That's because you used a Scripture verse. See, that's how it works. I consider this matter to be a spiritual matter because we get our faith from the Word of God (Romans 10:17) and not out of thin air or from the back of a ceral box. Therefore, seeing it is a spiritual matter, I believe Scripture holds the answer or the key so as to resolve this issue. That's why I insist that you use Scripture alone to discuss this topic.
It's just a shame that the treatise you wrote has very little to do with the actual discussion we were having, and that you still haven't replied to my earlier points about your interpretation of Scripture.
So here we go again. Most of this is copied from earlier posts:
Then read the exegetical parts of my posting. In particular, that in virtually every case the Bible talks about the Word of God, it is talking about his precepts, his commands, his Word as an expression of his will. Very few are talking about the written Word/the Scriptures, and even then it is never making a statement to the effect your argument requires, vis 'God has guaranteed a copy of the original inspired writings that is accessible and 100% accurate for all time'.
and
You're conflating places where the Bible talks about the Word of God with the written tradition of the Scriptures. For instance, your reference to 1 Thess is totally off base, because Paul was PREACHING, not from a written gospel proclamation (such a thing did not yet exist - 1 Thess is almost certainly the first written document of the NT), but with his lips, in his authority as an apostle, from what he had learned from the eyewitnesses (1 Cor 15). There is not a hint of anything being said about a written document ANYWHERE here, it's simply not relevant. This is yet another example of your exegetical carelessness (which I already referred to in my previous post, and which you didn't reply to).
In regards to your reference to Romans 10:17, let's post it here so everyone can read it. I will use the KJV.
[quote="Romans 10:10-18]10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.[/quote]
So, a few brief notes - Paul refers to the Scriptures in v.11 (here, unambiguously the OT), but not in the immediate context of v.17 - he uses the Scripture here to make the point about believing 'unto righteousness' he has made in the preceding verses.
He also refers to the gospel, but again, not in the immediate context of v 17. The two references from Isaiah are connected to verbal preaching (by the prophets), not to a canonical text that people were expected to read (although the canonical text serves this ongoing function after the prophets passed). The point is Paul seems to be making an analogy between apostles/disciples and prophets, as part of an ongoing tradition. He is not concerned about a 'text' at this point he is concerned with people preaching (a verbal proclamation, not simply a tex containing that proclamation)
If you look at v.18, Paul makes a rhetorical point - he has just said that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (following the need to send preachers - no indication Paul has in mind anything here other than preaching the gospel about Jesus in a similar manner to Romans 1:8 1 Cor 15 and 1 Thess 1:8 - verbally and by personal witnesses to the gospel of Jesus, as I already noted).
However, what is striking is that the point he makes here is that even though preachers should be sent, the reality is the 'they' (we can assume either Israel or all unbelievers here, it doesn't particularly matter for our purposes) HAVE ALREADY HEARD. Who is the the 'they' the voice belongs to in 18b? I'll let you look it up in Psalm 19, and then you can tell me who it is that is speaking there.
So, then, what is the meaning of word in v.17? It is not at all clear Paul even means a written text at this point, because the voices in the quotation Paul pulls from Psalm 19 are not the Scriptures, or a printed text. It seems Paul means word of God in a more encompassing sense than simply 'the Scriptures', let alone "a particular copy of the Scriptures". In fact, Paul's not even making a statement about the preservation of Scripture here at all, he is simply instructing people to share the gospel message.
Therefore, your use of Romans 10 hasn't established what the text has to do with your argument ("God has guaranteed a 100% verbatim and accessible single copy of the Scriptures throughout all time, and that manuscript is represented in English by the KJV").
Now, could you please try and respond to this post? I've only used Scripture this time.