So obviously, the bible is going to be our primary source of truth during this study, so I wanted to start off with just discussing the bible as a whole first.
I posted a lecture on the inerrency of the scripture that I would highly recommend if your at all curious about why we believe the bible to be true, but the most key elements are 2 Timothy 3:16, and 1 Peter 1:18-20. From these verses as well as others, it becomes clear that scripture is perfect, useful, and meant to be applied to our lives.
The focus of this discussion is not on inerrency, because I think we all believe that, but rather I would like to discuss the relationship between the Word of God, and the Scripture. This may sound weird but I do not think they are the same thing. I think they are highly related but not one in the same. John one talks about Jesus as the Word of God, and Jesus was obviously around before the scripture. God spoke the earth into creation with his word before the scripture existed, and Ephesians descries our only offensive weapon as the Word of God. Many times in the bible, people cast out demons with out quoting scripture, but I believe the Word of God caused the demons to leave. Further more Satan can quote scripture, but I do not believe he can speak the Word of God.
The central question is this, what is the Word of God, how does it relate to Scripture as we see in the bible, and how is this applicable to our lives?
I recognize three primary types of text in the Bible: prescription, description, and prophesy. Prescriptive text instructs us on what to do, whereas descriptive text tells us how something happened. I think the Word of God is present in the Bible mostly through the prescriptive text. Of course, there's the exception of prophesy, as in the book of Revelation...this must be an instance of the Word of God because He promises the transpiring of these events.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a good Idea to focus on John 1. I cant think of
ReplyDeleteanywhere else that describes the Word so well. I think allot of other
places describe how we should respond to the Word, but John 1 points
us to what the Word is.
In response to Russ, I think that sense all scripture is God
breathed, it all in some way points to the Word, but I don't think it
IS the word. Martin Luther apparently thought of the Word of God as
Jesus, and stated the Scripture is a perfect account of Jesus.
Also, do you think the Word can exist outside of our bible? It seems
like based on the John 1 description, the Word could speak to and
through us now, but scripture is our only authoritative source of the
Word. Thats just a thought.
Mac, I agree with what you said 100%. I would like to add another question.
ReplyDeleteJesus says in John 8:28 "So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me."
He spoke just what the Father taught Him. I find this very interesting. Are we to teach as we have been taught by the Father, even if the lesson was without a scripture reference at the time? *This is a little beyond the basics of this lesson I know, I'm just thinking aloud.
We have to think that since Peter and Paul argued about clean food and circumcision, Paul was taught a good bit by the Father that Peter wasn't for a time. Do we teach these lessons? If so, how do we discern what is from God or not? Does it have to be confirmed by scripture or just not disproven?
I gotta figure out how to change my name...lol, Peace=Billy btw
ReplyDelete1 Thes 5:20-22 commands that we should test prophecy and hold on to the good and abstain from the evil, but 1 Corinthians 14:29-33 gives instruction for how to fulfill that command. It essentially says that a prophet is subject to a prophet, and we should weigh in on revelations from God so that they are able to be tested.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of a difference between scripture and the Word of God points to our dependence on God himself. Scripture is quoted by Satan, and many bible believing churches have been lead into all sorts of heresy, but the Word of God is alive, active, and sharper than any double edged sword, but we have no control over it. I can decide to open my bible and read/memorize/study scripture, but only God has control over his Word. The spirit is like the wind and it goes where it pleases. Gods sovereignty over his Word shows us that we must submit ourselves to him, and pray as a servant to a master. This means asking God what he would have us do instead us of telling God what to do.
p.s. I'm not discounting the value of intercession. We are called to present our requests before God and to ask for what we desire, but I'm just saying that Prayer is more than just asking God to do what we want. It involves our desires conforming to his, and desiring "your will be done".
fully agree. I've always learned that a prophet should willingly have his prophesies tested. That way, if he has nothing to fear, the Lord can edify him.
ReplyDelete