Some Men Who Did Not Write the Bible

IN our study of the Bible we can learn much about the men who wrote it.

We can also learn much about the men who did not write it. In this study we

want to call attention to some men who had no part in writing the Bible.

First, the infidel had nothing to do with writing the Bible. Infidels do not

write like Bible writers. If an infidel had written the Bible, the very first verse

would not have been written. This verse says: "In the beginning God created

the heaven and the earth." Infidels do not believe this: so. of course, would not

have written it. Neither would have an infidel written Ps. 14:1: "The fool hath

said in his heart, There is no God." This is God's description of an infidel.

There are thousands of other passages that no infidel would have written.

Profligates had no part in writing the Bible. If such base characters had

written the Bible, much of it would never have been written. Profligates are

denounced in the most scathing terms. Listen to this: "Now the works of the

flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,

seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they

which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.'' (Gal. 5:19-21.)

These are the things that profligates are interested in, but God says that folks

who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. It might be well for

some professed Christians of our day to take a little squint at this list.

Especially note the "revellings" and "such like." We have entirely too much

of the "such like." and folks that engage in "such like'' cannot and will not

inherit the kingdom of heaven. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the

abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have part in the lake which burneth

with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8.)

The universalist had nothing to do with writing the Bible. You know he

believes that all will be saved. Not a writer of the Bible believed this: ''Though

he were a Son. yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered: and

being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them

that obey him." (Heb. 5:8. 9.) You will note from this that salvation is for

those only who obey. All others will be lost. "In flaming fire taking vengeance

on them that know not God. and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ." (2 These. 1:8.) The ones who obey not the gospel will have vengeance

taken on them. This does not sound like universalism. No. Paul was not a

universalist.

Sectarians did not write the Bible. You know they believe that there are

good and bad in all "churches." and that "one church is as good as another.

The Bible writers did not think this. They thought that there is just one body,

or one church. In fact, they say so in so many words. In Eph. 4:4 the inspired

Paul says: "There is one body." And then in other places (Col. 1:18; Eph.

1:22. 23; 5:23; Rom. 12:4, 5) he explains that this "one body" is the church.

Just as sure as we have one physical body, just that sure the Lord has one

spiritual body. Sectarianism is severely condemned by the Bible. "For while

one saith. I am of Paul: and another. I am of Apollos: are ye not carnal?" (1

Cor. 3:4.)

A faith-alone theorist had nothing to do with writing the Bible. The Bible

knows nothing about justification by faith only. In fact, the words "faith only"

come together just once in the Bible, and there they are used together to

condemn the theory. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and

not by faith only." (James 2:24.) "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead,

being alone." (James 2:17.) ''And now abid

eth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (1

Cor. 13:13.)

Innovators did not write the Bible. An innovator would not have written

Deut. 4:2: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you. neither

shall ye diminish ought from it." The innovator does not hesitate, to odd to,

or diminish from, the word of the Lord. When he finds no Scripture for his

innovation, he just goes ahead and adds it. anyway. That is the way

instrumental music got into the worship. It is a modern innovation. There is

no Bible Scripture for it. Christ and his inspired apostles left it out. and it

remained for innovators six hundred years later to introduce it. The Bible

teaches Christians to observe the Lord's Supper each first day of the week

(Acts 20:7). but those who diminish from the word do not hesitate to do away

with the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper. What about these innovators

and diminishers at the last day? "If any man shall add unto these things. God

shall add unto him the plagues that are written in his book: and if any man

shall take away from the words of the book of his 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." (Rev. 22:18. 19.)

A grace-alone theorist did not write the Bible. The Bible writers did not

believe this theory. "By grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

(Eph. 2:8. 9.)

A human creed maker had nothing to do with writing the Bible. The

makers and users of human creeds are condemned by the writers of the Bible.

Christians have no use for a human creed, either written or verbal. "All

scripture is given by inspiration of God. and is profitable for doctrine, for

reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God

may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16. 17.)

God has given the man of God everything he needs to make him perfect. He

has everything to furnish doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in

righteousness.Where is there any room for a human creed? What would it be for?

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto

life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory

and virtue." (2 Pet. 1:3.)

Covetous men did not write the Bible. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have

robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me. even this whole nation."

(Mal. 3:8. 9.) Christians are to abound in giving. "Therefore, as ye abound in

every thin", in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and

in your love to us. see that ye abound in this grace also" (2 Cor. 8:7.) We are

to give in proportion to our prosperity. (1 Cor. 16:1. 2.)

Lukewarm ''Christians" did not write the Bible. "Not slothful in business:

fervent in spirit: serving the Lord ' (Rom. 12:11.) That does not sound like the

utterance of a lukewarm and indifferent Christian. "Wherefore let him that

thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12.) There are many

who think they are standing who are riding for a terrible fall. "How shall we

escape, if we neglect so great salvation?'" (Heb. 2:3.) "Therefore to him that

knoweth to do good, and doeth it not. to him it is sin." (James 4:17.) A

lukewarm Christian is a sickening thing, both in the sight of man and in the

sight of heaven. "I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would

thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold

nor hot. I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:15. 16.)