Oddly enough by making the statement:
The bible warns with great deliberateness against adding and taking away from it.
You have gone beyond what was written.
quote:
Rev 20:18 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. 19 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.
That is for the prophecy written in Revelations, not the entire Bible canon.
quote:
1 Cor 4:6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written
All that was written as far as holy scripture during Paul's time was the Tanakh.
Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.
Paul isn't talking about not adding or taking away from the written word.
Your car analogy doesn't really fit. The manual that comes with a car is not complete anyway. It is only enough information to tell you how to run the car. It doesn't have all the information necessary to fix the car.
Adding or deleting from the instruction manual does not automatically make the manual useless. It would only be useless if necessary information was taken away or incorrect information was added. Most people only read the manual to figure out how to use the new gadgets in the car.
Plus as the car changes, so does the instruction manual. Cars do not remain the same. People do not remain the same. Manuals do not remain the same. That's why the Jews have the Oral Torah, which was given to them from God through Moses.
This message has been edited by purpledawn, 10-20-2005 10:26 AM
"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France