Adding Books to the Bible.

[Johnboy60]

Hi, I think the Bible say not to add books or take away from the Bible. Is this right or wrong?

Robert.

 

[prodromos]

Revelation 22:18-19
I testify to every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any one shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 And if any one take from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

The passage is only referring to the book of Revelation which itself took some time before it was universally accepted as part of the canon of scripture. However, considering that all scripture is God breathed we must not tamper with it in any way.

John.

 

[Duggie]

[prodromos]Revelation 22:18-19
The passage is only referring to the book of Revelation which itself took some time before it was universally accepted as part of the canon of scripture. However, considering that all scripture is God breathed we must not tamper with it in any way.

I have never really thought about it like that. I was led to believe that that was directed at the whole of the Bible, interesting.

 

[Ainesis]

I have never really thought about it like that. I was led to believe that that was directed at the whole of the Bible, interesting.

I am not so sure that it only means Revelation. However, there are other passages that tells us not to add to or take away from God's word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32).

De:4:2: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

De:12:32: What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

If God says not to tamper with His word and we know that all Scripture is God-breathed, we have no rights to add to or take away from Scripture as a whole.

So whether we believe that the verse in Rev. applies only to that book or not, by default, we are commanded not to modify His words.

 

[PaladinValer]

You are quoting Deuteronomy out of context.

 

[Ainesis]

You are quoting Deuteronomy out of context.

Nope! God clearly says that we are not to add to or take away from what He commands. If all of Scripture is God-breathed, the application fits.

But if it makes you feel any better, I'll by-pass Deuteronomy.

Proverb:30:6: Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

[PaladinValer]

That is also taken out of context.

 

[Philip]

Proverb:30:6: Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

The interesting thing is that the underlying Hebrew word dâbâr refers to the spoken word, not the written word.

 

[Ainesis]

That is also taken out of context.

Okay! Thanks for the helpful comments!

 

[Crazy Liz]

The question of "adding" or "taking away" books from the Bible always begs the question of exactly which books are scripture and which are not. You can't really answer one question without answering the other.

 

[The Thadman]

You are quoting Deuteronomy out of context.

How is that portion of Deuteronomy taken out of context, akhi?

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[thereselittleflower]

I am not so sure that it only means Revelation. However, there are other passages that tells us not to add to or take away from God's word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32).

De:4:2: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

De:12:32: What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

If God says not to tamper with His word and we know that all Scripture is God-breathed, we have no rights to add to or take away from Scripture as a whole.

So whether we believe that the verse in Rev. applies only to that book or not, by default, we are commanded not to modify His words.

You know what is interesting about the admonition in Deuteromony . . it iwas because of this that the Sadducees would not recognize anything written beyond the pentateuch, the first 5 books of the bible, as sacred scripture . . .

The did not recognize the rest of the writings found in your Old Testament.


This is the danger of taking something ultra literally and out of context . .


Peace in Him!

 

[revrobor]

I am not so sure that it only means Revelation. However, there are other passages that tells us not to add to or take away from God's word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). The entire Bible is not prophecy. It applies only to the book of Revelation.

De:4:2: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

De:12:32: What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. God is speaking here of His commands and laws given to the nation of Israel through His prophets NOT the Bible which did not come into existance until thousands of years later.

If God says not to tamper with His word and we know that all Scripture is God-breathed, we have no rights to add to or take away from Scripture as a whole.

So whether we believe that the verse in Rev. applies only to that book or not, by default, we are commanded not to modify His words.

I do not believe we should alter the meaning of Scripture as it is suitable for all our needs as is. But neither do I believe we should stretch the meaning of Scripture to attempt to support a particular point of view.

 

[Mr Tom]

Okkk, just to clear this up - Revelations is obviously talking about THAT book and not the bible in general:

a) the bible is a 'library' and not a book
b) (most obviously) the bible was put together AFTER revelations was written, so the writer (possibly Paul) would not have known that the 'bible' was going to be created!

 

[The Thadman]

You know what is interesting about the admonition in Deuteromony . . it iwas because of this that the Sadducees would not recognize anything written beyond the pentateuch, the first 5 books of the bible, as sacred scripture . . .

The did not recognize the rest of the writings found in your Old Testament.


This is the danger of taking something ultra literally and out of context . .


Peace in Him!

I think you may be thinking of the Samaritans, not the Saducees. The Samaritans rejected the Nevyim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings) portions of the Tanakh, only adhering to the Torah. As a result, they did not worship on Mt. Sinai.

The Sadducees accepted the entire Tanakh (but were a bit iffy about the Ketuvim), but what truly distinguished them from the Pharisees and Essenes was that they rejected the Oral Law, and did not accept the notion of a resurrection. (If I remember correctly)

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[thereselittleflower]

I think you may be thinking of the Samaritans, not the Saducees. The Samaritans rejected the Nevyim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings) portions of the Tanakh, only adhering to the Torah. As a result, they did not worship on Mt. Sinai.

The Sadducees accepted the entire Tanakh (but were a bit iffy about the Ketuvim), but what truly distinguished them from the Pharisees and Essenes was that they rejected the Oral Law, and did not accept the notion of a resurrection. (If I remember correctly)

Peace!
-Steve-o

Hi Steve

Perhaps you can give more info on this as my sources have all stated that the Sadducees only used the Pentateuch . .

Thanks


Peace to all!

 

[Patristic]

Perhaps you can give more info on this as my sources have all stated that the Sadducees only used the Pentateuch .

Yes, the Sadducees only considered the Penteteuch inspired Scripture. That's why they denied the existence of the resurrection of the dead because that teaching isn't found in the first 5 books of the Torah.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Steve, here is one source

Sadducees

Doctrines The Sadducees were members of the aristocratic elite of Jewish society in the Second Temple Period, including both priests and lay noblemen. They sought to keep Judaism free from hellenistic innovations by rejecting as uncanonical all scripture apart from the Torah (Pentateuch), and denying such beliefs as the resurrection of the dead, belief in angels and demons, and a doctrine of divine predestination. They maintained the elaborate sacrificial system in Jerusalem and strictly controlled access to the Temple.

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/judaism/sadduc.html


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Peace to all!

 

[The Thadman]

Steve, here is one source

Sadducees

Doctrines The Sadducees were members of the aristocratic elite of Jewish society in the Second Temple Period, including both priests and lay noblemen. They sought to keep Judaism free from hellenistic innovations by rejecting as uncanonical all scripture apart from the Torah (Pentateuch), and denying such beliefs as the resurrection of the dead, belief in angels and demons, and a doctrine of divine predestination. They maintained the elaborate sacrificial system in Jerusalem and strictly controlled access to the Temple.

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/judaism/sadduc.html

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Peace to all!

I appear to be in error about the Saducees. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[Ave Maria]

I believe that the Holy Bible is God's inspired and infallible Word. It is our only guide in faith in Jesus Christ. We don't need outside traditions.