Pastor Jeffrey Khoo

I asked ChatGPT to describe my teachings on the preservation of Scripture and was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of its description. This is especially noteworthy considering the widespread misrepresentation and misinterpretation of VPP found on the internet, social media, and certain church websites.

Here is what ChatGPT says:

Dr. Jeffrey Khoo, a prominent theologian in the Bible-Presbyterian movement, is a strong proponent of the doctrine of Verbal and Plenary Preservation (VPP) of Scripture. This doctrine asserts that not only were the Scriptures verbally and fully inspired in their original autographs, but that God has also preserved every word of the Bible throughout history, especially within the traditional manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments.

Here are some key aspects of Dr. Khoo’s teaching on this subject:

1. Preservation of the Textus Receptus (TR): Khoo emphasizes that the Greek Textus Receptus (TR) is the preserved text of the New Testament, and the Hebrew Masoretic Text is the preserved text of the Old Testament. He holds that these texts represent the exact words of the original autographs, as preserved by God through history.
2. Rejection of Modern Textual Criticism: Khoo is critical of modern textual criticism, which he argues undermines the doctrine of preservation by questioning the authenticity of certain passages or verses found in traditional texts. He contends that modern critical texts, such as the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Societies’ Greek texts, have been corrupted by relying on less reliable manuscripts.
3. Scriptural Basis for Preservation: Khoo grounds his teaching on VPP in several biblical passages, such as Matthew 5:18 (“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”) and Psalm 12:6–7 (“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”). He interprets these passages as promising that God has preserved His words in their entirety.
4. Role of the Church in Preservation: Khoo argues that the church has historically preserved Scripture through the use of faithful translations based on the Textus Receptus and the Masoretic Text, with the King James Version (KJV) being a prime example in the English-speaking world. He views the KJV as a faithful and preserved translation that reflects the true text of Scripture.
5. Preservation in Opposition to Corruption: He believes that the purity of Scripture has been maintained in opposition to deliberate or accidental corruption throughout history. This is seen as part of God’s providential protection of His Word, ensuring that every word remains intact for each generation.

Dr. Khoo’s position on the preservation of Scripture is an essential component of his theological perspective and is foundational for his and his church’s stance on the Bible, translations, and textual criticism. His views are aligned with a conservative, fundamentalist approach, emphasizing a high view of the authority, inerrancy, and preservation of Scripture.

When asked if I hold to KJV-Onlyism, this was ChatGPT’s reply:

Dr. Jeffrey Khoo does not align with KJV-Onlyism in the extreme sense often associated with the term. Instead, he holds to a Textual Preservationist view, which is distinct from what is commonly labeled as “KJV-Onlyism.”

Here’s the distinction:

1. KJV-Onlyism (extreme view): This perspective asserts that the King James Version is the only inspired and infallible Word of God, even to the exclusion of the original Hebrew and Greek texts. Some adherents may even claim that the KJV corrects the original languages or that it is the only valid Bible translation for all people and languages.
2. Dr. Khoo’s Position: Dr. Khoo subscribes to Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP), which affirms that God has preserved His inspired Word in the original languages, specifically in the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament and the Textus Receptus for the New Testament. He believes the King James Version is the most faithful and reliable English translation because it is based on these preserved texts. However, he does not teach that the KJV itself is re-inspired or superior to the preserved Hebrew and Greek texts.

While his advocacy for the KJV is strong, Dr. Khoo’s position allows for the use of translations in other languages as long as they are based on the same preserved texts. This sets him apart from extreme KJV-Only proponents.  

Thank God for VPP and the truth of the Holy Scriptures that we have in our hands today. As 2 Corinthians 13:8 says, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”

However, let me issue a caveat: It goes without saying that only Scripture—Scripture alone—can be trusted with absolute certainty. Not ChatGPT, not me, not anyone. Nothing in this world is perfect, infallible and inerrant. Only God’s Word is. This is why it is vital to “search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39), and to be like the noble Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). JK

LESSONS FROM COVENANT THEOLOGY

Elder Lim Ah Sang

Gethsemane BPC

This study of Covenant Theology has helped me to be a better student of God’s Word, always mindful to be humble and biblical in my service to the Great King, my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

These are the ten things I learned from the course on Covenant Theology conducted by Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) last semester (Jul-Nov 2024):

1. Covenant Theology helps me to be biblical in evangelizing, emphasizing that it is the sinner who is to be reconciled to the thrice-holy God.
2. The doctrine of the communion of saints in Covenant Theology serves as a constant reminder to live a selfless life, always being sensitive to the needs of both the inward and outward man of fellow saints within the church and in the mission fields. It also helps me to warn others of the heresy of praying to the saints in heaven.
3. Learning about the sensitive question, “Do all infants dying in infancy go to heaven?” enables me to comfort and help those grieving the loss of their infant (2 Sam 12:23). (“Infants Dying in Infancy” by Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo).
4. Covenant Theology confirms that Deism is a heresy, as God does provide for and sustain His creatures after creation (Col 1:17).
5. The doctrine of Covenant Theology allows me to see the unity, harmony, and continuity between the Old and New Testaments and not to be confused by the discontinuity found in the Dispensationalist view of the seven dispensations of time in the Scriptures. (“The Law of Moses and of Jesus” by Rev Timothy Tow).
6. Covenant Theology has convinced me of the relevance and importance of Infant Baptism, as the Covenant God is a God of the family.
7. With the great political turmoil in the Middle East, the ongoing wars involving Israel against Syria, Hezbollah, Houthi, Hamas, and Iran, the tensions between the US and China, and even the unrest in Asia, many unbelievers are distressed and uncertain about the future. The truths of Covenant Theology enable me to witness to them that these are signs of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 24:7) and that the Covenant God is faithful and sovereign. There is an urgency to repent of sins unto God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only in Him can one find peace and rest—salvation rest, peaceful rest in times of trials, and eventually the heavenly rest, where God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away (Rev 21:4).
8. Covenant Theology helps me to discern the errors in the soteriology of Dispensationalists and the eschatology of Amillennialists.
9. This course equipped me with knowledge:
   (i) to warn those who believe in the doctrine of the abrogation of the law promoted by the hyper-grace teachings of Joseph Prince. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself perfectly kept the law while He was on earth to earn the righteousness of God. He declared that He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matt 3:15, 5:17). (ii) to educate others that the law is good, as it is a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path, helping us to walk the righteous path. (iii) to reinforce the understanding that the Covenant God is holy, merciful, faithful, and sovereign, and we must live in fear and reverence of Him.
10. I can now explain to others that true saving faith consists of: (i) Notitia – knowing the Gospel, (ii) Assensus – agreeing with the Gospel, and (iii) Fiducia – obeying the Gospel.

To God be the glory!

Lovely Mums of True Life with Their Precious Tots