Providentially Preserved

…a brief explanation.

When I write about the preservation of the Bible, I regularly use the term “providential preservation,” such as in the article “A Fundamental Problem for Fundamentalism.” I use it to cover all of God’s provisions in keeping his word intact from its beginning with inspiration and continuing to all generations throughout history – whether by normal, out of the ordinary, or miraculous ways. It is true that we often use “providence” to describe God’s governing all things through secondary causes. However, it is also true that we might not be so competent to always know the difference – such as the precise timing of events that led Joseph to exactly the right place at exactly the right time in history. (Was this normal/ordinary, unusual/out of the ordinary, miraculous?)

When many modern “non-preservationists” write about the preservation of the Bible, even using the word providential, they only intend “natural” or “ordinary” means – “...the preservation of Scripture is not different in method from any other ancient book God has determined to preserve...” (W. W. Combs, “The Preservation of Scripture,” pp. 9-10). (Same means for the Bible as how Mein Kampf and the Koran are preserved.)

Jon Rehurek wrote “Preservation of the Bible: Providential or Miraculous,” immediately poisoning the well with a false dilemma, Providential or Miraculous. Why must it be Providential or Miraculous (referring to his view of providential)? Why can it not be Providential and Miraculous? And who might write an article titled “Preservation of Israel in the Wilderness: Providential or Miraculous? The Biblical View”? There is more going on that either/or.

Anyway, I want to make the point that I mean what I mean when I use “providential preservation,” not what someone else means.