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TRUTH IS CONSISTENT

From Genesis to Revelation the Truth is consistent, which means that the teachings do not vary; they are characterized by harmony. What is true in one book is true in another book. Genesis does not contradict Galatians, nor does Isaiah contradict Revelation. The Truth may be enlarged and clarified from book to book and writer to writer, but there is no irregularity in the teachings—amplification does not imply inconsistency. Progressive revelation does not create abnormalities with later passages contradicting earlier passages (see: Revelation was Progressive). It matters not what theme is chosen for study, the uniformity is the same.

Whatever the subject and wherever the subject appears the teachings on the subject coincide, whether it be major truths (creation, fall, redemption) or lesser supporting truths (baptism or ordination). Uniformity, for instance, is evident in the Scripture’s teaching on the origin of man (Gen. 1:27 and Matt. 19:4), the depraved state of man subsequent to the Fall (Jer. 17:6 and Matt. 15:18-20), the accomplishment of redemption by the God-Man (Isa. 53:3-10 and Acts 8:32-35; Rom. 3:24-25; II Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 2:24), and the culmination of all things according to God’s plan (Isa. 65:17-19; 66:22 and Rev. 21:1-2). The message is the same, a message of creation, ruin, salvation, and consummation. From beginning to end these themes are developed by some forty writers over more than a millennium with unfailing agreement. These are just a few select examples of the multiple topics where there is agreement throughout the Scriptures. The Old Testament and the New Testament support each other; there is no conflict. Marcion must be rejected.

The Word is consistent because of the essence of the One who gave it. Its consistency is reflective of the consistency of the Divine Nature, which is immutable. God does not change; He is perfection without variation. He is light in whom there is no darkness (I Jo. 1:5); He is holiness with no shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17; see: God is Constant). And this is the God, and there is no other, who has spoken. His Revelation is reflective of His essence; and Scripture’s consistency is anchored in His unchangeableness. That which is true of Him is true of His Word; He is consistent within Himself and His Word is consistent within itself. God is true and cannot deny Himself; Scripture is true and cannot deny itself (see: Source of Truth).

Considering the sixty-six books written over approximately sixteen hundred years that comprise the Sacred Writings, the internal consistency is a supernatural miracle. The only explanation is God. Many wrote but only One reveled. Regarding the nature of man, Psalms 51, written by David around 1,000 BC, agrees with Romans 5, written by Paul several years before AD 60. This example is illustrative of all of Scripture. What is taught on a particular subject is consistent with what is taught on that topic at every other point where the topic is discussed in the Canon. The multiple writers of Scripture are consistently in agreement because there is only one Author, and what He reveals is consistent because He is consistent. He cannot be otherwise, nor can His Word.

The consistency of Scripture makes impossible the presence of embarrassing contradictions in Scripture, for the Divine Harmony negates irregularity or error in the Revelation. The absence of contradictions assures uniformity in the teachings of the Sacred Writings, therefore, there is no need to worry about conflicting viewpoints. The teachings can be trusted. One does not have to be cautious in seeking to understand the message, needlessly fretting over what is reliable and what is not. Study doesn’t have to be done with hesitancy, because the investigation does not need to determine what is the Truth, but focus on the understanding of what the Truth proclaims. If there is hesitancy, it belongs, at times, in the area of interpretation of the Truth not in the area of the reliability of the Truth. All the teachings can be accepted equally. Infallibility is a fact. They can be studied with the assurance that there is no conflict; they can be proclaimed knowing that they will be proven truthful whatever the investigation. Thus, the believer can approach the Truth with confidence.


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