Whether or not the Bible is the complete revelation of God has profound implications on Christianity today. If the Bible isn’t the complete revelation of God, then the door remains open to “other” revelation.
“Other” could be other scriptural authority such as the Quran or the Book of Mormon. Or, evangelists claiming to speak for God or church leaders holding a title of apostle or prophet. It gives license for individuals to dream their own interaction with God and His special revelation just to/for them. In fact, all of these exist today. They are often justified as an activity through/by the Holy Spirit or simply “hearing the voice of God”.
So what does Scripture say about if the Bible is the complete revelation of God?
Regarding his chief theological work, ‘Der christliche Glaube nach den Grundsätzen der evangelischen Kirche’: Its fundamental principle is that the source and the basis of dogmatic theology are the religious feeling, the sense of absolute dependence on God as communicated by Jesus through the church, not the creeds or the letter of Scripture or the rationalistic understanding.
Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834), German theologian, philosopher, WikipediaHow Scripture answers "Is the Bible the complete revelation of God?"
The Bible is the complete revelation of God1,2,6,7,9,10,11,12,13. While there was a time God spoke to man through prophets5,8, that time was replaced by the gospel revelation through His son, Jesus Christ and His time on earth5,9,10 and His appointed apostles9,10,11,13.
As of the first century, God’s word had been proclaimed throughout the whole world4,6,8. If the word was sufficiently complete in the first century to save individuals1,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12, how is it any less complete now and why would it be necessary for God to reveal more? The foundation9,12 would not still be being laid some 2,000 years later.
1
Anyone that looks into the perfect (or complete) law of liberty and stands firm in it – not just hearing it but doing it – will be blessed.
James is writing to the dispersed Christians and encouraging them to act out their faith, because faith that is not acted out is dead.
The law of liberty (e.g. the gospel of Christ) is complete (“perfect”). It includes all that someone needs to act out their belief in Christ.
2
As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. He has just expounded on what Godly love and acts like making the final point that love as he’s defined it (e.g. Godly) never ends. In the immediate context, Paul is clearly speaking of those miraculous gifts from God (prophecies, tongues and [special] knowledge) that are “partial” and “will pass away” when “the perfect [complete] comes.” He goes on to invoke the logic of a man that gives up childish things as he grows up and matures (vs 11). He also illustrates with the analogy of looking into a mirror that is currently only dimly lit as opposed to seeing something “face to face” or eye to eye (vs 12).
Paul doesn’t explicitly say what the “the perfect” is here but it is juxtaposed with all of the spiritual gifts involving God’s word and how it was conveyed at that time (through prophecies, speaking in tongues, and knowledge). It’s written at a time, maybe around 55BC, before all of the New Testament as we know it had been written.
3
A portion of this passage is quoted from
These first century Christians were saved (“born again”) through the word of God.
4
Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae confronting false teaching in the form of “human philosophies and traditions”. Earlier in this chapter he references “the word of the truth, the gospel” which came to them and “indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing” (vs 6).
The gospel had been spread throughout the whole world in the first century.
5
In a previous time God spoke to man through the prophets, but now (“these last days”) He has spoken through His son, Jesus Christ. Additionally, God appointed Him heir of all things and through Him created the world.
Opening to the letter of Hebrews, written to Jews that had believed and obeyed the gospel. The writer is beginning his argument and evidence for why everything is better in Jesus by pointing to the prophets (and angels) that had, in times past, delivered God’s message.
There was a time that God revealed Himself to man through the prophets. But these last days He “has spoken” (past tense) through Jesus Christ.
6
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Brethren, I was anxious to write about the salvation we share, but instead need to appeal to you to fight for the faith that has been fully delivered to all the saints.
Jude, written very late in the first century, possibly after Revelation, confirms that they need to fight for their common belief in Jesus (i.e. the gospel, the truth, “the faith”) that was (past tense) given “once for all” (complete).
7
A great Psalm (119) dedicated to the merit and beauty of God’s word.
All of God’s word is truth, not just portions. Or, said another way, truth isn’t possible with only parts of God’s word.
8
Paul makes it clear that the gospel of Jesus Christ, while once incomplete (e.g. a “mystery”), is now fully revealed to all people – Jew and Gentile (e.g. “nations”).
9
Paul is pointing out to the Ephesians and Gentile Christians, that though they were at one time “called the uncircumcision by the circumcised” (vs 11), they are now part of the inheritance in Christ as a result of the “peace” that has been preached (vs 18).
The preaching of “peace” (vs 18) was a foundation that consisted of Jesus (the “cornerstone”) and the apostles and prophets. A foundation is laid once.
10
The word of life was from the beginning, what we heard, what we saw with our own eyes, what we comprehended and touched with our hands – that life was revealed to us. We saw it, testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life that the Father revealed to us. It’s what we have seen and heard and proclaim to you in order that you may have fellowship with us – a fellowship that includes the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
John makes it clear that the “word of life” came (past tense) and was proclaimed by him (et al apostles) for, or “to eternal life.”
11
Therefore brethren, remember and continue in the traditions (teachings) of the apostles (“us”), whether what we spoke or sent by letter.
Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica where he is warning them about coming destructive forces to the faithful and letters that even seem like they may have come from the apostles (vs 2). At issue here is the false teaching that Jesus has already come (vs 2). Those that succumb to such teaching are possibly even helped by God who “sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,” (vs 11) because they take “pleasure in unrighteousness” (vs 13).
Paul urges brethen to hold only to the words and writings of the apostles that were taught (past tense) and reject anything new or different.
12
Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Continue in what you heard. If you do that, you will abide in the Son and in the Father and His promise of eternal life.
John, in his letter to brethren, makes refrain after refrain for them to continue to “walk in the light”. In the first chapter he states it as, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1:6)
The apostle John instructs Christians to abide in what they had heard “from the beginning” (and in context, to reject anything else they hear).
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In John 14:12-14; Jesus says that”whoever” believes in him will do the work that he has done, even greater works because he is going to the father; the “whoever” language seems to encompass a much larger audience than the remaining disciples in the upper room after Judas had left Doesn’t it?
Thanks for the new comment, Rick. Were you asking it connected to this question (Is the Bible the complete revelation of God?) or possibly another one on the site?
Is the Apocrypha included in the “word” ?The book of Jude quotes from the book of Enoch. Also, has knowledge also ceased,? First Corinthians 13 eight through 10.
Thanks for your comment and questions. There’s much to say about why the Apocrypha is not part of God’s inspired word; maybe it’s even a question we address in the future on this site. If we did, we would add the Jude 14 verse to which you refer. It says, “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,” (Jude 1:14). Following the BSF, the first thing we would do with this verse is answer the question, “What does it say?”. So, what does it say? It says he is quoting “Enoch, the seventh of Adam”; it doesn’t say, “It was also about these that the Book of Enoch says,…”. Enoch was a historical figure (Gen 5:18) and what we learn from this verse is that he apparently was a prophet of God but that’s as far as we can take it. Anything more is saying what it doesn’t say, correct? BTW, if Jude did say “It was also about these that the Book of Enoch says,…” and as a result could confidently conclude that Jude is quoting the Book of Enoch, it would not require us to conclude all the Book of Enoch inspired (and further still, the Apocrypha) any more than Paul quoting Aratus’s poem in his sermon to the Athenians (Acts 17:28) makes the poem inspired.
Your second question is also a good one. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 is passage #2 in our Scriptures pertaining to this question of “Is the Bible the complete revelation of God?” This passage clearly says that knowledge will pass away (along with prophecies and tongues). The immediate context of 1 Corinthians 13 points to “knowledge” being special knowledge or knowledge from God given its positioning alongside prophecies and tongues – all special gifts from God (or “gifts of the Holy Spirit”). Maybe your question is more “has it yet ceased?” If we interpret this passage to mean “special” knowledge hasn’t yet (today) passed, what is it that God still needs to impart for salvation? And how would that harmonize with the other passages listed that show, among other things, the completeness of the Gospel (or God’s word more generally) in the first century (e.g. passage #4 or #5)?