The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Word of God and that the Bible itself is also the Word of God. This seems confusing at first, but when properly understood, shows the beauty and power of God’s revelation to mankind.
Jesus Christ as the Word of God refers to Jesus being the perfect revelation of God’s nature and truth to humanity (John 1:1, 14). Jesus came to perfectly reveal the Father, to speak the very words of God, and to manifest God’s glory on earth (John 14:9; John 7:16; John 1:14). Jesus as the incarnate Word demonstrates God’s love, grace, righteousness, justice, and salvation. Jesus embodies the message of Scripture and fulfills God’s redemptive plan for the world.
The Bible as the Word of God refers to the inspired, authoritative words of Scripture that faithfully record God’s self-revelation to humanity (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is called the Word because it comes from God and teaches accurately about God. Through Scripture, God reveals His truth, wisdom, commands, promises, guidance, comfort, prophecy, and plan of salvation. The Bible reveals who God is, what He has done, and how we are to relate to Him.
There is no contradiction between Jesus as the Word and the Bible as the Word. Here are a few key points of clarity:
- Jesus’ words and teachings perfectly align with Scripture (John 10:35). Jesus affirmed the divine authority of the Old Testament.
- Jesus is the living Word of God, while the Bible is the written Word of God. One is the manifestation, the other is the documentation.
- The Bible is God’s perfect written revelation, while Christ is the perfect personal revelation. Scripture is the image, Christ is the person (Colossians 1:15).
- Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy and further revealed God during His earthly ministry. The Bible records and explains Jesus’ revelation.
- Jesus’ life and message embodied and proclaimed God’s Word (John 1:1, 14). The Bible embodies and proclaims God’s Word in written form.
- Jesus is the living Word to be beheld, while the Bible is the written Word to be upheld. We must embrace both.
In summary, Jesus Christ and the Bible are both properly called the Word of God because both perfectly express and reveal the truth about God. Jesus is the perfect revelation of God’s nature and redemption. The Bible is the perfect record, documentation, and explanation of who God is and what He has done. Embracing Jesus as Lord and Scripture as authoritative is central to the Christian faith.
Here are some key Bible verses that provide more insight into Jesus and the Bible as the Word of God:
Jesus as the Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
“No one has ever seen God. The only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18)
“He [Jesus] was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:2)
“He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…” (Hebrews 1:3)
“For in him [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
“For I [Jesus] have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” (John 12:49)
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)
“I [Jesus] told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins…When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he.” (John 8:24, 28)
The Bible as the Word
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
“…so that through them you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
“Until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18)
“The scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35)
“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)
In conclusion, Jesus Christ is God’s perfect self-revelation to humanity, the living Word. The Bible is God’s perfect written revelation, the authoritative written Word. Both are properly called the Word of God because both are entirely true, coming straight from the mouth and authority of God, revealing who He is and what He has done for our salvation. Embracing Jesus as Lord and the Bible as the fully trustworthy Scriptures is key to knowing God and living for Him.
