"Word of God" not the bible! Hunh?
PART 1
“Is the Word of God the same thing as what most
of us call the holy bible?” or asked another way, “When the written text
of the scriptures refers to the Word of God, is it referring to
itself?”
The plain and surprising answer I am still discovering,
that was nagging at the edge of my soul for a long time, is “No, it is
not.”
Uh-oh, I hear the rumblings out there of “heretic”, “liberal”, and “false prophet”!
This
is a very tricky knife-edge to dance upon I realize, like hiking along
the dangerous “Knife Edge” trail of Maine’s Mt. Katahdin that I avoided
many years ago. To assert that the bible is not the “Word of God” seems
blasphemous until one takes a closer look at what the bible actually has
written in it when the “Word of God” is mentioned.
Imagine,
please try hard, that you have never heard a sermon, never read book
about the bible and nobody has ever called the written scriptures, (the
bible), as being the “Word of God”. If you can do this and then read the
bible, (free from certain mental noise of your past), – you will never
find in the text of the bible where it calls itself the “Word of God”!
When
you see this truth, it is a shock, yes -- yet also a revelation of
something wildly precious that many believers need. This deeper truth as
to the real identity of the “Word of God” once fully grasped is a
mighty and unshakeable reality.
Our minds are usually set on
“auto-pilot” in that we rarely analyze what we are thinking about
critically. When we read a written word or phrase, when we hear a word –
our brains seek for a reference point to grasp meanings in order for us
move forward in ascertaining a message or information being offered.
What we fail to realize is that many times, when we read or hear text
from the bible, we incorrectly attach definitions and meanings to the
text that the writer never intended for the reader or hearer to think of
as part of the message.
It is complicatedly true that we
inevitably and unconsciously bring our own very individualized,
customized mental filter “lexicon” or subconscious codex: “my-worldview”
to every instance of our encounter with scripture. Mostly, this is very
helpful, as it obviates the need for us to relearn every word’s meaning
as we are thinking and processing language. Sometimes it is NOT helpful
because we were taught or told incorrectly what a word or phrase meant
or was connected with in everyday usage.
Equating the written
text in the books of the bible as being the same as the “Word of God” is
one tragically confusing case in point of our mental “auto-pilot” being
NOT helpful.
Here’s a sample list of scriptures that mention the “word of God”:
1 Chronicles 17:3 (Darby Translation)
3And it came to pass that night that the word of God came to Nathan saying,
Mark 7:12-14 (Darby Translation)
12And
ye no longer suffer him to do anything for his father or his mother;
13making void the word of God by your traditional teaching which ye have
delivered; and many such like things ye do. 14And having called again
the crowd, he said to them, Hear me, all [of you], and understand:
Luke 3:1-3 (Darby Translation)
1Now
in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius
Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and
Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis,
and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2in the high priesthood of Annas and
Caiaphas, [the] word of God came upon John, the son of Zacharias, in the
wilderness. 3And he came into all the district round the Jordan,
preaching [the] baptism of repentance for [the] remission of sins,
Luke 8:10-12 (Darby Translation)
10And
he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
God, but to the rest in parables, in order that seeing they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand. 11But the parable is this: The
seed is the word of God. 12But those by the wayside are those who hear;
then comes the devil and takes away the word from their heart that they
may not believe and be saved.
Acts 4:31 (Darby Translation)
31And
when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God
with boldness.
Acts 6:7 (Darby Translation)
7And the word
of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was very
greatly multiplied, and a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith.
Acts 12:24 (Darby Translation)
24But the word of God grew and spread itself.
Colossians 1:24-26 (Darby Translation)
24Now,
I rejoice in sufferings for you, and I fill up that which is behind of
the tribulations of Christ in my flesh, for his body, which is the
assembly; 25of which *I* became minister, according to the dispensation
of God which [is] given me towards you to complete the word of God,
26the mystery which [has been] hidden from ages and from generations,
but has now been made manifest to his saints;
Hebrews 4:11-13 (Darby Translation)
11Let
us therefore use diligence to enter into that rest, that no one may
fall after the same example of not hearkening to the word. 12For the
word of God [is] living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and penetrating to [the] division of soul and spirit, both of
joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of [the]
heart. 13And there is not a creature unapparent before him; but all
things [are] naked and laid bare to his eyes, with whom we have to do.
Hebrews 11:3 (Darby Translation)
3By
faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by [the] word of God, so
that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which
appear.
1 Peter 1:22-23 (Darby Translation)
22Having
purified your souls by obedience to the truth to unfeigned brotherly
love, love one another out of a pure heart fervently; 23being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by [the] living
and abiding word of God.
In not one of the above quoted
scriptures is the “Word of God” referring to anything written down for
us to read or have read to us. The book we have with us today called
“the bible” did not even exist when the above quotes happened in their
own “real-time”! This “Word of God” these texts and stories refer to are
each about a LIVING and SPIRITUAL reality that can transform us, save
us, teach us, guide us and bring a direct revelation of the LIVING GOD
to mankind’s spirit.
This “Word of God” these writers speak of is
no mere collection of books, gospels, letters, and an apocalyptic
finale. The “Word of God” inspired the initial impetus and subsequent
written creation of the biblical texts, yes indeed. But the text itself
alone, be it read or spoken, is no magical talisman. It needs a
catalyst.
Only when the LIVING and SPIRITUALLY ALIVE “Word of
God” actively, sovereignly, and in real-time imparts HIS revelation and
resurrection life to the moment does the text then come alive for the
hearer. Man, in his own power, cannot make the bible text come alive as
if it were the LIVING “Word of God”! It is only by the Spirit of God’s
love for us in grace and truth that the written text of the bible can
wield any saving and transformative power.
And now for the real eye-opening passage that follows . . .
Revelation 19:12-14 (Darby Translation)
12And
his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head many diadems, having a
name written which no one knows but himself; 13and [he is] clothed with a
garment dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. 14And
the armies which [are] in the heaven followed him upon white horses,
clad in white, pure, fine linen.
The above passage refers to
the risen Jesus, the Son of God as the “Word of God” and it cannot be
any clearer that no written book such as the bible is being spoken of
here!
With all the above information offered, it might be
wondered as to what is so important about realizing the distinction
between the written text of the bible we have today versus the eternal
and living “Word of God” that the bible discusses.
A written
document about the “Word of God” can easily become an idol, held even
more holy than the ACTUAL “Word of God” Himself. We must never let
bible-book-worship eclipse our obedience to the living “Word of God” Who
still speaks ACTIVELY and in real-time to us each day.
This is more important than I can possibly stress in this article!
Simply
reading a bible to read it, studying it to know all the tales, carrying
it as a charm, quoting it as a tool, and preaching from it to prove a
point is NOT what the living “Word of God” desires. We must each COME TO
HIM and ask HIM to make the text come alive as HE WANTS for the moment.
When we humbly approach the text of the bible as a very useful
historical record of the “Word of God’s” ways among mankind and a
guidebook for the faithful, then and only then, are we utilizing the
bible correctly.
Men can use and have used the written text of
the bible to create spiritual bondage, mental confusion, deadened souls,
wretched word weapons, false doctrines, and a myriad of religious
evils.
The eternal “Word of God” never birthed any of these things.
Many
so-called “holy” men ignore the voice of the living “Word of God” yet
they love to quote the bible as truth. These deaf and blind ones lead
the unsuspecting into darkness.
We must learn in these last days
to hear and follow the living Logos or “Word of God” instead of kneeling
at the foot of idols of tradition that we religiously carve our
favorite bible quotes upon.
PART 2
When we read the
text in the English translation of the bible and see “word” written, it
can be known to have either the original Greek language terms known as
“logos” or “rhema” depending on the writer’s or speaker’s intended
message.
When the biblical text has “word” used in conjunction
with the terms God or truth as in the phrases “Word of God” or “word of
truth” -- it is referring to the “Logos” or the living and ageless
divine thought or eternal plan of God. When this “Logos” or “Word of
God” became flesh and dwelt, (tented or tabernacle’d), among us we of
the faith, then and now, call Him Jesus the Christ. John refers to
Christ as the “Word” Who, already existed, in the timelessness before
the beginning began, found there with the eternal God and was the same
as God, wholly divine and equal. This “Logos” lived among us and
communicated the mind of God to us. Jesus’ words and life among mankind
was the ageless and immensely powerful “Logos” of God made flesh. This
“Logos” or “Word of God” was God’s divine life itself for those who
believed and received it.
Used less in the original languages,
“rhema” as with “logos” has to do with “that which is spoken”; an
utterance, a saying, and “a word that goes forth”. When the divine
speaking or God-breathed “rhema” or word of the Spirit of God is given,
then the faithful hearer of this rhema, is then given a supernatural
wisdom for that moment. We usually call this direct revelation or
something revealed in the Spirit. This rhema from God opens up the
truths to be spoken, received or understood in preaching, reading or
speaking the written text of the bible. Rhema or divine wisdom from God
can also be revealed in a situation we may find ourselves in – herein we
gain a “rhema” or “word of knowledge” from God.
Again, I have to
remind the reader that these terms of logos and rhema, when connected
to Jesus, God, the Spirit, salvation, and the gospel are related to an
eternal, supernatural plan, concept or a body of truth that is revealed
by the Spirit of God to us. This “Word of God” existed before languages
of men were spoken, before we learned to write and will continue long
after mankind’s way of communication has ceased.
My desire is not
to tear down in any way the invaluable vehicle of thought that the
written scriptures offer us. What I desire is a renewed desire among
God’s people to daily experience God’s “rhema” as direct revelation,
guiding them, teaching them, and wooing them to His fullness. The “Word
of God” is alive, powerful, and He desires to commune with us, live
daily in us, and communicate His eternal life in and through us to a
lost and dying world. The Logos awaits our spiritual ear to be
attentive. He will make the written text of the scriptures explode with
life if we will but listen to Him.
We need not believe that the
bible is so mysterious and somehow too magical. We need not think it
cannot be fully understood unless someone else interprets and explains
it all to us. We need not then have others always tells us how to live a
Christian life. God has given all believers His Spirit to open up the
bible and reveal His “Word of God” to us.
When we seek to hear
only from God Himself via His Logos and His Rhema, then His people will
have a real chance for unity. If we then seek to walk daily in the
living Word of His Peace as mature sons of God, instead of squabbling
about the hidden meanings of the written biblical texts, we then will
hasten His coming Kingdom of Love and Righteousness.
John 17 (Darby Translation)
1 These
things Jesus spoke, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father,
the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee; 2 as
thou hast given him authority over all flesh, that [as to] all that thou
hast given to him, he should give them life eternal. 3 And this is the
eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified *thee* on the earth, I
have completed the work which thou gavest me that I should do it; 5 and
now glorify *me*, *thou* Father, along with thyself, with the glory
which I had along with thee before the world was. 6 I have manifested thy
name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world. They were thine,
and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have
known that all things that thou hast given me are of thee; 8 for the
words which thou hast given me I have given them, and they have received
[them], and have known truly that I came out from thee, and have
believed that thou sentest me. 9 I demand concerning them; I do not
demand concerning the world, but concerning those whom thou hast given
me, for they are thine, 10 (and all that is mine is thine, and [all] that
is thine mine,) and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the
world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father,
keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one as
we. 12 When I was with them I kept them in thy name; those thou hast
given me I have guarded, and not one of them has perished, but the son
of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now I come to
thee. And these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy
fulfilled in them. 14 I have given them thy word, and the world has hated
them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 15 I
do not demand that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest keep them out of evil. 16 They are not of the world, as I
am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by the truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the
world; 19 and I sanctify myself for them, that they also may be
sanctified by truth. 20 And I do not demand for these only, but also for
those who believe on me through their word; 21 that they may be all one,
as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one
in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the
glory which thou hast given me I have given them, that they may be one,
as we are one; 23 I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfected
into one [and] that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and
[that] thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, [as to]
those whom thou hast given me, I desire that where I am they also may be
with me, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me, for
thou lovedst me before [the] foundation of [the] world. 25 Righteous
Father, -- and the world has not known thee, but I have known thee, and
these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have made known to them
thy name, and will make [it] known; that the love with which thou hast
loved me may be in them and I in them.
May the “Word of God” call us all . . . into His truth and His life . . .
(This a very popular post from my old, inactive blog. I felt it needed to be shared here as well.)
Further discussion of this subject is found here: https://genericchristianmystic--returns.blogspot.com/2022/12/why-i-dont-believe-written-canonized.html
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