Is the Bible Sufficient?
by Dave Brown
In one of our articles on Bible study principles we talked about the need for a comprehensive approach. We have tried to make the answer to the question above as comprehensive as we could by scanning through the New Testament and picking out the verses that relate to this question. So that there is no doubt, the answer to the above question is a very definitive YES, as the passages below will show. We do not apologize for the length of this article since about 80% of it is copied in passages -- we know you would much prefer to see them here than to have to look them all up.
The subject of Bible sufficiency is critical to our faith. Most people who believe that Jesus was sent into this world by God have some belief in the Bible. They must, since there is absolutely no book (or body of literature) other than the Bible that can be the source of such a belief. Countless books have been written, but there is no authoritative source for knowledge about Jesus other than the Bible.
Bible sufficiency is very important since many religious groups believe in a continuing revelation, or that there are other books that are comparable to the Bible in their spiritual value. If the Bible is sufficient, then no other source of spiritual information is needed. If any of these purported sources contradict the Bible, which should you believe? When we speak of the Bible we are referring to that canon that has been generally accepted as God's word. Jesus used the generally accepted canon and translation of his time, providing us with an example in this regard. It is unreasonable to think that God expects us all to be able to go back and reconstruct and evaluate all of the history behind the canonization process. It is often argued that the Roman Catholic church was responsible for this, and while we do not dispute that it was their hierarchy that accomplished the process, this was a working of God in keeping his promises that his word would never pass away (see the comments on Matthew 5 and Matthew 24 below). If you have concern about translation and versions, please see the recent article on this subject.
There has not been any generally recognized additions to the Bible since it was compiled. Clearly some have added entire books and claimed that they were the word of God (e.g., Mormons and Muslims). Others, such as Jehovah's Witnesses have altered the text in certain passages to support their false doctrines. But these types of modifications are easily traceable to their sources. Copies of the ancient Greek manuscripts are available (on line, and in published interlinear documents) and they can be consulted to verify or invalidate any added or modified passage in our current translations. Finally, there are some who have added major comments between verses in order to sway the thinking of their readers. The Roman Catholic Douay-Rheims version is an example of such an attempt, as is the Scofield Reference Bible. While the attempt to control thought through the use of inserted commentary is obviously not the inspired word of God, we warn readers of any Bible commentary (including the commentaries on this web site) to read the text directly from the Bible first and do your best to form your own image of the meaning before consulting any commentary. If you read the commentary first your mind will be skewed toward that interpretation.
We know of no doctrinal issue that has ever been caused by a variation in any legitimate scholarly translation. For this reason, we believe that the truth can be obtained from any scholarly translation. By scholarly translations we mean those done by teams of translators who were trying to be as accurate and true to the original as possible, and not trying to validate any assumed existing set of doctrines. Translations done by a single person (which are usually paraphrases) and those done by a particular religious institution should be highly suspect. God has established redundancy within His word to such an extent that it is difficult to introduce significant errors without it being quite obvious to the objective reader.
We appeal to those who have any belief in the validity of the Bible at all -- you must accept the fact that the Bible is sufficient if, in fact, it proclaims itself to be. Does it tell of other sources of truth that we are to listen to in this day and age? Does it give any indication that it must be supplemented by church traditions, conferences or other legislative bodies? As you study the following passages, see if it does not become clear to you, that to learn 100% of God's truth, we need to go no further than the book for which more copies have been produced and more translations made than any other book for all times.
Some of the verses below will show that all truth was revealed in the first century. Other passages will show the capability of the written word of God (i.e., scripture) to communicate these truths to us today. Collectively, they produce a preponderance of scriptural evidence that our Bible today is sufficient to guide us into all truth. These words of salvation were written down for us in the New Testament. Do not allow anyone to deny you of your salvation by putting doubt in your mind that these words cannot lead you to salvation, and therefore that you need something else. The Bible is the word of God, and it is sufficient to save you if you will allow it to do so.
We will limit our comments; they are found below in brackets []. Certain words in the scriptural references will be highlighted in bold -- this emphasis obviously is not in the Bible itself, and it is only done here to direct attention to the subject at hand.
Matthew 5: 17-18
17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
[Now we might ask, where are these jots and tittles except in the Bible?]
Matthew 24:34-35
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
[Again, where are the words of Jesus to be found? There is no other book that contains them but the Bible. Documents that quote Jesus or the apostles must reference the Bible, since there is no other source of their words. These words do not exist in any history book or any other writing of man that is independent of the Bible.]
Luke 16:24-31
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime you received good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.
27 And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.
[This is the story of Lazarus and the rich man as told by Jesus. Of interest here are verses 29-31. How could they hear Moses and the prophets except it be by means of the written word (in this case the Old Testament)? Here Abraham is quoted as speaking from the Hadean world across the gulf that was fixed between Abraham's bosom and a an existence of anguish. Abraham tells the rich man that the written word of God is sufficient to save his five living brothers. What applied to the Old Testament at that time most certainly would apply to the combination of both covenants today -- this is an argument from the lesser to the greater.]
John 16:7-14
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, (these) shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare (it) unto you.
[Jesus could have determined to be with us physically to this day. But He said that this was not expedient -- what was done was the most expedient thing for our salvation. (Can you imagine the total chaos that would surround Jesus had he decided to stay on earth?) Instead, he sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles, who he was talking to in this context. Note from verse 13 that the Holy Spirit would guide them (the apostles) into all the truth. Everything that they needed, and everything that we need was revealed in the first century, and there is only one place where that truth can be found today.]
John 20:30-31
30 Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.
[Do we need all of those other signs (miracles)? John did not think so. He stated that what he wrote down was sufficient for any reader to gain the faith that we need to be saved. If John's writings alone were sufficient for this purpose, how much more when you add the inspired writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, James and Jude?]
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
[Again, Jesus is speaking to the apostles right before his ascension into heaven -- the Holy Spirit would provide all that they would need to be his witnesses throughout the earth. The entire book of Acts shows that those words saved countless people in the first century. The same words (the gospel) can save us today.]
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[But where is this gospel (good news)? Is it only in the mind of some chosen man? or some organized group of men? or is it written down for us to study and learn from the Bible? All men everywhere for all time have the saving power of God available to them. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).]
Romans 6:17-18
17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
[If that "form of teaching" could make the Roman Christians free from sin, why could it not do the same thing for us today? But where is that form of teaching that was delivered to them? It was written down for us in the Bible.]
1 Corinthians 4:6
6 Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.
[Did Paul think that the things that were written were sufficient? What was he warning them against? Are we on solid ground today when we go beyond the things that are written and just do whatever we want? Some limit this application to only those things that Paul had written to them in First Corinthians to that point. Some versions read "... learn not (to think) ((of men)) above the things which are written ..." First both "to go" and "to think" were inserted by the translators in their attempt to help us understand the verse. Read the verse without the "(to go)" in it and see that this results in no change in the meaning at all. In fact, it tends to strengthen it. Some translate "beyond" as "above" -- we see no difference there at all. Finally, the "((of men))" is not in either of the major accepted Greek manuscripts, and we feel that this restriction is totally unjustified, and so we placed it in double parentheses. But even if we accept all of the translators' insertions, it still does not change the fact that it was the written word that conveyed to them the righteousness of God that they were to live by, and that is all that is needed for this verse to add to the evidence for Bible sufficiency.]
1 Corinthians 14:37
37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
[Were Paul's writings sufficient to enable them to know and understand the commands of God? If they had that capability then, why would we not have it now?]
2 Corinthians 11:3
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.
[Is the word of God so difficult that the average person cannot read and understand it? In fact, one does not have to even be of average intelligence. Many who are below average intelligence have a better understanding of the truth than the scholars who are technically more intelligent. Understanding is far more a matter of desire and subjection of oneself than it is of intellectual ability. Here Paul says, do not be deceived, it is not that difficult, it is simple. You can understand it. Do not be corrupted from it.]
Galatians 1:8-9
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.
[So, is the gospel going to be changing year after year where we need a new revelation of it to enlighten us? Do religious leaders have a right to change the revelation? Or was it once for all delivered, and any change in it will bring about a curse on the person who makes that change? See the last few scripture references below for the Bible answers to this last question.]
Ephesians 3:3-4
2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,
4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
[Does Paul say that by reading they could have the same understanding that he had? Do we need a better understanding than Paul? Do we need some priesthood to interpret it for us?]
Ephesians 4:11-16 (Comparable to 1 Corinthians 13)
11 And he gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, (even) Christ;
16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in (due) measure of each several part, makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.
[Perfecting means progressing toward full growth. While we may never be perfect (without flaw) as individuals, the word of God is perfect, and it provides all that we need to advance toward perfection. These special gifts in the first century spoken of in verse 11 and 12 were temporary -- "til" when? Until they could attain the the unity of the faith, etc. If they had that capacity with what was revealed to them at that time, why would we not have it written down for us today? It is understandable that those who have never experienced the "unity of the faith" in a local church should question whether it can ever be attained before Jesus comes again. However, the characteristics described in verse 14 are something that Paul expected to see in them back in the first century. Paul did not expect instability in them -- he expected them to behave as in verses 15 and 16.]
Philippians 2:12-16
12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings:
15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,
16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.
[How were they to "work out" their own salvation? Was it not with the words that Paul sent to them? What words were they to hold forth (verse 16)? Is it not clear that they had revealed to them everything that they needed to be saved?]
Philippians 4:9
9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
[The things that Paul is talking about here are the same things that he wrote down for them so that they would not forget them in the future.]
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.
17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
[The objection often made to this statement of the sufficiency of the scriptures is that Paul had to be talking about the Old Testament, since the New Testament had not yet been assembled. We agree, but this can hardly be an objection. Surely if the Old Testament scriptures had this capability, then when augmented by the New Testament they would have an even greater capability. Again, the argument is from the lesser to the greater, a type of argument that is often found in the New Testament. The New Testament applies to us today.]
Hebrews 2:2-4
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
[What is he telling them not to neglect? "...so great a salvation." How did they receive this salvation? The answer is in verse 3: it was first spoken through the Lord. Later it was confirmed by the miraculous spiritual gifts that were given through the apostles (the apostles were "them that heard" the Lord). But is he imploring them to appeal to more miraculous revelations? or some church catechism? No! He is appealing them not to neglect that which had already been delivered to them. Where can we find that today?]
Hebrews 5:9
8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
[How can we obey Jesus today if we do not know his will for us? Is it not necessarily implied that his commands were available to these people, and thus to us today?]
James 1:25
25 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the (law) of liberty, and (so) continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
[How does one "look into the perfect law of liberty" today? Is this something that is just resident with a few church leaders? Hopefully not, because the blessings spoken of by James only come to the individuals who look into this law for themselves. It does not say that some priest is to look into this perfect law of liberty for you, or that you are to trust any other man to learn it for you. We can all do what James is instructing by opening our Bibles and studying them for ourselves.]
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that (should come) unto you:
11 searching what (time) or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
12 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
[How were these things announced to the people Peter was writing to? See verse 12: "announced to you through them that preached the gospel unto you ..." It was announced through their preaching, which words are written down for us today.]
1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time (is come) for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if (it begin) first at us, what (shall be) the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?
[What is the gospel of God? Well, among other characteristics that it has, It is something that can be obeyed! It is something that can be written down. But those writings do us no good until they are read, understood, believed and become part of our hearts and our souls unto obedience.]
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
[Did the divine power deliver all things to them in the first century? Did Jesus give his promise to preserve those things for us? Are you going to trust someone else to tell you what the gospel is, or are you going to read it from the Bible yourself?]
2 Peter 3:1-2
1 This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;
2 that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Savior through your apostles:
[Is Peter presenting anything new at this point? Do we need anything today that was not revealed then? Did they already have everything that they needed? So what was Peter doing? -- see verse 2 -- he was trying to get them to remember those things, and he is writing to refresh their memory. When we read the New Testament again, what are we reminded of?]
2 Peter 3:14-16
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
16 as also in all (his) epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as (they do) also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
[Does Peter place Paul's writings in the same classification of scripture (inspired writings) as the Old Testament prophets? Is Peter making this statement, or does it appear he expected his readers to already understand that Paul's writings had the status of "scripture" (the understood Jewish word for "inspired writings").]
1 John 2:24
24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.
[Did John tell them to look for further revelations?]
1 John 5:3
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
[Does John seem to take it for granted that the readers (we) can know what the commandments of God are?]
2 John 9
9 Whosoever goes onward and abides not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abides in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
[What is the teaching of Christ? If it is not written down, where would it be? How could we get access to it? How could we be sure that some preachers are not trying to get us to go beyond the teachings of Christ? How could we possibly heed this warning?]
Jude 3
3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.
[What was delivered once and for all to the saints? "The faith" here is spoken of as the body of knowledge that is to be believed. Would more revelation be required if all they needed was already delivered to them?]
Revelation 1:3
3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
[Did John act like they were going to need additional revelation to that which was already revealed to them? The book of Revelation is either the last book of the Bible written or nearly concurrent with the last book written.]
Revelation 22:18-19
18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which 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 from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
[The objection to this passage is that it is only talking about the book of Revelation. Well, for sure it IS talking about the book of Revelation, but is that all that this warning applies to? If this were only talking about Revelation, would it then be permissible for us to add to and take away from, for example, the book of Romans? That seems to be the conclusion that the critics want to draw. Would anyone contend for such a thing? No, what applies to the book of Revelation certainly applies to the entire revealed word of God. God has preserved it and has not allowed it in any generally public way to be added to or taken away from. The exception being certain organized religious groups, like the Mormons or the Jehovah's Witnesses, whose attempts at both adding to and taking away from the Bible are clearly seen to be obvious frauds and clear violations of Revelation 22:18-19. So their vain, and often absurd, attempts further demonstrate that these modifications are not of God, and thus clearly sinful.]
If you believe the words of the scriptural passages given above, you cannot help but believe that the Bible is totally sufficient for all of your spiritual needs today. But we are convinced that these verses are not half of those that could be cited. If you can think of any that we should include, please contact us.
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?
The subject of Bible sufficiency is critical to our faith. Most people who believe that Jesus was sent into this world by God have some belief in the Bible. They must, since there is absolutely no book (or body of literature) other than the Bible that can be the source of such a belief. Countless books have been written, but there is no authoritative source for knowledge about Jesus other than the Bible.
Bible sufficiency is very important since many religious groups believe in a continuing revelation, or that there are other books that are comparable to the Bible in their spiritual value. If the Bible is sufficient, then no other source of spiritual information is needed. If any of these purported sources contradict the Bible, which should you believe? When we speak of the Bible we are referring to that canon that has been generally accepted as God's word. Jesus used the generally accepted canon and translation of his time, providing us with an example in this regard. It is unreasonable to think that God expects us all to be able to go back and reconstruct and evaluate all of the history behind the canonization process. It is often argued that the Roman Catholic church was responsible for this, and while we do not dispute that it was their hierarchy that accomplished the process, this was a working of God in keeping his promises that his word would never pass away (see the comments on Matthew 5 and Matthew 24 below). If you have concern about translation and versions, please see the recent article on this subject.
There has not been any generally recognized additions to the Bible since it was compiled. Clearly some have added entire books and claimed that they were the word of God (e.g., Mormons and Muslims). Others, such as Jehovah's Witnesses have altered the text in certain passages to support their false doctrines. But these types of modifications are easily traceable to their sources. Copies of the ancient Greek manuscripts are available (on line, and in published interlinear documents) and they can be consulted to verify or invalidate any added or modified passage in our current translations. Finally, there are some who have added major comments between verses in order to sway the thinking of their readers. The Roman Catholic Douay-Rheims version is an example of such an attempt, as is the Scofield Reference Bible. While the attempt to control thought through the use of inserted commentary is obviously not the inspired word of God, we warn readers of any Bible commentary (including the commentaries on this web site) to read the text directly from the Bible first and do your best to form your own image of the meaning before consulting any commentary. If you read the commentary first your mind will be skewed toward that interpretation.
We know of no doctrinal issue that has ever been caused by a variation in any legitimate scholarly translation. For this reason, we believe that the truth can be obtained from any scholarly translation. By scholarly translations we mean those done by teams of translators who were trying to be as accurate and true to the original as possible, and not trying to validate any assumed existing set of doctrines. Translations done by a single person (which are usually paraphrases) and those done by a particular religious institution should be highly suspect. God has established redundancy within His word to such an extent that it is difficult to introduce significant errors without it being quite obvious to the objective reader.
We appeal to those who have any belief in the validity of the Bible at all -- you must accept the fact that the Bible is sufficient if, in fact, it proclaims itself to be. Does it tell of other sources of truth that we are to listen to in this day and age? Does it give any indication that it must be supplemented by church traditions, conferences or other legislative bodies? As you study the following passages, see if it does not become clear to you, that to learn 100% of God's truth, we need to go no further than the book for which more copies have been produced and more translations made than any other book for all times.
Some of the verses below will show that all truth was revealed in the first century. Other passages will show the capability of the written word of God (i.e., scripture) to communicate these truths to us today. Collectively, they produce a preponderance of scriptural evidence that our Bible today is sufficient to guide us into all truth. These words of salvation were written down for us in the New Testament. Do not allow anyone to deny you of your salvation by putting doubt in your mind that these words cannot lead you to salvation, and therefore that you need something else. The Bible is the word of God, and it is sufficient to save you if you will allow it to do so.
We will limit our comments; they are found below in brackets []. Certain words in the scriptural references will be highlighted in bold -- this emphasis obviously is not in the Bible itself, and it is only done here to direct attention to the subject at hand.
Matthew 5: 17-18
17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
[Now we might ask, where are these jots and tittles except in the Bible?]
Matthew 24:34-35
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
[Again, where are the words of Jesus to be found? There is no other book that contains them but the Bible. Documents that quote Jesus or the apostles must reference the Bible, since there is no other source of their words. These words do not exist in any history book or any other writing of man that is independent of the Bible.]
Luke 16:24-31
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime you received good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.
27 And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.
[This is the story of Lazarus and the rich man as told by Jesus. Of interest here are verses 29-31. How could they hear Moses and the prophets except it be by means of the written word (in this case the Old Testament)? Here Abraham is quoted as speaking from the Hadean world across the gulf that was fixed between Abraham's bosom and a an existence of anguish. Abraham tells the rich man that the written word of God is sufficient to save his five living brothers. What applied to the Old Testament at that time most certainly would apply to the combination of both covenants today -- this is an argument from the lesser to the greater.]
John 16:7-14
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, (these) shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare (it) unto you.
[Jesus could have determined to be with us physically to this day. But He said that this was not expedient -- what was done was the most expedient thing for our salvation. (Can you imagine the total chaos that would surround Jesus had he decided to stay on earth?) Instead, he sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles, who he was talking to in this context. Note from verse 13 that the Holy Spirit would guide them (the apostles) into all the truth. Everything that they needed, and everything that we need was revealed in the first century, and there is only one place where that truth can be found today.]
John 20:30-31
30 Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.
[Do we need all of those other signs (miracles)? John did not think so. He stated that what he wrote down was sufficient for any reader to gain the faith that we need to be saved. If John's writings alone were sufficient for this purpose, how much more when you add the inspired writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, James and Jude?]
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
[Again, Jesus is speaking to the apostles right before his ascension into heaven -- the Holy Spirit would provide all that they would need to be his witnesses throughout the earth. The entire book of Acts shows that those words saved countless people in the first century. The same words (the gospel) can save us today.]
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[But where is this gospel (good news)? Is it only in the mind of some chosen man? or some organized group of men? or is it written down for us to study and learn from the Bible? All men everywhere for all time have the saving power of God available to them. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).]
Romans 6:17-18
17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
[If that "form of teaching" could make the Roman Christians free from sin, why could it not do the same thing for us today? But where is that form of teaching that was delivered to them? It was written down for us in the Bible.]
1 Corinthians 4:6
6 Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.
[Did Paul think that the things that were written were sufficient? What was he warning them against? Are we on solid ground today when we go beyond the things that are written and just do whatever we want? Some limit this application to only those things that Paul had written to them in First Corinthians to that point. Some versions read "... learn not (to think) ((of men)) above the things which are written ..." First both "to go" and "to think" were inserted by the translators in their attempt to help us understand the verse. Read the verse without the "(to go)" in it and see that this results in no change in the meaning at all. In fact, it tends to strengthen it. Some translate "beyond" as "above" -- we see no difference there at all. Finally, the "((of men))" is not in either of the major accepted Greek manuscripts, and we feel that this restriction is totally unjustified, and so we placed it in double parentheses. But even if we accept all of the translators' insertions, it still does not change the fact that it was the written word that conveyed to them the righteousness of God that they were to live by, and that is all that is needed for this verse to add to the evidence for Bible sufficiency.]
1 Corinthians 14:37
37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
[Were Paul's writings sufficient to enable them to know and understand the commands of God? If they had that capability then, why would we not have it now?]
2 Corinthians 11:3
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.
[Is the word of God so difficult that the average person cannot read and understand it? In fact, one does not have to even be of average intelligence. Many who are below average intelligence have a better understanding of the truth than the scholars who are technically more intelligent. Understanding is far more a matter of desire and subjection of oneself than it is of intellectual ability. Here Paul says, do not be deceived, it is not that difficult, it is simple. You can understand it. Do not be corrupted from it.]
Galatians 1:8-9
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.
[So, is the gospel going to be changing year after year where we need a new revelation of it to enlighten us? Do religious leaders have a right to change the revelation? Or was it once for all delivered, and any change in it will bring about a curse on the person who makes that change? See the last few scripture references below for the Bible answers to this last question.]
Ephesians 3:3-4
2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,
4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
[Does Paul say that by reading they could have the same understanding that he had? Do we need a better understanding than Paul? Do we need some priesthood to interpret it for us?]
Ephesians 4:11-16 (Comparable to 1 Corinthians 13)
11 And he gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, (even) Christ;
16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in (due) measure of each several part, makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.
[Perfecting means progressing toward full growth. While we may never be perfect (without flaw) as individuals, the word of God is perfect, and it provides all that we need to advance toward perfection. These special gifts in the first century spoken of in verse 11 and 12 were temporary -- "til" when? Until they could attain the the unity of the faith, etc. If they had that capacity with what was revealed to them at that time, why would we not have it written down for us today? It is understandable that those who have never experienced the "unity of the faith" in a local church should question whether it can ever be attained before Jesus comes again. However, the characteristics described in verse 14 are something that Paul expected to see in them back in the first century. Paul did not expect instability in them -- he expected them to behave as in verses 15 and 16.]
Philippians 2:12-16
12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings:
15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,
16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.
[How were they to "work out" their own salvation? Was it not with the words that Paul sent to them? What words were they to hold forth (verse 16)? Is it not clear that they had revealed to them everything that they needed to be saved?]
Philippians 4:9
9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
[The things that Paul is talking about here are the same things that he wrote down for them so that they would not forget them in the future.]
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.
17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
[The objection often made to this statement of the sufficiency of the scriptures is that Paul had to be talking about the Old Testament, since the New Testament had not yet been assembled. We agree, but this can hardly be an objection. Surely if the Old Testament scriptures had this capability, then when augmented by the New Testament they would have an even greater capability. Again, the argument is from the lesser to the greater, a type of argument that is often found in the New Testament. The New Testament applies to us today.]
Hebrews 2:2-4
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
[What is he telling them not to neglect? "...so great a salvation." How did they receive this salvation? The answer is in verse 3: it was first spoken through the Lord. Later it was confirmed by the miraculous spiritual gifts that were given through the apostles (the apostles were "them that heard" the Lord). But is he imploring them to appeal to more miraculous revelations? or some church catechism? No! He is appealing them not to neglect that which had already been delivered to them. Where can we find that today?]
Hebrews 5:9
8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
[How can we obey Jesus today if we do not know his will for us? Is it not necessarily implied that his commands were available to these people, and thus to us today?]
James 1:25
25 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the (law) of liberty, and (so) continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
[How does one "look into the perfect law of liberty" today? Is this something that is just resident with a few church leaders? Hopefully not, because the blessings spoken of by James only come to the individuals who look into this law for themselves. It does not say that some priest is to look into this perfect law of liberty for you, or that you are to trust any other man to learn it for you. We can all do what James is instructing by opening our Bibles and studying them for ourselves.]
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that (should come) unto you:
11 searching what (time) or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
12 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
[How were these things announced to the people Peter was writing to? See verse 12: "announced to you through them that preached the gospel unto you ..." It was announced through their preaching, which words are written down for us today.]
1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time (is come) for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if (it begin) first at us, what (shall be) the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?
[What is the gospel of God? Well, among other characteristics that it has, It is something that can be obeyed! It is something that can be written down. But those writings do us no good until they are read, understood, believed and become part of our hearts and our souls unto obedience.]
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
[Did the divine power deliver all things to them in the first century? Did Jesus give his promise to preserve those things for us? Are you going to trust someone else to tell you what the gospel is, or are you going to read it from the Bible yourself?]
2 Peter 3:1-2
1 This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;
2 that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Savior through your apostles:
[Is Peter presenting anything new at this point? Do we need anything today that was not revealed then? Did they already have everything that they needed? So what was Peter doing? -- see verse 2 -- he was trying to get them to remember those things, and he is writing to refresh their memory. When we read the New Testament again, what are we reminded of?]
2 Peter 3:14-16
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
16 as also in all (his) epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as (they do) also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
[Does Peter place Paul's writings in the same classification of scripture (inspired writings) as the Old Testament prophets? Is Peter making this statement, or does it appear he expected his readers to already understand that Paul's writings had the status of "scripture" (the understood Jewish word for "inspired writings").]
1 John 2:24
24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.
[Did John tell them to look for further revelations?]
1 John 5:3
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
[Does John seem to take it for granted that the readers (we) can know what the commandments of God are?]
2 John 9
9 Whosoever goes onward and abides not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abides in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
[What is the teaching of Christ? If it is not written down, where would it be? How could we get access to it? How could we be sure that some preachers are not trying to get us to go beyond the teachings of Christ? How could we possibly heed this warning?]
Jude 3
3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.
[What was delivered once and for all to the saints? "The faith" here is spoken of as the body of knowledge that is to be believed. Would more revelation be required if all they needed was already delivered to them?]
Revelation 1:3
3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
[Did John act like they were going to need additional revelation to that which was already revealed to them? The book of Revelation is either the last book of the Bible written or nearly concurrent with the last book written.]
Revelation 22:18-19
18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which 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 from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
[The objection to this passage is that it is only talking about the book of Revelation. Well, for sure it IS talking about the book of Revelation, but is that all that this warning applies to? If this were only talking about Revelation, would it then be permissible for us to add to and take away from, for example, the book of Romans? That seems to be the conclusion that the critics want to draw. Would anyone contend for such a thing? No, what applies to the book of Revelation certainly applies to the entire revealed word of God. God has preserved it and has not allowed it in any generally public way to be added to or taken away from. The exception being certain organized religious groups, like the Mormons or the Jehovah's Witnesses, whose attempts at both adding to and taking away from the Bible are clearly seen to be obvious frauds and clear violations of Revelation 22:18-19. So their vain, and often absurd, attempts further demonstrate that these modifications are not of God, and thus clearly sinful.]
If you believe the words of the scriptural passages given above, you cannot help but believe that the Bible is totally sufficient for all of your spiritual needs today. But we are convinced that these verses are not half of those that could be cited. If you can think of any that we should include, please contact us.
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?