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 Strange
as it may seem, one of the most popular versions of the Bible
has never been published. It is what I call the Abridged
Version. Its contents may vary considerably, depending on the
discretion and tastes of the abridger. His method of
abbreviating the Scriptures is very simple — elimination by
ignoring. He merely disregards all passages except those he
chooses to recognize and emphasize. Scissors couldn’t be more
effective!
Many
seem satisfied with only a slight abridgment, maybe one or two
verses. One popular unpopular verse among the “discreet”
abridgers is 1 Cor. 16:2 — you know, the one about giving as
prospered on the first day of the week. Some don’t much like
the “giving” part; others don’t care for the “as
prospered” part and still others would like to ignore or
minimize every week giving. Otherwise, they are apt to be as
strong as horse radish on most of the remaining 7,958 verses in
the N.T.
Another
popular verse among the less-active scripture pruners is the one
about not forsaking the assembling (Heb. 10:25). Now, they’ll
debate baptism at the drop of a “sprinkle” — more than
likely quoting the right passages in doing so. Likely, they can
tell you what the NT has to say about the work and worship of
the church. Trouble is, you never know if they’ll be present
for the work and worship because they have forsaken what God
says about “not forsaking”. Abridgment of Divine truth is
serious business, even when done in “small” portions — and
even when done by those claiming to be Christians.
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On
the other hand, many abridgers seem perfectly willing to
disregard greater portions of Scripture. Some, in fact, have
been known to wind up with little more than a one-verse Bible!
Take, for example, the singular emphasis often given to a
passage like Jn. 3:16 —- almost as if it were the very epitome
of the gospel. True, this beautiful verse does say much, but it
doesn’t say everything. The faith it mentions is
all-important, but not all that is important! When seen in the
light of other NT teaching (as all passages should be), the
faith of Jn. 3:16 can be understood and appreciated as the kind
that includes works of obedience, rather than excluding them. It
is a passage to be complemented by others (such as Jas. 2:24)
and not arrayed against them. Whether one passage is emphasized
to the exclusion of others or whether just one is excluded and
all others emphasized, the sin is the same. “For whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is
become guilty of all. For He that said.. .said also..” (Jas.
2:10,11). To disregard law is to disregard the lawgiver; whether
in one instance or many is academic.
What
men need to hear and heed today is what Paul said he preached
nearly 2,000 years ago: THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD! (Acts 20:27).
All Scripture was given by inspiration and given for a purpose
— and that purpose involves making man complete, as God would
have him (2 Tim. 3:16-17). An abridged gospel cannot make a
complete man! Only one thing can, and that’s the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but… Dan S. Shipley
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