QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (93)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   In the English language, there are four sentence types.

1.    Exclamatory sentence:  a statement that expresses emotion

2.    Declarative sentence:  a statement the reveals facts

3.    Imperative sentence:  a statement the states a command

 

B.   An interrogative sentence involves the asking of a question.

1.    The primary purpose of an interrogative sentence is for the discovery of information.

2.    In an interrogation, law enforcement “questions” witnesses and suspects in an attempt to find out information that allows them to solve a crime.

 

C.   Our Question and Answers lessons are filled with interrogative questions.

1.    We are not trying to solve crimes.

2.    We are, however, attempting to discover information.

 

D.   In our lesson this morning, we will be examining two questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  Books not found in the Bible

 

A.   Stated:  If Revelation 22:19 is true, why did the KJV remove books from the Holy Bible?  Are we in violation of this verse because some books are not found in our Bibles?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    We are entering into a study of the “canon” of the Scripture.

a.    The word “canon” comes from the Greek language and means “a measuring rod.”

b.    The canon is the standard that is used to govern our spiritual lives.

c.    The question is:  “What books of the Bible are inspired and authoritative?”  or, “What books should be included in what is known as “The Holy Bible”?

2.    There are sixty-six (66) books that are agreed upon by all as being inspired of God.

a.    There are thirty-nine (39) in the Old Testament and twenty-seven (27) in the New Testament.

b.    These books are found in all of the major translations of the Bible and not just the King James Version alone:  ASV, NKJV, ESV, etc.

3.    The questioner seems to infer that there are some books that were excluded from the canon that should be included therein.

a.    This is where Revelation 22:19 comes into play.

 

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

b.    If books were omitted from the Bible that should be included therein, then we would be in violation of this warning found in the last chapter of the Apocalypse.

4.    The person asking the question does not reveal which books he/she believes to have been omitted from the canon of Scripture.  Therefore, I can only guess which ones are being referenced.

5.    One group of books that some believe should be in the Bible is called “The Apocrypha.”

a.    The Apocrypha is a group of eighteen (18) books that were written in the period of time that was between the testaments.

 

Additions to the Book of Esther                      2 Maccabees

Baruch                                                        3 Maccabees

Bell and the Dragon                             4 Maccabees

Ecclesiasticus (or Ben Sira)                            The Prayer of Azariah

1 Esdras                                                      Prayer of Manasseh

2 Esdras                                                      Psalm 151

Judith                                                          Susanna

Letter of Jeremiah                                         Tobit

1 Maccabees                                                Wisdom of Solomon

 

b.    The word “apocrypha” has changed meaning over time.

1)    Initially, it meant “hidden” or “secret.”

2)    Today, it carries the meaning of “false,” “spurious,” “bad,” and “heretical.”

3)    NOTE:  Not all believe these books to be false.  They are found in the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, the Bible of the Catholic Church.

c.    The question is:  “Why has the Apocrypha been left out of most Bibles?”

1)    There is no clear list of Apocryphal books that exist. 

a)    Above we find 18 that are listed.

b)    Some only include 14 of these 18.

c)    There are as many as 60 books that could be classified as apocryphal.

2)    Jesus and the New Testament writers NEVER quote or allude to the Apocrypha.

a)    Almost all of the Old Testament books are quoted or alluded to in the New Testament.

b)    If they were part of the canon in the time of Jesus and the apostles, why weren’t they used authoritatively by these individuals?

3)    From a language perspective, the books do not have the same authority and scholarship as the 39 books of the Old Testament.

4)    There are errors found in some of the Apocryphal books.  (Ex., Judith 1:1 states that Nebuchadnezzar ruled over the Assyrians instead of the Babylonians).

5)    Some of the books contain doctrines that conflict with the teachings of the generally accepted books.  (Purgatory is taught in 2 Maccabees 12 which conflicts with the account of The Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31).

d.    The questioner acts as if the KJV was the first Bible to reject the Apocrypha.  The argument over these books, however, goes all the way back to Augustine (354 – 430) who believed they should be included and Jerome (342 – 420) who believed they were not inspired and should not be included.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

 

A.   Stated:  In Matthew 12:31, what is the blasphemy against the Spirit?

B.   Answer:

1.    Matthew 12:31

 

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:  but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

 

2.    The entire context of this verse involves Matthew 12:22-37.

a.    In Matthew 12:22, Jesus healed a man who was possessed with a devil that caused him to be deaf and dumb.

b.    “And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of David?” (Matt. 12:23).

c.    The Pharisees despised the attention Jesus received. 

1)    When they heard of the miracle, they accused Jesus of casting “out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils” (Matt. 12:24).

2)    They were “speaking against” the miracle which is the very definition of blasphemy.

d.    Jesus gave several answers to this hideous charge made by the Jewish leaders (Matt. 12:25-30).  One of the main arguments was that if Satan was empowering Jesus to cast out devils, then Satan was divided against himself.  If this were the cast, “how shall his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26).

e.    In verse 28, Jesus makes it clear that He was casting out devils by the Spirit of God.

 

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

 

1)    All three members of the Godhead were at work when Jesus was on the earth.

a)    It was the Father’s plan being executed.

b)    Jesus became a man to offer up a sinless sacrifice for mankind.

c)    The Holy Spirit worked in Jesus to perform mighty miracles (See John 3:34).

 

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:  for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

 

2)    NOTE:  The Pharisees were attributing the miraculous abilities of Jesus to Satan rather than to the Holy Spirit.  Thus, they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit  (See Matt. 12:32).

 

…but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost…

 

3.    Three major points to consider.

a.    Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a major sin.  In fact, Jesus says that it is an unforgiveable sin (Matt. 12:32). 

 

…but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him in this world, neither in the world to come.

 

b.    Why this sin is so grievous is not revealed to us in the pages of God’s Word.  We might state some opinions, but that’s all they would be, opinions.

c.    Since Jesus is no longer on the earth and the age of miracles has ceased, this sin can no longer be committed. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We have looked at two very unique questions.

1.    One involved books that were written in the time between the testaments that were not canonical, that is, not inspired of God.

2.    The other involved a sin of a great magnitude, the sin against the Holy Ghost.

 

B.   There are sins that will not be forgiven today, but it is not because they cannot be forgiven.  It is because individuals will not seek forgiveness on the terms God established in His Holy Word.

1.    The alien sinner must obey the gospel:  hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized.

2.    The Christian who sins must repent, confess his sins, and ask for the forgiveness of God to be forgiven.

 

C.   Can you imagine being in the torments of hell and meeting those who committed the unpardonable sin? 

1.    They would admit that they could not be forgiven.

2.    They would be surprised at your actions because you could have been forgiven but did not seek the Lord’s pardon.