Ghana based Pastor Isaac Love Pappoe in a Facebook post has recanted his heretic teachings that the Bible is not the word of God, that Jesus is. In the post which is the first in the series of some of the mistakes he made in ministry, Pappoe declares that he wrote a book titled “Open My Eyes” which contained some of the heretic teachings. He then promised to review the book. Below is a full text of his post on his Facebook page on June 6Pastor Isaac Pappoe
I want to share this little experience with everyone as we keep learning, unlearning and growing. Over the years as I grew in grace, in my quest for knowledge, I begun to read some very strange books and watched certain ministers that almost corrupted me terribly. Long before universalism (everyone is already saved doctrine) became an issue on Facebook about four or five years ago, I had almost become one even before. I wasn’t surprised many were swayed by it on Facebook because it did sway me if I should say almost.
I begun reading some books along these lines because I thought it was all the message of grace. Long and short, I was saved by the Holy Spirit. In that same journey, I wrote a book titled “Open My Eyes” which has been a blessing to many. As my understanding of the word of grace deepened, I begun to review some few things I once believed, taught and wrote and realised I was wrong on some of them and I also didn’t put out some of them rightly. I am currently restructuring that book all over again through my journey.
Somethings I regret saying, teaching and writing in “Open My Eyes” a book I wrote about 6 and half years ago but published 3 and half years ago:
1. The Bible is not the word of God, Jesus is.
I was wrong making such statements. Anyone one who has read or reads my book “Open My Eyes” should cancel the whole of chapter One from it. I will be correcting some more as time goes on and I really want to apologize to anyone who has read chapter one of that book. I taught this with genuineness and sincerity of heart as it was what I knew about 7 years ago in my journey. As I grow spiritually, definitely there are things I will review and reteach them again correctly.
This assertion that “The Bible is not the word of God and that Jesus is” and that “The Bible only reveals the word of God” opens up the possibility for the unlearned to misunderstand this error and build on this foundation. I made those statements because I found out in Rev 19:13 and John 1:1 and Heb 4:12 that Jesus Christ is the word of God so I concluded from the genuiness of my heart that Jesus is the word of God not the Bible. A matured person may understand the point or perspective am coming from but that statement can be disaster for the unlearned and unstable.
Yes, its true Jesus is the word of God, but the Bible is also the word of God in the sense that it is sacred and acknowledged to be the divine rule for human faith and practice.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 NKJV
[14] But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, [15] and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If the scriptures are given by the inspiration of God, then it must be the word of God. God actually wrote them through men, that’s what I mean.
2 Peter 1:19-21 NKJV
[19] And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; [20] knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, [21] for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
If scriptures came not by the will of man but by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit, then it must be the Word of God. If God moved men to write it, then it is the word of God.
Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV
[1] God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, [2] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [3] who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
How do you see what He has spoken in His Son? Through the written scriptures. So the Bible is the word of God. Please don’t commit this error I made too.
The moment we say the Bible is not the word of God, we give room for the authority of the Bible to be questioned. We give room for people to bring their own ideologies into the Bible. We give room for anyone to say anything at all and claim the Bible isn’t sufficient.
The Bible is the Word Of God:
It is the word of God in the sense that it’s our final authority on doctrine and practice.
It is the word of God in the sense that it was inspired by a holy God to be the basis of our Christian practice, instruction and obedience.
The Bible is the word of God in the sense that it is a progressive revelation of God and His dealings and relationship with man over different dispensations and timeliness.
The Bible is the word of God in that, it is the only inspired book for Christians to defend their faith and confront heresies.
The Bible is the word of God in the sense that Jesus Himself quoted from it as having an authority.
The Bible is the word of God in the sense that it reveals God’s plan in Christ and it’s fulfillment, therefore is the only source to find that out.
Though not everything clearly stated are statements of truth for us in the New Testament, they were preserved for us to appreciate God’s faithfulness, love and justice over different dispensations so that we may live by the examples we learn from the old Testament, that we may be established thereby.
This is what Norman Geisler says, “In this later regard, Jesus’ use of the scriptures is very instructive. He challenged the religious leaders (pharisees) of His day, asking, “have you never read in the scriptures? (Matt 21:42)”. To the question of the Saduccees, He replied, “You’re wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt 22:29). Jesus often referred to the necessity of the scriptures being fulfilled (Matt 26:54, 56, John 13:8, 17:12). In Luke 24:44 Jesus affirmed that everything written about Himself in the scriptures in the singular, without citing a specific passage from the old Testament (John 7:38,42, 19:36, 20:9). Thus He used the phrase “as the scriptures say” in a somewhat similar fashion to the current expression “as the Bible says”. The scriptures for Jesus were the definitive, divine disclosure to man. He said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Such was the divine authority of the Old Testament writings for Christ – writings which were the rule of faith, which must be fulfilled and which could not be broken..”
Yes, Jesus is the word of God but we wouldn’t have known that without the Bible. We wouldn’t have known that till we referenced or looked into the Bible. We received that knowledge from the authority of the scriptures..
Jesus Himself called the scriptures “The Word of God”, we have to call it same.
John 10:34-35 NKJV
[34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”‘? [35] If He called them gods, to whom the WORD OF GOD came (and THE SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN),
Mark 7:9,13 NKJV
[9] He said to them, “All too well you reject the COMMANDMENT OF GOD, that you may keep your tradition………………. [13] making the WORD OF GOD of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
JESUS AFFIRMED THAT THE BIBLE OR SCRIPTURES IS THE WORD OF GOD.
John also affirms that the Bible is the word of God:
Revelation 1:1-3 NKJV
[1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, [2] who bore witness to the WORD OF GOD, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. [3] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
The Bible is the word of God, it contains the word of God and it reveals the word of God. It’s unperisheable, unimpeacheable. It’s account and testimony is true and faithful. It will remain our final authority for doctrine, faith, conduct and defence.
You see, as you initially grow in the understanding of grace, there is a pride that settles in your heart of care is not taken that makes you think you’re beyond correction. Anyone that tries correcting you becomes an enemy. I have been there before. As you grow more you come to see clearly some damages some statements you made have caused, you must be humble correct them. That’s how we learn. It’s not too late to quickly correct yourself and move on. Many have done this and I’m no different, so as you. Tell you more soon.
