Wow, Gary! If you stopped worrying about nonsense like flat earth,
{ totally unnecessary personal attack } and looked into textual criticism, lower, of course, you would understand that over 90% of all manuscripts totally agree.
{ Yes, they do. And, they are also in agreement with the Textus Receptus. } So, eliminate minor variations, such as exOmen, versus exomen, (long and short O, I don't have Greek letters on my IPad) that number shoots up considerably, maybe as high as 98%.
So why do you think there is such agreement in texts from all over and various ages? Because they are based on the original manuscripts. Truly, the amount and type of corruption is easily traced to mostly scribal errors of various types, which never affect doctrine. So, when I say "original autographs"
{ A phrase that should NEVER EVER EVER be used to refer to anything other than original autographs. PERIOD. Don't you think there is enough communication error as there is?????????? You should NEVER use the word 'autograph' to refer to anything other than an actual autograph. Simple. See how well that works to prevent any misunderstanding? Stop making excuses. You should know better! You are doing damage to the reputation you are trying to uphold -- as someone who knows how to exposit and discourse with expert utilization of the proper terminology. With regard to biblical manuscripts, the word 'autograph' has a very explicit definition.You know this! It is exactly and precisely how we differentiate ( in discourse ) between the actual originals and copies of the originals. We can say 'manuscripts' - and, it might mean 'autograph' or 'copy'. But, when we say 'autograph', we know exactly what it means. You know this! So, why are you trying to cover up your mistakes? Why don't you simply OWN it, admit it, and move on...? Put the shovel down, Angela - it is getting deeper and deeper... } I'm talking about the agreement we have between manuscripts, which reflect the Trinity in so many passages. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all unique persons, one in unity (echad as per the Shema in Deut. 6) or in John 17, and divine.
I don't need to have "perfect" translation, because I can trust that my perfect God has preserved his Word,
{ Yes, He has - in the form of the Textus Receptus and the KJV. ( Absolutely-most-certainly not in Wescott & Hort and the modern versions. ) I am not ignoring the O.T. here, as it is virtually 100% in agreement "across the board"... } using imperfect men to do that!
{ Correct! } Because of extensive and careful scholarship by people with more understanding of translational issues and doctrine than I will ever have,
{ like, the people who translated the KJV - whose expertise WITHOUT DOUBT is far better than ANYONE today! ( And, only those whose PRIDE is "greater" than their powers of reasoning will deny that this statement is in the highest probabability of the reality of truth. ) } I can say with certainty that the Bible is true, and speaks to us today in a variety of translations! And, because I have studied the original languages, I think it is important to have absolute truth regarding which verses were not inspired by God, but added later. Regardless of how it confirms the truth, 1 John 5:7 simply was not there in the earliest manuscripts.