It is the responsibility of every responsible Bible student to “[handle] aright the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, ASV). Handling it “aright” clearly warns against handling it “a-wrong.” Therefore, we must recognize that we have no authority to “go beyond” (ESV) or even “think beyond what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). We have no authority to “speak” beyond what is written, for we must speak only “the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). We have no authority to create “divisions” by speaking, thinking or going beyond what is written (1 Cor. 1:10). That is our clear, God-given responsibility, as we handle “aright” His Word.
While such should never even cross the mind of finite man when it comes to the infinite God, the Bible repeatedly commands, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it” (Deut. 4:2). “You shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deut. 12:32). “Do not add to His words” (Prov. 30:6). “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 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).
There is only one gospel, one truth, one faith, one final revelation from God, but some “want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7), so we are warned about “anyone” who would preach “any other gospel” (1:8-9) or “bring” to us something other than “the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9-11). It is dangerously “vain” for individuals to go around “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). We must “speak THE truth” (Eph. 4:15) and “preach THE word” (2 Tim. 4:2), recognizing the singular, objective, final revelation that we hold within our hands.
The Bible is full of examples of individuals who chose to go beyond God’s Word, thus going beyond God’s authority for them. Nadab and Abihu, priests in the Old Testament, offered “unauthorized fire before the Lord,” and as a result, “fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them” (Lev. 10:1-2, ESV). Moses chose to “strike the rock,” rather than “speak to the rock,” as instructed by God, and as a result, he was not permitted to enter “into the land” of promise (Num. 20:7-12). Uzzah was improperly transporting the ark of the covenant, and he “put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it,” when God had instructed to “not touch any holy thing” (Num. 4:15), and as a result, “he died there by the ark of God” (2 Sam. 6:3-7).
We must respect and obey God’s Word, lest we “be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thess. 1:8-9).