a pause in conversation, after everyone had their dig at the Holy Book, I immediately went to their bookcase, pulled out as many versions I could find, including the King James, then quickly spread them out across the table in full view of everyone. Then I said, "could someone here please pick up the word of God and show it to me?"

After a brief pause someone said, "They all are!!" To which everyone else present (except myself) agreed to.

Then declared I rather sternly, "How can they all be when they all disagree with each other in various places? For instance, the NASB in John 1:18 says in regards to Jesus, 'only begotten God'. Can God be begotten? Whereas other versions say 'only begotten son'. The NWT says in John 1:1, 'the word was a god'. Was Jesus just another god? Whereas other versions say 'the word was God'. The RV misses out a huge part of Mark 16 (the punchy part, dealing with the power of God), most other versions include it. Which one is right? Some references say 'a son of the gods', others say 'the Son of God'. Some say 'a saviour', others say 'the Saviour' ... just to mention a few. They all appear to contradict each other in one place or another, and God is not the author of confusion. Their is only one version that does not tamper with, or water down the Deity of Christ ... and that is the AUTHORIZED KING JAMES VERSION of the Bible!!"

However, like many of their contemporaries, they did not know what I was saying. They did not understand plain speech . They still insisted against all sound reason all the various bibles together, or comparing them all together, somehow brought forth the truth.

I went onto quote Hebrews 10:7: "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God" ...

"So Jesus is only found in a complete book, from Genesis to Revelation, without contradiction and without variance."

I went on and put a question to them; "PLEASE HAND ME THAT BOOK?? I NEED THAT BOOK!! If I can't find that book then how can I know I have a solid foundation in regards to my faith? How can I know I am truly saved?? If the foundations be destroyed (the solid rock of what God says) what can the righteous do?"

But unfortunately, they could not see my point. It had not been revealed unto them ...

To understand the word of God the Lord made it very simple, so simple it could be construed as too hard to believe. He gave us a humble story about a sower sowing seed. Basically if we could understand this parable, then the whole picture (the word of God) would be opened to us, as we started out in our pilgrim adventure.

However, in regard to understanding the parable of the sower there was one criterion necessary ... a humble heart:

"Lord, I believe in whatever you say! My opinion is worthless, unless it is confirming / conforming to your word! Please forgive me for being "an authority" when I basically know nothing? All my earthly credentials mean nought in your sight. From now on may your Book correct me instead of me trying to correct your Book?"

Expedient, relative, or true:

As always, many of us are not prepared to give up our opinion in full, and therefore the Lord cannot reveal Himself to us in full. Our opinions then become a system of theories relying on the wisdom of human eloquence and ingenuity, nothing to do with the will of God, nor the base things of this world. But everything to do with what is highly esteemed by man, what is convenient, what suits the occasion and time, and worse of all ... what would puff-up human intellect.

Who does God reveal Himself to, who does He look to:

But who wants to tremble at Gods word!? Why not invent your own that looks close enough to the truth and at the same time will let you of the hook (and make a wee profit on the sideline)!? Hence, bible versions after bible versions coming out of our ears, keeping us from the simplicity that is in Christ. Producing a religion that makes us look productive, not for the kingdom of God's sake though, but our own group / denomination / club / thingie, replacing the foolishness of preaching with entertainment. And of course entertainment doesn't change us, it just adorns our Sunday or mid-week Service.

Removing the sting:

Therefore our faith looks attractive, or at least acceptable to the world, and not a threat. In other words the end result is a bloodless, ineffective, watered down gospel, making the world feel, along with its churchified people, comfortable before God.

How can they hear without a preacher:

The true meaning of preaching (biblically) is someone bearing good news at a more personal level ... sometimes in a street, sometimes in a park, sometimes in a building. Like Jesus sharing, from a seated position inside a boat. Philip, riding beside a stranger inside a chariot. Paul, with visitors in the relaxed atmosphere of his apartment in Rome, etc. Someone telling it-as-it-is to someone else, usually at grass-roots level.

The very first incident in the New Testament in regards to bearing the gospel were two women bringing good news of the risen Christ to the disciples.

Women (!!??) ... you might say. Remember, women had been totally put down until the New Testament era. And here were two women, one an ex-whore, and the other who had become pregnant before she was married. The scriptures going so far as saying:

... out of the mouths of babes ...

And if all else failed:

... even the stones would immediately cry out.

Not to mention the ragged John the Baptist as a voice crying out in the wilderness, pointing people to the Lamb of God, metaphorically of the coming Christians, as stones rejected, pointing people to the Saviour.

Today, as always, people do not generally like preaching. People do not like to be told. You can share, tell a story, give a testimony, but "please do not preach to me!!" People like being patronised, if you can make it sound like you are not patronising. People like hearing you, if you make out it sounds like their line / idea. Generally people don't like straight speaking anymore. They don't want absolutes. Hence, the ease in which Politically Correct terminology is being oozed upon us:

"There are no easy answers!" "Things have become more complicated!" "Values are old fashion!" "There are too many grey areas!" "I made a moral misjudgement!" "I had an inappropriate relationship!"

With it's New Age catch phrases like:

"You are too culturally insensitive!" "You're not positive enough!" You are coming out of the Dark Ages!" "You are full of stinking thinking!" "Get real, this is the nineties!"

"For this is the commandments of God!!" "Thus saith the Lord!!" "This is the way, walk ye in it!!"

No waffling in this department.

Conveyed by plain speech

Therefore, we can see clearly the message of the gospel contained in the holy writings, which we call the scriptures, is communicated in a simple way, vocally, by use of our speaking faculty called the mouth. Not by the cleverness of man's ways.

Which rules out "nice" things such as music, dance, drama and other such art forms. These things are really substitutes for the real thing, and actually neutralise the power of the gospel. If the gospel needed to be refined, tuned up or dressed up, to make it more appealing to the listener. God doesn't really want listeners anyway, but doers of the word. If we change the word of God into a mere entertaining commodity, it no longer becomes a thing to be feared and adhered to.

Take this one New Testament scripture f'instance:

We have a book:

God has given us a book. Pages with His inspired writings on, bound between two covers in tangible form:

All scripture (not just 'some' verses) are given by inspiration of God ... Every word (not just 'most' words) of God is pure.

What's more, He has promised to look after (preserve) His word, in page form, word for word, right through the turmoil's of history.

Is God a liar? Does He not keep His promise?:

Pr. 30:5. Every word of God is pure ...

• As silver tried in a furnace of earth

As the Devil and man have attacked God's word right through the aeons of time, it has proved its worth and uniqueness as a book. It has come forth shinning as Champion of all books. Against all odds, it has triumphed miraculously. No papal army, inquisition, confederacy, or devil could stamp it out. No fire of trial, or ordeal, has been able to quench its effectiveness.

• Purified seven times

A continual living proof the word of God stands alone on the earth, in its completeness and entirety (seven means completion).

At the beginning of the Book we are warned not totamper with its contents, either adding or subtracting from it. In the middle of the Book we are warned again. At the end of the Book we are reminded again, with a consequence of what will happen to us if we do.

Are we really trembling at Gods word, or is it tickling our ears?

• Thou shalt keep them, O Lord

Good news!! You don't have to go to the original Greek, or find the Hebrew root word, or to a bible college, or rely on a "qualified" scholar to find out what the Lord is saying, because Gods word is not lost! He has given you His word in English, in-the-here-and-now, based on a time when English was at its purest form, when the Lord was laying down a basis for a universal language. Yes! The Lord has kept His word, it is here in tangible form, without Heaven's censorship and without copyright!

If you go to man to find what God has got to say, he may tell you the lie the word of God has been lost, because the originals are all gone. In other words ... there's no guarantee; "we only have copies of copies of the originals, and from one interpretation to another we may have lost its original meaning along the way. That's why you need qualified people who have come out of seminary and may have something new about the originals, taught by their superiors, so they can help you understand what the scriptures were originally trying to convey."

Forget it. Get a relationship with the Lord and He will show you what the scriptures are saying. The Holy Spirit always agrees with the Word and will never act independently. The Word guarantees it. Even though you may have copies of copies from the original decayed scripts, do you think the Lord is not wise and trust worthy enough to have kept His word:

Though heaven and earth shall pass away, his words are here to stay!!

• Thou shalt preserve them

As the early believers moved out after the genuine out pouring of the Holy Spirit in Antioch, taking with them the sacred scrolls and epistles (copies of copies), and the preaching of the gospel to other places as commanded, they would've no doubt had to reproduce other copies of scripture, in the fear of God, knowing the consequences of adding or subtracting. And so it has happened to this day. The original inspired meaning of what was written in the past, whether B.C. or A.D., cannot fail or fade away; it is still with us today, intact, and divinely preserved by God.

• From this generation and forever

The line from this generation is for any generation of course, and is therefore always in the continual present tense. From now and forever, the word of God in written form ... pure, tried, purified, kept and preserved, so we can boldly hold our KJV in our hands and say "this is the word of God".

Could you do that with the New International, or Good News For Modern Man, or the New King James for that matter? No, only the Authorized King James Holy Bible!!

More on the preserved word:

Following is a response to a brother inquiring about the KJV's authenticity:

1. So what was the "true" bible before the KJV?

Both Tyndale and Wycliffe translated the bible into English before King James's day from the Received Text (the Textus Receptus, God's preserved New Testament in Greek), before they were both burnt at the stake by the Church for supplying the word of God to the common folk in the street. When James of Scotland became the first king of the new Great Britain, being a God fearing man (contrary of what we have been taught), and like myself encouraging relationship and accountability to God only, produced the first public bible for the man in the street, the Authorized Bible (also based on God's preserved Received Text).

Other bibles that were translated from the Received Text prior to the KJ were: Beza's 1604, Bishops 1568, Geneva 1560, Stephen's 1550, The Great Bible 1539, Matthew's 1537, Coverdale 1535, Luther's 1534 (not the corrupt Lutheran Bible of today), Tyndale's 1525 (as already mentioned), Erasmus 1522, and Wycliffe's 1382 (as already mentioned)..

2. Is English the only true word of God?

The 1611 KJV is God's word written in English (the universal language) for the world today, which has been translated into hundreds of other tongues reaching the four corners of the earth with the good news of our Saviour. Actually, on The Catena (my back page) and Links page, is a lot more info on this giving you reference to other good links. If you are really keen it would be beneficial to check them out.

Is a translation as good as the original?:

There once was a man who found a puzzle. He put the pieces together and they all fit quite well. A few years later some other men found pieces to the same puzzle, only they were made before the original man's pieces were made. In fact, many of the originals puzzle pieces were copies of the older pieces, but, like all copies, weren't quite as good as the original. Which puzzle is more correct, the older or the newer?

A translation cannot only be "as good" as the originals, but better in God's case:

• 2 Sam. 3: 7-10:

No one can argue our translated state from darkness to Christ is better than the original state we were in.

• Heb. 11:5.

Just the same, no one can argue Enoch was not in a better state when he was translated to be with His Lord forever. Remember also, his testimony before his translation still pleased God.

Likewise, when the Bride of Christ is translated it will be in a better state than what she is now, even though our present testimony my please the Lord.

In regards to 'copies' being inferior to the originals, once again, not in God's case:

Entree - version 2:

Thus, as God does not put the emphasis on the originals neither should we. The Holy Bible is complete and sufficient.

Quite worshipping the paper and start worshipping God! Unfortunately, I can't remember the verse which says not to be consumed with meaningless genealogies, etc. In other words, don't get caught up being so worried about a few trees, when the whole forest is there. Sure, some of the new bible versions verge on heresy, but to say that the KJV is the only true word of God is almost humorous (see question 1). I read the NIV because it is written in plain, modern English (KJV was written in modern English too, when it was written). The NIV is also based on more reliable, older manuscripts, and based on a better understanding of the Hebrew and Greek documents. I would like to know a critical verse in my NIV which differs form KJV to the extent that one should consider invalid.

We may not like splitting hairs but God does to iron out the bugs:

The book that stands alone

Admitting and receiving the King James as Gods true copy was very difficult for myself. I'd always associated the thee's and thou's with Shakespearean literature, a hang-over from my old failed school days. Wagging (truancy), the drudge of English classes, and not liking anything I couldn't understand, especially the hymns and prayer at morning assembly. Rebel I did, until I met Christ at the age of twenty when my prejudices started to be dealt with. It wasn't long before some dear older saints, genuinely caring for my spiritual well being, handed me a Living Bible. I thought, as I started reading chapter after chapter; "Great!! Gods word in my own language!"

However, apart from finding myself confused by the columns full of counter opinions, and being distracted with the odd photo of a miniskirted Lass on comment pages, I still found myself reverting back to the old KJ when it came to memorising scripture. Why? Looking back I found the KJ verses somehow flowed more fluently, and appeared to carry a greater punch when witnessing. "Only if I knew then what I know now!" would be appropriate here I think!

But only a few months of my new found pilgrimage passed when the LB started to run out of clout, as I found myself hungering for something more meatier to put my teeth into.

A friend in the fellowship I was attending at this time introduced me to the New American Standard Version. His line was it was based on the original Greek, a line I bought at the time without checking it out for myself. This version became my bible for the next few years until I, by the grace of God, walked away from the Charismatic Movement and organised Christianity in general. From now on I found a greater freedom to think for myself.

For some time I still was using the Nasbie (NASB). Although I was always hearing from the Lord through revelation, my faith , to a large degree, was like a ship without a rudder. There appeared to be too many discrepancies in the scriptures along side the great conglomerate of modern versions, which I also used for reference points, along side other Christian book aids.

Were the scriptures really the word of God? How could I really rely on divine guidance if one: I was still following man, and two: I couldn't really trust scripture? Where was God's light to direct my path found? These were the questions which fuelled my inquiring mind.

However, a seed had been sown among my misconceptions about the KJV, (namely the preacher image mentioned earlier, which I had associated with this Book, along with the William Shakespeare stigma) prompting my thinking to re-examine the matter. A brother had shared with me how the modern translations suited many evangelical / Pentecostal Believers because Romans 8:1 stated:

"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" and finished there. He also pointed out how it was more convenient to ignore the KJV as it went onto say ... who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. And of course there is always a condition when applying Gods word.

Because I could see it was easier to be entertained by the word than changed by it, what this brother pointed out stayed in the back of my mind.

After many months of pondering over these things I decided to go back to the beginning and make Jesus the basis of my search. After all, He was the one who had saved me, and it was His transforming grace I had experienced in my life. If He was our starting point, centrality, and finishing point, and our eyes were to be focused on Him continually, then He should be the one who He claimed to be through His written word. The question now ... where was His word to be found?

"every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God".

This verse appeared correct and would easily satisfy any Believer, however verse three said:

"and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God".

This verse could no longer satisfy me and through conviction I was convinced it should have read Jesus Christ not just Jesus.

Which Jesus was it referring to. If the translators could justify omitting Christ here, then why not elsewhere in scripture?

I had to find out whether my inner hunch was true, so I opened my Parallel Bible along with a couple of other versions to this passage. One by one I couldn't find what I was looking for, and on purpose I left the King James to last. Instead of wanting to correct the King James, for the first time I was now prepared for the King James to correct me, if it could prove itself.

With my finger on the passage at 1st John, I looked up and said to the Lord in desperation, "Lord, You know I've almost run out of options and there is only one bible left for you to prove Yourself!?"

My conversion to the true book began here, as confirmation after confirmation began to take place. However, because I felt very comfortable using my Nasbie, enjoyed and become very accustomed to its lay-out, especially its easy reference margins and footnotes, along with all my own added comments, I justified still reading from it as long as I used the KJV as my final back-up.

From that night on the King James became the Bible of our home.

Some of the many changes or omissions:

Following are just a few words (but important ones) we found missing or changed in the Mods, proving the authorized King James bible is on track. For hundreds of other references exposed there are books available plus other web sites you can check out:

• Lucifer Is. 14:12
• Easter Acts 12:4.
• Cut off Gal. 5:12. 2 Cor. 11:12. Rom. 11:22.
• The Word 1 John 5:7
• God of forces Dan. 11:38.
• Slave Many references. Replacing the word servant endorsing compulsion to serve the Lord.

Beware of the overly good:

Satan means one who opposes. Our enemy. Our opposition. But if Satan had of entered the Garden in a blatant threatening way; let's say undisguised, with a plundering army of caricatured angelic hoards, the first thing Adam and Eve would've done would've been to cry out to the Lord for help. Then no doubt Satan would've promptly found himself up against the multitude armies of Heaven.

Infiltration is the name of the game. Then divide and conquer. What better way than by using good and evil together. Always playing one off against the other. Then, appearing from the centre with the solution ... an excuse to offer the poison ... "Hath God said??" "Is God's word perfect??" "Can it be trusted??" "You need a higher opinion!!" "Another school of thought!!" "Another version of the truth!!"

So Eve took the bait and Adam whimpishly followed.

If the Devil can appear as an angel of light, then so too can his ministers appear as ministers of light. Over the recent years have we been hearing horror stories of people coming out of the closet, with their reports of child abuse at its worst, committed by people (in a lot of cases) who have appeared role models and pillars in the community. Even mass rapists and mass murderers have shocked us by their well presented, well mannered, well educated aura, being the least expected in the community to commit such crimes. Not to mention well meaning devoted people in society, whether in humanistic or religious roles, promoting the good and well being of mankind. Sadly, outside the word of God, without nor offering eternal security or assurance. Because outside of Christ the scriptures say our righteousness is as filthy rags. Even sincerity or good intentions is not enough.

The great tragedy is multitudes will buy into this end time lie; a replacement for God, a substitute for the Son of God, an anti-christ, and be snared . Because it will appear good, plausible, and beneficial for all mankind.

Which brings us to the"Man of Peace", clothed in white, ruling from the City built on seven hills, in a palace adorned in scarlet and gold, promoting unity of all nations and all religions, riding on the emerging Beast of the New Europe ... the Pope of Rome himself. For upon his mitre above his forehead is written in latin (and adding up to 666), translated ... "substitute for the Son of God". Anti-christ in other words.

The written word of God makes a distinction ... Lucifer, the pseudo light, or Jesus, the true light! Remove Lucifer, and you remove a very vital link in scripture, while the Beast walks in.

Separation - a principle of God:

Separation has always been the will of God and is always His first principle: As it was in the beginning; light from darkness, day from night, so it is today. As it was with Abraham and Israel, coming out to be a people unto God, so it is with us also. By consecrating Christ in our hearts are we separating ourselves from the world and living in the kingdom of God, now, present tense.

Now by separation we are not referring to 'segregation'; the monastery scenario. Please don't confuse the two. One is a spiritual separation ... consecration, circumcision of the heart. The other a geographical / physical avoidance of anything you don't agree with ... breeding sectarianism. In the world, but not of it, is God's way. The religious way is finding your niche in a religious club called a church, or a denomination, cosily tucked away from the lures of the world, to be nurtured and spoiled inside a "spiritual" hothouse. Biblical separation is a heart thing. Keeping the world, along with its frolics, out of our lives, by setting our affections on the eternal things above, where Christ lives.

As a people in general (meaning the functioning Body of Christ on earth, or in a local setting) we also have an everyday responsibility ... and that is to keep aloof from every "spiritual" brat, loafer, and any opportunist who may hide behind the gospel. This may mean giving things 'the chop' treatment. Unfortunately, there are times when we have to apply 1st Corinthians chapter five and ask some folk to pack their bags. This is because God does not tolerate sin within the (wilderness) camp. The sin God appears to detest the most is not the sin "self righteous" you or me, or Mr / Mzzz Do Gooder would frown upon, from smoking to lusting that is. The worst type of sin God hates is how we use truth to manipulate others. The domineering control thing. What we are putting others under. And this is where the modern versions pull the plug:

In the book of Galatians Paul comes down very strong on those who go out of their way to bring God's people back under the religious yoke of bondage. Sure its okay to have our own theories and doctrinal extremes we keep to ourselves, during transitional adjustment times, like when we are sorting out the junk from the truth. Isn't this called growing in grace? The danger is however, when filthy pride gets in the way and we can't admit we're wrong. Or when we have a point to prove. This is where any one of us can succumb to law and become its minister, lording it over others, being unteachable, and forgetting all about grace.

Throughout history like minded scholars and scribes have based their opinions on his corrupt manuscripts, and have used them (instead of winning people to Christ) to correct the biblical scripts, and re-educate their Students with their watered down distorted theology. This of course justifies their position and rank as paid professionals, allowing them to exist in a comfortable, paid, livelihood.

So to really understand your Bible, you have to unwittingly come under the Alexandrian spirit by using these so-called experts to interpret for you, instead of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who leads us into all truth.

Or you could go further by going to Bible College to learn their garb. In turn, you too could reach their status, and be trained in how to destroy peoples faith in God's word. Then your students in turn, as your predecessors, could become an authority like yourself (instead of God's final authority the Bible), professionally employed, with titles before and after their name.

This is the vicious-circle of seminary known as the Alexandrian Cult. Looking to men with credentials, because Jesus' word doesn't appear to be qualified enough.

Look, I know there are some sincere institutions around, where the motive of sincere men is to train up others in defending Gods word! But when it comes to abusing your position to led others astray, God has some very harsh things to say ...

... it were better for him like a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The same judgement likened unto Babylon.

Which spirit are you subject to? Berean or Alexandrian?

A common accusation against King James bible people is they have become so caught up in one book by God, they have become idolaters because they actually worship the King James instead of God. A scripture they might quote here is John 5:39:

In other words, "you're too caught up in the Book but not the Person!"

Now doesn't that sound koool!!! The very reason they say we are caught up in the Book is the very same reason we are caught up by the Person Christ Jesus our Lord, who wrote the Book in the first place so He could say:

Also, the people who Jesus were speaking to here had the same problem as Catholics, Judaizers, and all Religionists have today; they were putting the word of God on a par with their tradition or culture, which of course cancels out the word, as the word of God stands alone. I think Matthew 22:29 is appropriate here:

In regards to worshipping the word, or elevating it to some place of importance it doesn't deserve, as some would put it, let's allow the word to speak for itself:

I thought we were only supposed to glorify Jesus? But scripture reveals they are one and the same.

"The star only pointed to Jesus. So if the wise men had worshipped the star instead of finding Jesus, they would've missed the mark. Therefore, let us use scripture to find Jesus and not worship scripture!"

Wow, sounds awesome this time!! Choooice Man!! The RP agrees with the first point but not the second. The Star was not our daily bread, nor was it our rock to build our faith on, nor is it the Christian's guide as:

Many follow stars today whether they be horoscopes, movie "stars", sport "stars", or rock "stars". Some sadly even try to hitch-hike a ride behind a comet with tragic consequences. All these things the bible plainly warns against. Also, man spends billions on technology while millions starve, thinking he can reach the stars and find life's answers. But Jesus through the scriptures says:

And this has nothing to do with thanking your lucky stars or knowing your 'Sign'! Live by the "stars" and you will end up like them, perverse and bound. Jesus said:

Stars, whether they be great people or popular personalities, mystical powers or heavenly phenomenon's, are corruptible! But Bible Believers have been born again by the incorruptible word of God.

Also, notice how scripture gives such pre-eminence to the scriptures:

Can scripture look into the future?

Doesn't the scripture have a ring to it; like a person, like divinity? With breath, with spirit, as well as authority? How many more facts do we need?

• The scripture is holy (2 Timothy 3:15), meaning pure, without blemish or corruption.
• Of truth ( Daniel 10:21), meaning true, without error or mistake. Infallible.

All the above words emphasised are different variations for the word of God with the purpose of making different statements in regards to the word. As I write this I have just discovered (apart from using the term 'thy word' speaking for itself, plus the three verses mentioned along with another verse rendering 'ordinance' for the word) the seven words are used in every other verse throughout the Psalm. Some of the New Age versions use different wording thereby missing out on this divine in-built pattern. Lets take a closer look at the seven colours of this rainbow feature, regarding the word:

God's established rule, guidelines to live by ... the word of God. Opposite to anarchy and lawlessness; being a lord unto yourself.

The declaration of His wonders ... the word of God. Not what is established by a 'big bang', or fate, or luck, or coincidence, or make- do. No room for reincarnation or evolution theories here.

His purposes and direction, sure and steadfast ... the word of God. Opposite to confusion, the 'two (so-called) schools of thought', 'higher opinion' syndrome.

His advise to practise ... the word of God. Opposite to philosophy - the pursuit or study of human wisdom. Building concepts on theories. Man generalising because he has no absolutes to go by.

The record of God's established law ... the word of God. We are not left high and dry. It is not a matter of interpretation, as self / private interpretation has already been abandoned. We can hold it in our hand ... as Moses did with the tablets, as Jeremiah did with the roll, as Ezekiel did with the roll, as Timothy did with the parchments, as Thomas did with the Word of Life. A tangible record. A book.

His concrete decree ... the word of God. Opposite to licence, relativity, and expedience.

Off course the above pattern throughout Psalm 119 would not have been planned by the Psalmist as he penned these words of expression, but proves they were divinely inspired, confirming the perfection of scripture.

The word - higher than His Name:

Last of all we must consider this very important scripture:

Get this: God has made His word above the name of Jesus! If you read the above verse in most modern translations you will miss the point completely (and know doubt it's deliberately rendered so). For they read:

And why has the Lord magnified His word above His name?:

You see many armies have gone out in God's name pillaging, raping and maiming. But has it been scriptural? Many prophets have prophesied many strange off-beat things in Gods name. But has God told them to? Think of the many 'weird and wonderful' things done in Jesus name today, without a scriptural basis ... ???

Get the drift!! What is done in Jesus' name, must line up with scripture first, or else it's not of God. The name of Jesus is very important, but it is not enough, it must be backed up by the Holy Book.

In regards to the accusation of worshipping the Book, it must be mentioned the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most precious and exalted name there is, and is the only name by which man can be saved. Praise God He has told us so by His word. Because God has made His word His final back-up in everything that pertains to life, faith, and practice. Therefore, we cannot help but exalt, magnify, glorify, and elevate the word of God, as contained in the scriptures within the pages of a book called the Holy Bible, to a place of prominence and pre-eminence in everything we do ...