Back to where we set out
Upon a close and honest examination of all the verses in the Bible containing “word”, “thy word”, “the word”, “the word of God” it may surprise you to find how few of these mean the Bible, as we have often been led to believe and have accepted readily enough. Yes, some seem to say things about the Bible but upon closer inspection, maybe they have just been accepted as such for convenience – they support what we want.
So what do these mean then?
Many of the instances where “word”, “thy word”, “the word”, “the word of God” are used they are speaking of the message, the teaching, doctrine or gospel; i.e. the content of what God or the Lord Jesus Christ had to say. Some are a direct reference to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. You might be surprised just how many are.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Clearly, this is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Again, this is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7) This is a clear reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Words are spoken . . . and heard
In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read “God . . . hath in theses last days spoken unto us by his Son . . .” and the Son of God was called the Word (John 1:1). Is that a coincidence?
In Romans 10: 14-18 we read:
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?. . . 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Now what is the “word of God” that we read of in verse 17? We need to keep in mind what it says in verses 14, 17 and 18 that they believe when they have “heard” (14), faith comes by “hearing” (17) and that they had “heard” on the basis of “sound” and “words” (18). Now ask yourself again, what is the “word of God” that we read of in verse 17? It has to be a message that was spoken. This was not a reference to the Bible of the day, The Scriptures, as The Lord Jesus referred to them in John 5:39. It was not a reference to a written message but a spoken one that was heard.
We need to be careful and honest in our handling of The Scriptures. It is not good enough to use verses in a way that suits what we want for them to say. Pretty much every time I have heard Romans 10:17 quoted it has always been used to say that people need to have the Bible in order to get the gospel and be saved. But that is actually not what the verses have really said at all. The “word of God” spoken of here refers to the message of the gospel.
Consider what it says earlier in the chapter, in verse 8:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
You see, they preached the gospel, the message, they didn’t preach the Bible. There is a subtle difference. Later, as Paul summed up his instructions to Timothy he said, “Preach the word” (2 Tim 4:2).
Paul and Titus
When Paul gave instructions to Titus he told him in Titus 1:2-3 that “God … hath in due times manifested his word through preaching. …” Note, it was His [God’s] word that was made known. It was made known “through preaching”. The “his word” of verse 3 would seem to refer to the message that Paul shared. Now I know that some might think it may have been a veiled allusion to the fact that some of what Paul taught was written down and became part of the Bible, hence it could be taken to mean the Bible. Yes, it sounds good until we remember one thing – all the writings of Paul are letters (epistles). The difference is that letters are a specific message in written form while verse 3 is speaking of something that was manifested “through preaching”. I don’t think verse 3 is an allusion to reported preaching because Paul’s epistles are not records of his preaching – they’re letters.
When we look into chapter 2 of Titus we read that the word of God be not blasphemed (v.5) and that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things (v.10). Both are outcomes of following instructions he has given. They both speak of the same thing. The Bible doesn’t just repeat itself it says the same thing in a different way – the Holy spirit’s way to help us understand. Notice that this comes at end of a paragraph that begins with But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine (v.1). This again links “the word of God” with the word “doctrine” which is the truth or teaching that Paul was seeking to establish.
As Paul sums up his instructions to Timothy he says, “Preach the word” (2 Tim 4:2). Was he meaning preach the Bible? If he was, he surely would have continued to use the term “scriptures” as he had just done in the previous verses (3:15, 16).
Now it’s Peter’s turn
1 Peter 1:23 says: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Some will tell us this is a reference to the Bible. The same people will tell us that modern versions are corrupt Bibles. But can you see a contradiction here? Peter wrote that the seed [God’s Word] was incorruptible. Clearly, there is something different being spoken of here since the modern versions of the Bible are corrupt in their content. “The word of God”, “incorruptible seed” is not a reference to the Bible – but to the message of the Bible – the gospel through which we are saved – and it can’t be corrupted. Anything else is “another gospel”.
A Parable of Jesus
When Jesus spoke about the sower in Luke 8 he said: The seed is the word of God. (v.11). What did He mean by the word of God? He spoke about some people that then cometh the devil, and takethaway the word out of their hearts (12), so what was this “word” that could be taken out of their hearts? Then He spoke of those who heard the word (15) and later, those who hear the word of God, and do it (21).
Quite obviously these are not references to the Bible but to the message, the gospel. It’s what is the content of the Bible, in today’s world.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Heb 12:3) In this case it seems obvious to read it as meaning the spoken word of God. [Yet if someone thought of the word of God as being the Lord Jesus Christ, they would hardly be wrong, would they – for He it was who spoke those words.]
A classic case to consider carefully
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:23-25)
Some are reading this as if it says “by which the gospel is preached unto you” but in fact is says: “which by the gospel is preached unto you”. That changes things completely back to front. The former implies the “word” is used to preach the gospel, whereas the latter [correctly] implies that the “gospel” is used to preach the “word”.
The passage explains that “the word of God” is “incorruptible”, that it “liveth and abideth for ever”, “endureth for ever” and “by the gospel is preached unto you”. Now we can easily accept these statements about “the word of God”. But if we’re honest, does just any meaning fit? What are the possibilities “the word of God” could mean?
- The gospel message [from God]
- The Bible
- The Lord Jesus Christ
If it means the gospel message, then the verse “And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” hardly makes sense.
If it means the Bible, the part about being “incorruptible” and “endureth for ever” we can accept. But “liveth and abideth for ever” better fits the description of a living being. Also the verse “And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” seems to be strained in meaning if speaking of the Bible.
However when we read the verses realising that they speak of the Lord Jesus Christ, everything in them makes complete sense. It compares with other passages that emphasise “Christ in you the hope of glory”.
But what about . . .
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12-13)
Now surely this speaks about the Bible, everyone knows that. .
But does it? Then please explain the “his”, “him” and “whom” in verse 13. To whom do the “his”, “him” and “whom” refer? Now be honest. . . they refer to “the word of God” which “is quick, and powerful,. . ” etc. Haven’t you ever wondered why it said “his”, “him” and “whom” in verse 13? It doesn’t really make sense if it’s referring to a book called the Bible, surely. The letter to the Hebrews doesn’t usually use words like “his”, “him” and “whom” when referring to inanimate objects. However, if “the word of God” in verse 12 is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, then you can understand why the words “his”, “him” and “whom” have been used. Indeed, if you keep in mind the theme of the Hebrew epistle and consider the key points made in each section of it you will agree the Lord Jesus Christ is shown to be better than all else. . . better than the angels, better than Moses, better than the sacrifices of the Old Covenant . . . better than everything. He is the focus, the central theme. The reader was to see that all the answers were found in Him. There was no hope for them if they looked to anything else for help.
Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isa 55:11)
Here is another of those verses we’ve heard quoted quite often.
And very often when I’ve ever heard it quoted it was meant to be in support of the written word of God that had been read. Fair enough, too, except that, if we really think about it, the thing that is referred to in the verse – “return unto me void”, “accomplish that which I please”, “shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” – was the “word . . . that goeth forth out of my mouth”. That means the message of the Scriptures, not the Scriptures themselves.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now here we have one of the verses that come close to being a clear reference to the Bible. The “word of truth” may well speak of the Scriptures. It may equally refer to the body of truth that Paul calls: “my gospel” (Rom 2:16; 16:25; 2 Tim 2:8), “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Tim 6:3) or “the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 1:13).
Yes, it’s true it says “study . . . the word of truth” and that would certainly add weight to “the word of truth” being a reference to the Scriptures. But remember 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; which is not necessarily the same meaning as “study” in 2 Timothy 2:15. [We do need to be careful, honest and not dogmatic as we approach these things.]
Notice in the middle of the verse it says “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed”. What would this workman be busily involved in so that he might not be ashamed? Something to do with “rightly dividing the word of truth” – wouldn’t it be? And what exactly did that involve doing? From our perspective, it might easily be knowing exactly what was contained in “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Tim 6:3). We know this, “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and … the doctrine which is according to godliness”, from what is written in the Bible. We might therefore see this as referring to the Scriptures.
Yes, there’s a good case for accepting “the word of truth” in 2 Timothy 2:15 as referring to the Bible, but for all that the main point may just refer to the way the “workman” handles the “word of truth”, the doctrine and teaching of God. After all, the context deals with a couple of characters who had “erred” “concerning the truth”. They had taught “that the resurrection is past already” (2:18). Paul told Timothy, “their word will eat as doth a canker”. Notice he says “their word”.
PS
There are a number of other verses, not included here, that are worth looking at. In a later edition of this it may be possible to include them. Some references are:
Psalm 33:4-11 Acts 6:4; 12:24; 13:46; 17:13 1 Corinthians 14:36
Ephesians 6:17 Colossians1:25 1 Thessalonians 2:13
1 Timothy 4:5 Hebrews 7:5 2 Peter 3:5
A final lesson to note
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39-40)
John 5:39-40 gives a very powerful message that we all need to remember. Christ is the source of eternal life – not the Bible. Sure, the Bible contains the wonderful message of hope and life, but we all have to come to the Lord Jesus Christ to receive eternal life. He told the religious leaders of His day that they had missed the most important point. They looked in the right place to find out about eternal life – but never came to the source of Life – Him, Christ. There are many well-meaning people who are busy trying to defend the Bible. But there is a real danger that any of them could be like the Pharisees, who searched the Scriptures, but miss the most important person – who alone can give life; the Lord Jesus Christ.
Also
Read this interesting article on the web [that you’ll have to make up your own mind on]:
http://www.voicenet.com/~kuenning/fot/WordofGod.html
– Continued in Part 3