The Word of God: Some very, very desultory musings on the text in consultation with following. This may be the "becoming" of getting organized for a larger review, a monograph of sorts...a 100-page summary. It will break no new ground, but will summarize things. This is a quick gathering on a perennial and essential theme.
The Book of Common Prayer. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969.
Davis, J.G. The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible. “The Word of God.” Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1944.
Engelbrecht, Edward (Ed.) The Lutheran Study Bible. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2009.
McDonald, H.D. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. “The Word of God.” Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1984.
Sproul, R.C. (Ed.) The New Geneva Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995.
The
Westminster Confession of Faith. Every single denomination on earth should embrace
this chapter 1 of this grand confession. The Bloody-Babylonians in Rome will never do it, but why
descendants...why, of why...children of the Reformation have failed to adopt this is erroneous. Available
online at: http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
Christianity is the worship of
the Triune God resting on the Self-disclosure of God in deeds with His people
as enshrined in 66 canonical books.
The entire first chapter of The Westminster Confession of Faith should
be the clear and close possession of all—memorized too. And, yes, God speaks English too in child-like
syllables to accommodate our small minds.
Varied texts are noted from
Jesus and the Apostles: Mt. 4.4, 7, 10; 5.17-20; 19.4-6; 26.31, 52-54; Lk. 4.16-21;
16.17; 18.31-33; 22.37; 24.25-27; 24.45-47.
Jesus came to fulfill OT prophecies: Mt. 26.24; Jn. 5.46. God’s breath, as it were, created the heavens
and the earth (Ps. 33.6; Gen.1.2) and breathed-out His Word for the profit of
His church (Rom.15.4; 1 Cor.10.1ff.; 2 Tim.3.15-17; 1 Pet. 1.10-12; 2 Pet. 1.21). The author of
Hebrews uses the formula identifying the Scriptures with God’s Word: Hebrew
1.5-13; 3.7; 4.3; 10.5-7, 15-17)—what the Scripture says, God says.
Much, much more needs to be
said. A few volumes for starters.
Gaussen, Louis. The Divine Inspiration of the Bible. No
location: Christian Heritage, 2007.
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Inspiration-Of-Scripture-The/dp/1857924495/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389484703&sr=8-2&keywords=louis+gaussen
Warfield, B.B. Inspiration and Authority of the Bible. Phillipsburg,
NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1980. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Inspiration-Authority-Benjamin-Breckinridge-Warfield/dp/087552527X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389484805&sr=8-1&keywords=b.b.+warfield+inspiration
Augustine stated, summarizing
the apostolic and catholic view:
What is the Bible else but a
letter of God Almighty addressed to his creatures, in which letter we hear the
voice of God, and behold the heart of our Heavenly Father?”
Luther asked rhetorically, “Where
do we find God’s Word, except in the Scriptures?” with the expected reply, “Nowhere.”
The Thirty-nine Articles of the (Reformed) Church of England called it “God’s
word written.”
The
Irish Articles of 1615 opens with: “1. The ground of our religion and the rule of faith and
all saving truth is the Word of God, contained in the holy Scripture.”
The Westminster Larger Catechism:
Q. 3. What is the Word of God?
A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are
the Word of God,[5]
the only rule of faith and obedience.[6]
Q. 4. How
doth it appear that the Scriptures are of the Word of God?
A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of
God, by their majesty[7]
and purity;[8] by
the consent of all the parts,[9]
and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God;[10] by
their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up
believers unto salvation:[11]
but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart
of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.[12]
The “Second Sunday in
Advent,” The Book of Common Prayer:
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be
written for our learning; Grant that we would in such wise hear them, read,
mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy
Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which thou has given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther’s “Prayer to
Receive the Word”
“Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit who writes the preached word into our hearts
so that we may receive and believe it, and be gladdened and comforted by it in
eternity. Glory Your Word in our hearts.
Make is so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, and through
Your inspiration think what is right. By Your power, for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen” (TLWA, 38).
“O
Word of God Incarnate:” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFqTRWD2WD0
1. O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky:
we praise you for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.
2. The church from you, our Savior,
received the gift divine,
and still that light is lifted
o'er all the earth to shine.
It is the sacred vessel
where gems of truth are stored;
it is the heaven-drawn picture
of Christ, the living Word.
3. The Scripture is a banner
before God's host unfurled;
it is a shining beacon
above the darkling world.
It is the chart and compass
that o'er life's surging tide,
mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
to you, O Christ, will guide.
4. O make your church, dear Savior,
a lamp of purest gold,
to bear before the nations
your true light as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
till, clouds and darkness ended,
they see you face to face.
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