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Can you absolutely tell me, if you can, why the Bible is the Word of God?
The Bible teaches that the Word of God and the Scriptures are 2 different things.
The definition
of the Phrase "The Word of God" in Hebrew is as follows:
Word dabar {daw-baw'}
Of God 'Elohim {el-o-heem'}
(plural)
(plural intensive - singular
meaning)
The definition of the Phrase "The Word of God" in Greek is as follows:
Word = logos {log'-os}
Of God = theos {theh'-os}
The definition of the word "Scripture" in Hebrew is as follows:
Scripture = kathab {kaw-thawb'}
The definition of the word "Scripture" in Greek is as follows:
Scripture = graphe {graf-ay'}
From the definitions above, I think it is fair to say that the phrase "Word of God" basically means the speech of God, whereas the word scripture means writing or document. So I think to say that the Bible is the Word of God is incorrect. I think that the Bible is better described as scripture. But I also think that the Bible contains the Word of God, but not every part of the Bible is the Word of God.
To justify what I have said I will quote some verses in the Bible itself that prove this to be so.
1
Corinthians 7:12
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother
has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must
not divorce her.
In
1 Corinthians 7:25 it says:
Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but
I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
It is quite clear that Paul admits that he is giving advise because he classes himself as trustworthy in the sight of God. He admits that the advise is not from the Lord himself. Other times he claims that what he says is a command of the Lord as the following verse points out.
1
Corinthians 7:10
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord):
A wife must not separate from her husband.
To those that say that the Bible is the 100% Inspired Word of God, what do you base this assumption on ?
I now want to point out something that a lot of people overlook. I want to show you from the Bible what the Bible says about itself, or more accurately what some of the Books in the Bible say about themselves. I think this is the fairest way to judge the Books in the Bible and who can argue with that.
If we go to Malachi
1 we read the following:
An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.
Hosea
1
The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during
the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during
the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel:
These Books claims to be the Word of the Lord given to Prophet in question.
Now I want to contrast that with the Gospels.
Matthew
1 says
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ...
Luke
1:1-4
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things
that have been fulfilled among us,
2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses
and servants of the word.
3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the
beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus
4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
No where do the Gospels
claim to be the infallible Word of God, in fact the Gospels own claim is that
they are eye witness accounts or records. The other 2 gospels I failed to mention
don't claim anything.
So if you say the Gospels are the infallible Word of God then why do the gospels
say otherwise.
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 1 claims the following:
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to
show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his
angel to his servant John,
2 who testifies to everything he saw that is, the word of God and the testimony
of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Revelation
claims to originate from the Father who gave it to Jesus Christ, who passed
it on to an angel to showed John the revelation.
John then says he witness and affirms to what he saw, which is the Word of God
and the Testimony of Jesus.
So serious is the revelation in this book that in verse
3 it says:
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy,
and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because
the time is near.
And in Revelation
22:18-19 it says:
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues
described in this book.
19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take
away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are
described in this book.
The Book of Revelation seems to contain descriptions of visions in John's own words as well as records of what he was told, i.e. the Word of God.
Now in the Book of Proverbs
it states in verses Chapter1:1-6
the following:
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just
and fair
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get
guidance
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
So the Book of Proverbs does not claim to be the Word of the Lord, but rather "sayings of the wise" according to verse 6.
In Ezekiel
1 it says:
1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth
day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened
and I saw visions of God.
2 On the fifth of the month it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin,
3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi...
The Book of Ezekiel starts with descriptions in his own words of visions he received and then in Chapter 2 it records The Word of God that was spoken to him by the Sovereign Lord, with a description in his own words as to how this conversation took place.
Jeremiah
30:2
"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `Write
in a book all the words I have spoken to you.
Here is a specific command from God to write the words that God has spoken to Jeremiah.
So far we have seen from a range of Biblical Books that some books are as follows:
It is quite plain to see
that the writer/s of each book have written the events in their own words and
in some instances recorded the Word of the Lord as it was given to them. In
Revelation
15 for example it says:
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven
angels with the seven last plagues last, because with them God's wrath is completed.
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire....
Here it seems obvious that John has written down what he has seen, rather than the copying of the words of God. If the words were dictated by God himself, it would be written from God's perspective not Johns.
To say that the whole Bible was given word for word by God to Mankind is not correct. It makes sense that when the Almighty God reveals truths to Man, he lets Man do the narrating. He only gives these sorts of revelations and truth to people he can trust anyway and the Bible is full of examples of Man doing God's work for him. An example of this is the Gospel/Message. It was ordained by God but is to be delivered by Man. And in God's Angelic Kingdom, God uses Michael the Archangel to throw the Devil from Heaven to the Earth. The pattern is God ordains and his will is delegated to others.
Now I want to point out that nowhere does the Bible sum itself up as totally God's Word, rather the bible records the words of
I will also say that there are other Books that contain the Word of God, but are not in the Bible.
In Jude 14-15 it says
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these
men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones
15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts
they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners
have spoken against him."
Now the above verse is quoted from the Book of Enoch in verse 1:9. The Book of Enoch is part of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.
Here are 2 books mentioned
in the bible, that are not in the bible.
The
Book of Wars of the Lord
Book
of Jashar
There are many other books that could not be counted that contain the Word of God. I am sure that there are many books in any Christian Book Store that would contain the Word of God. Of course there are many books that do not as well. But if the truth is in your heart, then you will recognize the Word of God and the truth when you hear it or read it.
There are also many letters that were written in the second century to the Christians of that time and are written in similar fashion to the letters that Paul wrote in the first century. See the Letter of Polycarp to the Believers at Philippi as an example.
Now there are many other books out there that claim to contain the Word of God but they are false. The Koran for example teaches that Jesus is not the Son of God. But the Biblical Books clearly state that Jesus is the Son of God and this truth is what Jesus built his Church on.. Another false book is the Book of Mormon as it clearly teaches doctrine that contradicts the books in the Bible. I don't have time to explain myself here in any great depth, but you can go here to see excerpts from both the Koran and the Mormon bible.
At this stage I want to point another important truth about the Word of God. I will show this to you from scripture.
Matthew
4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
Not only do we need food to live, but the Word of God keeps our spirits alive.
This scripture is also quoted in Deut.
8:3
John
1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been
made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
Now in Revelation
19:13 it says:
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name
is the Word of God.
This verse shows that one of the names of Jesus Christ is 'The Word of God'.
In John
1:14 it says
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.
2
Corinthians 4:2
Rather,
we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do
we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly
we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
1
Kings 17:24
Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are
a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."
John
14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
So the above verses show us that the Word of God is Truth and Jesus is the Word of God in person and Jesus is the Truth in person.
Now I want to explain a
mystery.
No one can come to God except through the Word. The Word was in the beginning
with God, and Jesus Christ is the Word who came in human flesh to bring us back
to God. The son having divine nature, made himself nothing, and dwelt in flesh
and became a servant of men. He was obedient to God to the point of death, and
God raised him up and exalted him to the highest rank and power. In doing this
the Powers of Darkness were not only defeated, but they were embarrassed and
now at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth and all should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
See Philippians
2:6-11 & Colossians
2:15
Colossians
1:24-27
24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill
up in my flesh what is still lacking regard to Christ's afflictions, for the
sake of his body, which is the church.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you
the word of God in its fullness
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now
disclosed to the saints.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches
of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The mystery of the Word of God is Christ in us the hope of glory. The Word of God should dwell in our hearts.
2
Samuel 22:31
"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD
is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
The Word of God is without
fault.
This scripture is also quoted in Psalms
18:30 & Proverbs
30:5
1
Kings 13:21 & 26
21 He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah,
"This is what the LORD says: `You have defied the word of the LORD and have
not kept the command the LORD your God gave you.
When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said,
"It is the man of God who defied the word of the LORD. The LORD has given him
over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the LORD
had warned him."
The Word of God can be dangerous when ignored as the above passage show us.
2
Kings 23:16
Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that
were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on
the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by
the man of God who foretold these things.
The Word of God is described as proclaimed and foretold, showing us that it is spoken.
1
Chronicles 17:3
That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying....
&
2
Chronicles 11:2
But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of
God:
The Word of the Lord comes to certain people, which can be a message to pass on to others.
2
Chronicles 36:12
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not
humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD.
If we do not humble ourselves to submit to the Word of God then we will do evil instead.
Isaiah
1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen
to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
We know what happened to these cities. It obviously pays to obey the Word of the Lord.
Isaiah
40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of
our God stands forever.
Because the Word of God is Truth, it will stand forever. Lies pass away after a time.
Jeremiah
23:36
But you must not mention `the oracle of the LORD' again,
because every man's own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words
of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.
A warning here to not speak our own words as the Word of God as many have already done.
Micah
4:2
Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to
the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us
his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
The Word of the Lord proceeds from Jerusalem and will teach many nations. Note: that Jesus (the Word of God personified) will rule from Jerusalem when the Kingdom of God reigns on earth.
Luke
3:2-4
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the
word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of
one calling in the desert Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths
for him."
Note: If we tried to obey the Word of the Lord today, that John the Baptist received in his day, then we would not be doing God's will. Today we are not required baptize people with John's baptism. We baptize into the Name of Jesus/Yahshua, so the Word of God is relative. If the Word of God came to me, with a message about travelling overseas, then it may not be applicable in say 3 years time. If we try to fulfill the Word of God over and over again just because it is the Word of God then we fall into the trap of tradition.
Mark
7:13
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that
you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
The Word of God must be relevant otherwise we are guilty of tradition and the scriptures tell us that the letter kills and the Spirit gives life. In other words we must be lead by the Spirit even above obeying the scripture. Of course the Spirit will never lead us to do things that are against the truth of scripture.
Luke
5:1
One day as Jesus was standing
by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening
to the word of God.
Jesus spoke the Word of God freely to the people.
Luke
8:5-15
5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering
the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the
air ate it up.
6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had
no moisture.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred
times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears
to hear, let him hear."
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given
to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "`though seeing, they may
not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and
takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear
it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing
they fall away.
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go
on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they
do not mature.
15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who
hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
The Seed in this parable is the Word of God.
Luke
11:28
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word
of God and obey it."
To hear the Word of God and obey it brings obvious blessing.
Acts
4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was
shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of
God boldly.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak the Word of God.
Acts
6:2-7
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and
said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God
in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the
Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and
Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands
on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased
rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
The ministry of the Word of God was so important that the Twelve disciples of Jesus ordained deacons to serve in managerial ways in order for the disciples to have more time to speak the Word of God. The result was that the word of God spread and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.
Acts
8:14
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Samaria accepted the Word of God, the Gospel.
Acts
12:24
But the word of God continued to increase and spread.
The Knowledge of the Truth of God continued to be spoken to other areas and kept increasing.
Acts
13:7
who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.
The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted
to hear the word of God.
Even some Roman authorities heard the Word of God.
Acts
13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to
speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider
yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
Acceptance of the Word of God (Gospel) results in Eternal Life.
Ephesians
6:13-17
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have
done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God.
Note: The Word of God (Sword) is the only attacking weapon mentioned. When Jesus was tempted of the Devil for 40 days he drove him away by quoting scripture that quoted the Word of God.
Colossians
3:16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach
and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We should let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, so we can teach exhort one another with all wisdom.
1
Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received
the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of
men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
The Thessalonians heard the Word of God and accepted it for what it is.
Hebrews
4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than
any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Word of God is living and active and judges our thoughts and actions.
Hebrews
13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
The Word of God produces godly results in our lives.
1
Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed,
but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
The Word of God has caused us to be born again of immortal seed, through the Word of God.
1
John 2:14
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who
is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and
the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
When the Word of God lives in us we overcome the Evil One. Christ in us the hope of glory.
Revelation
1:9
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and
kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos
because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John was sent to the Island of Patmos {Prison} because he proclaimed the Word of God. While on this island God revealed to him the future of this world and the hope of the next. The above scriptures I have quoted, represent about 1/3 of the total scriptures that contain the phrase "The Word of God" and I didn't find one scripture that referred to the Whole Bible as the Word of God. Only in certain parts of certain books does it claim that what is written is the Word of God and they usually start with something like The Lord said "..........". However when we read the scripture we see how important it is to accept the Word of God and that all who accept it shall be blessed and all who reject it will suffer the consequences.
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