So with both the Scriptures and Jesus being clearly referred to as the Word of God, then what are we to make of their relationship? Let me put it as simply as possible, then give several proper ways to respond. The Scriptures are the Father’s means of the Spirit revealing Jesus to you so you can know God. Therefore, though you should distinguish between them, you should treat the Scriptures as you would treat Jesus.
As I teach my homiletics students not only how to publicly preach the Word, but read it as well, one of the tips I give them is “do not close the Bible after you read.” As the sermon should be grounded on the sermon text, the preacher wants the congregation to know that he is truly preaching from the Bible. Having an open Bible on a pulpit which has center place in the service represents the Lord speaking to His people. If a preacher closes the Bible then proceeds to preach, it can subtly and symbolically communicate to the people, “You heard God’s Word read. Now it’s time to listen to me.”
Of course, this is just a tip, not law. Indeed, someone can easily point out (and students do!) that Jesus in essence did this very thing in his hometown of Nazareth. When He read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, he then “rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down” (Luke 4:20). So one might argue that closing the Bible after reading it is actually following Christ’s example.
Well, hold on. To that argument against my tip I would respond, “Do you remember what actually followed in that Biblical scene?” Luke tells us. “And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing'” (Luke 4:20-21). It was proper there in Nazareth for them to take their eyes off the inscripturated Word of God, for the incarnate Word of God was standing before them!
Yet that leads to a further question, one a student recently asked me in so many words. What is the relationship between the Word of God as found in Scripture and the Word of God who is known as Jesus? For clearly both the Bible and Jesus are called the Word of God.
Regarding the Bible being God’s Word, Paul said that “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16), meaning the Bible comes from the very lips of God. Even preaching of the Bible is considered to be God’s Word. The Apostle Paul had this response to those in Thessalonica who received his preaching ministry from the Biblical text:
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 mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. (1 Thes. 2:13)
Likewise, Peter said,
For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.
With respect to Jesus being the Word, we have these statements so clearly made by John in his gospel.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)
So with both the Scriptures and Jesus being clearly referred to as the Word of God, then what are we to make of their relationship? Let me put it as simply as possible, then give several proper ways to respond. The Scriptures are the Father’s means of the Spirit revealing Jesus to you so you can know God. Therefore, though you should distinguish between them, you should treat the Scriptures as you would treat Jesus.
Here are some proper responses to that end.
Since both the Bible and Jesus are the Father’s communication to you, believe and receive them as such.
As seen in the verses above, both the Scriptures and the Lord Jesus are called God’s Word. That means the heavenly Father desires to communicate to you through giving you His very self. So you should thankfully receive the Bible as a gift from the Father. Likewise, you should also receive the Son of God as a gift from the Father. He gave both to you!
Whenever the Bible is read, taught, or preached, you should listen to it as you would listen to Jesus.
Following His resurrection, on the road to Emmaus with those two dejected disciples, Jesus perked their spirits up and made their hearts burn when “beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). To know the Scriptures is to know Jesus. Yet we need help!
