The limiting mindset and experience when believing and referring to the Bible as “the Word of God” and the difference between Logos and Rhema

We have all heard it in a sermon, read it in a theological book, or perhaps said it ourselves: “the Bible is the Word of God.” Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t make this claim about itself. Instead, it makes this claim about the Spirit of God that was in Jesus according to John 1:1.

Even if the Bible had dropped down out of the sky, or if God had emailed us the PDF directly, even if no humans were involved in writing, editing, compiling, and deciding on which documents to include (OT, NT). The Bible would only be a document but not the Word of God.

Paul tells us that all Scripture is “God-breathed,” but we almost always fail to experience the “the breath” of His speaking. It seems that we make a leap from Scripture being inspired, “God-breathed” as it states in 2 Timothy 3:16 to Scripture being this inerrant, perfect document, given to us from the very hand of God, without the possibility of humans altering its original content.

Though studying the Bible from definitive root word perspectives is immensely rewarding. The most important form of study that we can do in life is not Bible study. But more importantly, mind-study to locate God within it to experience the breath of His speaking and teaching. When trying to locate God, search your mind first. This is the reason that Jesus plainly encourages us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness for the kingdom of God is within you. I present to you a kingdom, just as My Father presented one upon Me” (Matthew 6:33; Luke 17:21, 22:29).

It’s important to remember that “the Word of God” is a Spirit that speaks and teaches. All humanity possesses “the Word of God.” Yet some experience it, and some don’t for different reasons. So I am not saying the Bible is unimportant or to be marginalized. Quite the contrary. I am saying that it is so important, so critical to the life of the church, the body of Christ, that we can only trust Jesus (the Spoken Word) to interpret it correctly for us. Any interpretation that does not begin and end with Jesus (the Spoken Word) is bound to go wrong. You can only understand the Word of God through the person named “The Word of God.”