Add Not, Diminish Not

God forbids adding to or taking from His Word — and names the penalty.

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Key Texts

The Hook

'God did not leave us guessing about how He feels when men edit His Book. He said it plainly, in both Testaments, with a warning attached.'

Point 1

The command, given early and often. 'Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it' (Deut 4:2). 'Every word of God is pure... Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar' (Prov 30:5-6).

Point 2

The command, sealed at the end. The last chapter of the Bible warns: if any man adds to these words, God shall add to him the plagues; if any takes away, God shall take away his part out of the book of life (Rev 22:18-19). The whole Book is bracketed by the same command.

Point 3

Every word matters. 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God' (Matt 4:4). Not the ideas only — the WORDS. If words can be freely added or dropped, this command is meaningless.

The Line They Must Not Forget

God forbids adding to or taking from His Word and attaches a fearful penalty — so a tradition built on omitting verses stands under a warning.

The Appeal

When a modern version drops a verse the church received for centuries, ask honestly: which side of Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:19 does that fall on?

This Week

Be able to:

Write out what these verses say about removing words from Scripture, in your own words.

Practice with the Pastor

When you’re challenged this week, here’s what you’ll hear — and how to answer.

The Challenge

“Your KJV added verses that aren't in the originals.”

See the workbook’s answer ↓

Turn the question around. The honest issue is not whether the KJV added, but on what authority the modern versions REMOVED what the whole church received for centuries. The verses are present in the vast majority of manuscripts; they are absent mainly in a few Egyptian ones. The burden is on the side that subtracts (Deut 4:2; Rev 22:19).

The Anchor

“(The anchor, when all else fails)”

See the workbook’s answer ↓

Return always to the promise. God said His words are pure and that He would keep and preserve them forever (Ps 12:6-7; Matt 24:35). A position that requires God's true Word to have been lost for 1,500 years cannot be true, because God does not lose what He swore to keep. That is the rock you stand on when the manuscript arguments run out.

Going Deeper on This Lesson

Where this lesson connects across Logos.

Defense Shields

Verses defended in this lesson

1 John 5:7

See the full reference →

The Manuscript Divide

Two Streams →

The Byzantine majority vs. the Alexandrian minority — by the numbers.

Memorize the Ground

Preservation: The Promise of the Word →

Eleven verses on the doctrine beneath this lesson. Memorize what you defend.

Go Deeper

The Hand of God on the King James Bible →

Fifteen exhibits from sacred and secular sources documenting God’s providence in establishing the Authorized Version.