The answer
One verse from the Bible isn't sufficient and cannot be held to convey the total Biblical truth on a particular matter. This can only be gathered from collecting together all the verses which pertain to that subject.
I shall give you some examples to prove this point:
1. Let us suppose that a person asks you about being born of God, and how can man be born of God, and you put before him the following verse: " If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. " (1 John 2:29).
Is it possible by this verse alone to convey the whole Biblical teaching on this point, just by giving this brief statement that man is born of God through doing good works, without any mention of faith or baptism?
No, of course not. And all Christian denominations would say the same.
Alternatively, we could convey rather more of the Biblical truth on the subject of being born of God, by putting beside this verse the other verses which are also concerned with it, such as:
"I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. " (John 3:5)
"He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. " (Titus 3:5)
"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth. "(James 1:18)
2. Let's suppose someone asked you what was the religion that was acceptable to God. Would you only put before him
these words of James: " Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world ".(James 1:27).
Can this be regarded as the whole biblical truth on this matter, when no mention is made in this verse of the need for faith? The other denominations wouldn't accept this! So let us provide for your questioner those other verses which together convey the full meaning of this point, which can then, when taken together, be regarded as biblical truth.
3 Again, let's imagine that a person asks you how a sinner can pass from death to eternal life. Would you reply to him simply be giving these words of John: "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." (1 John 3:14).
Is this all that the Bible has to say on this matter, leaving out any mention of atonement, redemption and the blood of Christ, or of repentance and baptism?
No-one should accept this verse just by itself. We have to put beside it those other verses which concern this subject, such as:
"God.. made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. " (Eph. 2:5)
"When you were dead in your sins.. God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations that was against us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. " (Col. 2:13-14).
4. The same goes for the question of salvation, if you were to ask: 'How can I be saved?' The verse which says: " Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. " (1 Tim. 4:16), might be put before you.
But is what it says in this verse alone enough for salvation, without faith and without baptism? And we could say the same for the verse: " if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. " Rom. 10:9)
Why not add these following verses:
"Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved. " (Mark 16:16)
".. in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also (1 Pet. 3:20-21)
By doing this, the whole biblical truth will be conveyed.
This question is one that constantly bewilders me, and I haven't yet found an answer to it:
Why don't those who call for the gospel teaching and who claim to defend biblical truth, state these verses which bring out the full meaning, in addition to those other ones? Aren't they all from the gospel and the Bible after all, I ask?!
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Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory