"Thou shall not add or subtract" And The Book Of Mormon (Rev. 22:18-19)

By : Bro. Nathan

" For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev. 22:18-19) NKJV

Ang Revelations 22:18-19 ang commonly na ginagamit na proof text against sa Book of Mormon, just because sa pagkakaintindi nila na ang "book" sa context ay about daw sa Bible and therefore daw wala na daw ibang books na mageexist. let us get out sa interpretation na ito and dive in sa context ng verse. first, ang greek ng verse ay :

Μαρτυρῶ ἐγὼ παντὶ τῷ ἀκούοντι τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου· ἐάν τις ἐπιθῇ ἐπ’ αὐτά, ἐπιθήσει ὁ θεὸς ἐπ’ αὐτὸν τὰς πληγὰς τὰς γεγραμμένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ, καὶ ἐάν τις ἀφέλῃ ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων τοῦ βιβλίου τῆς προφητείας ταύτης, ἀφελεῖ ὁ θεὸς τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως τῆς ἁγίας τῶν γεγραμμένων ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ. (Rev. 22:18-19) Nestle-Aland 28

Ang greek words dito na τοῦ βιβλίου at τῷ βιβλίῳ (tou bibliou, tou biblio), grammatically, ay isang genitive neuter singular, which means iisang book lang ang tinutukoy dito at hindi 66. apllicable lamang ito sa iisang writing at hindi sa iisang set ng writings (bible canon).

Sa context, hindi naglolock dito si John the Revelator ng bible canon pero nagproprotect sa kanyang writings laban sa mga tao na nais na magcorrupt nito. copyright doesn't exist at that times kaya naglalagay sila ng curse aciently. may parallels tayo ng curses na ito in the old testament :

" 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." (Dt. 4:2) NKJV

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Dt. 12:32) NKJV


" Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." (Prov. 30:6) NKJV

If gagamitin natin ang logic ng mga sola scriptura fanatics, wala na dapat na ibang books ang mageexist pagkatapos ng Deuteronomy. or ng Proverbs, or the New Testament itself should not be needed. the passage have noting against the book of mormon.