• The Bible is our Final Authority in all matters of faith and practice.

Aren't the "Originals" perfect?

Jeremiah 36
[2] Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.

Here we see the creation of an "Original"

Jeremiah 36
[27] Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
[28] Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

The "Original" was destroyed, so God inspired another "Original". We'll call this second one "Original #2" so we can keep track of it. Jeremiah 45-51 gives you the text of "Original #2"

Jeremiah 51
[61] And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;
[62] Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.
[63] And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:

Now we see what God thinks of the "Original", He ordered it destroyed. But, we can read this writing in Jeremiah 45-51, which means that at some point in time before the roll was cast into the river a copy was made. God doesn't care about the papyrus, vellum, paper, etc. He cares about His Words.

Can a translation be as good as the "Original"?

II Samuel 3
[9] So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
[10] To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

What was the "Original" condition? David over part of the Kingdom and Ish-bosheth over part.
What was the translated condition? David over all of the Kingdom.
The translation was even better than the "Original".

Colossians 1
[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

What was the "Original" condition? Lost and under the "power of darkness".
What was the translated condition? Saved and in kingdom of God.
The translation is even better than the "Original".

Hebrews 11
[5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

What was the "Original" condition? Enoch living on the pre-flood Earth. A place so bad, God wanted to destroy it.
What was the translated condition? Enoch living in Heaven.
The translation is even better than the "Original".

By the way, the above verses containing "translated" are offensive to those who pervert scripture because they disprove their faulty arguments for messing with God's Word. So, they change "translated" into "transfer" or "taken". You may think that they are close enough in definition to be interchangeable, but they are not. To translate is to change state or form. To transfer is to change position or convey. Now go back and look at Hebrews 11:5. Enoch was translated so that he should not see death. His body had to be "translated" (changed like we will be at the rapture) in order for him to go to heaven and be able to stand before God. If he was simply "transferred" (still in his sin cursed body) he would die in the presence of God, which is not what God wanted in the first place "that he should not see death".

Ways that translations are an improvement over the "Originals" (I didn't say more inspired)

• All of the books are in one volume.
• Chapter and verse markings.
• More durable.
• In a language that more people speak than ever spoke Greek or Hebrew.
• We can all get a copy.

Can a translation be inspired?

Genesis 42
[22] And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
[23] And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

Joseph spoke Egyptian to the Egyptian who spoke Hebrew and Moses wrote this account in Hebrew.

Acts 21
[40] And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts 22
[1] Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
[2] (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

Paul speaks in Hebrew and Luke recorded it in Greek.

Acts 9
[4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Acts 26
[14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

God spoke Hebrew and Luke recorded it in Greek.

Note
II Timothy 3
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Scripture is the writing, therefore the writing is inspired. God speaking is also inspired