06-The Bible's Completeness
THE BIBLE’S COMPLETENESS
CHAPTER SIX
Dr. R.A. Torrey, in an article entitled, “Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God,” refers to a brilliant Unitarian who said, “How irreligious to charge an infinite God with having written His whole Word in so small a book.” He gave this well-chosen reply: “He does not see how his argument can be turned against himself. What a testimony it is to the divinity of this Book that such infinite wisdom is stored away in so small a compass.”
Really, when we sit down to quietly consider that the sixty-six Books present a perfect revelation of the Eternal God to man, it fills the soul with wonderment and worship. It seems almost impossible, but with God all things are possible. THE APOCRYPHA REJECTED The Apocrypha has been included in the Douay Version by the Roman Catholic Church. This portion gives the history of the interval of time between the books written by Malachi and Matthew. It covers some four hundred years.
However, the Apocrypha does not claim inspiration; indeed, some writers unequivocally disclaim this. And the fact that some doctrines propagated in it are contrary to the plainly revealed doctrines of other portions of God-given Scripture is sufficient to disprove any semblance of inspiration.
Consider a few important factors. The Old Testament we have today is identical with that used by Jesus our Lord. It is not without significance that He never once referred to the Apocrypha. Always did He quote from the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets.
Josephus, the noted historian, has something informative to relate. He says, about the Old Testament Scriptures, “No one has dared either to add anything to them, or to take anything from them, or to alter anything. All Jews regard them as the teachings of God, and abide by them, and would gladly die for them.” No orthodox Jew accepts the Apocrypha as inspired.
Finally, we search in vain for any mention made by the Apostles or members of the early church as to the incorporation of the Apocrypha in the Sacred Writings. It was the Church of Rome which considered it inspired and gave it a place in the Bible at the Council of Trent.
All orthodox scholarship rejects the Apocrypha as part of God’s Word. At the same time, it accepts without reservation the entire sixty-six books as making complete the Holy Book.
GOD’S PROPERTY In a very realistic sense the Bible is the property of the Eternal God. On this account He guards it jealously. He will not allow anyone to tamper with it in any shape or form. Woe betide the one who does so! Better for that one had he never been born. Said the Lord to both Moses and John:
“Ye shall not add unto the Word that I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandment of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deu 4:2)
“If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev 22:18-19).
Eve was the first transgressor. She added to, and took from, the spoken Word of God. To the Tempter, Satan, she said: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Gen 3:2-3).
Actually, God had said nothing about touching the tree. That was Eve’s addition. Furthermore, He said not, “Lest ye die,” but, “Ye shall surely die.” That was her subtraction. The divine sentence was carried out. THE PEN-KNIFE INCIDENT
Jeremiah recounts a very revealing incident. He tells of Jehoiakim, King of Judah, sitting in his winter house, before a fire, and having read to him by Jehudi the words of God.
When he heard them he was displeased, and with his pen-knife cut out the leaves, and burned the portion in the fire. The act was committed in the face of vehement protest.
Then spake the Lord God unto Jeremiah saying:
“Thou shalt say to Jehoiakim, king of Judah, thus saith the Lord: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, the king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence both man and beast? Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim, king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost” (Jer 36:30-31).
And it was so!
How grave though grand are the words of Sir Walter Scott!
“Within this sacred volume lies The mystery of mysteries.
Happiest they of human race, To whom God has granted grace, To read, to fear, to hope, to pray, To lift the latch, and force the way. And better had they ne’er been born Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.” THE PERFECTION OF THE BOOK To give some idea as to the perfection, or completeness, of the Book allow me the pleasure and privilege of quoting five well-known verses, and then of turning them over to that able Bible expositor, Dr. A.T. Pierson, for his unexcelled comment. I will give them in the order treated.
(1) “And this word, ’Yet once more’ signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Heb 12:27).
(2) “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal 4:19).
(3) “Jesus said unto them, ’Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am’” (John 8:58).
(4) “Jesus answered them, ’Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods? If He called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” (John 10:34-36).
(5) “Now to Abraham and his see were the promises made. He saith not, ’And to seeds,’ as of many; but as of one, ’And to thy seed,’ which is Christ” (Gal 3:16).
Dr. A.T. Pierson states:
“If these passages are examined it will be seen that:
“In the first instance the argument turns on one phrase ’yet once more.’
“In the second, on the passive voice rather than on the active voice of the verb.
“In the third, on the present rather than on the past tense.
“In the fourth, on the inviolability of a single word;
“In the fifth, on the retention of a singular number of a noun, rather than the plural.
“Taking the five passages together, they teach us that, to alter or omit a phrase, change the voice or mood or tense, change a single word or even the number of a noun, is to break the Scriptures.”
Beloved, the miracle of this Books’ completeness is definite. We cannot escape it. It meets us everywhere. Listen to the Psalmist as he defines it in his own sublime language.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psa 19:7-9).
VARIETY OF CONTENTS
Such completeness is here that it would be difficult to name the subject omitted within its pages. As Dr. Joseph Parker writes:
“What a Book is the Bible in the mere matter of variety of contents! Everything seems to be in it . . . poem, narrative, intelligence, judgment, battle, prayer, song, anathema, and benediction.”
“It might be added that it deals with themes moral, philosophical, astronomical, biological, ethical, legal, dramatic, prophetic, historic, poetic, and romantic.
“Continuing this line of thought I am reminded of an unknown writer’s contribution which is very comprehensive. He says, in the Bible we read of the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, and the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
“Its doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
“Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
“It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
“It is the traveler’s map; the pilgrim’s staff; the pilot’s compass; the soldier’s sword; and the Christian’s charter.
“Here heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed.
“Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
“It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
“Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
“It is a mine of wealth, health to the soul, and a river of pleasure.
“It is given to you here in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and will be established forever.
“It involves the highest responsibility, and will reward the greatest labor, and condemn all who trifle with its contents.”
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE BOOK
These things considered enable us to appreciate that the Bible is an up-to-the-minute Book. It covers, not only the past history of God’s dealings with men, or the future scheme for the nations, but also the present.
As Dr. W. Graham Scroggie puts it in his own inimitable way:
“The Bible is a very ancient Book. Its last chapters were written over eighteen hundred years ago, and its first chapters were written over thirty-five hundred years ago! But it is difficult to believe it because the Bible is so modern. The ink might scarcely be dry on the page. There are millions of books of recent data which are already out of date, but this old Book is the most modern of all.”
Despite these incontrovertible truths, many so-called religious gurus deny the Book. They have taken the inspiration out of the Bible, the fire out of Hell, the gold out of Heaven, the blood out of the atonement, and God out of Christ. They have laboured hard to rob us of our priceless heritage. Every nerve has been strained, every opportunity has been seized, and every new theory, such as evolution, has been propagated, with one well-defined purpose before them of undermining the faith once for all delivered to the saints. But we can assure them that they have greatly erred, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. They have very definitely under-rated the devotion saints have to Christ, and their grim determination to die rather than deny the Book. THE MODERNIST
I heard of a modern minister who paid a visit to one of the sick members of his Church. After discussing some general topics, the minister asked for the Bible. When it was handed to him, he noticed that it was badly torn, and when he tried to find the portion to read, discovered it was not there. Looking over the pages casually he perceived also that it was all scored and pencil-marked. His curiosity got the better of him. He asked if there was some reason for the Bible’s being in this condition. The sick member gave the reply, “Yes, Reverend,” said he; “it is quite a story. Ever since you became our Pastor I have cut out, or put a question-mark back of, or actually put the pencil-mark through, every part in the Bible you said was not inspired, or that was a questionable, or that should not be there. That is the result you have in your hands. And it strikes me, Pastor, that if I had not taken ill, or if you continue here much longer, I will not have any Bible left at all.” The noted Evangelist, Dr. R.A. Torrey, once said,
“Robert Ingersoll was not the most dangerous enemy of the Bible. There were more dangerous enemies of the Bible even during his lifetime than he himself was, and there are far more dangerous enemies of the Bible than he today.
“They claim, in some sense, to believe in the Bible, but all the while they claim to believe in it they are seeking, consciously or unconsciously, to undermine the faith of others in the absolute inerrancy and authority of the Bible.
“The most dangerous enemies of the Bible today are those college professors and principals of high schools, and even theological professors, who, while they claim to establish faith upon a broader and therefore better basis, are all the time attempting to show that the bible is full of errors and not in accord with the assured results of modern science and history. These enemies are legion; they are found practically everywhere, many of them able men, and they have formed a skillfully planned campaign against the Bible. Nevertheless, the Bible stands in no danger.” THE BIBLE SPEAKS
How could the Bible stand in any danger? Have you heard what the Bible says about itself?
“I am the recorder of the gate. I speak every language under the sun, and enter every corner of the earth. I bring information, inspiration, and recreation to all mankind. I am an enemy of ignorance and slavery, the ally of enlightenment and liberty. I treat all persons alike, regardless of race, colour, creed or condition. I have power to stretch man’s vision, to deepen his feelings, and enrich his life. I am a true friend, a wise counsellor, a faithful guide. I am a silent as gravitation, pliant and powerful as the electric currents, and enduring as the everlasting hills. I am the Bible.”
Enough! The completeness of the Book is assured.
It contains what we need.
- It points us, as sinner, to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.
- It makes plain that “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”
- It emphasizes that faith in Him is the one thing needful:
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”
Therefore, exercising simple faith in the Son, we experience sin put away and ourselves made suitable for the presence of uncreated Deity.