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  WARNINGS TO THE CHURCHES - NOT CORRUPTING THE WORD
  by J.C. Ryle
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The following Sermon was preached in England, in August, 1858.

\"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the
contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent
from God\" (2 Corinthians 2:17)

It is no light matter to speak to any assembly of immortal souls about
the things of God. But the most serious of all responsibilities is, to
speak to a gathering of ministers, such as that which I now see before
me. The awful feeling will come across my mind, that one single word
said wrong, sinking into some heart, and bearing fruit at some future
time, in some pulpit, may lead to harm, of which we cannot know the
extent.

But there are occasions when true humility is to be seen, not so much in
loud professions of our weakness, as in forgetting ourselves altogether.
I desire to forget self at this time, in turning my attention to this
portion of Scripture. If I say little about my own sense of
insufficiency, do me the justice to believe, that it is not because I am
not well aware of it.

The Greek expression, which we have translated, \"peddle,\" is derived
from a word, the etymology of which is not quite agreed on by linguists
who compile dictionaries. It either means a tradesman, who does his
business dishonestly, or a wine maker, who adulterates the wine which he
offers for sale. Tyndale renders it, \"We are not of those who chop and
change the Word of God.\" Another version of the Bible says, \"We are
not as many, who adulterate the Word of God\" [Rhemish versions]. In our
margin we read, \"We are not as many, who deal deceitfully with the Word
of God.\" In the construction of the sentence, the Holy Spirit has
inspired Paul to use both the negative and the positive way of stating
the truth. This mode of construction adds clearness and unmistakableness
to the meaning of the words, and intensity and strength to the
assertion, which they contain. Instances of a similar construction occur
in three other remarkable passages of Scripture, two on the subject of
baptism, one on the subject of the new birth. (John 1:13; 1 Peter 1:23;
1 Peter 3:21). It will be found, therefore, that there are contained in
the text both negative and positive lessons for the instruction of the
ministers of Christ. Some things we ought to avoid. Others we ought to
follow.

The first of the negative lessons is, a plain warning against corrupting
or dealing deceitfully with the Word of God. The Apostle says, \"Unlike
so many\" who do it, pointing out to us that even in his time there were
those who did not deal faithfully and honestly with God\\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/jc-ryle/warnings-to-the-churches-not-corrupting-the-word/
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