HISTORY OF FALSE DOCTRINE THUMBNAIL SKETCH – Author: Pastor Thomas E. Kresal, Beef River Baptist Church Strum, WI

HISTORY OF FALSE DOCTRINE THUMBNAIL SKETCH – Author: Pastor Thomas E. Kresal, Beef River Baptist Church Strum, WI

Author: Pastor Thomas E. Kresal, Beef River Baptist Church Strum, WI

Thumbnail Sketch: History on False Doctrine Part 1 BRBC Sermon 11/12/23

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Century upon century we have been inundated with false information about Jesus from the folks that have affectively said “WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN.” A short walk through history; looking at a few of these groups:

PTL for the men & woman in our Saviour’s day who chose the narrow path and were able to escape the teaching of Pharisees of their day.

The Pharisees: These whited sepulcher’s in the time of Christ who took a solemn vow before three witnesses to devote every moment of their entire life to obeying the Ten Commandments, as a way to please God.

The historian Josephus numbered them at about 6,000 in Israel at their peak. 

They controlled the synagogues and were very popular among the people but were a minority in the Sanhedrin a 70 member theocentric government in Israel.

Of particular interest to these supposed holy men of ancient Israel were the legal documents, or the Torah law, contained within the Mosaic Covenant.

There were a total of 613 directives concerning the Mosaic Covenant.

The commandments are given in rather GENERAL TERMS In order to be SPECIFIC and to DEFINE the Ten Commandments.

 Over the years the Pharisees created a myriad of traditions in a COLLECTION of WRITINGS that is called the TALMUD.

The 6200 page TALMUD is divided in two parts:

• The Mishna, which is composed of debates and Jewish legal opinions &
• Gemara (GUH-MARA), which is simply a commentary on the Mishna.

The Talmud is not based on the Scripture itself, but it is based on the MIDRASH, which is a Jewish commentary on the Scripture.

Thus the Talmud is a commentary ON A COMMENTARY on a COMMENTARY!

The Pharisees exalted the Talmud to a place of authority equal to Scripture.

Jesus RESPONSE to such a practice is found in: Mt. 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”

We can see how serious the Pharisees were about keeping the Law. It is amazing that they would come to Jesus at all.

The Pharisees regarded themselves as superior to other men in spiritual status before God, due to their total DEDICATION to OBEYING the law of God.

In addition to their smugness & PRIDE the Pharisees held a DEEP DISDAIN & HATRED toward Christ; they expected him to be a great EARTHLY ruler and make Israel a world super power! Certainly the Messiah couldn’t be a LOWLY carpenter’s boy!

This false premise was taught throughout Israel from the time the Apostles were KNEE high to a grass hopper. The Messiah would be a great earthly RULER!

Not quite grasping the 320+ Messianic prophesies specific to the coming of the Messiah in which the Pharisees should be well acquainted with.  After all they were seeing prophecy unfold before their very eyes!

Did Zech. 9:9 register with them when the crowd spread palm branches as Jesus rode through Jerusalem on a colt of an ass. (Lk.19:30-31, Jn.12:12-15)

I don’t want to park here too long but you can’t read Isa. 53 without acknowledging it’s prophecy concerningJesus Christ! 

Many of the prophecies pointed to his crucifixion NOT to him becoming a great earthly KING and make Israel a dominant world power!

It was with this theological background that the vast majority of Israel were taught a lie and held a false premise; it’s no wonder we see such trouble within the NT churches shortly after Jesus death, burial & resurrection.

Satan is hard at work! DESTROY THE Apostles, the church, the Bible.

A quick read through the Bible we find: 26 of the 27 books in the New Testament warning the body of Christ about false teachers and false prophets.

We find the church at Corinth completely dysfunctional, every man for himself with no unity when Paul wrote the first letter to the Corinthians.

In his polemic to the church in Colosse Paul wrote in defense for the deity of Christ & Christian living because they were under attack from what we now know as an early form of Gnosticism.

Col 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Rudiments/stoicheio= truths & principles & building blocks of the world system

BTW this world system is the reason Israel is at war right now. The god of this world “blinded the minds of them which believe not” has his minions, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, protesting college useful idiots, worldwide protests and even members of Congress warring or making threats such as “FROM the RIVER to the SEA” = the total annihilation of Israel, wipe ‘em off the face of the earth.

Granted they are currently, for the most part, a secular society; God has a plan for his people. Contrary to all the history denying racists that are WARRING and protesting against Israel, they will never alter God’s eternal plan. AND YES I SAID THEY ARE RACISTS! These are hateful, spiteful people! Study the genealogical record folks – we all trace our ancestry back to Adam & Eve! One race – HUMAN!

The Israeli Army is doing the people of Gaza a favor; ridding them of a menacing political system; indoctrinating these people w/hatred! No longer will they have their munitions and army hiding under public hospitals, tunnels running through their neighborhoods & using innocent people as human shields!

The god of this world is having his HAY DAY right now.

RANT is over – back to the message. MANY OF THE early churches are in disarray!

Similar to what was going on in Colosse when the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian church; the Apostle John addressed Gnosticism as well, in 1 John 4:1-3

1 Jn 4:1-3 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

The churches of Galatia fell into the false teaching of Judaizers & their brand of ceremonial legalism. Plain old syncretism: BLENDING Christianity w/Judaism.

Basically saying you can have your Jesus but the feasts, holy days, the Sabbaths, new moons and sacrifices must still be observed. We’ll just work Jesus in.

Paul was shocked to learn of how quickly they abandoned the gospel.

Gal.1:6-7 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

We find in the church at Philippi (4:2) TWO WOMEN:

• Eudoais/You Od Dee Ah  
• Synche/Soon 2 Kay – creating strife within the church.

This resulted in Paul losing temporary support while in prison.

You should know that ancient prisons, unlike our modern ones, did not have THREE meals a day, health care services, a part time job to help pay for toiletries and a bunk to sleep in.

If you didn’t have support you basically died in jail.

Epaphroditus took up the slack; didn’t want Paul to starve to death;

• Epaphroditus almost died trying to find support for Paul!

Phil.2:30 “Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.”

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the seven churches (YES, this Epistle is written to 7 churches & is NOT the 70^th week of Daniel as the Jesuits & Protestant futurists would have you believe! CHALLENGE:

Read Daniel 9:24 and the 6 points & when 70 weeks are determined. Then read Revelation & see if you can find these 6 points in that epistle. You can’t find em because Jesus already fulfilled all six points!

We find these churches of Revelation starting with:

• Ephesus told to repent or her candlestick would be removed
• Pergamos holding to false doctrine of Balaam & Nicolaitans.
• We find Thyatira eating things sacrificed to idols,
• Sardis works not found perfect and
• Laodicea a lukewarm church.

So we can see in history the entropy of mankind. It started in the garden and continues to wax worse and worse during the church age.

Fast forward a couple centuries & we find corrupt Bishops in the church at Rome; Cornelius, Lucius and Stephens in opposition to Brother Novatian.

Under extreme pressure Novatian held fast to the doctrine of Christ & we find Cornelius & company leaving the faith once delivered to the saints.

THIS ACT BY Cornelius & CO-HORTS PAVED the WAYfor the pagan Emperor Constantine receiving a satanic vision in a dream about a Christian CROSS:

 The night before the Battle of Milvian Bridge (Oct. 28, 312 AD) and supposing it to be a sign from God it read “In this sign, conquer.” WITH the  defeat of Maxentius Constantine was able to unite the Roman Empire and form the first state government church; uniting pagan & Christian customs.

Satan the great chameleon was winning the battle for souls as he built the mother of pseudo Christian organizations thatseveral centuries later would introduce us to Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD); the author of the universal church, spirit baptism, reformed theology & amillennialism; etc.

Protestants please take note; it was a RCC bishop that introduced you to the false doctrine of universal church, spirit baptism & reformed theology. Augustine’s 22 book collection “City of God” 1100 yrs. later INFLUENCED Calvin and Luther the ex-communicated RCC priests; particularly the idea of a universal invisible church and the doctrine of predestination.

And just like Augustine dealt w/the Novatians; Calvin took up his murderous mantle & either killed or imprisoned anybodywho disagreed with him.

I defer to Calvin’s friend, Jacques Gruet a theologian who disagreed with Calvin. Subsequently Calvin lured to town was arrested, tortured for a month & beheaded on 7/26/1547.

Michael Servetus, a Spaniard, physician, scientist & Bible scholar, suffered a similar fate. He angered Calvin by returning a copy of Calvin’s Institutes with critical comments in the margins.

WHAT did CALVIN do? Calvin had him arrested, charged with heresy & Servetus was beheaded.

Time won’t permit me to pick apart every false doctrine through the portals of time. 

But before I go any further I would like to clear up some confusion concerning the KJB and the use of supposed archaic pronouns.

The KJB translators did not adopt the pronouns thou, thee, thy & thine in spite of what you may think these words were NOT common to their language of the day. Their desire was to faithfully translate the original Scripture into English.

These pronoun expressions had already dropped out of common English prior to 1611 when the KJB was first published. Folks weren’t saying “thee” and “thou” back in 1611. They said “you” just like we do today. See the Geneva, Bishops, & Tyndale Bibles for example.

The distinction between the singular pronoun (thou, thee, thy) and the plural (ye, you, your) in English began in the 13^th century continued into the 1500’s & then dropped off. TheKJB English was never common speech.

The reason these PRONOUNS are used is to enable accurate translation of the Hebrew & Greek. Modern English & American Bibles have lost that distinction.

The KJB English was strictly a literary style that was so pure in form that no other version or style of English could surpass it. I believe God guided the KJB translators to employ this STYLE of English so as to set a standard of purity & accuracy for Bible translations in other languages to follow in the future.

KJB English is like no other English; it is Biblical English. PERIOD!

It’s important that we understand the nuances regarding KJB pronouns to uncover a deeper understanding of Scripture. The ubiquitous & ambiguous YOU of American English often dilute the precision found only in the KJB.

Evangelist Phil Stringer in his book “Biblical English” said this:

“The superiority of the English expressed in the KJB against all other English translations builds the case on proof from English grammar, etymology and linguistics. 

In the 1998 Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language, Tom McArthur, one of the world’s foremost experts on the English language, edited the entire work. He concluded that the English of the KJB developed as its own form of English as BIBLICAL ENGLISH. This raises huge issues for the crowd claiming the KJB is archaic and so forth.

The English of the KJB is not old English. It is not Modern English. It is NOT Elizabethan or Jacobean English. It is a SIBLING of Elizabethan and Jacobean English, sharing only a parental lineage of English while also containing a Greek and Hebrew heritage.” END of QUOTE

In short, KJB English was used in order to properly translate the Hebrew in the OT and the Greek in the NT.

Not archaic pronouns: they are necessary to rightly divide the Word of God

If you learn the pronouns of the KJB it will help you tremendously in your understanding of the Bible. For example all pronouns are categorized in the  subject, object, possessive case (SOP) & take into consideration the 1^st, 2^nd 3^rd person.

• 1^{st person}: SINGULAR: I, Me, My (Mine); PLURAL: We, Us, Our;
• 2^{nd person} : SINGULAR THOU, THEE, THY (THINE) PLURAL YE, You, YOUR  
• 3^rd: SINGULAR He-Him- His SHE/Her/Hers; PLURAL: THEY, THEM, THEIR.

First person is referring to the speaker in the singular (I, ME) and would include anybody with the speaker which would be the plural (WE, US).

Second person refers to folks being addressed, singular (THOU, THEE) and in the plural (YE, YOU). YES, YOU is a plural in Biblical English! When the KJB wants to identify a person in the singular it uses a NOUN or a name.

Third person – Although not speaking directly to any given audience but is making a reference to a specific person (HE, HIM) or referring to a specific group of people (THEY, THEM).

There is a lot to be learned by studying Biblical English. Let’s take a peek at a short verse that uses: THEE and YE.

A very simple example is found in John 3:7

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (Jesus)

Thee – is a 2^nd person singular pronoun; he is directly addressing Nicodemus. 

But then the next word switches to a 2^nd person plural “YE.”

Ye –Jesus is telling Nicodemus this is true of you and everybody else. “YE” applies NOT JUST to Nicodemus but to a larger audience. So whether other people were with Nicodemus (the Bible is silent on that) or “YE” is used in an editorial sense what Jesus is telling Nicodemus this APPLIES to a WIDER audience. “Ye must be born again!” OR like they say down south “Y’ALL MUST be BORN AGAIN” You & everyone like you! Every sin stained person on earth!

ESV, NKJV Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

NABRE Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’

 NASB Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born again.

 “”    The modern day YOU, YOU in modern day American Bibles don’t pick up on nuance and deeper truth of this simple scriptural verse. Can you IMAGINE what they do to the rest of the BIBLE!

We can use the KJB to expose many false doctrines by defining pronouns & prepositions. Next week in Part TWO, I’ll use a tiny 2 letter preposition toexpose a false doctrine taught in the vast majority of churches worldwide.

I don’t claim to be an EXPERT on the English language but there are a few things I’ve LEARNED along the way in studying pronouns.

I’m going to try & make this as EZ as possible. We need to understand SOP.

Do you realize that the subjective case pronoun initiates the primary verb? It is the subject of the sentence; hence, subjective case.

And the objective case pronoun receives the action of the verb. Hence it is the OBJECT of the sentence.

Then simply adhere to the role of prepositions they simply show the direction of the verb to the object.

The rule of SOP is true of every type of pronoun whether it is a personal pronoun, a reflexive pronoun, an interrogative pronoun or relative pronoun.

Let’s investigate another verse in scripture that will help us understand mankind’s freewill. Let’s look at a two subjective case relative pronouns   “WHO (subject) & the compound RELATIVE pronoun “whosoever.”

 Let’s apply what we’ve learned in our FIRST pronoun 101 lesson.

John 3:15-16: “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The subject is “whosoever” initiates the primary verb BELIEVETH and the OBJECT (HIM) receives the action of the verb because the preposition “IN” shows the direction of the verb to the object. “IN HIM”

Once again we learn that WHOSOEVER as a relative pronoun in the subjective case initiates the PRIMARY VERB “believeth”.

The antecedent of the pronoun is the SON – God’s only begotten Son = JESUS!

Why is this important? The “whosoever’s” are the subjects of the sentence the very folks that respond to the Word of God & believe in Jesus Christ. The OBJECT does not respond it is incumbent upon the SUBJECT to respond!

But please take note WHOSOEVER goes beyond the word WHO =which is people in general.

But the KJB translators did not use the general term WHO they attached a much DEEPER understanding by selecting the word “WHOSOEVER” meaning: anybody, anywhere on the face of this earth taking oxygen today with no exceptions.

In short; that would mean any person on the third rock from the sun; PERIOD.

This automatically disqualifies the Catholic doctrine of Augustinianism with the Protestant nickname; Calvinism.  They HOLD that Christ only died for select group of people “the elect” & if you’re not one of the lucky elect it is simply impossible for you to get saved; doctrinally they call it a LIMITED ATONEMENT.

• The acronym is TULIP: T=total depravity, U = unconditional election, L=limited atonement, I=irresistible grace, P=perseverance of the saints.

Whosoever being defined as a compound subjective case relative pronoun seals the deal. It’s mean UNIQUIVOUCLY: anybody and everybody.

We know from scripture it is God that initiates the gift of repentance & faith BUT it is incumbent upon the “WHOSOEVERS” of this world with their God given freewill to respond to the gift when the Holy Spirit of God is whooing us!

Here’s another verse Calvinists overlook: John 1:12:

John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power (exousia) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

There are a few words in Greek for the word POWER. One of them is: Dunamis = a divinely bestowed miraculous power as in Acts 1:8 “ye shall receive POWER, (DUNAMIS) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:” HOWEVER the

KJV translators used: Exousia- LIBERTY of doing as 1 pleases, power of choice.

I’m not saying we save ourselves – we simply are held responsible to whether we respond to the call of God – when the HS is pricking our hearts & wooing us.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Who’s the audience? The saints at Ephesus

Once we are saved we are ordained to do GOOD WORKS!

• HONOR God in every facet of our life.

Glory to God to everybody that is a free will “whosoever!”

NEXT week we’ll finish with Part two on the History of false doctrine by:

Examining the History ofSpirit baptism & Universal Church

• PLUS an eye opening look at the Birth of fundamentalism;
• Where did it come from and who were the participants.
• And how did the Baptist get involved
• And what date in history can we find these false doctrines infiltrating Baptist churches.

LET US PRAY

Short History on False Doctrine Part 2 BRBC November 19, 2023

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Last week we learned about the RCC Bishop Augustine of Hippo was the author of the doctrine of the Universal church and Baptismal regeneration. Let’s now examine how Baptismal regeneration morphed into “Spirit baptism.”

A little historical background info on the false doctrine PROPAGATED by Augustine & his ilk: Being Spirit baptized into a Universal church.

The concept of One True Universal Church doctrine was 1st introduced in part by Catholic Bishop Cyprian (200-258 AD).

But the doctrine was popularized by the writings of “church father” (cough) My cough is intended to draw attention to what so often passes as “CHURCH HISTORY” is written by the folks in power. The book burning RCC sainted and held in veneration in every Biblical sense of the word a long history of heretics; such as the Gnostics Origen & Eusebius and a long line of Popes, as well.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD); was just another rotten fruit in Satan’s pseudo Christian mother church.

The Visible Universal Church was Augustine’s answer to our ancient brethren the North African Donatists. Augustine debated w/the Donatists.

They rightly believed that if the bishops & members of the church at Rome were not pure the church at Rome could not be considered a scriptural NT church.

As a counter move Augustine developed a dual church model; a Universal (Catholic) concept of an INVISIBLE church of pure spiritual believers included in w/VISIBLE assembly; folks not truly spiritual/saved; Pew warmers, C&E crowd.

When he couldn’t win the debate Augustine declared war on the Donatists; in the early 400’s AD. In close proximity to when the Dark Ages began.

Augustine enjoyed & respected the Greek philosopher Plato & his concept of the higher reality of ideas, drawing his invisible church concept from this realm of ideals.

GOING another step further in his HERETICAL position AUGGIE further developed infant rhantism to include REGENERATION.

Quoting from Augustine writings (On Forgiveness of Sin, and Baptism, 43:27)

 “But the sacrament of baptism is undoubtedly the sacrament of regeneration: Wherefore, as the man who has never lived cannot die, and he who has never died cannot rise again, so he who has never been born cannot be born again. From which the conclusion arises, that no one who has not been born could possibly have been born again in his father. Born again, however, a man must be, after he has been born; because, ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ Even an infant, therefore, must be imbued with the sacrament of regeneration, lest without it his would be an unhappy exit out of this life; and this baptism is not administered except for the remission of sins.”

DID you catch that? Unbaptized children would have “an UNHAPPY exit out of this life.” Exactly what the hyper Calvinist believes and the RCC hold to; unbaptized infants go directly to hell; which is the “unhappy exit.”

This nothing short of BAPTISMAL REGENERATION which guarantees every baby sprinkled, poured on & even dunked to ultimately be guaranteed salvation.

Fast forward 1100 yrs. we find Ex-communicated RCC Priest Martin Luther; Marty studied Augustine’s work; advancing his theory of a mystical, invisible Universal church. This satisfied Luther’s followers that they were not leaving the true church just entering it spiritually; insuring they would NOT LOSE their salvation.

• Keep in mind the RCC taught that if you left their church you were damned to hell. That was a dominate thought when leaving the RCC.

Protestantism integrated a Spirit baptism with their universal invisible church theory. Universal church & baptismal regeneration spread through Protestant academia with each graduating seminary class. INCLUDING BINO U!

Please take note that both the RCC & Protestant churches including most IFB believein a universal church; some also hold a dual church position.

I’ve run into some of these folk; just ask em “DO you believe in Local church? OH YES! Where do you stand on 1 Cor. 12:13 well first off you need to understand, that’s different from the visible local church.

That’s the universal church where everybody is Spirit baptized and become members of the FAMILY of GOD& part of the bride of Christ.

There is so many ways modern Christianity find comfort within false doctrine. Jesus marries the entire family; baby sprinkling church membership saves you, ask Jesus into your heart, 1-2-3 pray after me and a host of other ways to sooth your conscience and live a life that does not glorify God.

I think it’s important at this juncture that we step back into the portals of time to where in history did the IFB folk get their doctrine and why many of us have “come out from among them.”

WHERE DID FUNDAMENTALISM COME FROM?

I believe the birthplace of modern day Protestant fundamentalism has its roots in the ecumenical Niagara Conference with Baptist participation.

Historically it was RARE to find a Baptist that HELD the Protestant position of universal church or even a premillennial Jesuit (Francisco Ribera 1590) futurist position in eschatology prior to the mid 1800’s (John Nelson Darby)

Believers Meeting for Bible Study later recognized as the Niagara Falls Conferences (1868 -1897) was the very first major ecumenical conference in the USA.

Sponsored by the Presbyterians and heavily attended by many different denominations including at least 3 Baptist preachers that I have identified.

I Do NOT mean to denigrate these Brothers certainly by their testimony they are in the F.O.G. They just took a left turn into some Protestant doctrine.

James Inglis (1813–1872) is also credited as a co-founder of the Niagara Bible Conference, though he lived only to see the earliest precursors of the final conference. Inglis’s periodical Waymarks in the Wilderness was a pivotal publication in the early dispensational movement. Inglis served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Detroit.

 Adoniram J. Gordon (1836-1895) was a key participant who would become editor of the Baptist publication called “The Watchword.”  A. J. Gordon held a broad influence on the Bible conference movement. Gordon pastored the Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston. Gordon’s legacy continues today through the institutions he founded: Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His passing in 1895 weakened the Niagara Conference and a couple years later the influential Presbyterian James Brooks passed and the conference ended.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Amzi Clarence Dixon (1854-1925), largely forgotten today, was a leading Baptist in his day and the only man to pastor both Moody Memorial Church in Chicago and Spurgeon’s Tabernacle in London. 

Born in Shelby, NC, in the decade before the American Civil War, he was a pastor’s son. At age 12, he was one of 200 converts in a revival meeting conducted by his father; Pastor Thomas Dixon.  He graduated from Wake Forest College (Winston- Salem) and also spent some time at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, then located in Greenville, SC.

Dixon was given $150k by the Presbyterian Stewart brothers, Milton and Lyman, of Union Oil Company. He was asked to edit a series of articles by outstanding conservative Christian scholars of that day to defend the great fundamental truths that were under attack by current day apostates and liberal/modernists; which was the CORE reason for the Niagara Conference – Christianity was becoming too liberal!

 The articles were published (1910-1914) in 12 paperback volumes (later bound in four) and titled The Fundamentals: a Testimony to the truth, and distributed free to some 300,000 preachers, Bible teachers, professors, missionaries, & students.

Dixon edited volumes 1-5 before assuming his London pastorate; it is from the title of these books that in a 1920 at the Northern Baptist Conference in Buffalo, NY Baptist Pastor Curtis Lee Laws (1^st Baptist Baltimore & Green Ave Baptist in Brooklyn) coined the term “fundamentalist” to identify & support these doctrines against their adversaries. https://www.tribune.org/a-c-dixonfervent-fundamental-faithful/ (Baptist Bible Tribune article 9/23/2015)

Laws as the new Editor of “The Watchword” edited the first volume The Fundamentals: a Testimony to the truth for the IFB.

14 point creed of the 1878 Niagara Bible Conference

1. The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. (CREATES DISTRUST FOR THE Bible, I gonna park here for a bit; this makes my neck hairs go up!)

2 Tim 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Inspiration (theopneustos THEOS =Godhead & PNEO = BREATHE) Scripture is given by God’s in-breath, He is on the INSIDE of the author & the author is made to understand/illuminated.

Scripture always give life when they are on the inside. Inspire not expire – blowing out.

Three things are necessary for God to use a man to produce inspired scripture.

First, God must be IN HIM. God breathing in, not blowing on someone, gives scripture. (2 Thes. 2:13, 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

Second, God’s inspiration must give that person UNDERSTANDING (Eph. 1:17-18)

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (Jesus)

1 Cor. 2:10 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

Third, if he is ADDING to the CANONS of scripture, he must have the authority FROM God.  FACT: No new scripture will ever be written!

God’s preservation maintains all the authority of Holy Spirit power that God originally PLACED ON His words in the KJB. (Psalm 12:6)

• This is not double inspiration this is a living God keeping His word! All INDWELT men will be TAUGHT by God.

The KJB translators could read, write, think & dream in the languages they worked with. They read the scriptures in their ORIGINAL TONGUES.

• The spirit inside of each one of them was given understanding by God.

They understood what they read & they understood it exactly as God meant it. They then interpreted the words of the long-dead languages into the living language of Biblical English. All the pronouns were in proper order and every preposition was placed in its precise order; every “JOT & TITTLE”!

The KJB is the living Words of the living God.

John 1:1“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

A man that WAITS for MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE to ESTABLISH CONFIDENCE in the KJB is like a man who:

 WANTS a DNA SAMPLE before he can TRUST the BLOOD of Jesus Christ.

Back to the 1878 Niagara Creed

• The Trinity.
• The Creation of man, the Fall into sin, and total depravity (You gotta remember this conf. was headed up by the TULIP Presbyterian).
• The universal transmission of spiritual death from Adam.
• The necessity of the new birth.
• Redemption by the blood of Christ.
• Salvation by faith alone in Christ.
• The assurance of salvation.
• The centrality of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures.

10. The constitution of the true church by genuine believers. (Universal)

11. The personality of the Holy Spirit.

12. The believer’s call to a holy life.

13. The immediate passing of the souls of believers to be with Christ at death.

14. The premillennial Second Coming of Christ. (Futurism was taught)

The General Assembly of the Northern Presbyterian Church in 1901 will shave these points to five fundamentals called “Five Point Deliverance” but in both cases there is an absence of baptism, the Lord’s Table and separation).

The 1878 conference call listed Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Adventists and Dutch Reformed, along with one Lutheran and ten participants who were “unidentified.

Niagara was notably an interdenominational conference which agreed to a Spirit baptized Universal church. Quoting from their Creed:

Article ten “We believe that the Church is composed of all who are united by the Holy Spirit to the risen and ascended Son of God, that by the same Spirit we are ALL baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, and thus being members one of another, we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry, and loving one another with a pure heart fervently.” (RED FLAG words)

This would explain the absence of water baptism in their creed because they held to a Universal church Spirit baptism. (More on this in a bit)

But did you know they also practiced an open table at this conference?

This eclectic group of Christians overlooked denominational difference to unite around a common Communion table oblivious of a scriptural closed table.

 They shared a common commitment to historic evangelical tenets, such as the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection, and JUSTIFICATION by faith alone. They skipped over many doctrinal truths, however

And with the implementation of the Creed, participants agreed on a futurist premillennial scheme of eschatology advanced by Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera (1590) & Protestant John Nelson Darby (mid 1800).It’s time to spiritually wake brethren this is a Catholic doctrine; advanced by the Protestant daughter!

Baptist are NOT Protestant but you may be a BINO if you hold their doctrine!

Revelation (1:4) of Jesus Christ is written to the Seven Churches in Asia not to Israel. The Book of Revelation is NOT the 70^th week of Daniels prophecy. Daniel Chapt. 9 is the 70 week prophecy chapter; Vs.24 explains what must happen.

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”

All SIX POINTS were 100% completed by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry & no amount of theological gymnastics will enable you to find it in REVELATION.

Yet the vast majority of IFB have bit into this Jesuit/Protestant apple!

The popular Niagara Conf. was the BIRTHPLACE of modern day American fundamentalism. It was historically the 1st major ecumenical conference in USA & the seed that fostered a desire for similar conferences to come.

BEWARE how HERETIC’S DEFINE WORDS – Not all Definitions are EQUAL!

Fundamentalism was further advanced 1909 when C.I. Scofield, a Presbyterian clergyman active conference attendee published his study Bible. When reading Scofield footnotes we can find how he fits in doctrinally.

Scofield Bible footnote Acts 2:  “The Spirit forms the church (Mt.16:18, Heb.12:23 note) by baptizing all believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13.

 1 Cor. 12:13 reads in part: “Chapter 12 concerns the Spirit in relation to the body of Christ. This relation is twofold: the baptism with the Spirit forms the body by uniting believers to Christ the risen and glorified Head, and to each other.” (They’ll take you to Rom.6 & Col. 2 also)

Many times a Biblical word is twisted to fit a particular doctrine, depending on the author’s doctrinal stance. To be crystal clear what Scofield notes reference concerning the word “church” = UNIVERSAL church

CYRUS in his footnote from Heb.12:23 reads: “Summary: The true church, composed of the whole number of regenerate persons from Pentecost to the first resurrection (1 Cor. 15:52), united together and to Christ by baptism with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13), is the body of Christ”

Cyrus Scofield was a leader in the evangelical fundamental movement, particularly dispensational and premillennial theology; a leader in popularizing false doctrine. This study Bible advanced Universal Church and Spirit baptism. It was the Bible recommended to me when I went to a IFB Bible Institute!

The term “EKKLESIA” was first borrowed from the Greek by Jesus Christ in Mt.16:18 “I will build my church”.

Christ understood how the word was used in the Greek society of the day and that is why that word was selected by the KJB translators.

Greece was a formation of city states and each city was independent and conducted its own affairs.

When a town hall meeting was necessary concerning the affairs of the city an “EKKLESIA” was called; a gathering of the local citizens to have a meeting & to conduct business. It is NOT UNIVERSAL in SCOPE but LOCAL ONLY.

Baptist Historically Held a True Definition of EKKLESIA 

 “Papal Controversy” pg. 16 (1891) by D.B. Ray “The literal, primary and leading signification of the word church is a congregation or assembly. When applied to the institution of Christ in the New Testament it means Christ’s assembly. A church of Christ is an assembly of baptized believers associated together in the doctrine and fellowship of the Gospel. This is the only literal meaning of a New Testament church. Every such local organization is a church of God and authorized to obey and administer his laws and ordinances. Every such local church is fully authorized to administer the laws of the kingdom of Christ in its community, including the discipline of its membership. In the transaction of church business, such a local church is as completely independent of other churches, as though it were the only church of Christ on earth. From its New Testament decision there is no appeal. The final and last appeal of the one who had been trespassed against was to “tell it unto the church.” (Mt. 18:17)”

The cardinal verse used to promote Spirit baptism into a universal church:

1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

NOTE: “By” = en “by means of” the ESV changed the preposition to “IN” to support their universal church doctrine.

We find a great example in defining the word “BY” in Luke 2:25-27

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,”

BY/EN – At the exact time when Joseph & Mary brought Jesus into the temple; “by means of” and under the influence of the Holy Spirit Simeon was  directed  to enter the temple; as well.

The pronoun “they” of vs. 22 according to the rule of antecedent is pointing to JOSEPH & MARY in vs. 16; they brought Jesus to the temple.

(THAYER “of the instrument or means by or with which anything is accomplished, owing to the influence of the Hebr. prep. בְּ much more common in the sacred writ. than in prof. auth. (cf. W. § 48, a. 3 d.; B. 181 (157) and 329 (283) sq.), where we say with, by means of, by (through);”)

ASK yourself: Who is this epistle written to; the immediate audience?

A Secondary audience would be any other local church that could learn from the Corinthian experience.

Baptizo or any form of the root word bapto is used 11 times in 1^st epistle to the Corinthians; verse 13 notwithstanding the other ten times it speaks of a water baptism. Root word: BAPTO – overwhelm and fully immersed in water.

The question of the hour is WHY out of the blue would it suddenly & without any scriptural reference suddenly be considered a Spirit baptism in verse 13?

ANSWER: Baptism in 1 Cor. is never Spirit, it is always water.  If it were to suddenly be used as Spirit in this verse & the entire time used as water in the same epistle you’d expect something to be said in advance; some sort of introduction.  

That’s how it works in proper exegesis (GIVE more DETAILS) allow the Bible to define the Bible; what we have here is a classic case of eisegesis; reading in a personal opinion or a pet premise to fit a particular doctrine. (W/NO DETAILS)

All references to baptism of the Holy Ghost are in the book of Acts.

Spirit baptism would be unique in Pauline corpus and completely foreign to anything the church of Corinth had been taught.

NO VERSE in Paul’s epistles employ the word baptism in connection w/ the work of the Spirit as EMPLOYED in Jesus prophecy in Acts 1:8  concerning Baptism of the Spirit fulfilled in Acts 2:4, 8:14, 10:44 & 19:6.

Spirit baptism as prophesied in the gospels: Mt. 3:11, Mk.1:8 or Lk. 3:16 and we find Christ as the Administrator and the Holy Ghost to be the medium of an already saved, immersed individual.

• First, nowhere do we see the Spirit doing the baptizing.
• Second, no place in the Bible can we find Spirit baptism being the same thing as the indwelling of the Spirit.
• Third, we DO NOT SEE this experience of Spirit baptism occurring simultaneous w/ justification, but following justification & water baptism.
• Fourth, NOWHERE is this revealed to be an ongoing experience

The outpouring in Isaiah and Joel are the same as the gospel predictions and Christ’s promises. They were fulfilled as an event in the book of Acts—the coming of the Holy Spirit as sent or poured out by Christ.

This event is not what we see in 1 Corinthians 12:13. The major goal for Paul is to unify the church at Corinth around the Biblical, spiritual truths of the two ordinances; believer’s baptism and the Lords table.

Water baptism was already established; water baptism, is really a picture of unity.Misunderstanding of the ordinance caused disunity in 1 Cor.1.

Just like the Lord’s Table was a picture of unity i.e. one bread; it too had been used for disunity, the fighting described in Chapter Eleven.

These ORDINANCES of Christ, BAPTISM and the Lord’s Table are beautiful pictures of the unity of a church that Paul desired.

The church of God at Corinth MUST UNIFY in accordance with the ordinances that MEMBERS had PREVIOUSLY submitted to.

1 Cor. 12:13 “We all baptized into one body” emphasizes 4 groups of diverse members who have identified w/Christ by means of a believers baptism.

By submitting to the Spirit the local assembly can be a cohesive body supernaturally working & serving body parts.

A body FITLY JOINED & found to be in unison beautifully ILLUSTRATES the personification of the body found in 1 Cor. 12:14-27

This clearly is a great example of a local body and holds to the definition of EKKLESIA; all body parts must be localized.

LOGIC dictates YOU can’t have an EYE in Egypt and a HAND in Hungary; nor can you have an HEAD in America and your FEET in France.

1 Cor.12:25 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”

Paul addressed all the problems within the church body at Corinth and his EPISTLE is a CALL for UNITY of the local church at Corinth.

A church cannot be in ONE ACCORD if they do not practice & administer the doctrineof BAPTISM &the LORD’S TABLE in a manner set forth in SCRIPTURE.

Our ancient Baptist forefathers gave of their blood and treasure and are always IDENTIFIED by their DOCTRINE!

There are many modern day PHARISSES in this world that say:

“We WILL NOT WALK THEREIN.”

And like Nicodemus in John 3 they are SPIRITUALLY BLIND regarding Biblical knowledge & understanding.

And there are folks who have BLINDERS holding to false doctrine and a strong premise that keeps them in spiritual bondage.

The Bible must be rightly divided, word for word, precept upon precept, line upon line.

WE MUST: 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

The KJB is HIS STORY and true Baptist are IDENTIFIED in HISTORY by those folks holding to the doctrine of HIS STORY.

LET US PRAY.

William Tyndale and the English Bible – PART TWO

PSALM 12:6-7 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

Last week as we examined the life of our Baptist brother William Tyndale we learned how dangerous it was to in a world dominated by state government churches. In deed Europe was a dangerous place for Baptist to reside but so was colonial America (prior to the 1^st Amendment).

DIFFERENT State government churches ruled in their perspective states & countries. Whatever the church demanded of its citizenry the state government puppet court system enforced.

• William Tyndale was a fugitive and considered an outlaw in two state government churches.  Church of England & the RCC.

The authorities of Rome led by Pope Clement VII sought his life for publishing a Bible in English. The Latin Bible was the only Bible authorized by the RCC.

He was a wanted man in the United Kingdom, as well. After reading Tyndale’s 1530 book “The Practice of Prelates” where he argued against divorce and specifically dared to assert that the king should remain faithful to his first wife!

King Henry the VIII the Vicar of the newly created Church of England was enraged and paid men to pursue, arrest, imprison and sentence William  to death; October 6, 1536.

• Declared an heretic William Tyndale’s last words on this side of glory:

“LORD, OPEN the KING of ENGLAND EYES!”

The Lord did indeed answer the dying PRAYER of Tyndale in the most remarkable way; as we shall soon learn.

The Archbishop of Canterbury (Thos. Cranmer) & Vicar General (Thos. Cromwell) both committed to the Protestant cause being  esteemed counselors to King Henry the 8^th PERSUADED Henry to approve the publication of the 1535 COVERDALE translation.

By 1539 every PARISH church in England had a copy of the Coverdale Bible. His edition was the first complete English translation of the entire Bible.

• Miles Coverdale was a good friend of Wm. Tyndale and a fellow Cambridge graduate.

The Coverdale Bible was mainly Tyndale’s work except portions of the OT that William didn’t have time to translate before his death.

• Being declared a heretic would disqualify William’s name to be used on any Bible.

So in 1537 John Rogers the friend who had rescued Brother Tyndale’s manuscripts prior to his arrest in Brussels published all of Tyndale’s NT translation plus all of his up-to-date OT work; using the balance of Coverdale’s OT to publish the Matthews Bible.

• Brother Rogers could not honestly claim the work as his own, and so he used a pseudonym–Thomas Matthews.

Archbishop Cranmer obtained a copy of the Matthew manuscripts and requested Vicar General/Chancellor Thomas Cromwell to petition the king to license the new translation.

• Henry VIII once again took the advice of his counselors which gave BIRTH to the MATTHEW BIBLE.

THUS, William Tyndale’s translations continued its God called course as evidenced in the Coverdale and Matthews Bibles.

Next in the lineage of English Bibles would be the 1539 Great Bible which was also authorized King Henry VIII as a Bible that would be more in the vernacular of the common man & could be read aloud during church services in England.

Once again Myles Coverdale under the watchful eyes of Lord Cromwell would produce the Great Bible. The NT was largely that of Tyndale with MINOR linguistic ADJUSTMENTS and occasional parenthetical insertions from the corrupt Latin Vulgate.

As you can see English Bibles were spreading across Europe: Tyndale’s 1535 version, the 1535 Coverdale, Matthews in 1537 and the Great Bible of 1539.

History records on January 8th, 1547 that King Henry VIII at the age of 55 filled with paranoia, manipulation and tyranny died from complications of OBESITY. He had quite a few medical problems but all were associated with his glutinous appetite that resulted in extreme obesity.

It is estimated that 57,000 people were executed by the killer king during his 36 yr. reign of terror:

• Accusations ranged from heresy, to treason or simply denying his Supremacy as the Head of the Church of England.

• Henry had only one surviving son by his third wife, Jane Seymour.  

Thus entering on the world stage at the age of NINE comes the British Isles new king; Edward the VI, who would eventually become the 1^st Protestant king of England.

Keep in mind Henry’s Church of England was like walking into an RCC service, very little difference; only a change in Vicars.

But on July 6, 1553 King Edward VI at tender age of 16 passed away from tuberculosis & succeeded by his step-sister & “god-mother” Queen Mary I (daughter of Catherine of Aragon Henry’s 1st wife).

One of Protestant King Edward VI greatest fears being realized when “Bloody” Mary a staunch Roman Catholic reinstituted Catholicism as the state government religion.

• The blood thirsty, book-burning Catholics were back in business!

The persecuted Protestants fled to Geneva, Switzerland in droves and a few years later in 1560 the Geneva Bible was birthed; the 5^th in line of English bibles.

Interestingly 80% of this edition relied on Tyndale’s work albeit it somewhat more independent version, the footnotes were from a distinct what we would now call a Calvinist perspective.

John Knox, who founded the Scotland Presbyterian Church in 1560, was on the Geneva Bible translation team along with John Calvin, as well as Miles Coverdale and other reformers.

After Bloody Mary’s 5 yr. reign of terror the Reformed Protestants brought the Geneva Bible back to the UK.

In which we find Mary unwittingly played her part in spreading Augustine’s “REFORMED THEOLOGY.” The notes in the Geneva Bible are decidedly “Calvinist.”

And we know in studying history that Calvin studied Augustine; the author of many false doctrines; many adopted by the RCC. One of Augustine’s false doctrines developed into the TULIP theory by Calvin.

Both Luther & Calvin studied the works of Augustine of Hippo, a prolific writer who laid the roots of much Roman Catholic theology.

It was Augustine’s writing in “Rebuke and Grace” that influenced the spread of Reformed theology to the Protestant daughters.

After Bloody Mary’s death in 1558 Queen Elizabeth; the daughter of King Henry & Ann Boleyn ascended to the throne.

One of Elizabeth political ambitions included establishing her brand of Christianity. She was never overly concerned with either Protestantism or Catholicism but she was politically cunning.

Her game plan was to install  a synergistic form of Protestantism, formalizing parts the Church of England and Roman Catholicism; but also declaring herself to be the “Supreme Governor” of the state- government church rather than the Vicar. 

This was an olive branch of sorts to the Papists who were adamant on their view of the Pope as the Supreme Vicar of Christ.

ONE of her 1^st HUGE POLITICAL ACTS was the passage of two laws:

 The “Act of Supremacy” and “Act of Uniformity.”  In short, Supremacy Act made the Monarchs of England as the Head of the Church of England.

Act of Uniformity abolished papal supremacy; implementing Sunday & holy days compulsory. Not in attendance = a 12 pence fine.

Queen Elizabeth with her new form of church and not too well disposed of the Puritans or their Bible wanted an alternative to the 1560 Geneva Bible.

Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker as editor and chief assembled a large group of BISHOPS to translate a new Bible version; hence the name Bishops Bible, the 6^th in line of English Bibles.

In 1568 the BISHOP’S BIBLE was published and like all the other English Bible’s borrowed heavily from the Tyndale.

Problems were to follow Elizabeth’s ascent to the throne because a large group of citizens believed that Mary Queen of Scots (Elizabeth’s cousin) was the legitimate heir to the throne. Just like Pope Clement 7^th they refused to recognize Henry’s divorce from Catherine; in their eyes Elizabeth was considered illegitimate thus not qualified in the line of succession.

A plot ensued to depose Elizabeth; long story short it did not succeed & Queen Elizabeth had her cousin beheaded on 2/8/1587 for plotting to overthrow her; the charge was TREASON.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Elizabeth never married (some called her the “Virgin Queen”) having no children of her own to succeed to the throne shortly before her death, nominated the son of Mary Queen of Scots to be her rightful successor.

THUS from the house of Stuart came James VI of Scotland ascending to the English throne to become the head of the state government church; taking the name King JAMES 1^st  at his coronation. 

With his strong view of the “Divine Right of Kings” twisting the Christianized version of Romans 13; BELIEVED that monarchs are ORDAINED to their position by God from BIRTH, thus placing them beyond criticism and making rebellion against them A SIN.

King James did not like the Geneva Bible notes particularly the notes:

Exodus 1:19 “Their disobedience herein was lawful, but their dissembling evil.”

Which James interpreted to mean a countenant rebellion toward rulers. 

King James FAVORED the State Government Church of England in which he would be the Supreme Governor and sit over his “board of directors.”

The elitist, wealthy and powerful “bishops”; many held seats in Parliament & maintain their political clout & remain political allies.  

He was well acquainted & held in disdain the church governance of elder/presbyter of the Scottish Presbyterians.

However, in order to have peace in the kingdom he would have to appease a number of different groups.

• The Puritan Reformers of Scotland
• The Separatists/non-conformists (BAPTISTS) who favored the government not be involved in church matters
• The Papists who wanted nothing more than the RCC to return to power in the UK AND the:
• Rich established BISHOPRIC of the Church of England.

The Puritans of Presbyterian persuasion thinking that King James would be more apt to support their cause, thinking he was one of them, presented him with a petition bearing 1000 clergy signatures

The document is known as the “Millenary Petition” confirming their concerns on how the state gov’t church should be conducted.

• But was silent in regards to authorizing a new Bible.

Nonetheless, the MILLENARY PETITION DID motivate James to call a meeting in 1604 known as “Hampton Court Conference.”

It was at this conference the Puritan representative, Jon Reynolds; who after being SHUT DOWN on their clergy supported Millenary Petition & desperate to get “win” for his cause made a suggestion.

He threw out the idea that the King should authorize a new translation of the Bible striking a MAJOR chord with King Jimmy.

Thus under the authority of King James 47 translators responded to his call to organize and produce what we now know as the KJB. 

The KJB is now the 7^th in line of English translations; the number SEVEN being the number of completion and perfection. “PURIFIED SEVEN TIMES!”

Time won’t permit me to comment on each translator, a collection of some of the most intelligent men this world has ever known.

John Boyse was one of the most laborious of all the revisers who at age six MASTERED Hebrew.

 Miles Smith was considered a “walking library” by the other translators.

Launcelot Andrewes, Dean of Westminster, who presided over the Westminster company to which Baptist preacher Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) was quoted as saying:

“The world wanted to know how learned this man was, so skilled in all (especially Oriental) languages, that some conceive he might, if then living, almost have served as an interpreter-general at the confusion of tongues.” 

I want to make this point: the 47 language geniuses agreed, as some say up to 90% with the work of William Tyndale, who was no dummy himself being well-educated at Westminster and Oxford.

An intellectual giant and master of 8 different languages:

HEBREW- GREEK –LATIN- ITALIAN – SPANISH – FRENCH – GERMAN

And of course ENGLISH.

However, the humble genius doesn’t take credit for his work giving honor where honor is due he was quoted as saying:

“Christ desires his mysteries to be published abroad as widely as possible.” And was further quoted as saying:  “the scriptures sprang out of God”

William Tyndale understood many deep spiritual truths about God’s word and I found this quote most interesting:

“The physical is the substratum of the spiritual; and this fact ought to give to the food we eat, and the air we breathe, a transcendent significance.”

Which lines up perfectly with my pastor, mentor and good friend Brother Woody’s teaches:

“The physical world in which we live cannot exist unless it is supported by a spiritual truth. That’s where we understand the bride, marriage, husbands, wife, children even the creation itself is made in a trichotomy state. (Brother Woody goes on to say…..)

So the parallels are supported by the spiritual foundation that’s there and this is why none of us are without excuse because it is manifested by that which is made.” END of QUOTE

In short, every word of God is polysemous i.e. layers of understanding; the truth of scripture is found by contextually examining every word, discovering the physical & spiritual application.

These truths are only found in the KJB which stands as the inspired, preserved, inerrant word of God.

When men alter, redact or substitute by means of dynamic equivalency it changes the timeless & eternal character of God’s Word.

Phil Stringer one of 4 men who were invited to WASHINGTON DC in 2011 to commemorate the 400^th Anniversary of the KJB said in his book “Biblical English” to which I wholeheartedly endorse said:

“The superiority of the English expressed in the KJB against all other English translations builds the case on proof from English grammar, etymology and linguistics.

In the 1998 Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language, Tom McArthur, one of the world’s foremost experts on the English language, edited the entire work. He concluded that the English of the KJB developed as its own form of English as BIBLICAL ENGLISH. This raises huge issues for the crowd claiming the KJB is archaic and so forth.

The English of the KJB is not old English. It is not Modern English. It is not Elizabethan or Jacobean English. It is a sibling of Elizabethan and Jacobean English, sharing only a parental lineage of English while also containing a Greek and Hebrew heritage.” End of Quote

Truly the KJB is the inspired, preserved, inerrant, infallible word of God with texts emanating from the home church of Paul at Antioch of Syria.

And I find it interesting the stream of Bible’s produced from the Received Text (some call it the Textus Receptus) was used in 157 AD by the Waldensians (our ancient Baptist brethren).

• They produced the Italic Bible, 243 yrs. before the corrupt RCC Vaticanus text of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate.
• The Itala Bible was a translation of the pure ecclesiastical Syrian text.

THE RCC PERVERSION is NEITHER the oldest nor the BEST!

A book I strongly advice any serious Bible student to read is called:

“Neither the Oldest, Nor the Best” by David Sorenson

This book completely debunks the Tischendorf myth of the 1840 Sinaiticus being an ancient manuscript; they should have left those manuscripts in the monastery trash bin where he found them!

Did you know the Waldenses produced the Tepl Bible (1350, German) and was Luther’s source for his German translation 172 years later.

We see God providentially preserved scripture down through the ages in which William Tyndale was used mightily for the cause of Christ and the Word of God.

Psalm 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

Mt.24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Jesus)

I gave all this background so that I could say this about William Tyndale but let me first quote from: Origin of the Baptist by S.H. Ford, Chapter 4, Wales:

“These are most conclusive evidences that William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into the English language, and the books of Moses into the Welsh language, in 1536, was a Welsh Baptist of that PLAIN, STRICT, APOSTOLIC order.

 He lived most of his time in Gloucester, England; but Llewellyn Tyndale and Hezekiah Tyndale were members of the Baptist Church in Abergaverney, South Wales.” (DAVIS’S HISTORY of the WELSH BAPTISTS, p.21). Brother FORD goes on to say:

“The text of Protestant historian Mosheim is thus fully illustrated by facts. “Baptists lay concealed in almost all the countries of Europe before the rise of Calvin and Luther.” END Quote

A scriptural NT Baptist is NOT nor never came out of Protestantism (Catholic light).

Even Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius from his book: “A Most Excellent Treatise of the Beginning of Heresies” is found to say:

“Were it not that the Baptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past twelve hundred years, they would swarm in greater number than all the Reformers.”

I noticed the Cardinal wanted to shorten Baptist history by 300 years not wanting us recognized in history before the 312 AD formation of the corrupt RCC.

Being Baptist is not a DENOMINATIONAL TAG but a doctrinal tag!

True Baptist doctrine goes back to the time Christ walked the shores of Galilea.

IN CLOSING: there are many KJB haters & anti-Baptists who parrot how we Baptist follow an Anglican Bible because King James was the head of the Church of England.

Why even last year Brother Isaac was telling me how somebody was calling the KJB a RCC Bible!

They need to know their history concerning William Tyndale and our Baptist Bible, the KJB or should I say the KJBB!!

God promised to preserve his word, “forever my word is settled in heaven.” “The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth. Purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation f or ever:” Ps. 12:6-7

William Tyndale and the English Bible – PART ONE

PSALM 12:6-7 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

There is a man in history past that held a doctrinal position that:

• church is local only
• priesthood of the believer
• Christ ordained in his kingdom two offices in a church a pastor/deacon and HELD to a:
• believers baptism by immersion,
• to the doctrine of repentance and
• Faith AND to the sole authority of Scripture.

Would you say this descriptive of a Scriptural Baptist position?

Allow me to introduce to you our ancient Baptist brother William Tyndale; the one man who stood up against tyranny in his day to make a difference.

William Tyndale was born in 1494 near the line between England & Wales.

Not much is known about Tyndale’s youth. Our first real record of him comes from his time at Oxford, where he began his training at age 14.

He was intellectually gifted; mastering eight languages: Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and, of course, English but above all his mind was singularly addicted to scripture and a burning desire to translate it to English so the common man would have access to God’s word and not depend on the Catholic church for their information.

Quoting from the “The Faithful Baptist Witness” by Phil Stringer, a book I read a little over SIX years ago, QUOTE:

“His parents were members of an independent Lollard (Baptist) church in south Wales. He was personally converted to Christ while studying the Greek New Testament of Erasmus at Oxford University.

Tyndale became a great Greek scholar, and was greatly used of God in bringing the Word of God to the English people. His translation of the Greek NT into English had an incredible impact upon the country. A century later the KJV translators were careful to keep Tyndale’s wording whenever possible.”

Brother Stringer goes on to say: “Tyndale also wrote doctrinal books which show that he took many Baptist positions. He is on record as teaching the independence of local churches, priesthood of all believers, only two offices for the church – pastor and deacon, baptism by immersion of believers only, authority of Scripture. None of his writings contain anything contrary to the Baptist Distinctives.”  END of QUOTE

In William Tyndale’s EXPOSITIONS p. 253, 1 of 31 books he authored confirms hisdoctrinal position in which he pointed out that Christ “ordained in his kingdom and congregation two officers” and described baptism as “the plunging into the water.”

Notice he says: “HIS KINGDOM and CONGREGATIUON” like so many ancient Baptist he understood the local churches role as an embassy in Christ kingdom.

Tyndale also clearly stated 0n pg. 90 of Expositions where he wrote that the work of baptism “justifieth us not“. Openly declaring he did not take a Baptismal Regeneration position, which would run contrary to state/govt. church! A dangerous position in those days!

Doctrinal Treatises he wrote“And to know how contrary this law is unto our nature, and how it is damnation not to have this law written on our hearts, though we never commit the deeds; and how there is no other means to be saved from this damnation, than through repentance toward the law, and faith in Christ’s blood; which are the very inward baptism of our souls, and the washing and the dipping of our bodies in the water is the outward sign.

The plunging of the body under the water signifieth that we repent and profess to fight against sin and lusts, and to kill them every day more and more, with the help of God, and our diligence in following the doctrine of Christ and the leading of his Spirit; and that we believe to be washed from our natural damnation in which we are born, and from all the wrath of the law……..and from all actual sin which shall chance upon us, while we enforce the contrary and ever fight there against, and hope to sin no more.

And thus repentance and faith begin at our baptism and first professing the laws of God; and continue to our lives’ end, and grow as we grow in the Spirit: for the perfecter [sic] we be, the greater is our repentance, and the stronger our faith……” END QUOTE

William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) was the first to translate scripture into English from the original Hebrew and Greek texts. (The 1382 Wycliffe Bible was translated from the Jerome’s Latin Vulgate). https://bible.org/seriespage/1-wycliffe-king-james-period-challenge)

In 1524 he shared his plan to translate the New Testament with the Bishop (Tunstall) of London, hoping to receive a grant, or some sort of assistance to help with food and shelter but he was met with a cold shoulder and was quoted as saying:

“Understood at the last,” as he put it, “not only that there was no room in my lord of London’s palace to translate the New Testament, but also that there was no place to do it in all England.” END of QUOTE

Tyndale objected to the Catholic Church’s control of scripture in Latin and the prohibition against any translation in a “vulgar” tongue.

The RCC ONLY ALLOWED the Bible to be printed and taught in LATIN. Anyone defying the church in this matter was issued an anathema, declared a heretic & faced a death sentence.

In fear for his life William fled England in 1524 and moved to Germany working in exile.

Even Luther’s 95 Thesis at Wittenberg 7 yrs. earlier didn’t change the landscape; Tyndale’s work was still illegal and punishable by death. William had entered a very dangerous mission field.

• The tentacles of the RCC reached throughout Europe. The TEN IRON & CLAY TOES of Daniel’s dream!

In 1525 William found a printer who was willing to risk his life and business however the authorities caught wind of it, forcing him to flee.

Finding a new printer in 1526 in Worm, Germany; to the glory of God 3,000 English NT were translated from Greek and published.

In 1530 he published his Pentateuch in 1531 his translation of Jonah 1535 ever the perfectionist a revision of his N; His 2^nd Edition.

William understood the seriousness of handling God’s word said:

“I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God’s Word against my conscience, nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honor, pleasure, or riches, might be given me.”

Just like God’s word declares in: Eph.2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

William Tyndale did not seek his own fame and fortune he was merely carrying out God’s plan for his life.

AND the well-being of many centuries of Bible teaching, Bible preaching, Bible believing, Bible practicing Christians down through the ages.

God was going to supply every embassy of Christ (that is what a NT church is considered: an EMBASSY) we would receive the pure, inspired, perfect word of God!

William Tyndale moved by the Holy Spirit of God took on the task of interpreting the Bible for the glory of God and to further advance the cause of Christ!

His work on the OT books from Joshua to 2 Chronicles appeared in “Matthew’s Bible” (1537).

Compiled by Tyndale’s associate John Rogers who rescued Tyndale’s work when the authorities arrested William. (More on that LATER)

As quickly as Tyndale’s translations were smuggled into England, the authorities attempted to purchase, confiscate & burn them.

 RCC agents were in HOT pursuit to apprehend Brother Tyndale who was now residing in Antwerp, Belgium.

Why such threats against Tyndale? Why was he deemed so dangerous?

Among other things, his translation of the Greek text into English UNDERMINED the RCC theology built on the Jerome’s Latin Vulgate.

Jerome’s work was built on the underlying texts of the heavily redacted Greek of the Vaticanus by way of the Gnostic school in Alexandria, Egypt run by head heretic Origen & his successor, Eusebius. Neither are “fathers of the church” unless you are a Catholic.

The true Bible not only exposes the Pope as ANTI-CHRIST but their false doctrinal stance on soteriology (salvation).

It’s normal with every lie to have a grain of truth; Satan’s pseudo Christian organization correctly holds that all mankind is born in sin.

Give ‘em a B on their BINGO CARD! FIRST doctrinal heresy is the:

1. Sacrament of INFANT RHANTISM (rantizo=sprinkle, KATACHEO =pour) BAPTO = overwhelm, buried in water.
2. Enter a STATE of GRACE because you are now a member of the one & only true UNIVERSAL church
3. PROVIDED you attend the CONFESSION (THE Dark Ages ATM)
4. And do PENANCE (Rosary beads & vain repetition)
5. DIE – go to PURGATORY (minimum security prison) for unconfessed sins. (Gatekeepers of heaven) Relatives purchase candles/church services “mass” performed in your honor; by their works BUY your freedom from purgatory & you enter heaven!

Why’d I tell you this? Regarding Penance:

Tyndale rightly translated the Greek word; μετάνοια (metanoia) as “be penitent” or “repent” meaning you turn away from sin RATHER than perform works to UNDO the GUILT of sin.

• Furthermore, he taught against the existence of Purgatory, and DENIED that we needed priests to MEDIATE on our behalf.

Clearly, Tyndale was UNDERMINING the TEACHINGS of the RC CULT and these AUTHORITIES were livid; Tyndale must be stopped!

Unhindered by the RCC William commented “For if God be on our side, what matter maketh it who be against us, be they bishops, cardinals, popes, or whatsoever names they will?”

On another occasion he was quoted as saying: “It is impossible to preach Christ, except thou preach against antichrist.”

William was increasingly becoming a danger to their power structure!

Tyndale’s 1^st EDITION was smuggled in to England in BALES of COTTON. People were paying a week’s wages to purchase the Bible.

 The English authorities hatched a plan to PURCHASE or confiscate every single volume which ironically gave Tyndale the FUNDING to press on with his 2^nd edition.

• Literacy rates skyrocketed grown men attended primary school hungry to read the Bible. One of Tyndale’s more famous quotes:

“I will cause a BOY WHO DRIVES A PLOW to know more of the scriptures than the POPE.”

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Henry VIII PETITIONED Pope Clement VII to ANNUL his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Clement refuses the annulment; Henry forms the Church of England in 1531, assumes the role of Vicar of Christ ushering in the English Reformation.

Henry appoints Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury who officially annuls Henry’s 1^st marriage.

Old Hank is now free to pursue his mistress Ann Boleyn the 2^nd of SIX wives.

That marriage lasted about THREE years and poor Queen Ann was beheaded; as was his 5^th wife/Catherine Howard.

Side note: Prior to the war for independence the Church of England was the State Government church of lower NY, NC, SC, Georgia & Maryland, we know it as the Episcopal Church in the USA or Anglican Church)

Anybody that believes coming to colonial America granted everybody religious freedom from the persecution of European churches has never read Baptist history! Liberty of conscience was not permitted until well after the First Amendment; meanwhile, every state was controlled by a state government church & forced to conform to their doctrine & laws.

For example: Boston was controlled by the state government  CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH anybody that opposed their doctrine were forced into court and you either faced a death sentence, a whipping and a banishment and  your property was seized.

Mary Dyer, a Quaker lady disagreed withthe state government church; she was beheaded. Her statue can be found on the Boston Commons just outside the Massachusetts State House.

Then there is Obadiah Holmes, a Baptist pastor who was conducting the Lord’s Table in a private house in Boston. It was raided by the authorities & sentenced to a whipping that almost cost him his life.

Shiloh Films “As with Roses” documents the travesty of the colonial state government church. I urge you to read “America in Crimson Red” subtitled the Baptist History of America by James Beller

I need to get off that rabbit trail and go back to Queen Anne Boleyn:

Previous to her beheading Tyndale’s 1528 book:

“The Obedience of a Christian Man” was studied by Queen Anne Boleyn and even found its way to King Henry VIII who was most

IMPRESSED: “This book is for me & all kings to read!” King Henry VIII sent out his agents to:

Offer Tyndale a high position in his court, a safe return to England and a great salary to oversee his communications.

However, Tyndale was not willing to surrender his work as a Bible translator, theologian and preacher merely to become a PROPAGANDIST for the king!

In his 1530 book “The Practice of Prelates” Tyndale argued against divorce and specifically dared to assert that the king should remain faithful to his first wife!

Tyndale maintained that Christians always have the duty to obey civil authority, except where loyalty to God is concerned.

Henry’s initial ENTHUSIASM for Tyndale turned to RAGE!  Tyndale was not only an outlaw to the RCC & its UNHOLY Roman Empire but now the ENGLISH KINGDOM and King Henry VIII, as well.

In 1535 Tyndale was betrayed by a fellow Englishman, Henry Phillips, a financially struggling agent sent out by King Henry His MISSION: to befriend Tyndale,  work his way into his inner circle and set him up to be captured & arrested.

Tyndale was taken to the state prison in the castle of Vilvorde, near Brussels. For 500 + days, Tyndale suffered in a cold, dark & damp dungeon.  But he kept editing scripture! This reminds me of Paul in similar circumstances.

At the end of his imprisonment he was DECLARED A HERETIC by the established state government church and turned over to the civil authorities to be sentenced to death.

The charges against Tyndale were:  

1) Faith alone justifies.

2) Forgiveness of sins

3) To embrace the mercy offered in the Gospel was enough for salvation

4) He DENIED the existence of purgatory

5) He DENIED that men should pray to Mary or the saints.

Just before he was murdered in Antwerp 10/6/1536, 487 YRS AGO at the tender age of 42. Tyndale gave his last words:

“LORD, OPEN the KING of ENGLAND EYES!”

The noose was tightened Tyndale was STRANGLED. His body was burned, and the spectacle was made more gruesome by the fact that the GUNPOWDER EXPLODED.

William Tyndale met with a martyr’s death for the CRIME of bringing the Word of God to England.

Next week in Part two we will look at the influence William Tyndale’s work in the line of English Bibles.

William Tyndale and the English Bible – PART TWO

PSALM 12:6-7 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

Last week as we examined the life of our Baptist brother William Tyndale we learned how dangerous it was to in a world dominated by state government churches. In deed Europe was a dangerous place for Baptist to reside but so was colonial America (prior to the 1^st Amendment).

DIFFERENT State government churches ruled in their perspective states & countries. Whatever the church demanded of its citizenry the state government puppet court system enforced.

• William Tyndale was a fugitive and considered an outlaw in two state government churches.  Church of England & the RCC.

The authorities of Rome led by Pope Clement VII sought his life for publishing a Bible in English. The Latin Bible was the only Bible authorized by the RCC.

He was a wanted man in the United Kingdom, as well. After reading Tyndale’s 1530 book “The Practice of Prelates” where he argued against divorce and specifically dared to assert that the king should remain faithful to his first wife!

King Henry the VIII the Vicar of the newly created Church of England was enraged and paid men to pursue, arrest, imprison and sentence William  to death; October 6, 1536.

• Declared an heretic William Tyndale’s last words on this side of glory:

“LORD, OPEN the KING of ENGLAND EYES!”

The Lord did indeed answer the dying PRAYER of Tyndale in the most remarkable way; as we shall soon learn.

The Archbishop of Canterbury (Thos. Cranmer) & Vicar General (Thos. Cromwell) both committed to the Protestant cause being  esteemed counselors to King Henry the 8^th PERSUADED Henry to approve the publication of the 1535 COVERDALE translation.

By 1539 every PARISH church in England had a copy of the Coverdale Bible. His edition was the first complete English translation of the entire Bible.

• Miles Coverdale was a good friend of Wm. Tyndale and a fellow Cambridge graduate.

The Coverdale Bible was mainly Tyndale’s work except portions of the OT that William didn’t have time to translate before his death.

• Being declared a heretic would disqualify William’s name to be used on any Bible.

So in 1537 John Rogers the friend who had rescued Brother Tyndale’s manuscripts prior to his arrest in Brussels published all of Tyndale’s NT translation plus all of his up-to-date OT work; using the balance of Coverdale’s OT to publish the Matthews Bible.

• Brother Rogers could not honestly claim the work as his own, and so he used a pseudonym–Thomas Matthews.

Archbishop Cranmer obtained a copy of the Matthew manuscripts and requested Vicar General/Chancellor Thomas Cromwell to petition the king to license the new translation.

• Henry VIII once again took the advice of his counselors which gave BIRTH to the MATTHEW BIBLE.

THUS, William Tyndale’s translations continued its God called course as evidenced in the Coverdale and Matthews Bibles.

Next in the lineage of English Bibles would be the 1539 Great Bible which was also authorized King Henry VIII as a Bible that would be more in the vernacular of the common man & could be read aloud during church services in England.

Once again Myles Coverdale under the watchful eyes of Lord Cromwell would produce the Great Bible. The NT was largely that of Tyndale with MINOR linguistic ADJUSTMENTS and occasional parenthetical insertions from the corrupt Latin Vulgate.

As you can see English Bibles were spreading across Europe: Tyndale’s 1535 version, the 1535 Coverdale, Matthews in 1537 and the Great Bible of 1539.

History records on January 8th, 1547 that King Henry VIII at the age of 55 filled with paranoia, manipulation and tyranny died from complications of OBESITY. He had quite a few medical problems but all were associated with his glutinous appetite that resulted in extreme obesity.

It is estimated that 57,000 people were executed by the killer king during his 36 yr. reign of terror:

• Accusations ranged from heresy, to treason or simply denying his Supremacy as the Head of the Church of England.

• Henry had only one surviving son by his third wife, Jane Seymour.  

Thus entering on the world stage at the age of NINE comes the British Isles new king; Edward the VI, who would eventually become the 1^st Protestant king of England.

Keep in mind Henry’s Church of England was like walking into an RCC service, very little difference; only a change in Vicars.

But on July 6, 1553 King Edward VI at tender age of 16 passed away from tuberculosis & succeeded by his step-sister & “god-mother” Queen Mary I (daughter of Catherine of Aragon Henry’s 1st wife).

One of Protestant King Edward VI greatest fears being realized when “Bloody” Mary a staunch Roman Catholic reinstituted Catholicism as the state government religion.

• The blood thirsty, book-burning Catholics were back in business!

The persecuted Protestants fled to Geneva, Switzerland in droves and a few years later in 1560 the Geneva Bible was birthed; the 5^th in line of English bibles.

Interestingly 80% of this edition relied on Tyndale’s work albeit it somewhat more independent version, the footnotes were from a distinct what we would now call a Calvinist perspective.

John Knox, who founded the Scotland Presbyterian Church in 1560, was on the Geneva Bible translation team along with John Calvin, as well as Miles Coverdale and other reformers.

After Bloody Mary’s 5 yr. reign of terror the Reformed Protestants brought the Geneva Bible back to the UK.

In which we find Mary unwittingly played her part in spreading Augustine’s “REFORMED THEOLOGY.” The notes in the Geneva Bible are decidedly “Calvinist.”

And we know in studying history that Calvin studied Augustine; the author of many false doctrines; many adopted by the RCC. One of Augustine’s false doctrines developed into the TULIP theory by Calvin.

Both Luther & Calvin studied the works of Augustine of Hippo, a prolific writer who laid the roots of much Roman Catholic theology.

It was Augustine’s writing in “Rebuke and Grace” that influenced the spread of Reformed theology to the Protestant daughters.

After Bloody Mary’s death in 1558 Queen Elizabeth; the daughter of King Henry & Ann Boleyn ascended to the throne.

One of Elizabeth political ambitions included establishing her brand of Christianity. She was never overly concerned with either Protestantism or Catholicism but she was politically cunning.

Her game plan was to install  a synergistic form of Protestantism, formalizing parts the Church of England and Roman Catholicism; but also declaring herself to be the “Supreme Governor” of the state- government church rather than the Vicar. 

This was an olive branch of sorts to the Papists who were adamant on their view of the Pope as the Supreme Vicar of Christ.

ONE of her 1^st HUGE POLITICAL ACTS was the passage of two laws:

 The “Act of Supremacy” and “Act of Uniformity.”  In short, Supremacy Act made the Monarchs of England as the Head of the Church of England.

Act of Uniformity abolished papal supremacy; implementing Sunday & holy days compulsory. Not in attendance = a 12 pence fine.

Queen Elizabeth with her new form of church and not too well disposed of the Puritans or their Bible wanted an alternative to the 1560 Geneva Bible.

Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker as editor and chief assembled a large group of BISHOPS to translate a new Bible version; hence the name Bishops Bible, the 6^th in line of English Bibles.

In 1568 the BISHOP’S BIBLE was published and like all the other English Bible’s borrowed heavily from the Tyndale.

Problems were to follow Elizabeth’s ascent to the throne because a large group of citizens believed that Mary Queen of Scots (Elizabeth’s cousin) was the legitimate heir to the throne. Just like Pope Clement 7^th they refused to recognize Henry’s divorce from Catherine; in their eyes Elizabeth was considered illegitimate thus not qualified in the line of succession.

A plot ensued to depose Elizabeth; long story short it did not succeed & Queen Elizabeth had her cousin beheaded on 2/8/1587 for plotting to overthrow her; the charge was TREASON.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Elizabeth never married (some called her the “Virgin Queen”) having no children of her own to succeed to the throne shortly before her death, nominated the son of Mary Queen of Scots to be her rightful successor.

THUS from the house of Stuart came James VI of Scotland ascending to the English throne to become the head of the state government church; taking the name King JAMES 1^st  at his coronation. 

With his strong view of the “Divine Right of Kings” twisting the Christianized version of Romans 13; BELIEVED that monarchs are ORDAINED to their position by God from BIRTH, thus placing them beyond criticism and making rebellion against them A SIN.

King James did not like the Geneva Bible notes particularly the notes:

Exodus 1:19 “Their disobedience herein was lawful, but their dissembling evil.”

Which James interpreted to mean a countenant rebellion toward rulers. 

King James FAVORED the State Government Church of England in which he would be the Supreme Governor and sit over his “board of directors.”

The elitist, wealthy and powerful “bishops”; many held seats in Parliament & maintain their political clout & remain political allies.  

He was well acquainted & held in disdain the church governance of elder/presbyter of the Scottish Presbyterians.

However, in order to have peace in the kingdom he would have to appease a number of different groups.

• The Puritan Reformers of Scotland
• The Separatists/non-conformists (BAPTISTS) who favored the government not be involved in church matters
• The Papists who wanted nothing more than the RCC to return to power in the UK AND the:
• Rich established BISHOPRIC of the Church of England.

The Puritans of Presbyterian persuasion thinking that King James would be more apt to support their cause, thinking he was one of them, presented him with a petition bearing 1000 clergy signatures

The document is known as the “Millenary Petition” confirming their concerns on how the state gov’t church should be conducted.

• But was silent in regards to authorizing a new Bible.

Nonetheless, the MILLENARY PETITION DID motivate James to call a meeting in 1604 known as “Hampton Court Conference.”

It was at this conference the Puritan representative, Jon Reynolds; who after being SHUT DOWN on their clergy supported Millenary Petition & desperate to get “win” for his cause made a suggestion.

He threw out the idea that the King should authorize a new translation of the Bible striking a MAJOR chord with King Jimmy.

Thus under the authority of King James 47 translators responded to his call to organize and produce what we now know as the KJB. 

The KJB is now the 7^th in line of English translations; the number SEVEN being the number of completion and perfection. “PURIFIED SEVEN TIMES!”

Time won’t permit me to comment on each translator, a collection of some of the most intelligent men this world has ever known.

John Boyse was one of the most laborious of all the revisers who at age six MASTERED Hebrew.

 Miles Smith was considered a “walking library” by the other translators.

Launcelot Andrewes, Dean of Westminster, who presided over the Westminster company to which Baptist preacher Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) was quoted as saying:

“The world wanted to know how learned this man was, so skilled in all (especially Oriental) languages, that some conceive he might, if then living, almost have served as an interpreter-general at the confusion of tongues.” 

I want to make this point: the 47 language geniuses agreed, as some say up to 90% with the work of William Tyndale, who was no dummy himself being well-educated at Westminster and Oxford.

An intellectual giant and master of 8 different languages:

HEBREW- GREEK –LATIN- ITALIAN – SPANISH – FRENCH – GERMAN

And of course ENGLISH.

However, the humble genius doesn’t take credit for his work giving honor where honor is due he was quoted as saying:

“Christ desires his mysteries to be published abroad as widely as possible.” And was further quoted as saying:  “the scriptures sprang out of God”

William Tyndale understood many deep spiritual truths about God’s word and I found this quote most interesting:

“The physical is the substratum of the spiritual; and this fact ought to give to the food we eat, and the air we breathe, a transcendent significance.”

Which lines up perfectly with my pastor, mentor and good friend Brother Woody’s teaches:

“The physical world in which we live cannot exist unless it is supported by a spiritual truth. That’s where we understand the bride, marriage, husbands, wife, children even the creation itself is made in a trichotomy state. (Brother Woody goes on to say…..)

So the parallels are supported by the spiritual foundation that’s there and this is why none of us are without excuse because it is manifested by that which is made.” END of QUOTE

In short, every word of God is polysemous i.e. layers of understanding; the truth of scripture is found by contextually examining every word, discovering the physical & spiritual application.

These truths are only found in the KJB which stands as the inspired, preserved, inerrant word of God.

When men alter, redact or substitute by means of dynamic equivalency it changes the timeless & eternal character of God’s Word.

Phil Stringer one of 4 men who were invited to WASHINGTON DC in 2011 to commemorate the 400^th Anniversary of the KJB said in his book “Biblical English” to which I wholeheartedly endorse said:

“The superiority of the English expressed in the KJB against all other English translations builds the case on proof from English grammar, etymology and linguistics.

In the 1998 Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language, Tom McArthur, one of the world’s foremost experts on the English language, edited the entire work. He concluded that the English of the KJB developed as its own form of English as BIBLICAL ENGLISH. This raises huge issues for the crowd claiming the KJB is archaic and so forth.

The English of the KJB is not old English. It is not Modern English. It is not Elizabethan or Jacobean English. It is a sibling of Elizabethan and Jacobean English, sharing only a parental lineage of English while also containing a Greek and Hebrew heritage.” End of Quote

Truly the KJB is the inspired, preserved, inerrant, infallible word of God with texts emanating from the home church of Paul at Antioch of Syria.

And I find it interesting the stream of Bible’s produced from the Received Text (some call it the Textus Receptus) was used in 157 AD by the Waldensians (our ancient Baptist brethren).

• They produced the Italic Bible, 243 yrs. before the corrupt RCC Vaticanus text of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate.
• The Itala Bible was a translation of the pure ecclesiastical Syrian text.

THE RCC PERVERSION is NEITHER the oldest nor the BEST!

A book I strongly advice any serious Bible student to read is called:

“Neither the Oldest, Nor the Best” by David Sorenson

This book completely debunks the Tischendorf myth of the 1840 Sinaiticus being an ancient manuscript; they should have left those manuscripts in the monastery trash bin where he found them!

Did you know the Waldenses produced the Tepl Bible (1350, German) and was Luther’s source for his German translation 172 years later.

We see God providentially preserved scripture down through the ages in which William Tyndale was used mightily for the cause of Christ and the Word of God.

Psalm 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

Mt.24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Jesus)

I gave all this background so that I could say this about William Tyndale but let me first quote from: Origin of the Baptist by S.H. Ford, Chapter 4, Wales:

“These are most conclusive evidences that William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into the English language, and the books of Moses into the Welsh language, in 1536, was a Welsh Baptist of that PLAIN, STRICT, APOSTOLIC order.

 He lived most of his time in Gloucester, England; but Llewellyn Tyndale and Hezekiah Tyndale were members of the Baptist Church in Abergaverney, South Wales.” (DAVIS’S HISTORY of the WELSH BAPTISTS, p.21). Brother FORD goes on to say:

“The text of Protestant historian Mosheim is thus fully illustrated by facts. “Baptists lay concealed in almost all the countries of Europe before the rise of Calvin and Luther.” END Quote

A scriptural NT Baptist is NOT nor never came out of Protestantism (Catholic light).

Even Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius from his book: “A Most Excellent Treatise of the Beginning of Heresies” is found to say:

“Were it not that the Baptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past twelve hundred years, they would swarm in greater number than all the Reformers.”

I noticed the Cardinal wanted to shorten Baptist history by 300 years not wanting us recognized in history before the 312 AD formation of the corrupt RCC.

Being Baptist is not a DENOMINATIONAL TAG but a doctrinal tag!

True Baptist doctrine goes back to the time Christ walked the shores of Galilea.

IN CLOSING: there are many KJB haters & anti-Baptists who parrot how we Baptist follow an Anglican Bible because King James was the head of the Church of England.

Why even last year Brother Isaac was telling me how somebody was calling the KJB a RCC Bible!

They need to know their history concerning William Tyndale and our Baptist Bible, the KJB or should I say the KJBB!!

God promised to preserve his word, “forever my word is settled in heaven.” “The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth. Purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever:” Ps. 12:6-7

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Century upon century we have been inundated with false information about Jesus from the folks that have affectively said “WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN.” A short walk through history; looking at a few of these groups:

PTL for the men & woman in our Saviour’s day who chose the narrow path and were able to escape the teaching of Pharisees of their day.

The Pharisees: These whited sepulcher’s in the time of Christ who took a solemn vow before three witnesses to devote every moment of their entire life to obeying the Ten Commandments, as a way to please God.

The historian Josephus numbered them at about 6,000 in Israel at their peak. 

They controlled the synagogues and were very popular among the people but were a minority in the Sanhedrin a 70 member theocentric government in Israel.

Of particular interest to these supposed holy men of ancient Israel were the legal documents, or the Torah law, contained within the Mosaic Covenant.

There were a total of 613 directives concerning the Mosaic Covenant.

The commandments are given in rather GENERAL TERMS In order to be SPECIFIC and to DEFINE the Ten Commandments.

HISTORY OF FALSE DOCTRINE THUMBNAIL SKETCH – Earnestly Contend For The Faith Jude 3 (awarningministry.com)