(Read Revelation 22)
The more you understand about something good, the more powerful and fulfilling it becomes. About twenty years ago, during Lent, I spent an hour a day studying historical evidence for Jesus. A part of me feared it might weaken my faith due to conspiracies, etc, but it actually strengthened it. The more I learned, the more assured I became.
Warner Wallace, a former atheist and cold-case detective, had a similar outcome to his journey. He set out to disprove Christianity using his forensic investigative skills, but the evidence led him to an unexpected conclusion:
“I’m not a Christian today because I was raised that way or because I hoped it was true. I’m a Christian because it’s the most reasonable inference from the evidence.”
Talking about faith, especially the Bible, almost always leads to questions. Just last weekend, my sister and brother asked me how I choose the passages for my devotionals and how I know what to write. That led to a flurry of questions about the Old and New Testaments, including one big one: “How come nothing has been added to the Bible after all these years?”
“Great question,” I said.
To answer it, it’s helpful to know a bit about the Bible. Different Christian traditions include different books. Protestants have 66 books, Catholics have 73 (including texts like Tobit and Maccabees), and Eastern Orthodox Bibles have up to 79. But all agree on the 27 books of the New Testament. The Bible was written by 35 to 40 authors over about 1,500 years.
In biblical times, papyrus was the most common writing material, made from a plant found in Egypt and Syria and used for everything from letters to Scripture, so much so that the port of Byblos, a major distribution center, gave us the word “Bible.” Some papyrus fragments date back to 2500 BC, but because it’s fragile, they’ve mostly survived only in dry places like Egypt or the Qumran caves, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Over time, people began using parchment, a more durable material made from animal skins, and later vellum. Texts were originally written on scrolls, sometimes over 100 feet long, but the codex eventually replaced these. This bound book format proved more practical and became the standard for preserving Scripture.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’”
Exodus 34:27
This moment came shortly after the renewal of the covenant following the golden calf incident, and it showed that Moses wasn’t just receiving God’s words—he was also being told to record them as part of God’s lasting covenant with His people. This wasn’t just an oral agreement; it was a formal covenant that needed to be preserved in writing for future generations. It showed that God’s covenant was not based on vague memories or traditions, but on written revelation that could be read, taught, and obeyed.
This verse above also highlights Moses’ unique role as both prophet and scribe. He was not just a messenger, but someone entrusted to record God’s instructions exactly as given. The act of writing served to bind the covenant officially and made the law accessible to the people of Israel, giving them a clear and lasting record of God’s expectations and promises.
In a broader biblical context, Exodus 34:27 helps establish the origin of Scripture itself. It shows that from the beginning, God intended His Word to be both spoken and written, ensuring it could be faithfully passed down through generations.
Old Testament stories were first passed down orally, told and retold with great care to preserve their accuracy. Over time, these sacred accounts were written down by scribes, who approached their work with deep reverence. Every detail mattered—from handling divine names to storing scrolls properly. So sacred, in fact, that scribes were often instructed not to stop, even for prayer, while copying God’s Word. Their dedication ensured that what was once spoken would be faithfully preserved in writing.
The Torah, also called the Pentateuch or the first five books of Moses, means “law” or “instruction.” It forms the first section of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, which is made up of three parts: Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings)—a total of 24 books.
The Nevi’im includes both historical and prophetic books. The Former Prophets recount Israel’s journey after Moses, including the reigns of David and Solomon. The Latter Prophets feature voices like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve, a single book containing the writings of prophets like Jonah and Malachi.
The Ketuvim concludes the Tanakh with poetry, wisdom, and history—books like Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles, which is the final book in the Jewish arrangement. Written around 450–400 BC, Chronicles retells Israel’s story from creation to the return from exile, ending on a note of hope and restoration.
Around this same period, Malachi, the last of the Minor Prophets, delivered his message during a spiritual decline following the return from Babylon. Though the Temple had been rebuilt, the people drifted from God, neglecting tithing and the Sabbath and allowing priestly corruption. Malachi, alongside Nehemiah, called Israel back to faithful living. His message became the final prophetic voice in the Hebrew Bible.
After Malachi, a widespread belief emerged among the Jewish people that the age of prophecy had ended. God had spoken, and no new messages would come until He chose to speak again. While later writings like the Maccabees or the Dead Sea Scrolls were respected, they were never added to the canon, as they weren’t seen as divinely inspired in the same way.
From a Christian perspective, this gap between Malachi and the New Testament is often called the “400 Silent Years,” preparing the way for Jesus, the promised Messiah. It wasn’t that nothing happened; Israel experienced major events like the Greek conquest, the rise of the Maccabees, and the Roman occupation, but there were no new prophetic words from God during this time.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The last word of the Old Testament is ‘curse’ (Malachi 4:6), and it is meaningful that the opening sermon of our Lord’s ministry commences with the word ‘Blessed.’”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:3–6
During His sermon on the Mount, Jesus wanted Matthew to record that true blessings belong to those who recognize their need for God, grieve over what’s broken, live with gentleness, and hunger for righteousness. Blessing isn’t found in strength, wealth, or status—it begins with a humble heart ready to receive God’s grace. Jesus called the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, and the hungry “blessed,” because they are prepared to inherit His Kingdom. He meets us with comfort, fulfillment, and hope in our weakness and longing.
As the early Church grew, preserving these truths became vital. In the third century, church father Origen used the word canon to describe the “rule of faith”—the standard for what Christians should believe. Over time, canon came to mean the official list of biblical books that faithfully reveal God’s Word to His people.
The process of canonization took several centuries. Church leaders carefully considered which writings were truly inspired. Their criteria included apostolic origin, consistency with known truth about Jesus, widespread use in churches, spiritual impact, and harmony with the rest of Scripture.
Books like the Gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters gradually stood out. By the late 4th century, councils at Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD) affirmed the collection we now call the New Testament, alongside the already-accepted Hebrew Scriptures. The Bible we have today is the result of centuries of faithful discernment, shaped by a desire to preserve God’s story—from creation to Christ to the Church. This is what Paul meant in 2 Timothy 3:16, when he said all Scripture is θεόπνευστος (theopneustos)—”God-breathed.”
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”
2 Timothy 3:16
So, θεόπνευστος literally means “breathed out by God,” highlighting the premise that Scripture originates from God Himself, not merely human thought, but divine revelation. This idea is central to the Christian understanding of inspiration: that the Bible is both divinely inspired and written through human authors, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Many works from classical antiquity—like Homer’s Iliad, Herodotus’ Histories, and writings from Caesar, Aristotle, and Sophocles—are considered historically reliable, even though most were recorded centuries after the events they described. In contrast, the New Testament was written within 20 to 50 years of Jesus’ death, based on firsthand accounts. Even more remarkable is the manuscript evidence: over 66,000 fragments or complete texts of biblical material have been discovered—far more than any other ancient writing.
Yet despite this, popular culture often distorts the Bible’s origins. The Da Vinci Code, for instance, falsely claimed that Emperor Constantine created the Bible at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD by choosing certain gospels and suppressing others for political reasons. In truth, the council focused on affirming Jesus’ divinity, not on determining the contents of Scripture.
The biblical canon developed gradually as early Christians recognized which writings carried divine authority. Books were affirmed based on key criteria: apostolic origin, consistency with the gospel message, widespread use in worship, and evident spiritual impact. Many of the so-called Gnostic texts were written long after the apostolic era and were never accepted as authoritative by the early Church.
“You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.”
Deuteronomy 4:2
So, does this Godly command from the Old Testament mean nothing else could be added to Scripture? Not so fast, Sparky. This verse is best understood in its immediate context—Moses was speaking to the Israelites about the law God gave them at Mount Sinai. He warned them not to alter, dilute, or add to God’s commandments as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 4:2 isn’t a blanket ban on future revelations from God. After this command, many more books of the Bible were written, including most of the Old Testament and, eventually, the New Testament. It wouldn’t make sense if the verse meant no new Scripture could be given. Instead, it was about protecting the integrity of God’s current commands, the foundational and timeless Ten Commandments, not closing the canon of Scripture.
Deuteronomy 4:2 is a call to faithfully obey what God had revealed then, not a statement that He would never speak again. While verses like this are serious warnings against distorting God’s Word, they do not, in context, prohibit future revelation. The canon of Scripture grew gradually, guided by how God revealed Himself through prophets, apostles, and ultimately through Jesus Christ.
Some religious groups interpret this verse differently and use it to support their inclusion of post-biblical writings. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepts additional scriptures beyond the Bible, including The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. Christian Scientists use the Bible but regard Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as divinely inspired commentary. Jehovah’s Witnesses primarily use their own Bible translation, the New World Translation, but rely heavily on Watchtower Society writings for doctrinal guidance.
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’”
Revelation 22:18–20
The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is the final book of the New Testament—and the last book of the Christian Bible. Written in Koine Greek, its title comes from the first word of the text, apokalypsis, meaning “unveiling” or “revelation.”
So why does the Bible end there? Because we don’t need more. In Revelation, God has already told us everything we need to know, who He is, why we need a Savior, and how Jesus saves us. God’s full revelation has been given through His Son and the written testimony about Him.
I came across an insightful comment on a Reddit thread recently where people were discussing the finality of Revelation.
Churchy answer: Everything you need to get to heaven is in the Bible. A sequel wouldn’t add anything.
Regular Joe answer: Revelation is about the end of human time. Nothing but eternity comes after it.
If Scripture were always open-ended, we’d never be sure what truly comes from God. But instead, He gave us His Word with a clear beginning and end. And though no new books are being added, the Bible is still alive, speaking through teaching, translation, and transformed lives.
Jesus Christ fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy pointing to the coming Messiah. He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), descended from David (Jeremiah 23:5–6) and Abraham (Genesis 12:3). His ministry began in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1–2), marked by healing and proclaiming good news (Isaiah 61:1–2). He entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13), and remained silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7). He was mocked, pierced, and crucified (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53), yet no bones were broken (Psalm 34:20). He was buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9) and rose again, as foretold in Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:11. Altogether, these fulfillments confirm Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
“After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.”
Hosea 6:2
The Bible opens with “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1) and closes with Jesus’ promise: “Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20). That final line isn’t just poetic, it’s God’s closing word in Scripture. The entire Bible either points to Christ or is fulfilled in Christ. The Alpha and Omega has completed every prophecy spoken about Him.
I’d like to thank my sister and brother for asking this great question and my good friend Dave for lending me 7 books as reference materials. We should all learn more about the Bible but it’s most important to know what’s in it.
There’s nothing more to add because the Bible is now a finished book. Its pages are complete, but the story isn’t. We’re still living in its final chapter, waiting for the return He promises.
“A book is not the Word of God because it is accepted by the people of God. Rather, it was accepted by the people of God because it is the Word of God. That is, God gives the book its divine authority, not the people of God. They merely recognize the divine authority which God gives to it.”
—Geisler and Nix
Key Applications:
- Trust the Bible as Your Foundation:
Because Scripture is God-breathed and faithfully preserved, we can trust it fully for guidance, comfort, and truth. We don’t need to look for new revelations—we need to root our lives in what God has already clearly spoken. - Recognize That God’s Story Is Still Unfolding:
Although the Bible is complete, God’s work in the world—and in your own story—is not finished. We live between the final words of Revelation and the fulfillment of Christ’s return. Live each day with hope and expectancy, knowing you are part of God’s ongoing plan. Stay alert, faithful, and ready.