The destruction of the Scriptures, regarded as the divinely inspired Word of God, is a grave offense in the biblical narrative. Throughout the Bible, the Scriptures are portrayed as sacred and inviolable, and any attempt to destroy or alter them is met with severe consequences.

Biblical Instances and Warnings

1. Jehoiakim's Destruction of the Scroll: One of the most direct instances of the destruction of Scripture is found in the account of King Jehoiakim of Judah. In Jeremiah 36, the prophet Jeremiah dictates a scroll containing the words of the Lord, which is read to the king. In a blatant act of defiance, Jehoiakim cuts the scroll with a knife and throws it into the fire. The Lord's response is swift and severe: "Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body will be thrown out and exposed to heat by day and frost by night" (Jeremiah 36:30). This passage underscores the seriousness with which God views the destruction of His Word.

2. Warnings Against Altering Scripture: The Bible contains explicit warnings against adding to or taking away from the Scriptures. In Deuteronomy 4:2, Moses instructs the Israelites, "You shall not add to the word that I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you" . Similarly, Revelation 22:18-19 warns, "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" . These warnings highlight the sanctity of the Scriptures and the divine protection over their integrity.

3. Historical Attempts and Divine Retribution: Throughout history, there have been numerous attempts to destroy the Scriptures, often by oppressive regimes or individuals seeking to suppress the truth of God's Word. The Bible suggests that such attempts are ultimately futile and subject to divine retribution. Isaiah 40:8 declares, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever" , emphasizing the enduring nature of God's Word despite human efforts to destroy it.

4. The Role of the Scriptures in Judgment: The Scriptures themselves are portrayed as a standard by which individuals and nations are judged. In John 12:48, Jesus states, "There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day" . This underscores the authority of the Scriptures and the consequences of rejecting or attempting to destroy them.

Theological Implications

The destruction of the Scriptures is not merely an attack on a physical document but an affront to the authority and revelation of God. The Bible consistently affirms that God's Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and any attempt to undermine it is met with divine judgment. The Scriptures are central to the faith and practice of believers, serving as the foundation for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

In summary, the destruction of the Scriptures is a serious offense with profound spiritual and moral implications. The Bible provides clear examples and warnings that underscore the sacredness of God's Word and the consequences of attempting to destroy or alter it.Jeremiah 36:29-31
And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus said the LORD; You have burned this roll, saying, Why have you written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from there man and beast?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... religion which is delivered in the Scriptures, and which ... that God, in past ages,
punished the ingratitude ... errors and darkness, he saved them from destruction. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked ... the wicked, and being
so lately punished for it ... what can we expect but utter destruction, and that ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... would only rebel against the Romans to their destruction. ... worthy of freedom, He would
have punished the Romans ... blockhead if he knew only the Scriptures and not ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ix the destruction of.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... is not this unreasonable and contrary to the Scriptures? ... violence," he entered into
judgment, and punished the sin of the world, in the destruction of its ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... notions, and spiritual wickedness (which drown it in perdition and destruction)
that doth ... its new gospel; shewing the soul a new Christ, and new scriptures. ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

Five Fears
... would be to him the prelude of destruction; he dreads ... Word, by the reading of the
Scriptures, by prayer ... have always believed that Christ was punished instead of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/five fears.htm

The Third Wall.
... would suffer, if he were not punished by a ... at once overthrown by a text from the
Scriptures. ... authority for edification and not for destruction." (2 Corinthians ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/the third wall.htm

Church History
... decreeing that we should not be punished without a ... Chapter XXV.--His Review of the
Canonical Scriptures. ... which of them survived until the Destruction of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/

Relation of the Baptist to Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration
... Apostles, nor anywhere set forth in the Scriptures; for it ... sinners at the time of
the destruction of the ... still sinning, either they will be punished after this ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/1 relation of the baptist.htm

The Great Assize
... the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the ... Time would fail me to refer you to all the Scriptures. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the great assize.htm

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