A Foundational Guide to Understanding the History of God’s Word from Eternity to Today
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Table of Contents
Introduction: God’s Word from Eternity to the King James Version (KJV) English Bible
The history of God’s Word is one of the most important foundations for every believer. Before we study doctrine, Christian living, prophecy, or discipleship, we must understand where the Bible came from, how God spoke throughout history, and how His words were preserved for us today.
Many believers ask, “Where were God’s words before the Bible existed?” Others wonder how we can trust the Scriptures, whether the preservation of Scripture is reliable, and how the King James Bible fits into the larger history of Scripture.
This foundational article explains the complete history of God’s Word, from eternity to the English Bible we hold today.
God’s Word Existed Before the World Began
Before the Bible was written, before prophets spoke, and before Moses penned Genesis, God’s Word existed in God Himself. The history of God’s Word does not begin with parchment or ink — it begins with the eternal God who speaks with perfect authority.
Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
God’s words created the world. His voice formed light, land, life, and every living creature. The history of the Bible begins with the God whose Word is eternal, powerful, and unchanging.
Every believer should understand that the history of God’s Word began with God Himself, not with man.
Quick Facts About God’s Eternal Word
✔ God’s Word existed before creation.
✔ God’s Word existed before mankind.
✔ God’s Word is inseparable from God’s nature.
✔ The preservation of Scripture matters because God’s words are eternal.
✔ The history of Scripture begins with God speaking.
God’s Spoken Word Became Written Scripture
After the creation of the world and the beginning of mankind, God revealed His Word through spoken communication. But eventually, God transitioned from spoken revelation to written Scripture, so His words could be preserved for every generation.
Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Moses was the first man commanded to record the Word of God. The history of the Bible begins with God Himself writing the Ten Commandments, establishing the pattern of inspired, written revelation.
From Moses forward, God continued expanding the history of God’s Word by instructing prophets, kings, and holy men to record His words exactly as He spoke them. This includes:
✔ The Law
✔ Historical books
✔ Wisdom and poetry
✔ Psalms
✔ Major and Minor Prophets
These books formed the Old Testament — a perfect written record of the Word of God.
Definition: Written Revelation
Written revelation means that God gave His actual words to be written down, not merely ideas or themes. This separates biblical inspiration from every other religious writing in world history.
Jesus Christ — The Word Made Flesh
The history of God’s Word reaches its greatest moment when the eternal Word becomes a man.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…
Jesus Christ did not simply speak the Word — He is the Word. Every word He spoke carried divine authority. The Gospels record His life, preaching, doctrine, and miracles.
The apostles, moved by the Holy Ghost, recorded the New Testament Scriptures to complete the written Word of God.
How the New Testament Fits Into the History of God’s Word
✔ Jesus spoke the Father’s words perfectly.
✔ The apostles recorded doctrine under inspiration.
✔ Revelation completed the entire canon of Scripture.
✔ The history of Scripture ends with the Book of Revelation and continues through preservation.
How God Preserved His Words Through the Ages
The history of God’s Word does not stop with inspiration. Preservation is equally important. God did not promise to preserve the original manuscripts; He promised to preserve the words.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
God preserved His words through faithful copies made by believers. For centuries, God’s people copied, memorized, taught, and spread the Scriptures. The history of the Bible includes countless generations preserving Scripture for those who would come after.
Why the Majority of Manuscripts Represent the Preserved Text
The manuscripts used daily by Bible-believing churches were copied repeatedly. Because they were read constantly, the original copies wore out — but their text lived on in thousands of handwritten manuscripts. This is why the history of God’s Word points to the majority text: believers used it faithfully.
Meanwhile, corrupt manuscripts survived simply because no one trusted them enough to use them.
Warning: Do Not Place Faith in Originals
✘ The originals no longer exist.
✘ God never promised to preserve the paper.
✔ God promised to preserve the words.
The preservation of Scripture ensures that the history of God’s Word includes a perfect Bible for every generation.
The King James Bible and the Preservation of Scripture
The history of the Bible leads to one of the greatest moments in English-speaking Christianity: the translation of the King James Bible in 1611.
The translators used the preserved Hebrew text and the preserved Greek text — the same textual family used by Bible believers for centuries. This makes the King James Bible the faithful product of the entire history of God’s Word in written form.
The King James Bible is not a rewrite or a modern reinterpretation. It is the accurate translation of the preserved Scriptures into the most widespread language in world history.
Why Every Believer Should Trust the King James Bible
✔ It follows the preserved manuscripts.
✔ It reflects the history of Scripture from beginning to end.
✔ It honors both inspiration and preservation.
✔ It is the most accurate English translation ever produced.
✔ It completes the history of God’s Word for English-speaking Christians.
Summary of the History of God’s Word
✔ Before creation: God’s Word existed eternally.
✔ Old Testament era: God spoke and men wrote.
✔ New Testament era: Jesus spoke, apostles recorded, canon completed.
✔ Church age: Believers preserved God’s words through faithful copies.
✔ 1611: The King James Bible presents God’s preserved Word in English.
The entire history of God’s Word proves one truth:
God wanted every generation to have His words — and He made sure they do.
Conclusion
The believer’s foundation rests not just on inspiration, but on the entire history of God’s Word — from God’s eternal speech, to written Scripture, to faithful preservation, and finally to the King James Bible.
Every Christian can trust that the Bible they hold today is the perfect Word of God, preserved forever, and delivered through the complete history of God’s Word.
Frequently Asked Questions About the History of God’s Word (FAQ)
Where were God’s words before the Bible existed?
The history of God’s Word begins long before any Scripture was written. God’s words existed eternally within God Himself. His voice created the universe.
Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Before Moses, before prophets, and before scrolls, God was already speaking. His words have always existed because they come from His eternal nature.
If God spoke His Word, why did it eventually become written Scripture?
God transitioned from spoken revelation to written Scripture so that His words could be preserved perfectly for every generation. Spoken revelation can be forgotten, misquoted, or lost. Written Scripture cannot.
Exodus 34:27
And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words…
Written revelation forms the foundation of the history of Scripture, making the Bible a permanent, unchanging record of God’s words.
Why is Moses considered the first writer of Scripture?
Moses is the first man in biblical history explicitly commanded to write down God’s words. God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments and then instructed Moses to begin recording His law.
Exodus 31:18
…written with the finger of God.
This begins the written history of the Bible.
How did God preserve His Word after it was written?
God preserved His Word through faithful copies, not the original manuscripts. The originals naturally decayed, but God’s promise was never tied to the physical material.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Believers copied Scripture for centuries, ensuring the preservation of Scripture as part of the ongoing history of God’s Word.
Why are the “majority manuscripts” important?
The manuscripts used and copied by Bible-believing churches for centuries make up what is called the majority text, because thousands of copies agree with each other.
These represent the Scriptures that were trusted, preached, read aloud, and circulated among believers. They form the backbone of the history of Scripture and the preserved text used in the King James Bible.
Corrupt manuscripts survived only because no one used them.
Did Jesus quote from the Old Testament we have today?
Yes. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly quoted the Old Testament Scriptures as authoritative, inspired, and preserved.
Matthew 4:4
…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
This verse teaches two truths:
1. God’s words must have been available in Christ’s day.
2. God preserved “every word,” not general ideas.
This supports the entire history of God’s Word as a preserved history.
Why does the King James Bible matter in the history of the Bible?
The King James Bible is the culmination of centuries of copying, preservation, translation, and doctrinal clarity. It uses the preserved Hebrew Old Testament and preserved Greek New Testament — the same textual lineage used by Bible-believing Christians throughout history.
The King James Bible represents the faithful completion of the history of God’s Word into English.
Can a believer trust the King James Bible as God’s perfect Word?
Yes. The King James Bible is a faithful translation of the preserved Scriptures. It reflects the majority manuscript tradition and preserves the exact words God promised to keep.
Psalm 12:7
Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Because God preserved His words and the King James translators honored those preserved words, the KJV remains the most trustworthy English Bible in the entire history of Scripture.
Why didn’t God preserve the original manuscripts?
God never promised to preserve the originals. Originals wear out, fade, and decay. He promised to preserve the words.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
The preservation of Scripture depends on God’s power, not ancient ink and paper. The history of God’s Word shows that He preserved the text itself through faithful copies.
Isn’t it dangerous to rely on copies instead of originals?
No. Copies are safe, reliable, and part of God’s design. The Jews meticulously copied Scripture with extraordinary accuracy. Early Christians did the same.
If originals were the only reliable form, Jesus could not have trusted the Scriptures in His day — but He did.
Luke 4:17
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias…
Jesus read from a copy, not the original scroll Isaiah wrote. And He declared that copy to be Scripture.
How does the New Testament fit into the history of God’s Word?
Jesus spoke the Word of God. The apostles recorded it. The Holy Spirit inspired it. And churches preserved it.
The New Testament is the final stage of inspired revelation in the history of Scripture, and it perfectly complements the Old Testament.
Why does this matter for believers today?
Because your entire faith rests on the truth that:
God spoke His words.
God inspired His words.
God preserved His words.
God translated His preserved words into English in the King James Bible.
Understanding the history of God’s Word gives believers confidence that they truly hold the words of God in their hands — not opinions, guesses, or traditions.
Where to Go After Studying the History of God’s Word
This study on the history of God’s Word is part of the Bible Foundations for Every Believer within the KJV Bible Study Hub. These resources will help you grow deeper in your understanding of Scripture, the King James Bible, and the Christian life.
Explore these related pages next to strengthen your foundation and draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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- The Ultimate KJV Bible Study Hub
- Bible Foundations for Every Believer
- The History of God’s Word (You’re Here)
- Why the King James Bible Is Perfect
- Bible Preservation Explained (KJV Proofs)
- How We Got the Bible (KJV Guide)
- How to Study the Bible
- How to Start Reading the Bible (Beginner’s Guide)
- How to Pray According to the Bible
- New Believer Discipleship Course
- How to Know You’re Saved (Assurance Verses Explained)
- How to Grow Spiritually as a Christian
- Bible Reading Plans (KJV Only)
- How to Understand Hard Bible Passages
- Why Sound Doctrine Matters
