In Revelation 22:18, it says that anyone who adds to the Bible will be punished. How, then, can Mormons use the Book of Mormon as scripture as well as the Bible?
Many people ask LDS members about this question. Let me tell you something. The Book of Revelation was not the last book put in the Bible. This scripture refers specifically to the Book of Revelation itself and not to the other books in the Bible. Otherwise, if we took this scripture at face value, we would have to throw out all the books of the New Testament that were added to the Bible after the Book of Revelation. Remember that the Bible was originally compiled as a collection of books, not a single book.
When it was originally written, the Bible did not exist as one single book, but rather was a collection of books. The scripture at the end of the book of Revelation, which suggests that nothing should be added, is only referring to that book (the book of Revelation), not the entire Bible. The Bible did not even exist as a single book until centuries after Christ's death. In fact, most scholars agree that Revelation was not even the last book in the Bible to be written. Should we throw out the other books in the New Testament that were written after Revelation, then?
Additionally, there is a scripture in Deuteronomy (12:32) which also says nothing should be added. Using this same logic, we should throw out the entire New Testament and much of the Old! Of course such a Biblical interpretation is not valid.
Webmaster: René makes a good point. In fact, there is a similar scripture in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 12:32. If we assume that these types of scriptures apply to the entire Bible instead of to their respective books, then we must suppose that all books added to the Bible after the Book of Deuteronomy (which would include the entire New Testament) must be false additions. As a Christian, that interpretation is unacceptable to me.
Additionally, there is a scripture in Deuteronomy (12:32) which also says nothing should be added. Using this same logic, we should throw out the entire New Testament and much of the Old! Of course such a Biblical interpretation is not valid.