No Scriptures to be Added |
One of the most frequent charges made against the Mormons is that they "add" to the scriptures. The claim is made that the scriptures are closed with the Bible and that nothing should be added. In support of this belief, Revelations 22:18-19 is frequently cited:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, 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.
It just so happens that this verse falls in the last part of the Book of Revelations which is the last book in the New Testament. What is generally not known, however, is that the book of Revelation was not the last book written which is in our Bible. Many scholars believe that some of the Bible, especially 3 John for instance, was written after the book of Revelations. (See Robinson, 1991, 46.) Besides, the Bible was not compiled at the time John wrote his book. It was not until A.D. 367 that the present twenty-seven books of the current New Testament were identified as comprising the Christian canon. (Peterson and Ricks, 120.) It is also important to note that not every Christian leader accepted this canon. Other canons had also been suggested previous. Some included writings not contained in our New Testament, while other compilations excluded writings which were eventually included in our New Testament. John was concerned with the manipulation of his writings and warned against alterations. He was referring to his book, not the New Testament. In Deuteronomy 4:2 we read a similar passage:
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 commanded you.
Are we to conclude then that no scripture was to be added after Deuteronomy? If so, we would have a small Bible indeed. Evangelical Protestant, Craig L. Blomberg, agrees that "John's words at the end of Revelation refer to that book only." (Blomberg and Robinson, 39.) Besides, the warning is against "man" adding to the book, not God (which He surely could do by way of a prophet).
Another scripture often used by those who wish to confine God is 2 Timothy 3:16. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." The statement, "all scripture is given," is used to argue that there can be no more scripture besides the Bible. What Paul says , however, is that "all scripture is given by the inspiration of God," a statement with which Mormons agree. And even if Paul was claiming that "all scripture" had already been given, what does that do to the rest of the New Testament written after Paul?
Michael R. Ash