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I would definitely agree with DTK here.
Personally, the best translation I have come across is the Geneva Bible (my personal preference), which was copied by the AV "translators" for almost 80% of the text without the Genevan notes (that and the Bishop's Bible of the day were used). 20% of the AV is translated, and definitely where we find some of the best translations of the Hebrew and Greek MSS to date.
I love the AV version, but love the GB more, aside from the original Hebrew or Greek texts.
However...
Rich is trying to have you answer the question as to "where you find" the Word of God you stand on.
You said, "I assert the Word of God IS perfect."
So does Rich.
You asked Rich, "Why do you believe John 3:16."
He is asking "Where do you find John 3:16?"
You said, "whether the money should be put into that unsafe bank at all."
Rich is asking where you get the information for "your bank."
You said, "If the standard is determined by men, it has no means of correcting men."
Rich knows that God determines the standards, but wants to know where to find it.
You said, "It is the nature of the writing, not its physical attributes which determines canonicity."
Rich wants to know how the nature of the writing is determined wihout physcial attributes of the writing itself.
You said, "We believe that the Lord gave the Word, and that exists in its own right independent of ms. evidence."
Rich is curious as to how this squares with: "and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased."
Rich is wondering where that "writing" is, the graphe?
The WCF states very clearly - "Under the name of holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:" and then names them -
Rich is wondering where they looked to find them.
The WCF states, "The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the Canon of the Scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings."
Rich wants to know how they knew the difference between the Apocrypha and the writings of Scripture.
The WCF states, "The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God."
Rich wants to know, since it does not rest on men, but on God, where God told him it was the word of God, and what he should recieve AS the word of God.
I enjoy the WCF here as well: "We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the holy Scripture;a and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts."
Rich is curious as to what these divines could be talking about, or what they used (i.e. what MSS) to determined such excellencies, and perfections. The divines said that it is clearly EVIDENCED. What evidendce might they be talking about?
One might say "THE AV!"
Rich will ask where they got that.
One might say "GOD!"
One might ask, we know that but how did God give it to us, and where did they find it, and who found it, and how did they compile it.
Hopefully, at that point, one will not say "GOD!" again or "THE AV!" again.
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