Francis Pieper: The Bible in Your Hand

F. Pieper: 1. Wir wiffen a priori aus der gӧttlichen Berheikung, daß wir in der Bibel, die in unsern hӓnden ist, Christi Wort haben, das bis an den Jüngsten Tag in der Kirche und von der Kirche zu lehren ist.

English translation: 1. We know a priori from the divine decree (or promise), that the Bible we have in our hands is the word of Christ that is to be taught by and in the church until the last day.

Christliche Dogmatik, Franz Pieper (1852-1931), St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1924, page 290

The context can be seen in this English translation of Christian Dogmatics by Theodore Engelder and others (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1950, p. 240):

We are not saying, however, that textual criticism should be eliminated entirely from our theological curriculum. We, too, in our theological seminary at St. Louis introduce our students to modern textual criticism. That is a part of the complete external equipment of a theologian of our day. But we point out two things to our students: 1) We know a priori from the divine promise that in our present Bible we have the Word of Christ which is to be taught in the Church and by the Church to the Last Day. 2) We recognize, too, a posteriori, that the divine providence has so wonderfully held its protecting hand over the Bible text that in spite of the variae lectiones not a single Christian doctrine has become a matter of doubt.

Pieper did not hold a King James position. Nevertheless, his bibliology is quite strong compared to modern evangelical theologians. He is clear that he thinks most of the variae lectiones are orthographical matters. Interestingly, on page 241 he advises (as a practical matter) to not use a challenged reading in a dispute.

...in a dispute with Unitarians on the doctrine of the Trinity relinquish I John 5:7-8 as a prooftext...One may be convinced, on the basis of scientific investigation, that these words are nevertheless genuine, that is, that they were in the original autographs. We personally hold this position...But in a dispute with a Unitarian, who denies the authenticity of I John 5:7, we at once disregard this passage as a prooftext. That does not make the doctrine of the Holy Trinity doubtful in any way...

[Note that Pieper holds I John 5:7-8 is genuine.]