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A Christian’s Pocket Guide to How God Preserved the Bible
There is sometimes a gap in the teaching we receive between the inspiration and illumination of Scripture. The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the Word of God in the first place and applies it to our hearts now. What does the Holy Spirit do in respect of the Bible between these two works? How do we know that the Bible we read today is still the inspired Word of God? Richard Brash grounds his answers to these questions in the doctrines of God and his outer works, especially providence, in this introductory guide to how God preserved the Bible.
96 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 7, 2019
Review to come in Bible Study Magazine.
Brief summary: I’ve been skeptical of people who make a doctrine out of preservation, because 1) all the people who do this in my experience have somehow also managed to wiggle their way into believing that God has preserved his word in a particular 17th century English translation; and 2) I don’t nobody believe anyone has sufficient warrant to believe that he/she knows exactly which jots and tittles among all the New Testament manuscript variants out there constitute the preserved word of God—these 144,000, no more, no less. That is, it has felt dangerous to me to posit a “doctrine” of preservation—because if it’s a doctrine, then that leans toward suggesting that preservation would be perfect. And it clearly isn’t. Even picking “the TR” doesn’t give you perfect preservation. Somebody has to decide which TR to pick. The Bible doesn’t tell us. (Even the top TR defender I know acknowledges the truth of what I’m saying.)
But Brash moved the needle for me. I'm willing to say there is a "doctrine" of systematic theology called "the preservation of Scripture." I wasn't willing yesterday. I am today, after reading this book. To see specifics, you'll have to wait for my longer review in BSM.
This is an excellent, irenic, careful, and highly recommendable—oh yes, and expertly *short*!—book.
Brief summary: I’ve been skeptical of people who make a doctrine out of preservation, because 1) all the people who do this in my experience have somehow also managed to wiggle their way into believing that God has preserved his word in a particular 17th century English translation; and 2) I don’t nobody believe anyone has sufficient warrant to believe that he/she knows exactly which jots and tittles among all the New Testament manuscript variants out there constitute the preserved word of God—these 144,000, no more, no less. That is, it has felt dangerous to me to posit a “doctrine” of preservation—because if it’s a doctrine, then that leans toward suggesting that preservation would be perfect. And it clearly isn’t. Even picking “the TR” doesn’t give you perfect preservation. Somebody has to decide which TR to pick. The Bible doesn’t tell us. (Even the top TR defender I know acknowledges the truth of what I’m saying.)
But Brash moved the needle for me. I'm willing to say there is a "doctrine" of systematic theology called "the preservation of Scripture." I wasn't willing yesterday. I am today, after reading this book. To see specifics, you'll have to wait for my longer review in BSM.
This is an excellent, irenic, careful, and highly recommendable—oh yes, and expertly *short*!—book.
January 10, 2026
3.5 stars rounded down.
I really enjoy short, monograph-style books, and I'm looking forward to reading a few of the other works in this series.
With that said, some of the editorial choices in this book, as well as the argumentation, felt strange and even strained. My primary pushback is with this summary statement towards the end of the book: "We do indeed have ‘access’ to these words, if not with miraculous perfection, then with an extremely high level of accuracy and certainty. And God has done this. What is good enough for the Holy Spirit is good enough for me." The problem I have with this statement is that a "high level of accuracy and certainty" is a fairly subjective criterion. Furthermore, 99% perfect still falls short of perfect and inerrant. Imagine describing a perfect God by saying that he is "99% free of error." This is a weak version of inerrancy. It seems that the author needs to either acknowledge that his view of inerrancy is weak, or else provide a solid argument for 100% inerrancy.
To be clear, I am a firm believer in inerrant Scripture, and I also find there are some difficulties to be wrestled with. But, I don't find Brash's answer to be the best, though there are many theologians/evangelical text critics who would answer in a similar way.
I really enjoy short, monograph-style books, and I'm looking forward to reading a few of the other works in this series.
With that said, some of the editorial choices in this book, as well as the argumentation, felt strange and even strained. My primary pushback is with this summary statement towards the end of the book: "We do indeed have ‘access’ to these words, if not with miraculous perfection, then with an extremely high level of accuracy and certainty. And God has done this. What is good enough for the Holy Spirit is good enough for me." The problem I have with this statement is that a "high level of accuracy and certainty" is a fairly subjective criterion. Furthermore, 99% perfect still falls short of perfect and inerrant. Imagine describing a perfect God by saying that he is "99% free of error." This is a weak version of inerrancy. It seems that the author needs to either acknowledge that his view of inerrancy is weak, or else provide a solid argument for 100% inerrancy.
To be clear, I am a firm believer in inerrant Scripture, and I also find there are some difficulties to be wrestled with. But, I don't find Brash's answer to be the best, though there are many theologians/evangelical text critics who would answer in a similar way.
October 22, 2025
A good, solid and succinct introduction on how God preserved his Scriptures so that people today can know what God wanted to communicate with mankind. Brash does not approach the topic in a dry, academic way but explains to the readers that the living God continues to work through his Scriptures to help people firstly, get to know him and how to get into a relationship with him and secondly, how to continually feed on his Word and thus grow into spiritual maturity.
Brash demonstrates how God supernaturally wrote Scripture and then guided the natural processes of copying and transmission to pass his Word down through the generations. Brash explains how through God’s providence (i.e., God’s guidance of natural processes) his message is made available to us accurately even if we no longer have any of the original manuscripts. Easy to read and a good summary of the doctrine of the providential preservation of Scripture.
Brash demonstrates how God supernaturally wrote Scripture and then guided the natural processes of copying and transmission to pass his Word down through the generations. Brash explains how through God’s providence (i.e., God’s guidance of natural processes) his message is made available to us accurately even if we no longer have any of the original manuscripts. Easy to read and a good summary of the doctrine of the providential preservation of Scripture.
September 7, 2023
This slim volume really is slim, and weighs almost nothing, but it successfully takes us from the establishment of a doctrine of the preservation of Scripture through God’s means and His purpose, with asides and nods to related doctrines and historical bits and pieces.
We can have confidence in Scripture because God is at work, despite (of because of, or simply in and through, and that is the way of all things under the sun) the different motivations, devotion and skills of the human agents involved and the untidiness of matter.
There’s more to say on the topic, more to lean into, but we don’t require that of a pocket guide. [And when I’m feeling a bit cleverer I’ll come up with a witticism about everything, everywhere all at once, and why that’s not it…]
We can have confidence in Scripture because God is at work, despite (of because of, or simply in and through, and that is the way of all things under the sun) the different motivations, devotion and skills of the human agents involved and the untidiness of matter.
There’s more to say on the topic, more to lean into, but we don’t require that of a pocket guide. [And when I’m feeling a bit cleverer I’ll come up with a witticism about everything, everywhere all at once, and why that’s not it…]
February 6, 2020
Short (74 pages) but provocatively helpful book that offers sensible answers to the questions posed.
Not five stars due to some slightly bizarre layout decisions which break up the flow of the argument.
If you are looking for a short, cheap introduction to how God preserved the Bible, this is a solid buy.
Not five stars due to some slightly bizarre layout decisions which break up the flow of the argument.
If you are looking for a short, cheap introduction to how God preserved the Bible, this is a solid buy.
July 9, 2024
Good overview of the topic, but Brash doesn't substantiate what he sets out to.
Brash's argument needs to modified to something like:
1) God's people needs His word sufficiently preserved.
2) God provides all that his people need.
3) Therefore, God preserves His word sufficiently.
Brash's argument needs to modified to something like:
1) God's people needs His word sufficiently preserved.
2) God provides all that his people need.
3) Therefore, God preserves His word sufficiently.
September 21, 2025
Maybe good as an introduction, but felt redundant in light of other reading. Focuses largely on arguing for a doctrine of the providential preservation of Scripture by ordinary means, which is good but found it dreadfully boring.
December 8, 2025
Good book -
1. God has preserved his word (content and meaning) 2. Each individual church may not have received all the words of God but they all had what they need and the preserved text is not at this time located in one printed edition (as the TR advocates hold) 3. Therefore, the church should continue to do textual criticism to receive and determine the text of Scripture, trusting that God has preserved the meaning of his words in the textual manuscript tradition, whilst also trusting that we have all we need right now.
The TR has done a pretty good job of doing that for the new testament. I've heard 98% of majority reading of the textual tradition are found in the TR which is amazing.
On another note, when 98% of greek manusripts include the long ending of Mark, we should keep it in our Bibles.
do not be like critical text advocates, despite Richard being one.
1. God has preserved his word (content and meaning) 2. Each individual church may not have received all the words of God but they all had what they need and the preserved text is not at this time located in one printed edition (as the TR advocates hold) 3. Therefore, the church should continue to do textual criticism to receive and determine the text of Scripture, trusting that God has preserved the meaning of his words in the textual manuscript tradition, whilst also trusting that we have all we need right now.
The TR has done a pretty good job of doing that for the new testament. I've heard 98% of majority reading of the textual tradition are found in the TR which is amazing.
On another note, when 98% of greek manusripts include the long ending of Mark, we should keep it in our Bibles.
do not be like critical text advocates, despite Richard being one.
December 5, 2025
This very short book lives up to it's title and purpose as a pocket guide to the issues. While there is no room for great depth on any one aspect the author does well to avoid flying over all the issues. Meaning that unless you are deeply entrenched in this topic already you will learn something.
I recommend this to anyone looking for confirmation or information about The hows and why of scripture preservation.
I recommend this to anyone looking for confirmation or information about The hows and why of scripture preservation.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews