--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be if…" 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 greatly wronged. It nowhere..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-macdonald-295_belief_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1041994.jpg" --- # 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 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…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-macdonald-295_belief_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1041994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-macdonald-295_belief_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1041994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/george-macdonald-295_belief_sad-indeed-would-the-whole-matter-be-if_1041994.jpg) > “Sad, indeed, would the whole matter be if the Bible had told us everything God meant us to believe. But herein is the Bible 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.” [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 revelation, not as the sole source of truth. **In simple terms:** Bible directs to Christ, not the sole truth. Key Takeaway Seek Christ for deeper wisdom. Themes faith revelation interpretation spirituality Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal study - church teaching - interfaith dialogue - spiritual growth Key Concepts theology Christocentric view scriptural criticism Questions to Reflect On - How does Christ reshape your understanding of scripture? - What does “treasures of wisdom” mean to you? A Different Perspective Relying solely on text can miss lived experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Knowledge and wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-and-wisdom/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation/) [Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelations/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) [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-2/) [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/) > [“There is no creature so perfect in wisdom and knowledge but may learn something for time present, and to come, by times past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-robinson/there-is-no-creature-so-perfect-in-wisdom-and-knowledge-but-may-learn/) [John Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-robinson/) > [When wisdom and knowledge appear, great pretense arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-wisdom-and-knowledge-appear-great-pretense-arises/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Wisdom and knowledge can best be understood together. Knowledge is learning, the power of the mind to understand and describe the universe. Wisdom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starhawk/wisdom-and-knowledge-can-best-be-understood-together-knowledge-is/) [Starhawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starhawk/) > [If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/if-men-of-wisdom-and-knowledge-of-moderation-and-temperance-of/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [The power of admiring whatever is deserving of admiration, the nice and quick perception of the beautiful and the true, is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-russell-mitford/the-power-of-admiring-whatever-is-deserving-of-admiration-the-nice/) [Mary Russell Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-russell-mitford/) > [Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people being necessary for the preservation of their rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/wisdom-and-knowledge-as-well-as-virtue-diffused-generally-among-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [You have to have wisdom and knowledge as well as virtue to preserve your rights and liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/you-have-to-have-wisdom-and-knowledge-as-well-as-virtue-to-preserve/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Everything that I teach as an enlightened Buddhist teacher is towards directing an individual to happiness, a balanced wisdom and knowledge that is sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everything-that-i-teach-as-an-enlightened-buddhist-teacher-is-towards/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Searching, pondering, and applying the words of Christ as taught in the scriptures will bring wisdom and knowledge beyond our mortal understanding. This will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-m-davies/searching-pondering-and-applying-the-words-of-christ-as-taught-in-the/) Dean M. Davies > [I'm at the transition place myself, still playing high school girls but moving to a stage when I'm playing older roles and going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-m-at-the-transition-place-myself-still-playing-high-school-girls/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [The gateways to wisdom and knowledge are always open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/the-gateways-to-wisdom-and-knowledge-are-always-open/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Men ought to know that from nothing else but the brain come joys, delights, laughter and sports, and sorrows, griefs, despondency, and lamentations. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/men-ought-to-know-that-from-nothing-else-but-the-brain-come-joys/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Look to see who is truly serving the world, truly seeking to share wisdom and knowledge, insight and understanding, caring and compassion. Provide for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/look-to-see-who-is-truly-serving-the-world-truly-seeking-to-share/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## 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 Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. 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