The Word of God - Name of Jesus
My question is, why do people call the Bible the Word of God when it is clearly a name given to Jesus? If you read the Bible believing that the Bible is the Word of God it gives you a very different message from reading it with the understanding that Jesus being the Word of God.
In the King James Bible, when Word is capitalized, it refers to Jesus Christ. We see Jesus Christ called the Word seven times in the Bible: John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
See All... (3 times), 14; 1 John 1:1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
See All...; 5:7
See All...; Revelation 19:13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
See All.... However, there are many times when the Bible is referred to as the word of God (with a lower case "w"). Sometimes, we make a distinction between the living Word of God and the written word of God. However, even this is not easy since the written word is also alive (Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
See All...). The two are sometimes hard to separate since both the Word and the word of God are expressions of His person. Perhaps you are asking why people tend to capitalize Word when referring to the Bible even though this is not done in scripture. I think it is a matter of respect for the Bible. In the same manner, many people (myself included) tend to capitalize pronouns referring to God. However, this is not the practice of the King James Bible. Certainly, we are not denying scripture to do this. We are just following conventions of grammar with which we are comfortable.
As to the Bible being the word of God, here are some references:
- The word of God (Psalm 119:11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
See All...,89,105,133,140,160) - Word of the Lord (Psalm 18:30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
See All...; 33:4
See All...,6) - Word of God (Proverbs 30:5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
See All...; 1 Thessalonains 2:13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
See All...; 2 Timothy 2:9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
See All...; Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
See All...) - Word of truth (Psalm 119:43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
See All...; Ephesians 1:13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
See All...; 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All...) - Word of this salvation (Acts 13:26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
See All...) - Word of the gospel (Acts 15:7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
See All...) - Word of His grace (Acts 10:32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
See All...) - Word of promise (Romans 9:9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
See All...) - Word of faith (Romans 10:8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
See All...) - Word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
See All...) - Word of life (Philippians 2:16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
See All...) - Word of Christ (Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
See All...) - The faithful word (Titus 1:9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
See All...) - Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
See All...) - Word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
See All...) - Word of exhortation (Hebrews 13:22And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
See All...) - The engrafted word (James 1:21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
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