The Word of God – Steve Orr

The Bible Is NOT the Word of God—Because the Bible says so—In so many words.

I take exception to the Bible being called the Word of God because it’s un-scriptural and detracts from Jesus Christ, who IS the Word of God Incarnate. The Bible expressly states that Jesus alone is the Word of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

Nowhere does the Bible state that the Bible is the word of God.

Literally, the Bible is not dressed in a robe dripping with blood. Some claim to read the Bible literally, especially when it suits them. They pick and choose the Greek translations that suit their foregone conclusions. But these same people are also quick to speak metaphorically when it also suits them by saying that the Bible is the “living word” of God. Literally speaking, the Bible is not alive; only Jesus is the Living Word of God.

The most misused passage people use to claim that the Bible is the word of God is not even about the Bible! It’s about Jesus Christ! The Word of God.

For the word of God is alive 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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Unfortunately, some translations can confuse us on this passage. The NIV above references the Word of God as “it.” Regardless of the minor translation issues, the context clearly states that the Word of God is a living being. Notice that it says nothing is hidden from God’s sight, not the Bible’s sight; the Bible literally cannot see. Therefore, this passage is not a reference to the Bible because…

· The Word of God is alive, but the Bible is not alive.

· The Living Word of God is active; the Bible is inactive.

· The Spirit of Christ penetrates to the dividing of soul and spirit; the Bible literally does not.

· The Living Word of God judges thoughts and attitudes; the Bible literally does not.

· Everything is uncovered before the eyes of God; the Bible does not have eyes.

· We must give account to Christ, the Word of God, not the Bible.

The suckling Lamb of God makes war with the beast with the Living Word that comes out of His mouth. Revelation gives us this stunning word picture…

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God… From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine-press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:13, 15, 16 ESV)

There is your sword referenced in Hebrews 4:12 above.

When the early New Testament Christians read the letters about the Word of God, they knew this phrase was about Christ, not the Bible. This was their plain prima facie understanding.

Unfortunately, this faithful and straightforward understanding has been obfuscated by Bible thumping preachers.

When New Covenant Christians read this letter from John, they immediately thought of Jesus as the Word of God…

I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know 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. (1 John 2:13-15)

When Christians read this passage, they should think of the Word of God, Jesus…

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:9-10)

These martyrs were not slain because of the Bible; they were slain because of their faith in Jesus, the Word of God.

What if the Word of God is more than a book? And what if we can hear the voice of the Word of God directly, without help from a preacher or the Bible?

· The Bible doesn’t show us The Way, Jesus does.

· The Bible is not the source of all Truth, Jesus is.

· The Bible is not the source of all Life, Jesus is.

· Jesus said that only He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

· The Bible doesn’t save us, Jesus does.

· The Bible does not live in us; Jesus does.

· The Bible is not the perfect revelation of God; Jesus is.

· Jesus is the Truth Incarnate. Not a book.

· The Word of God will never leave you, but the Bible can be misplaced.

· The Word of God loves you, but the Bible doesn’t have feelings.

· The Word of God died for you; the Bible was never alive.

· The Word of God speaks to you; literally, the Bible does not.

The ironic truth is that people can make the Bible into an idol. This bibliolatry comes at the expense of worshiping the Word of God. In effect, they do not believe that the Holy Spirit can lead us into all truth, and they cannot hear the Good Shepherd, as Jesus clearly stated.

The Jews in Jesus’ day were guilty of this same kind of bibliolatry.

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:39-40)

From the beginning, God has always wanted a direct relationship with us. With this in mind, if the Bible comes between you and the Word of God, and if you find yourself having problems developing a dynamic and living relationship with the Word of God, then by all means, put down the Bible and go for a long walk and talk with Jesus. The more we do this, the more enjoyable and natural it becomes.

Of course, there is a metaphorical aspect where words “live” on long after the departure of their human author. But the true Word of God lives on by making his permanent home in our hearts.

Make no mistake—I love the Bible, but I do not elevate it above the Word of God because I do not worship the Bible, I worship the Word of God!

I love the way PTM’s Brad Jersak sums this up with this quip: “The Word of God is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. And when he was about eighteen years old, he grew a beard.”

Steve Orr writes to us from Montana. After working in the mecca of technology, Steve traded the rat race of Silicon Valley for the adventures of High Tech in Big Sky Country. Steve has an MBA with experience in accounting, finance, technology, and management. He occasionally writes a little software code, but mostly he likes writing about Matters of the Heart.