--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be…" description: "\"“Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be, if the Bible had told us everything God meant us to believe. But herein is the Bible itself greatly wronged. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/george-macdonald-295_bible_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1181193.png" --- # Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be, if the Bible had… ![“Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be, if the Bible had told us everything God meant us to believe. But herein is the Bible itself greatly wronged. It nowhere lays claim to be regarded as the Word, the Way, the Truth. The Bible leads us to Jesus, the inexhaustible, the ever unfolding Revelation…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/george-macdonald-295_bible_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1181193.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/george-macdonald-295_bible_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1181193.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/george-macdonald-295_bible_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1181193.png) > ““Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be, if the Bible had told us everything God meant us to believe. But herein is the Bible itself greatly wronged. It nowhere lays claim to be regarded as the Word, the Way, the Truth. The Bible leads us to Jesus, the inexhaustible, the ever unfolding Revelation of God. It is Christ "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," not the Bible, save as leading to him. And why are we told that these treasures are hid in him who is the Revelation of God? Is it that we should despair of finding them and cease to seek them? Are they not hid in him that they may be revealed to us in due time—that is, when we are in need of them? Is not their hiding in him the mediatorial step towards their unfolding in us? Is he not the Truth?—the Truth to men? Is he not the High Priest of his brethren, to answer all the troubled questionings that arise in their dim humanity? For it is his heart which Contains of good, wise, just, the perfect shape.”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Bible points to Christ as the ultimate source of wisdom, not as the final revelation itself. **In simple terms:** Christ is the true treasure of knowledge. Key Takeaway Seek Christ for deeper understanding. Themes faith spirituality wisdom Mood reflective contemplative Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal study - church teaching - spiritual mentorship - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology revelation Christocentric view Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on Christ change biblical reading? - What role does personal experience play in faith? A Different Perspective Literal interpretations can miss deeper meanings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-told-2441411/) [Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation/) [Revelation God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation-god/) [Unfolding Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfolding-revelation-2441412/) [Unfolding Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfolding-truth-3464903/) [Wisdom And Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-and-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be if the Bible had told us everything God meant us to believe. But herein is the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if-the-bible-had-told-us/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The pleasure of the soul appears to be found in the journey of discovery, the unfolding revelation of expanded insight and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lawlor/the-pleasure-of-the-soul-appears-to-be-found-in-the-journey-of/) [Anthony Lawlor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lawlor/) > [Now I realize it's fashionable in some circles to believe that no one in government should encourage others to read the Bible. That we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/now-i-realize-it-s-fashionable-in-some-circles-to-believe-that-no-one/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The bible told you wait on my arrival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/the-bible-told-you-wait-on-my-arrival/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [“(Ephesians 6:13). This is not suggested; it is commanded. The Bible would not have told us to take up the whole armor of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/ephesians-6-13-this-is-not-suggested-it-is-commanded-the-bible-would/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [I did the bible as told through Hispanic people and they laughed and applauded. I thought, "Oh my god, this is what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/i-did-the-bible-as-told-through-hispanic-people-and-they-laughed-and/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [In the acquisition of Sacred knowledge, scholarship and reason are not alternatives to revelation. They are a means to an end, and the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/in-the-acquisition-of-sacred-knowledge-scholarship-and-reason-are-not/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Make your creed simply and broadly out of the revelation of God, and you will keep it to the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/make-your-creed-simply-and-broadly-out-of-the-revelation-of-god-and/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [ I am open to \[the notion of theistic revelation\], but not enthusiastic about potential revelation from God. On the positive side, for example, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/i-am-open-to-the-notion-of-theistic-revelation-but-not-enthusiastic/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Nature is a revelation of God; Art is a revelation of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-is-a-revelation-of-god-art-is-a-revelation-of-man/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [The Bible contains the revelation of the will of God. It contains the history of the creation of the world, and of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-bible-contains-the-revelation-of-the-will-of-god-it-contains-the/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“To live in the world as if there were no God ! "-but hon esty to the Gospel, to the whole Christian tradition, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/to-live-in-the-world-as-if-there-were-no-god-but-hon-esty-to-the/) [Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/) > [I did not come here to repeat what you already know. I have come to reveal something new. I want to share with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/i-did-not-come-here-to-repeat-what-you-already-know-i-have-come-to/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/conversion-is-an-enlarging-a-deepening-and-a-broadening-of-the/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Why is the truth, it would seem, revealed to some and not to others? Is there a special organ for receiving revelation from God?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-rose/why-is-the-truth-it-would-seem-revealed-to-some-and-not-to-others-is/) [Seraphim Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-rose/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be, if the Bible had told us everything God meant us to believe. But herein is the Bible itself greatly wronged. It nowhere lays claim to be regarded as the Word, the Way, the Truth. The Bible leads us to Jesus, the inexhaustible, the ever unfolding Revelation of God. It is Christ \"in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,\" not the Bible, save as leading to him. And why are we told that these treasures are hid in him who is the Revelation of God? Is it that we should despair of finding them and cease to seek them? Are they not hid in him that they may be revealed to us in due time—that is, when we are in need of them? Is not their hiding in him the mediatorial step towards their unfolding in us? Is he not the Truth?—the Truth to men? Is he not the High Priest of his brethren, to answer all the troubled questionings that arise in their dim humanity? 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