Is the Bible incomplete?

Ana-Maria-Diana · Post by **Ana-Maria-Diana** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:03

The Bible is incomplete because the Institution of the Church wanted it to be this way. It is easier to create warnings and penalties when not all the information is given. Also I think The Bible can be interpreted in very different ways as any other book and ia very subjective. Each reader understands what he wants based on his own imagination.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:04

Zoe Luh wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 15:28
Leen282 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 15:08 Since the book is presented as fiction, I don't think it is meant to be read as trying to complete the Bible. For me one has nothing to do with the other.
I agree! Because it was fictional then I think it would be considered complete

The truth is, the Bible is complete in the sense that everything that was intended to be recorded in it were all recorded. But we must admit that some simple actions of the biblical characters such as bathing, etc were intentionally omitted. If the author creates a fictional story to bridge these gaps, I don't see any problem.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:06

Officialboluwatife wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:04 Seeing the book is presented as fiction, I see no reason for the comparison. As Christians, I don't think our mind should be after the completeness of the bible. Rather it should be about the significance of the bible we have at hand in our life.

Yes. That's right. Christians shouldn't focus on whether or not the Bible is complete. We should, however, appreciate that all that we need are found within the Bible as it was presented to us. Thanks for that!

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:09

AmyMarie2171 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:12 I don't think the two are connected at all. If the Bible had included every detail about every story beyond what is absolutely critical, then we'd never be able to finish reading it. Since the Bible was put together by councils who chose what would be canon, we know that some of what was originally written was left out. Nevertheless, 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God," so I tend to believe that what is in the Bible now is complete due to divine inspiration.

Yes. And I also believe that the Bible covers centuries of events. If everything within this period were to be recorded, then the size of the Bible would be too big. The book would be immobile.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:10

Orizon wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:39
Officialboluwatife wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:04 Seeing the book is presented as fiction, I see no reason for the comparison. As Christians, I don't think our mind should be after the completeness of the bible. Rather it should be about the significance of the bible we have at hand in our life.
Facts. I couldn't say it better.

I also agree with her. The Bible is complete because the answers to every question were all covered. However, not all the doings of the biblical characters could fit in it.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:12

Katie Canedy wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 17:19 That is a valid point. I felt that the Bible did leave out some details in the stories. This is truly something to think about.

That's true... I think they just omitted the details that they felt were less impactful. Considering the time period that the Bible covers, I don't think it would have been possible to record all the events.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:15

B Creech wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 18:13
Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 10:06 The author gives additional descriptions, which are not found in the original Bible, to the story from creating Adam and Eve, up to the worldwide flood. Most of who has studied the Bible must have had his/her own thoughts regarding these lacking parts. Does this mean that the Bible is incomplete? On the other hand, is it righteous to add after-notes to a religious book like the Bible?
I do not believe the Bible is incomplete. There would not be enough room to write everything about God! I believe it is as complete as God wants it to be, we are not meant to know everything because we are not on the same realm as God. We are human, He is spiritual so we could not comprehend it all in our present state. That is just my opinion. Is it righteous to add after-notes to a religious book like the Bible? I say it is not righteous. I understand the author is using his imagination to fill in the gaps, which is what makes the book fiction. However, in the story of Adam and Eve, there wasn't just gaps being filled in, there were changes made to what the Bible actually says, which I have a problem with. I will continue reading to see how it goes unless I feel too much is being changed and not just being 'filled in.' Thanks for these questions!

What if we just view this book as a standalone fiction? Like we completely ignore its connection with the Bible? I agree that we shouldn't add anything to the Bible. But this is a fictional book that isn't meant to replace the Bible.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:17

Readerjorge wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 18:36 The Bible refers to facts but does not always put all the details. This does not mean that it is incomplete. We must understand that the wisdom of God is higher than that of humans. Surely there is an intention that we do not know.

I agree with you. The Bible mostly record events that are considered impactful. The minor details were intentionally omitted. But this doesn't mean it's incomplete. In fact, it is as complete as they wanted it to be.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:19

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:05
Nerea wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 14:46 I believe that the Bible is complete. When you read the book of Revelation 22:18,19 you'll realize that adding or subtracting contents into or from the Bible is not right whatsoever.
I thought the same. But what about the feeling of 'stories are jumping from one point to the other', when reading the parts of creation?

This is why I insist that the Bible only covers the important parts. Not everything could fit in.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:21

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:08
Zoe Luh wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 15:28
Leen282 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 15:08 Since the book is presented as fiction, I don't think it is meant to be read as trying to complete the Bible. For me one has nothing to do with the other.
I agree! Because it was fictional then I think it would be considered complete
The book is fictional, that is true. But those fictional parts are pushed in between bible stories. So has not there been a gap, which is filled by this fictional work?

As you might have already noticed, there are gaps. The only difference is, the omitted actions wouldn't have had any impact on the lives of Christians. They were less important hence the omission.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:23

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:09
Officialboluwatife wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:04 Seeing the book is presented as fiction, I see no reason for the comparison. As Christians, I don't think our mind should be after the completeness of the bible. Rather it should be about the significance of the bible we have at hand in our life.
That is true. What we have to think of is what we can get from it to our lives

I agree with you. We should just appreciate that everything we need can be gotten from its current contents. Debating on whether or not it's complete, or becoming angry because we feel that the Bible has been viewed as incomplete, won't do us any good.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:25

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:11
AmyMarie2171 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:12 I don't think the two are connected at all. If the Bible had included every detail about every story beyond what is absolutely critical, then we'd never be able to finish reading it. Since the Bible was put together by councils who chose what would be canon, we know that some of what was originally written was left out. Nevertheless, 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God," so I tend to believe that what is in the Bible now is complete due to divine inspiration.
That is reasonable. So the bible might have been more lengthy in the early days of writing it?

I think so. Maybe the Bible was way too lengthy and bigger in size. There was, therefore, a need to make it more portable. As a result, the less necessary parts were done away with.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:30

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:11
Orizon wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:39
Officialboluwatife wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:04 Seeing the book is presented as fiction, I see no reason for the comparison. As Christians, I don't think our mind should be after the completeness of the bible. Rather it should be about the significance of the bible we have at hand in our life.
Facts. I couldn't say it better.
Facts are facts. But I asked that question out of curiosity

I understand why you asked that question. The point of omitting some parts was to make the Bible lighter and easier to carry

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:32

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:13
Katie Canedy wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 17:19 That is a valid point. I felt that the Bible did leave out some details in the stories. This is truly something to think about.
I am glad to find someone think alike atleast to some extent. Yes, there are some details that left behind, for some reason

Yes, and I think I have an idea what these reasons were:
1) To make the Bible more portable.
2)To only record the important parts, omitting what wouldn't be impactful on the life of a Christian.

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Jun 2020, 02:34

Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 20:15
B Creech wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 18:13
Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 10:06 The author gives additional descriptions, which are not found in the original Bible, to the story from creating Adam and Eve, up to the worldwide flood. Most of who has studied the Bible must have had his/her own thoughts regarding these lacking parts. Does this mean that the Bible is incomplete? On the other hand, is it righteous to add after-notes to a religious book like the Bible?
I do not believe the Bible is incomplete. There would not be enough room to write everything about God! I believe it is as complete as God wants it to be, we are not meant to know everything because we are not on the same realm as God. We are human, He is spiritual so we could not comprehend it all in our present state. That is just my opinion. Is it righteous to add after-notes to a religious book like the Bible? I say it is not righteous. I understand the author is using his imagination to fill in the gaps, which is what makes the book fiction. However, in the story of Adam and Eve, there wasn't just gaps being filled in, there were changes made to what the Bible actually says, which I have a problem with. I will continue reading to see how it goes unless I feel too much is being changed and not just being 'filled in.' Thanks for these questions!
Changing the original scripture is not acceptable. Yet, if the whole thing is a fiction, can't it be taken as fair?

Changing any part of the Bible isn't acceptable only if the changes are ment to replace the original context. If the changes are ment to be read as a fiction, then I don't see any problem with that.