6. Is the ethical code of the Bible complete, and final, and perfect?

No. The ethical code of the Bible gradually develops and improves.
Had it been divine it would have been perfect from the first. It is
because it is human that it develops. As the prophets and the poets
of the Jews grew wiser, and gentler, and more enlightened, so the
revelation of God grew wiser and gentler with them. Now, God would
know from the beginning; but men would have to learn. Therefore the
Bible writings would appear to be human, and not divine.

Let us look over these points again, and make the matter still clearer
and more simple.

If the children of an earthly father had wandered away and forgotten
him, and were, for lack of guidance, living evil lives; and if the
earthly father wished his children to know that they were his children,
wished them to know what he had done for them, what they owed to him,
what penalty they might fear, or reward they might ask from him; if
he wished them to live cleanly and justly, and to love him, and at
last come home to him--what would that earthly father do?

He would send his message to _all_ his children, instead of sending
it to one, and trusting him to repeat it correctly to the others.
He would try to so word his message as that all his children might
understand it.

He would send his children the very best rules of life he knew. He
would take great pains to avoid error in matters of fact.