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Many people in this nation and world call the Bible "the Word of God". This article attempts to present another thought and what the phrase "the Word of God" means and it's appropriate use.

Before we begin our dicussion about the "Word of God", let us take a look at that term itself. When the term "word" of God is used, what is meant by "word"? What is a "word"? Among other things, a word is a thought or idea that that has been crystalized into an expression of communication.

Greek definition of Word:

G3056 (Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries)

G3056 λόγος logos (log'-os) n.

1.  something said (including the thought)
2. (by implication) a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive
3. (by extension) a computation
4. (specially, with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)

[from G3004]

KJV: account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work 

The "word" of God is a message, not a book.

When we limit "God's Word" to just a book of 66 smaller books, then we limit our awareness of the many ways that God can and does speak to us and to others. It has been said that a group of godly men wrote the original documents that compose the book that we call the Bible. But God did not stop speaking after the Bible was canonized. He continues to speak today.

The word of God is much more than a book. God speaks to us at many times and in many ways. God's word is any message that comes to us from God, through any means. This word can come through watching a movie, or when we are "correcting" or "teaching" or children and then we realize that our words are actually meant for us. It can come to us through a normal family or business interaction.

In the Bible there are number of places where it says something like, "the word of the Lord came to....." In other words, the word of the Lord came to those prophets by whatever means. The writing about it is not the same thing as the word of the Lord. The writing about the word of the Lord coming is just that, some writing. In each of these instances the word of the Lord may have come in various methods. It may have come through some life experiences or .....

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield1 and the one who will reward you in great abundance.” Genesis 15:1

How did the word of the Lord come to Abram? "in a vision". The method that it came was not the Word of God. Rather, the "words" and the message that came, they were the "word of God". Let's not confuse with the method by which it cqme with message from the Lord.

¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by^[d] the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." John 17:13-17

Let's take a look at what Jesus said in this page. In verse 14, speaking to God, Jesus said "I have given them your word." At this point he said the he has already given them God's word. Jesus was obviously not speaking about a book here.

In Verse 16, Jesus said, "Santify them by the truth." What is he saying here? Could it be as simple as Jesus meant exactly what he said? What is it that sanctifies in this verse? The truth sanctifies. Now let's look at the last half of the verse. "Your word is truth." That seems simple enough. Your (God's) word is truth. What does that mean? Sometimes things can be made clearer by just reversing the order of the sentence. "Truth is God's word." Now, let's look at that. One plausible meaning is, "Any time anyone speaks the truth (tells the truth), he is speaking God's Word, because telling the truth is God's Word. (Telling the) Truth transforms lives. When we learn to speak the truth in all situations, that has a transforming power in our lives and in the lives of others. We realise that when we have to always tell the truth, then we have to change our behavior so that we don't bring heavy consequences down upon ourselves. This is part of the transforming power of telling the truth.

When you call anything "God's Word" (i.e. the Bible or any other book) you make it into an object that can be held, objectafied, and even worshipped, rather than...inter