The False Doctrine Of Addition And Subtraction To Scripture

Can Churches Add Or Subtract Scripture?

Beware Of This A False Doctrine

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 2, 2026 (Donate)

I’ve previously discussed the false idea of the “open canon”. That was the idea that the canon of Scripture is still open and alleged new prophets could potentially add new book to the Bible. Now I want to address the greater issue behind this idea—dealing with both alleged additions and subtractions to the Bible—this is still a false idea!

Christians need to be discerning in a culture (and church) that pulls people away from the 66 books of the Bible; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Throughout the 66 books of the Bible, God repeatedly warns people not to add to, subtract from, or alter what He has revealed. This principle is important when evaluating alleged prophets, additional Scriptures, new revelations, and modern claims that God is giving inspired messages.

God's Word Mustn’t Be Altered

The warning appears early in Scripture:

·       “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2, NKJV).

·       “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, “and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’  — which you have not known —  ‘and let us serve them,’ “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 12:32-13:3, NKJV)

·       Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6, NKJV).

The book of Revelation has an especially serious warning concerning it. Anyone adding to "the words of the prophecy of this book" faces God's plagues, while anyone taking away from it faces God's judgment (Revelation 22:18-19). Of course, that is discussing that specific book.

The point is that fallible, sinful man doesn’t have authority to rewrite, add to, “correct”, or remove what God has spoken. For instance, if you hear someone say that a translation corrects the original Greek or Hebrew manuscripts, then that should be an immediate red flag.

False Prophets And New Revelations

Scripture repeatedly warns about people who claim divine authority for words God didn’t give them. God condemned false prophets who said, "He says," when God hadn’t spoken (Jeremiah 23:21, 25-32; Ezekiel 13:6-9). Deuteronomy 18:20 says that a prophet who presumes to speak something in God's name that God hasn’t commanded is a false prophet.

There is a biblical test for anyone claiming to be a prophet. The question isn’t merely, "Does this person sound spiritual, or nice, or learned, or clever, or godly, or kind?" Instead, we must ask whether the person's teaching 100% agrees with God's previous revelation and whether alleged prophecy actually comes from God (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Isaiah 8:20) and does the New Testament expect more?

Paul likewise warns that even if "an angel from heaven" proclaimed a different gospel, that message must be rejected (Galatians 1:8-9). So, the discerning Christian should be aware.

What About Alleged New Prophets?

Any alleged new prophet/prophetess must be evaluated by the same biblical standard as everyone else. Their claims can’t be accepted merely because they claimed new godly revelation, prophetic insight and wisdom, angelic communication, or special interpretation.

In other words, you don’t use alleged new revelation to judge the previous revelation—don’t be deceived into thinking that! You must use previous revelation to judge any alleged new revelation.

Muhammad's later teachings deny basic biblical doctrines concerning the Son of God—this contradicts God’s previous revelation (e.g., unitarian). Joseph Smith introduced additional alleged “scriptures” and “revelations” and taught another conception of God (e.g., polytheism) and then changed thousands of verses in the Bible (JST). Ellen G. White claimed prophetic visions that must likewise be tested rather than assumed to be divine (e.g., vegetarianism, denial of eternal conscious torment in Hell). Charles Taze Russell's teachings associated with the early Watchtower movement rejected essential biblical teachings concerning Christ's identity (e.g., unitarian, etc.) and then changed Bible passages to conform to their new beliefs (NWT).

From the standpoint of the 66 books alone, none have the authority to correct or supersede Scripture. A later messenger who contradicts what God has already revealed can’t be accepted as God's prophet.

Galatians 1:8 is particularly powerful. Even alleged supernatural appearances don’t outrank God's already-revealed gospel. An alleged angel or person bringing another gospel or a denial of it, must be rejected. Remember demonic and satanic influence could be involved…masquerading as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

What About “Modern” Prophecy?

The same principle raises an important question about modern claims such as, "God told me," "The Lord says," or other alleged prophecy in the New Tongues and New Prophecy movement.

If someone claims that God has actually revealed previously unknown words to him or her, then the claim is much more serious than giving advice, preaching, interpreting Scripture, or expressing an impression.

If God actually spoke the words, then those words are “God's words”. Writing them down would then causes a dilemma. If they truly came from God, they possessed divine authority before being written. Biblical prophecy was God's revelation whether spoken or subsequently recorded (2 Peter 1:20-21).

This creates a serious problem for someone claiming prophecy. If a message is genuinely from God, God can’t lie (Titus 1:2), and His words can’t be treated as potentially erroneous human opinions. But if portions of an alleged prophecy are indeed false, don’t come to pass or inconsistent with God’s previous revelation, those portions didn’t originate with the God of truth—and that person is a false prophet and has been deceived!

Scripture therefore commands, "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and we are to test these things against God’s Word (1 John 4:1). Test it against God’s previously revealed Word.

Furthermore, there is another hurdle. Based on the New Testament concept of a now-closed canon, we shouldn’t expect any new revelation.

What About Tongues?

Biblical tongues were miraculous languages gifts given by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4-11). When tongues operated in the church, interpretation was required; otherwise, the speaker was commanded to remain silent (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).

Furthermore, genuine prophecy and tongues weren’t uncontrolled spiritual experiences. "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Corinthians 14:32), and God required worship to occur "decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

If someone claims that an interpreted tongue contains a new message directly from God, the same issue arises as with prophecy: either God said it or He didn’t. If God said it, it is true and authoritative. If God didn’t say it, it mustn’t be attributed to Him.

Subtraction Of Scripture

There is one prominent religion that subtracts Scripture. Judaism. Talmudic (Rabbinic) Judaism developed after the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70 and differs extensively from biblical Christianity. They have entirely subtracted the New Testament and deny all 27 books about the Messiah and Passover Lamb Jesus Christ.

Then they added the alleged traditions of the fathers through commentary notes (and commentary upon commentary) of the Old Testament books of the Bible. This was actually done twice and so, there are two different sets of these commentaries—the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud. Both were written well after the New Testament (first century AD) where these were written over a long period of about AD 200-500.

From a Christian perspective, the problem is one of subtraction and replacement of authority. They have blatantly denied the authority of God in the New Testament. The Old Testament anticipated the Messiah and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:24-27).

Those promises culminate in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. This is revealed by God in the New Testament, completing the 66-book biblical canon (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:15-16). The New Testament is 100% consistent with the Old Testament and fulfillment of what the Old Testament looked forward to.

The religion of Judaism, sadly, rejects Jesus as the Messiah and consequently rejects the New Testament as the Word of God. Thus, from the Christian standpoint, 27 inspired books are effectively removed from religious authority in the eyes of those following Judaism.

At the same time, Judaism gives enormous authority to traditions preserved in the Talmuds. These works contain generations of discussion by rabbis (teachers) and interpretation concerning the Hebrew Scriptures, Jewish law, customs, ethics, and religious practice.

Christians can therefore argue that Talmudic Judaism commits two similar errors: it rejects later divine revelation in the New Testament while elevating later rabbinic traditions as authoritative.

Jesus had already warned against allowing human religious tradition to supersede God's written revelation (Mark 7:13, NKJV; see also Matthew 15:3-9). This distinction is important. The Old Testament itself isn’t Talmudic Judaism—this was a later development.

We, as Christians, accepts the Old Testament as God's Word but maintains that its promises and prophecies find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ and are authoritatively explained in the New Testament (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; Hebrews 1:1-2). In the same way the book of Isaiah was recognized and authoritative Scripture alongside Moses, so the New Testament book stand equally revealed next to the Old Testament books.  

Scripture Is Sufficient

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that Scripture equips the man of God "for every good work." Jude 3 speaks of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints", thus the Bible is complete and sufficient. Christians are repeatedly directed back to the written Word as their standard (Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20).

Therefore, Christians don’t need Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, modern prophets, new “scriptures”, the Talmud, subtracted Scriptures, or additional revelations to complete what God supposedly left unfinished.

The proper response is to receive what God has revealed, test every religious claim by Scripture, reject anything contrary to it, and refuse to place man's words alongside God's Word.

God's revelation isn’t ours to edit, subtract from, or supplement. We are called to believe it, obey it, defend it, and faithfully proclaim it.

Apocryphal Additions?

Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Oriental Orthodox churches grant full scriptural authority to a few books that between the Testaments (when there were no prophets). These writings that Protestants classify as the Apocrypha rather than inspired Scripture.

Roman Catholicism formally affirmed its “new” Old Testament canon at the Council of Trent (1546), including Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1-2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel. Catholics formerly call these apocryphal books "deuterocanonical," which meant useful but not Scripture (this was the view of Jerome who translated the Latin Vulgate and was the dominate Catholic view for over 1,000 years). But Rome accepted these old books as canon Scripture as of Trent as a response to the Reformation.

Eastern Orthodoxy generally accepts a broader Old Testament canon, including the Roman Catholic deuterocanonical books and, depending on the Orthodox tradition, additional works such as 1 Esdras, 3 Maccabees, Psalm 151, and the Prayer of Manasseh.

Oriental Orthodox churches vary considerably. Some, especially the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, possess an even broader canon that includes books such as 1 Enoch and Jubilees.

Thus, each of these add alleged different Scripture! From the 66-book Protestant position (which has been recognized early-on and even in the days of Jerome about AD 400), the issue isn’t merely preserving ancient books for historical or devotional usefulness. These traditions elevated additional writings, that aren’t Scripture, to canonical or scriptural status. Protestants instead distinguish useful ancient literature from the inspired canon, recognizing only the 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books as Scripture.

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge

Prayer To Anyone Other Than God—A False Doctrine

Prayer To Anyone Other Than God—A False Doctrine

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 1, 2026 (Donate)

Throughout the 66 books of the Bible, prayer is consistently directed to God. Prayer to false gods was forbidden and useless anyway since they don’t exist.

Praying to God; Photo requested by Bodie Hodge*

Scripture doesn’t give permission to pray to angels, departed saints, Mary, deceased relatives, or any other created being. Prayer is an act of dependence and worship that belongs to God.

Prayer Is Directed To God

Jesus, who is God, taught His disciples how to pray by saying:

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, NKJV).

He repeatedly told believers to pray to the Father (Matthew 6:6; John 15:16; 16:23). Christians are also told:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV).

Christ also has an amazing prayer to the Father in John 17. God speaking to God in the persons of God is to be expected and isn’t problem considering the Triune nature of God.

Throughout Scripture, God's people call upon the Lord (Psalm 50:15; 86:6-7; Jeremiah 33:3; Acts 4:24-30). Prayer is never presented as something believers should redirect toward created beings or inanimate objects like wooden or golden idols.

Jesus Christ Is Our Mediator

One of the clearest reasons Christians don’t need heavenly intermediaries is found in 1 Timothy 2:5:

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

Through Jesus we have direct access to the Father (e.g., John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18). The books of Hebrews says we Christians may "come boldly to the throne of grace" through their great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Therefore, we don’t need Mary, saints, angels, or deceased believers to carry their prayers to God. Christ is our Mediator and High Priest.

Prayer To Angels?

You already know the answer to this don’t you! Angels mustn’t receive prayer either. Scripture gives striking examples of angels refusing certain religious things reserved for God alone. When John fell before an angel, the angel immediately responded:

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10, NKJV; see also Revelation 22:8-9).

Angels are servants of God like us, not substitutes for God (Hebrews 1:14). If an angel refuses such religious devotion, Christians certainly shouldn’t direct prayers toward angels.

What About Mary And The Saints?

Mary was greatly blessed and should be respected as the earthly mother of Jesus (e.g., Luke 1:28, 42, 48). But Scripture never commands Christians to pray to her. Mary herself prayed to and worshiped God, calling Him "God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). Mary, though favored and rightly so, still needed the blood of Christ to be saved just like we do.

Likewise, Scripture regularly honors faithful believers (though also points out their sins), but never teaches Christians to address prayers to deceased saints. When believers needed prayer, they asked living Christians to pray for them (see: Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:18-19; James 5:16).

The distinction is important. Asking a living Christian beside you to pray is explicitly biblical. Attempting to communicate with those who have died a physical death is not. The Bible forbids calling upon the dead—which are sinful actions by mediums and spiritists (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Leviticus 20:6; Isaiah 8:19).

Can You Pray To The Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is God. So, praying to the Holy Spirit is praying to God. So rightly, the Bible doesn’t forbid praying to the Holy Spirit. Although the normal biblical pattern is prayer to the Father, through the Son, in/by the Holy Spirit (e.g., Matthew 6:9; John 16:23; Ephesians 2:18, 6:18).

The Holy Spirit is fully God, not a created being (Acts 5:3-4), and is a distinct divine co-eternal Person who speaks, teaches, guides, and can be grieved (e.g., John 14:26; Acts 13:2; Ephesians 4:30). Therefore, there is no biblical reason that addressing Him directly in prayer would be sinful.

Nevertheless, Scripture doesn’t explicitly give examples of prayers addressed directly to the Holy Spirit. Instead, believers ordinarily pray to the Father while relying upon the Spirit, who helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). In biblical instances, the Holy Spirit spoke directly to men (e.g., Acts 8:28, 10:19, 13:2)

Thus, praying to the Holy Spirit is permissible, but the predominant biblical pattern is prayer to the Father through Christ by the Spirit.

Seeking the Dead Is Condemned

As mentioned, Scripture condemns attempts to seek information or spiritual assistance from the dead. Saul did it and the Lord smote Him for it. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 condemns mediums and those who "call up the dead." Isaiah asks:

And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:19-20, NKJV).

The biblical answer is obvious: God's people should seek God and pray to Him alone.

Conclusion: Prayer Belongs to God

Prayer is a God-given ability to commune directly with Him. He is all-knowing (omniscience) and all-present (omnipresence) and this permits our prayers—even in our silent thoughts, to be heard by God. God knows our thoughts and hearts—we can’t hide them (Psalm 139:1-4; Jeremiah 17:10). He can hear His people wherever they are and respond accordingly.

Scripture never attributes God's omniscience or omnipresence to Mary, departed saints, created being, idols, or angels.

The biblical pattern is therefore straightforward: pray to God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 6:9; John 16:23; Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 2:18).

Directing prayer toward another being, who isn’t God, introduces an intermediary that Scripture never warrants. Christians already possess something far greater: direct access to God through Jesus Christ.

Prayer should, therefore, be directed to God alone. He alone is worthy of worship, He alone possesses the divine attributes necessary to hear His people everywhere, and He has already provided the one perfect Mediator between God and man: Jesus Christ.

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. 

*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge. 

 

What About Slander, Libel, Gossip And False Accusations?

What About Slander, Libel, Gossip, And False Accusations?

False Personal-Attack Doctrines That Permeate The Church

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, August 31, 2026 (Donate)

We live in a secularized world where God’s commands are often set aside. As a result, the society at large tends to defy God’s Law and pick and choose their own opinions and whims to which they follow.

It is a sad state of affairs and allows for many terrible things to occur in our culture—you could probably attest to that! But what really gets me is that some of these secular and unchristian like behaviors infiltrate churches and grow freely in these some congregations.

Slander, gossip, and false accusations are sadly entertained in many churches; Photo by Bodie Hodge

This brings me to the sins of gossip, slander, libel, and false accusation. These false doctrines aren’t confined to the secular world. They can—and do—occur among professing Christians, within families, ministries, workplaces, and even churches. When Christians begin treating these sins as acceptable behavior or simply overlooking them, a false doctrine has effectively crept into practice.

The idea that God's commands are being shunned so easily concerning truth, justice, and our neighbor should abhor us as Christians! But instead, slander, gossip, and false accusations are often repeated without so much as hearing what the truth really is.

The Slow Secularization Of The Church

Over the last two centuries, many Western churches have gradually absorbed aspects of secular culture. Biblical authority has sometimes been replaced by man's opinions, popular psychology, evolution and millions of years type of thinking, sexual immorality, theological liberalism, and slowly degrading cultural standards.

The same danger exists regarding how we, as Christians, treat one another. The world's methods of personal attack, rumor, character assassination, selective quotation, and trial by public opinion can and does creep into the church—to our detriment, I might add.

Christians should operate differently—based on Gods infallible and perfect Word. Scripture says:

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16, NKJV).

Truth should matter even when the truth is inconvenient. In any situation where gossip, slander or libel are involved, kindly seek the truth by hearing both sides as God commands (Proverbs 18:17).

What Are Gossip, Libel, And Slander?

Gossip involves spreading private, harmful, unnecessary, or unverified information about another person. Gossip may contain falsehoods, but it can also involve spreading true information that we have no legitimate reason to spread (lack of discretion).

Slander normally refers to harmful false statements spoken about someone. Libel, like slander, traditionally refers to harmful false statements but in this case, it is put into writing or published (e.g., internet, public letters, magazines, newspapers, etc.).

A false accusation is the broader practice of charging someone with wrongdoing that he or she didn’t commit. These sins often overlap. A person hears a rumor, assumes it is true, repeats it to others, adds his own interpretation, and eventually a distorted story can become widely accepted as "fact." Recall, that James warns that the tongue, though small, can cause tremendous destruction (James 3:5-10). The Holy Spirit in the book of Proverbs warns:

An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. (Proverbs 16:27-30, NKJV).

Why Are These False Doctrines Wrong Biblically?

God is a "God of truth" (Deuteronomy 32:4). Satan, by contrast, is called "the father of lies" (John 8:44) and "the accuser of our brethren" (Revelation 12:10).

Christians should, therefore, be extremely cautious about accusations—especially in our secularized culture. Under the Mosaic Law, serious charges required witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). A malicious false witness could receive the penalty he intended to bring upon the innocent person (Deuteronomy 19:16-21). And we saw that enacted by God using the King with Haman in Esther (Romans 13:1).

The New Testament states that accusations shouldn’t be accepted carelessly. Consider, Paul instructing Timothy (and churches at large):

"Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses." (1 Timothy 5:19, NKJV).

Christians should investigate before condemning.

The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. (Proverbs 18:17, NKJV).

Jesus Christ Was Falsely Accused

Our Lord Jesus Christ understands false accusation personally. That was the last straw as to what sent Him to the Cross if you recall.

·       His enemies repeatedly attempted to find accusations against Him (Matthew 12:10; Luke 11:53-54).

·       Some accused Him of casting out demons through Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24).

·       Others falsely portrayed Him as opposing Caesar (Luke 23:2).

During His trial, "the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death" (Matthew 26:59, NKJV). False witnesses were finally brought forward, and His words concerning the Temple were distorted (Matthew 26:60-61)—keep in mind that these were the same evil people that Jesus drove out of the Temple who turned the House of God into a money changing fiasco (John 2:14-21).

Jesus was perfectly innocent, yet false accusations helped send Him to the Cross.

What Can Slander, Libel, And Gossip Do To The Victim?

The consequences of these false allegations can be devastating. False accusations can destroy reputations, friendships, marriages, finances, families, careers, ministries, churches, and businesses. They can cause enormous emotional and financial suffering. 

A particularly cruel feature of slander is that disproving a rumor or false claim is much harder than spreading it. One person can make an accusation in seconds, while the accused may spend years trying to correct the record.

Christians must therefore reject dangerous assumptions that an accusation equals guilt. When we seek the truth and want biblical justice, we have to hear both sides, be discerning, evaluates the reputations of each involved, evaluate the evidence in honestly, and in context.  This helps us distinguish between false or embellished rumors and the truth. We need to be careful not to condemn merely because a story that sounds believable from a single source.   

Why Is It A Heart Problem For The Instigator?

Jesus taught that sinful words ultimately come from a sinful heart:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”" (Matthew 12:33-37, NKJV).

Gossip and slander may arise from jealousy, bitterness, anger, hatred, revenge, pride, envy, the desire for attention, or an effort to gain power over another person or what they stand for. These are not fruits of the Spirit! Sometimes,  people spread damaging information because it makes them feel important or special or looking for pity. This is why the solution isn’t merely learning to speak more carefully. The heart of the accuser(s) must be brought into submission to Christ. 

Before repeating an accusation, Christians should ask: Do I know this is true? Have I heard both sides? Am I relying on firsthand witnesses or merely repeating hearsay? Is there a motive for this accusation? Is sharing this information necessary? Am I trying to restore someone or destroy someone?

Conclusion

Christians should never imitate a culture that condemns people through rumors, social pressure, or unproven allegations. Gossip, slander, libel, and false accusation contradict the character of the God of the Bible.

When genuine sin occurs, Scripture provides methods for addressing it truthfully and justly such as Matthew 18:15-17 (step-by-step procedure). Also, Galatians 6:1-2 (NKJV) says:

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

But Christians must never manufacture, exaggerate, carelessly repeat accusations, or treat people poorly because of a false accusation.

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25, NKJV).

A church should be committed to biblical authority and the laws of Christ within. And in doing so, we must be committed not merely to defending true doctrine, but also to speaking truth about one another—this is how we show a godly love toward another as Christ commanded.

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. 

 

Will There Be More Books Of The Bible? “Open Canon”—A False Doctrine

Will There Be More Books Of The Bible?

“Open Canon”—A False Doctrine

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, August 27, 2026 (Donate)

For 2,000 years, the canon of Scripture has been closed. Yet, many alleged prophets pop up in history trying to add to Scripture as if God’s Word isn’t complete or sufficient. Inevitably, these “new prophets” take people in different direction than the Bible. Of course this is a problem.

A few alleged "Holy Books"; Photo by Bodie Hodge

But this brings me to the issue behind why people do this. It is an underlying belief that the canon of Scripture is still open to be added to (called an “open canon”). More technically, an "open canon" is the belief that God's canon of inspired Scripture isn’t complete and that additional writings or revelations can still be added with the same divine authority as biblical Scripture.

In contrast, a closed canon recognizes the 66 books of the Bible as the completed written Word of God and rejects later claims to additional inspired Scripture.

Why Is An Open Canon A Problem?

The issue isn’t whether God is capable of revealing more. God is sovereign, all powerful, and all-knowing and can do whatever is consistent with His will and nature. The question is whether Scripture gives Christians a reason to expect continuing additions to the Bible.

When we start with the Bible that has already been revealed, we expect a completed revelation centered upon Christ and delivered through His authorized Apostles and prophets. Let’s look at the passages.

The Faith Was Delivered

The book of Jude is one of the last books of the Bible (by chronology) and is written after 2 Peter, showing the fulfillment of much what Peter predicting in 2 Peter 2-3. Jude 3 tells Christians to:

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (NKJV)

Christianity is presented as a body of truth already delivered, not an unfinished faith awaiting new doctrines from later prophets. Hebrews 1:1-2 similarly contrasts God's former revelation through the prophets with His climactic revelation through His Son:

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. (NKJV)

Jesus then commanded His Apostles to record His teaching and the Holy Spirit would help them (John 14:26; 16:13). The early church "continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42). The Bible describes the church as:

“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22, NKJV)

A foundation is laid once, and then the structure is built upon it. The church isn’t described as repeatedly receiving new foundations through new generations of Apostles and prophets.

The Apostles also possessed unique qualifications. They were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 9:1), and Christ gave them particular authority to establish His church. The Holy Spirit through Paul indicated that prophecy was indeed coming to an end

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, NKJV)

Adding To God's Revelation Is Serious

Scripture repeatedly warns against tampering with God's Word:

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6).

Revelation 22:18-19 concludes with another severe warning against adding to or taking away from "the words of the prophecy of this book." These passages apply directly to their respective revelations, but together they show an important biblical principle—man has no authority to supplement what God has revealed.

But it gets even more serious when read God’s civil punishment. The punishment in the Law of Moses for a false prophet was death. God states in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 states:

 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, “and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’  — which you have not known —  ‘and let us serve them,’ “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, NKJV)

Consider also:

‘But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’  —  “when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22, NKJV)

What About Alleged New Prophets And Alleged New Scriptures?

An open canon potentially provides an avenue for later figures to claim, "God has given me additional Scripture." Of course, previous revelation must be used to judge any later revelation as Moses instructed.

So simply put, the Mosaic principle is that any alleged new revelation from God can’t contradict previous revelation from God. Signs, wonders, prophetic claims, or religious authority don’t supersede what God has already revealed.

This principle continues in the New Testament. Paul says that even an angel from heaven must be rejected if he proclaims a gospel contrary to the one already delivered (Galatians 1:8-9; cf. Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). Keep in mind that Paul defends Jesus and the Gospel using the Old Testament—which was previously revealed (e.g., Acts 18:28).

In other words, previously divine revelation is the authoritative standard by which subsequent claims of revelation are tested. This is relevant to alleged later revelations associated with Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Papal proclamations, Apocryphal additions, Charles Taze Russell, and others. How do their claim stand up against the Bible? They fail. Thus, they are not Scripture.

Their claims can’t simply be added to Scripture. They must first survive Scripture's tests for revelation (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:20-22; Isaiah 8:20; Galatians 1:8-9). They must be 100% consistent with previous Revelation. But it is like this with anyone claiming an open canon today.

Conclusion: Scripture Is Sufficient

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says Scripture is God-breathed and able to make the man of God, "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

If Scripture thoroughly equips God's people, Christians don’t require an expanding collection of new inspired books to complete their faith. Any additional adds nothing!

An open canon is therefore dangerous because it leaves the door open for man's fallible words to be elevated to God's authority—and deceive others into those new false beliefs. Sadly, we’ve seen it over and over again throughout history with many false prophets.

Biblically, Christians should remain anchored to the prophetic and apostolic revelation God has already given in the 66 books of the Bible, testing every teaching by Scripture rather than continually entertaining the idea that there is an expanding Scripture to accommodate new revelations.

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.