The Bible
Is the Bible the Word of God? The Scriptures and the Word of God are sometimes treated synonymously throughout the Bible.
Example 1: God said the following.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3 NIV)
This is also described as something that scripture said.
Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ (Galatians 3:8 NIV)
Example 2: We read what God said.
But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16 NIV)
Elsewhere this is something that scripture said.
Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ (Romans 9:17 NIV)
Example 3: David asked a question.
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 2:1 NIV)
Peter and John concluded that God said this.
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?' (Acts 4:24-25 NIV)
So the word of God can refer to scripture.
If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), (John 10:35 WEB)
The phrase “word of God” can also mean various other things depending on context.
A Quote from God
Can the word of God mean a quote from God?
But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying… (1 Kings 12:22 KJV)
What followed the word “saying” was the word of God in that context. Again we read:
But it happened that same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying… (1 Chronicles 17:3 NASB)
In both these cases the word of God was what God actually said, a quote from God. This is the narrowest definition of the phrase.
God’s Commandments
Can the word of God refer to God’s commandments? The Pharisees say:
they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. (Matthew 15:6 NIV)
Preaching
Can the word of God refer to public preaching?
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, (Luke 5:1 NKJV)
So, the word of God can refer to something we hear.
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28 NLT)
Can it refer to what people speak?
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 ESV)
So both ends of a discourse, the speaking and hearing, can be described as the word of God.
Jesus
Is Jesus also the Word of God?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3, 14 NKJV)
Depending on context, the phrase “word of God” can be narrowly a quote from God, and more broadly God’s commandments, public preaching, the person of Jesus and even the scriptures. Do you believe in the Word of God? You decide!
