Don Stewart :: Are There Other Written Sources of Religious Truth Apart from the Bible?

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No. The Bible clearly says that it is the sole source of our knowledge about the one true living God. It is the only written revelation that He has given humanity.

The Bible Commands Not To Add Or Subtract From It

There are warnings contained in Scripture not to add or subtract from what God has revealed. Moses wrote.

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you (Deuteronomy 4:2).

In the Book of Proverbs we read.

Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who put their trust in him. Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar (Proverbs 30:5,6).

The Book of Revelation closes by saying.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book (Revelation 22:18,19)

All Other Ways Are False

The Bible warns its readers of false prophets and false teachings. John wrote.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out in the world (1 John 4:1).

Jesus warned of those who offer other ways to approach God:

I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved (John 10:7-9).

Paul warned about false teachers.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:6-9).

The Faith Has Been Delivered Once And For All

The Bible says that the faith has been once and for all delivered.

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3)

The faith has been delivered in the Scriptures and nowhere else.

Consequently the Bible is the only written revelation that God has given the human race.

Summary

It is clear that the Bible does not present itself as one of several options for religious truth. It claims to be God's authoritative Word. The Bible consistently maintains that any work, religious or otherwise, which teaches anything, to the contrary is, at that point, wrong. As far as the Bible is concerned, it is all or nothing. If we accept it, we must accept it as ultimately authoritative. It must be the standard by which we judge all other writings that attempt to convey spiritual truth.