My shopping cart
Your cart is currently empty.
Continue ShoppingThere is No Additional Scripture After the Bible
The book, Gospel Questions, Gospel Answers by David Ridges is such an amazing an resource for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With 100 hard questions with 100 answers, you don't want to miss out on this amazing book. Here is one of those questions, along with the answer given:
QUESTION: How can we respond to Christians who claim that, according to Revelation 22:18–19, there is to be no additional scripture after the Bible?
ANSWER: The Bible, itself, gives the answer.
Many missionaries and other members of the Church have been confronted by the argument that the Book of Mormon and other LDS scriptures that are in addition to the Bible violate the commandment of God by adding to the Bible.
Often Christian ministers provide lay members of their congregations with Revelation 22:18–19 as “ammunition” against Mormons, especially Mormon missionaries.
Revelation 22:18–19
18: 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:
19: 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.
Preferably, in a kind and non-confrontational way, invite them to turn to their Old Testament where they will find a statement similar to that in Revelation 22:18–19 right there in the book of Deuteronomy!
Deuteronomy 4:1–2
1: NOW therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments [the word of the Lord, in other words their scriptures, given up to that time through their prophets up to and including Moses], which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
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.
If we were to adhere strictly to a misunderstanding of what the Lord says here, we would be obligated to do away with the rest of the Bible from that verse on!
But, the correct interpretation of what is being said here, as well as in Revelation 22:18–19, is obviously that we should not weaken, discount, selectively cut out portions, or otherwise distort and intentionally change God’s word in order to meet our own desires, that of our congregations, or others.
It may also help them to understand that, according to Bible scholars, the Book of Revelation is not the last book written in the New Testament. When the Apostle John penned the book of Revelation, it was not the last book of the Bible. (“Common Questions about the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, October 2011, p. 78)
Thus, the warnings in verses 18 and 19 of Revelation, chapter 22, could not be properly interpreted to mean that there should be no more scripture.
Nathan Figueira
Mar 03, 2020
I have had this question posed to me many times, I have used the biblical scriptures mentioned in this article and used the biblical scholars when they mentioned the putting together of the bible.
Mark Lichtenwalter
Mar 03, 2020
It says Man shall not
Add to the words of This Prophecy which is referring to the revelation of Jesus given to John. Not to all future revelation. Man should never write scripture but God can give more if he chooses. It doesn’t say God won’t add words but g scripture.
Sherwin
Mar 03, 2020
Those verses refer to the book of revelation, “this prophecy”. Also, it says man cannot add or take away it does not mean God cannot add to it.