How Can Jesus and the Bible Both be the Word of God?
There are two types of Word of God in Christianity, one is a written word, meaning the Bible, and the other is the Christ, meaning the living word. The question is that how are Christ and the Bible together the divine Word? We will know this from inspired references and from history. The Bible is considered to be God’s message and has been read for a long time, while Jesus is said to be a living message. He brought God’s message and made his life and teachings an example. The Bible is written word and Jesus is a living example of God’s Words, both of them are meant to convey God’s message and teachings to people.
Verse#1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Verse#2
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Historical Background
If we talk about history, the Bible and Jesus are considered to be the word of God. There are some references in the old times which show that the Old Testament was revealed by God. Which was first a book of Jews, then later became a source of guidance for Christians. When Jesus was revealed, people considered Jesus to be the embodiment of God’s Word that Allah sent His Word in a human form to live among humans and guide them. So that people can know God’s messages and improve their lives by following it. Now the Bible is considered a holy book by the Christians and the Torah by the Jews, and along with the Bible, Jesus is considered a living word of God.
Verse#1
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)
Verse#2
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
Old Testament as a Written Word of God
If we talk about the Old Testament, it contains the words of the old prophets who were asked by God to write and they also wrote from their own lives and experiences. In addition, the Torah was considered the word of God in the old days, in which God wrote down the details of His law, then the Christians also accepted it as their book of guidance, then when Jesus (peace be upon him) came, then they considered him as a living example of God’s word, and the book revealed to him called the Gospel as their holy book. Basically the Old Testament is recognized as the foundational book of Christianity.
Verse#1
“The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” (Exodus 24:12)
Verse#2
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
New Testament And Jesus as The Living Word
When Jesus (peace be upon him) came, he was presented as the living word of God so that he could live among humans and tell them how to live according to God’s will. Since Jesus came into the world, mankind was saved from sins. Besides, Jesus is also called ‘’word made flesh”, which means that he is a living example of the word of God.
Verse#1
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Verse#2
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)
Verse#3
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13)
Verse#4
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Dual Nature of The Word: Jesus And The Bible
Both Jesus and the Bible are divine words. We can understand this in the way that the Bible is a written message that God wrote through various prophets and conveyed the message to people, while on the other hand, Jesus is the divine word in such a way that God sent a living message so that he could convey the message of God to people through his life and practical expression by living among people, so we will interpret it in such a way that the Bible is a written form and Jesus (peace be upon him)is a practical form of God’s message.
Verse#1
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Verse#2
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)
The Bible as The Written Word of God
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are considered to be the Word of God and are used to guide society. The Bible is the definitive book that was revealed to Jesus and the previous prophets and collectively known as the Bible. Everyone can improve their life by following it and it is very important in Christianity.
Verse#1
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Verse#2
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
Interpretation The Word by Christians
If we look at the point of view of Christian thinkers, they said that both the Bible and Jesus are the words of God but their role is different. Saint Augustine, who was a religious leader, said that the Bible is a book written by God and there are instructions in it, while Jesus demonstrated them in practice. Similarly, Thomas Aquinas also said that the Bible teaches God’s commands and Jesus (peace be upon him) acted according to the. Meaning of the message is the same, but there are two aspects, one is practical and the other is written.
Verse#1
“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Luke 24:44)
Verse#2
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,” (John 5:39)
Modern Interpretation of The Word of God
If we talk about the modern era, there are traditions in which both the Bible and Jesus are called the Word of God, but they have been edited with commentary in order to better understand the questions and problems.
Verse#1
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Verse#2
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Both the Bible and Jesus are the words of God. And this is the main part of the Christian faith. Just as scriptures have been revealed to the prophets in every age to guide people, the Bible was also revealed. This is considered the last writing, and Jesus is considered a living message and both of them aim to teach how to live according to God’s will. Both of them have their own important place in Christian beliefs. The only difference is that the Bible is a written word and Jesus is a living and practical example.
Verse#1
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” (John 6:63)
Verse#2
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
