Word of God

The word of God revealed as law

God has made his commands and requirements known

Psalm 147:19 NASB95

19 He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.

See also Ex 20:1–17; Ex 24:3; Ex 34:27–28; Dt 5:5; Is 2:3; Mt 15:6

God’s law is to be obeyed

Deuteronomy 30:14 NASB95

14 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

See also Jos 23:6; Ps 119:4; Lk 8:21; Lk 11:28; Jas 1:22–23

Examples of disobedience and its consequences

Nu 15:31; 1 Sa 15:23–26; 2 Sa 12:9; 1 Ch 10:13; 2 Ch 34:21; Is 5:24; Je 8:9

The word of God as prophecy

The prophets spoke the words of God

Je 1:9; 1 Sa 3:1; Je 25:3 God’s prophetic word came to Israel with varying frequency.

See also 1 Ki 17:24; 2 Ki 24:2; 2 Ch 36:12; 2 Ch 36:15; Is 16:13; Is 24:3; Je 7:1; Je 14:1; Am 8:11–12; Mal 1:1

Prophetic introductory formulae

“The word of the Lord came to ...”:

Ge 15:1; 1 Sa 15:10; 2 Sa 24:11; 1 Ki 6:11; 2 Ki 20:4; Je 16:1; Eze 6:1; Jon 1:1; Zec 1:1

“Hear the word of the Lord”:

1 Ki 22:19; 2 Ki 20:16; Is 1:10; Je 2:4; Ho 4:1

“This is what the Lord says”:

2 Sa 7:5; 2 Ki 1:6; Is 37:6; Je 2:5; Eze 2:4; Am 1:3; Hag 2:11

Prophetic predictions fulfilled

1 Kings 12:15 NASB95

15 So the king did not listen to the people; for it was a turn of events from the Lord, that He might establish His word, which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

See also 1 Ki 15:29; 1 Ki 16:12; 1 Ki 16:34; 1 Ki 22:38; 2 Ki 1:17; 2 Ki 9:36; 2 Ki 10:17; 2 Ki 14:25; 2 Ki 15:12; 2 Ki 23:16; 2 Ch 36:21–22

The word “against” a people, indicating judgment

Is 9:8; Is 37:22; Je 25:30; Am 3:1; Zep 2:5; Zec 9:1

True prophecy is inspired by God

2 Peter 1:20–21 NASB95

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

See also Ne 9:30; Je 23:16; Je 23:25–26; Je 23:30; Eze 13:1–3; Mic 3:8

A true prophet hears from God

2 Ki 3:12; Je 5:13; Je 23:18; Je 27:18

The prophetic word is to be heeded

Ex 9:20–21; Je 6:10; Je 25:3; Zec 7:12

The word of God as Scripture

Scripture is the written word of God

Daniel 9:2 NASB95

2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

See also Ro 3:2; Ro 15:4

NT writings are classified as Scripture

1 Ti 5:18; 2 Pe 3:16

Scripture is inspired and true

Jn 10:35; 2 Ti 3:15

The foundational importance of Scripture

It must not be distorted or changed:

Dt 4:2; Dt 12:32; Pr 30:6; 2 Co 2:17; 2 Co 4:2; 2 Ti 2:15; Re 22:19

It is to be read publicly:

Ne 8:1–8; 1 Ti 4:13

It is to be meditated upon:

Ps 1:2; Ps 119:15; Ps 119:97

It is the test of orthodoxy:

Is 8:20; Ac 17:11

Matthew 22:29 NASB95

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.

It is the basis for preaching:

Ac 17:2; Ac 18:28

1 Co 4:6 It sets the limit of authoritative doctrine.

Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word of God

Jesus Christ is God in the flesh

John 1:1 NASB95

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

See also Jn 1:14; Jn 12:45; Col 1:15; Heb 1:2; 1 Jn 1:1; Re 19:13

Jesus Christ speaks the Father’s words

John 8:40 NASB95

40 “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.

See also Mt 22:16; Jn 7:18

Jesus Christ’s words have sovereign power

Mt 8:8; Mt 8:16; Heb 1:3

The gospel as the word of God

It was preached by Jesus Christ

Mark 2:2 NASB95

2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.

See also Mt 13:19–23; Mk 4:33; Lk 4:43; Lk 5:1

It was preached by the first Christians

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB95

13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

See also Mk 16:20; Ac 6:2; Ac 8:4; Ac 11:1 to the Gentiles; Ac 13:5 to the Jews; Ac 15:35–36; Ac 17:13; 1 Co 14:36; 2 Co 2:17; 2 Co 4:2; Php 1:14; Col 1:25; 2 Ti 4:2

It leads to numerical and spiritual growth within the church

Ac 6:7; Ac 12:24; Ac 13:49; Ac 19:20; Col 1:5–6; 1 Th 2:13 Paul stresses that the preached word is not merely a verbal message but a dynamic power which achieves things.

It must be preached

Ro 10:14; 2 Ti 4:2

Descriptions of God’s word

It is true:

Ps 33:4; Jn 17:17

It is flawless:

2 Sa 22:31; Pr 30:5

It is infallible:

1 Ki 8:56; 2 Ki 10:10

Ps 103:20 It is obeyed by angels.

It is eternal:

Ps 119:89; Ps 119:152; Is 40:8; 1 Pe 1:25

Ps 119:103 It is sweet and delightful; Ps 138:2 It is exalted above all things; Is 45:23 It is irrevocable; Eph 6:17 It is the sword of the Spirit; 2 Ti 2:9 It is not chained; Heb 4:12 It is living and active; 1 Pe 1:23 It is living and enduring.

Comparisons of the word of God with everyday things

Food:

Dt 8:3; Job 23:12; Ps 119:103; Je 15:16; Eze 2:8; Eze 3:1; 1 Pe 2:2

Ps 119:105 light

Fire:

Je 5:14; Je 20:9; Je 23:29

Je 23:29 a hammer; Heb 4:12 a two-edged sword

The word of God has power

It is active

Is 55:11 The Hebrew for “word” can also mean “action” or “deed”. This indicates that God’s word is active.

It brings about creation

Psalm 33:6 NASB95

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

See also 2 Pe 3:5

It governs and maintains the created order

Hebrews 1:3 NASB95

3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

See also Ps 147:18

It gives life

Deuteronomy 8:3 NASB95

3 “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

See also Is 55:2–3; Mt 4:4

It consecrates secular things

1 Ti 4:5 “the word of God and prayer” probably means “scriptural prayer”; i.e., on the basis of scriptural teaching the believer offers thanksgiving and prayer.

It restrains from evil

Ps 17:4; Ps 119:11

It heals and rescues

Psalm 107:20 NASB95

20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

It has power to save

James 1:21 NASB95

21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

See also 2 Ti 3:15; 1 Pe 1:23

It brings about the growth of the kingdom of God

Matthew 13:23 NASB95

23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

It builds up the saints

Acts 20:32 NASB95

32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.