Whole

 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Acts 20:27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.20.27.ESV

It seems that Paul had a similar attitude to preaching to my university pastor, who believed the Bible was given to be preached through in a lifetime, which he managed in his ministry. Paul probably only had a few years in Ephesus, but he still packed in a comprehensive overview of God's word. God's word hasn't been given us to be cherrypicked by false teachers.

The faithful preacher of Holy Scriptures will seek to cover them faithfully, not just picking their favorite passages. Understandably, some portions of Scripture are easier and more palatable, but it's all good stuff. None of it should be neglected.

Apparently the Danish philosopher Soren Kirkegard likened the Bible to a fish. We tend to eat the fishy 'meat' of God's word and leave out the more difficult 'bones'. But even they can metaphorically form part of a stock for some soup or stew! So we keep coming back to Scripture and make sure we make the most of it.

Obviously, passages about God's love are relatively easy. Scriptures about His wrath on the other hand might be more tempting to skim over. It's because God is love that He feels wrath at what is unloving.

'Our Heavenly Father, thank You for those rare and faithful ministers who minister Your whole counsel in Your word. Please raise up many more, to Your eternal praise, amen'


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