Most scholars recognize that this translation is inadequate, but the word is so firmly entrenched in our theological language that the only course open is to explain its special meaning. Sometimes it is argued that if inspiration applies only to the autographs, and if the autographs are now lost, then it is a meaningless doctrine and of no importance today. The argument is without value, however, because there are in existence thousands of copies of the inspired originals and the substantial agreement among the copies is clear indication that the true text has been preserved. There is in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., the original document of the United States Constitution. It is a valuable national treasure and is carefully guarded.
Thousands view it every year.
Yet if the original should be stolen or destroyed, the government would not collapse, for there are sufficient copies in existence to demonstrate what the original document said. In the same way the thousands of Biblical manuscripts in existence have preserved the contents of the autographs beyond any reasonable doubt. These books were treasured by God's people, and were handled and copied with special care. At various times translations were made from the Hebrew and Greek into such languages as Latin, Coptic, and Syriac. As the result of such human errors no two manuscripts containing a major portion of Scripture are exactly alike.