The Doctrine of the Word of God (Bibliology)A. Definition: “The Word of God” is a phrase used in Scripture to denote several different meanings. It is important for us to distinguish between these biblical uses as we begin our study of this doctrine.
1. The Word of God as a Person: Jesus Christ
a. The Apostle John sees the risen Lord Jesus in Heaven and says, “He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:13, NASB.
b. Similarly, the opening of John’s Gospel we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1, NASB. It is clear that John is speaking of Jesus Christ because in John 1:14 the apostle states, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”
c. While this usage of calling Jesus “the Word” is not common in Scripture, it does indicate that among the members of the Trinity, it is God the Son Who in His Person and His Word has the role of communicating the character of God to man.
2. The Word of God as Speech by God Through Personal Address
a. Examples of God speaking directly to people on earth are found in Scripture.
b. God’s instruction to Adam demonstrates this personal address:
“The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.’" Genesis 2:16-17
c. At the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, God spoke from Heaven:
“And behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’" Matthew 3:17
3. The Word of God as Speech by God Through Human Lips
a. Frequently in Scripture, God raises up prophets through whom He speaks. Although these are human words, spoken by people in their familiar languages, the absolute authority of these words, and their truthfulness, is in no way diminished. Their words are God’s Words.
b. Moses speaking as God’s prophet is a perfect example of God speaking through human lips.
“I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.” Deuteronomy 18:18-20
c. God made a similar statement to the prophet Jeremiah.
“Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” Jeremiah 1:9
d. Thus, God’s words spoken through human lips were to be considered just as authoritative as if it were given through personal address.
4. The Word of God as Written Record
a. In addition to these other forms of God’s Word, we also find in Scripture several instances in which God’s Words were put in written form.
b. We find an example of this in the giving of the ten commandments to Moses:
“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18
c. Moses was also used later by God to write His holy law:
“It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete, that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, ‘Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you.’” Deuteronomy 31:24-26
d. It should be noted that these words are still considered to be God’s Word even though they were written down mostly by men and in normal, human language. They are authoritative and absolutely true. To disobey these words is to disobey God Himself.
5. The Word of God as Scripture.
a. Our study will focus upon the Bible because it is the only form of God’s Word that is available to us for consistent examination.
b. The other forms of God’s Word are not suitable for us to study because . . .
2. We cannot speak with the Word made flesh in His bodily form because He, Jesus, has ascended to Heaven.
3. God’s words of personal address are uncommon even in Scripture.
4. God’s words spoken through human lips ceased to be given when the New Testament canon was completed so this form is also insufficient as a direction for study.
c. Therefore, only the Bible is sufficient and profitable to withstand such rigorous, systematic, and academic scrutiny.
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Important Terms from this section: Bibliology, Written Record, Personal Address, Word of God, Decree
