Bible addition and subtraction

 Bible Addition and Subtraction

 

I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.

REVELATION 22:18

 

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

MATTHEW 5:18

 

The instructions of the LORD are perfect.

PSALM 19:7

 

Some people come to the Bible the way they shop at a store. They have a list of things they want, and they shop until they find them, ignoring all the stuff they don’t want. And sometimes they’re frustrated that the store doesn’t have exactly what they’re looking for.

But that’s not the way we want to come to God’s Word — as a consumer or a shopper, picking and choosing what we want to listen to or obey. And we can’t conclude that the Bible is any way lacking because it doesn’t have what we’re looking for on the subject we’re interested in.

The Bible warns us about adding anything to Scripture. One way people do this is by making other writings or teachings of equal authority to the Bible. Anytime people go beyond what Scripture says to promote new ideas about God, basing their teachings not on Scripture but on their own speculation or personal experience, we have to check their words against what the Bible says. We also need to be careful about adding extra rules to those clearly stated in Scripture, labelling something as sin that is not forbidden by Scripture.

We need to be content with Scripture as God has given it to us — emphasising the same issues it emphasises. There are some subjects God has told us little or nothing about in the Bible. But we can be confident that God has given us everything we need for knowing and following him.