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God's Word on God's Word: Part 1

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We find the Bible assuming itself to be the Word of God in the special terms that it uses to describe itself. In this new blog series, we will consider 12 of these terms. Today, we look at the first of these: “Scriptures”.

1. The Scripture (Scriptures)

The New Testament applied the term “the writings” to the books of the Old Testament. The Latin translation of “the writings” is “the Scriptures.” The term “Scripture” comes from the Greek word graphe meaning, “a writing,” or “that which is written.” The noun form of the word occurs about fifty times in the New Testament and it is used mostly of the collection of sacred writings—the Old Testament.

Jesus said”

Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42).

The singular form of graphe is also used at times when referring to the entire collection of sacred writings. Paul wrote.

What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

It Can Refer To One Specific Passage

The word is sometimes used of a specific passage in the sacred writings:

And he [Jesus] began by saying to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

It Is Used Of Specific Portions Of Scripture

The term “Scripture” is even used of specific New Testament portions. In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul directly quoted the words of Christ recorded in Luke 10:7 and called the words “Scripture.”

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves to be paid” (1 Timothy 5:18).

Jesus had earlier said to His disciples:

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house (Luke 10:7).

This is the earliest instance of Jesus’ words being quoted as Scripture.

The Use Of The Singular And The Plural

In Matthew’s gospel the plural form of graphe (graphais) Scripture is used.

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42)

The parallel passage in Mark has the singular form graphe. Jesus said.

“Haven’t you read this Scripture, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'” (Mark 12:10).

Sometimes It Refers To A Larger Portion

In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter specifically refers to Paul’s writings as Scripture:

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

The other Scriptures would refer to the Old Testament as well as that portion of the New Testament that had been written at that time.

It Is Written

The verb form of graphe is used about ninety times. It is often found in a form meaning, “It is written.” For example, Jesus said to Satan:

Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10).

Comments

  1. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness

    2 Timothy 3:17 that the man of GOD may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works

  2. Jesus Christ, the cloyless Christ, Thou art the ‘ in the beginning word, your name is The Word of God Rev.19:13! What Antony says of Cleopatra fits only you like a shot! Give me, please, one syllable this morning. You are new, fresh every morning, like dew of Hermon. Convert Logos into Rhema for me, graphe into ‘gaffe’ (?). Your word is seven times purified, embodying the seven-fold spirit. Only this can smite the enemy (Isa.59.19-21) and cause him to flee SEVEN ways (Deu.28:25), seven streams (Isa.11:15) and make us more than conquerors. O, Rod of Jesse, the rod of thy mouth is my FUEL ROD (Isa.11:1- ). Enrich my spent fuel rods every morning freely (2Cor.9:11; Isa.50:4). Thy rod and thy staff (saints, elders, “men to be wondered at” (Zec.3:8)they comfort me, instruct me & snatch me from destruction & post-modern deconstruction. Let Isa.44:3-4 be poured out upon all this morning, now, O, Lord of Compassion. All for your glory. Amen.
    Poor and needy one,
    Mathew

  4. Jer.5:3 & Isa.1:5-6. I am a Debtor to the Great Green Grace flowing through my/our Church – the fulness of him that filleth all in all(Eph.1;23). Our Exodus is from ” NO soundness at all” to “this perfect soundness”. Isaiah One to Acts Three! ‘This’ means demonstrable! Behold! Thy rod and THY Staff – apostles,prophets,evangelists,pastors & teachers. Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Yet this Gre…at Creator God has enfranchised puny little man, reject or receive, corruption (look at India!) or correction, perdition or perfection, vote or veto. How great is our God.. how small is mathew. Next time you fly pl. look down and estimate.., but let your estimation be after The Shekel of the Sanctuary. Green grace be with you all. Amen.
    Poor and needy one,
    mathew

  5. Thank you Lord, for your Word that is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!

  6. I would say this blog post is a fine example of why the modern church is lost in the darkness of false doctrines and the corruption that so easily follows. You might want to accept God’s offer to come and reason together with him. The King James Holy Bible is the first book to ever be called the “Holy Bible” because it is holy. That means it is not corrupted by having the world’s ideas and doctrines embedded into the text. After the Holy Bible arrived the world experienced revival like not seen in centuries. This was a problem only to the workers of iniquity. They thought they could level the playing field if they came up with a piece of counter intelligence. Now, the show down begins. Since Wescott and Hort came up with their forged greek texts, this nation has fallen from a nation that honors God to a nation that preaches acceptance of abominations, acceptance of the shedding of innocent blood, acceptance of appointing liars and thieves into positions of public trust…

    Is it real or is it memorex? The word of God is sharper than a two edged sword and able to divide between the soul and the marrow. The dull blade is a slow dawg.

  7. But the scripture never calls itself the word of god does it? Isn’t there a difference? The scriptures are holy and right and true but they are never called the word of god

  8. Thank God for his word. Without His word, there would be no direction for mankind.
    Without His word, there would be no instruction to follow.
    Without His word, there would be no mirror to show who you are.
    Without His word, there would be no way to communicate to your creator
    Without His word, there would be no way to know the will of God
    Without His word, there would be no way to know the savior of the world.
    Without His word, there would be no way to develop faith.
    Thank God, Jesus is the Word. There’s life in the Word.
    Jesus, thank you for being my Lord and savior.

    • Loving Father, how I thank you for a speaking God. Blessed be the Lord. Heb.1:1; Ps.115:4-; Ps.135:15- We become like the object of our worship. Corrupt gods, corrupt peoples. Look around. I saw one marvellous thing in a class of forty plus students. Their class teacher was an inspiring, infectious gem of a teacher. All the students have had the selfsame handwriting as the teacher, not easy to distinguish. How much more our Rabbi? Note Peter’s pronunciation! Lord, help us, teach us. Grace be with you all.
      Poor and needy one,
      Mathew

  9. “And I found that though God has made men upright, each has turned away to follow his own DOWNWARD ROAD.” Ecc.729 TLB.
    ..There is risk in each stroke of your axe! A dull axe requires great strength; BE WISE & SHARPEN THE BLADE. Ecc.10:9-10. TLB.
    I saw one popular grocery store with a Start Smoking Counter & adjacent to that a Stop Smoking Counter in the nearby pharmacy. God also says the same thing, “COEXIST” till the harvest! Time is at hand..Rev.22:10-11. BUT, he has equipped you with two strong legs. (Angelina Jolie’s leg baring news & picture). “But we are NOT of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them, we are coverers, that believe to the saving of the soul. Heb.10:39. So run, run. Run for life. ” Come out of her, my people.” You are cordially invited to our church. “Come and See” Jn.1: 38-39. Where dwellest thou? If you are not ‘ABODE'(1Jn.3:24), you are ICHABOD! SO, run, run again I beseech you. Grace and mercy be with you all.
    Poor and needy one,
    Mathew