The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
(Isaiah chapter 40, verse 8)
Of all the wonderful truths we find in God’s Word, this is one of the most precious. Why? We learn from these words that God has never, and will never, leave His people without His voice, His guidance. God’s Word will stand forever. And this truth is repeated over and over and over again in the pages of Scripture:
For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psalm 12:6-7 )
Those things that God reveals are a gift to God’s people and to their children for ever, as the Bible promises:
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
And the Lord Jesus Christ spoke the same truths:
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:33)
With these truths in mind, we would like to present to you the following line of reasoning:
1) God inspires Scripture for a purpose.
2) God inspires Scripture for the purpose of directing and encouraging the Church of Jesus Christ.
3) Hence, God would not inspire Scripture that would in fact not do what God intended, that is, direct and encourage the Church of Jesus Christ.
4) Therefore, there are no “lost” Scriptures that have failed to do what God intended them to do in the life of the Church of Jesus Christ.
In support of the first point, we provide Paul’s words:
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, throughly furnished unto all good works.(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Scripture is inspired, and it is inspired for a particular purpose. That it will not fail in this purpose is seen in the following:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
And the specific purpose in our day is set out by the Apostle Paul:
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)
Hence, we see that God inspires Scripture for a purpose, that of encouraging His people. Any Scripture that would be “lost” would violate God’s own stated purpose for His action of inspiring it. We know that God never fails to do what He desires (Psalm 115:3, 135:6), therefore, there are no “lost” Scriptures.
Some Objections Considered
Doesn’t the Bible Refer to Missing Scriptures? No, it does not. The Bible refers to books that are not a part of the Bible, but it in no way indicates that these books were meant to be part of the Bible in the first place. Such items as the “book of Nathan the prophet” (2 Chronicles 9:29) or the “book of Jasher” (2 Samuel 1:18) are never said to be Scripture, and never are we told that the Bible cannot refer to the existence of other writings without automatically making those writings Scripture.
Encouraging and Admonishing the Church is not the Only Reason for Scripture. That’s very true, but our argument does not say that the only reason for Scripture is to encourage or admonish the Church, but that this is a reason for all Scripture.
A Further Application
While the preceding thoughts are clear in denying the idea that there are “lost Scriptures,” there is another application that should be considered. The Lord Jesus Christ founded His Church nearly 2000 years ago. He promised it would endure (Matthew 16:18), and the Apostles echoed His words (Ephesians 3:20-21). Supposedly the Book of Mormon was written long ago as well, but was “hidden up” around A.D. 421, not to be seen again until 1830. For 1400 years it was “lost,” and was in no way comforting, admonishing, or encouraging the Christian Church. Would this not involve a violation of Paul’s words in Romans 15:4?
In conclusion, we exhort you to accept the wonderful truth that God has preserved His Scriptures. Do not believe those who would cast doubts upon His ability to protect and sustain His Word. Furthermore, do not “go beyond what is written” and look for additional books of Scripture, for God’s Word is true:
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 Peter 1:3)
