Why does God forbid adding to Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19), yet Christianity later included new books in the New Testament? Why Does God Forbid Adding to Scripture, Yet Christianity Later Included New Books in the New Testament? Below is a comprehensive entry examining this question through historical, textual, and theological perspectives. All biblical quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible. 1. The Command in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18–19 Deuteronomy 4:2 reads: “Do not add to the word that I command you nor subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.” Revelation 22:18–19 states: “I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” At face value, these passages clearly forbid altering God’s revealed Word. The concern for preserving its integrity spans the entire biblical narrative. However, questions arise about how the early church later recognized additional Spirit-inspired writings—the New Testament canon—without violating this command. 2. The Nature of the Prohibition 1. Guarding Divine Truth The immediate purpose of the prohibition is to protect the revelation given at a specific time. In Deuteronomy 4, Moses teaches Israel to guard faithfully the covenantal instructions. In Revelation 22, John emphasizes the unique, divinely given visions of his prophecy. 2. Preservation vs. Future Revelation The language of both passages warns against tampering with what God has established. At the same time, the broader pattern of Scripture shows that God revealed Himself progressively throughout history. In the Hebrew Scriptures, prophets and writers continued to bring God’s Word even after Moses (e.g., Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah). 3. Progressive Revelation in Scripture 1. Old Testament Examples In Deuteronomy 4:2, the admonition was specifically given to ancient Israel under Moses. Yet after Moses, God spoke through later prophets without contradicting the earlier command. These prophetic books, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, became part of the recognized Scripture for the Jewish people. They did not violate the prohibition because they were confirmed by God through miracles and fulfilled prophecy (for instance, Elijah’s miraculous ministry in 1 Kings 18, or Isaiah’s predictions verified in historical annals and later events). 2. Prophecies of a New Covenant The Old Testament itself repeatedly points toward a future, further revelation in the Messiah (e.g., Jeremiah 31:31–34). Jesus later established a New Covenant (Luke 22:20), prompting new Spirit-inspired writings that recorded His life and the teaching of His commissioned apostles. 4. The Formation of the New Testament Canon 1. Christ’s Authorization of the Apostles Jesus commissioned the apostles to teach all that He had commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all truth” (John 16:13). Early church leaders understood that these apostolic writings held divine authority because they captured the teaching and works of Christ and His authorized witnesses. 2. Evidence from Early Christian Writings By the end of the first century and into the second, church communities were already recognizing specific writings as the “words of the Lord” or “Scripture.” For instance, 2 Peter 3:15–16 refers to Paul’s letters as carrying scriptural authority, placing them on par with “the rest of the Scriptures.” Early church fathers, such as Clement of Rome (c. AD 95) and Ignatius of Antioch (c. AD 110), cited the apostolic writings with a reverence similar to the Old Testament. 3. Councils and Widespread Agreement Later councils (e.g., Council of Hippo in AD 393, Council of Carthage in AD 397) recognized the 27 New Testament books. They did not add anything novel to Scripture; rather, they acknowledged the writings that had already been functioning authoritatively in churches across geographic regions for generations. 4. Not an Addition but a Fulfillment These 27 books were never viewed by the early church as “additional revelation” contradicting the Old Testament or Revelation’s warning. Instead, they were seen as the proper extension and fulfillment of earlier revelation (Hebrews 1:1–2), preserving the teachings and historical realities of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, death, and resurrection. 5. Context of Deuteronomy’s and Revelation’s Warnings 1. Immediate Literary Context Revelation 22:18–19 specifically addresses the prophecy in the Book of Revelation: no one should alter its words. Historically, certain Gnostic sects tried to insert or remove teachings to align Scripture with their own doctrines. The warning imposed a grievous penalty for altering the God-breathed message. 2. Consistency with Scriptural Progression The principle remains that believers must not tamper with God’s Word. However, this does not exclude further revelation that God, in His timing, grants. It merely ensures that once God’s Word has been revealed and confirmed, humans must preserve it faithfully. 3. Parallel in Deuteronomy 12:32 Moses repeats the same warning in Deuteronomy 12:32. Yet we see that the prophets (e.g., Samuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel) continued to write Scripture after Moses. They were recognized, not as “additions” contravening the law, but as further divine self-disclosure consistent with the overall redemptive storyline. 6. Criteria for Recognizing Canonical Writings 1. Apostolic Origin or Endorsement The early church carefully discerned which texts had genuine apostolic authority. Books such as the Gospels of Matthew and John, and letters attributed to Paul and Peter, held clear ties to men who saw and heard Jesus directly. 2. Doctrinal Harmony Each book had to conform with known apostolic teaching and the established truths of the Old Testament. No canonically recognized book presented a contradiction to previously affirmed Scripture. 3. Universal Reception in the Early Church Widespread acceptance among geographically diverse Christian communities served as significant evidence. By the late second century, a core group of texts, known collectively as the “Memoirs of the Apostles,” had strong agreement across the churches (see references to the four canonical Gospels in Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III). 4. Spirit-Borne Confirmation Believers, filled with God’s Spirit, recognized the inherent, transforming power of these writings (2 Timothy 3:16–17). God’s providential guidance ensured those books that comprised the New Testament truly were His Word. 7. Rejection of Later Writings Claiming Divine Authority 1. Pseudepigraphal and Apocryphal Books Many later texts claimed to be inspired yet were deemed spurious or heretical by the early church due to their late composition, lack of apostolic endorsement, or doctrinal inconsistencies (e.g., the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Judas). 2. Distinguishing True from False The church exercised rigorous standards to test such writings (1 John 4:1). This aligns with the warning not to add or remove from God’s true revelation, ensuring the New Testament canon did not include teachings outside God’s Word. 8. Harmonizing the Commands with the Completion of Revelation 1. God’s Progressive Revelation Culminating in Christ God’s redemptive plan leads to and centers on Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The New Testament completes that revelation. For that reason, the entire canon (from Genesis to Revelation) forms a cohesive body of truth. 2. Finality of the Canon From a theological standpoint, Christ is the “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2), and in Him the Scriptures find their fulfillment. Once the apostolic writings were recognized, no further eyewitness or divinely commissioned testimony was needed. This finality aligns with the severe injunctions in Revelation 22:18–19. 3. Historical Confirmation Multiple archaeological findings and manuscript discoveries—from the Dead Sea Scrolls confirming the ancient nature of Old Testament texts, to early papyri showing the reliability of New Testament letters—have demonstrated the careful transmission of these texts. The evidence reveals the canon was not arbitrarily expanded but recognized in continuity with God’s ongoing revelation. 9. Conclusion God’s prohibition against adding to or subtracting from His Word safeguards divine truth from corruption. It does not halt the revelation God intends for His people throughout the covenants. The inspired Old Testament anticipated a future and greater revelation fulfilled in Christ. Jesus then authorized His apostles to convey His teachings, culminating in the New Testament writings that the early church embraced as consistent with, and the culmination of, all prior revelation. These commands in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18–19 remain a solemn caution: believers must never alter the truth God has delivered. Including the New Testament books was not a violation but a recognition that God had indeed provided authoritative revelation through Christ and His chosen witnesses, who faithfully recorded His words and deeds. Once that process concluded, the canon was sealed, in harmony with the warnings to preserve the immutable message of God. |
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