More Than Words!

 Click Here to Listen to or Read the One Year Bible Readings

Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

There is power in words. Words we say can build others up or tear them down. Words can heal and reveal. Words can inform us and warn us. Words have meaning to us that can cause deep emotions like joy, anger, sadness, and jubilation. Most of the history we have of our world comes from words that were written down and passed on. 

In ancient cultures, stories were passed on orally, or by images and carvings expressing events that had happened. By Paul's time written letters couild be circulated, which is where we get our gospels, and other letters of the New Testament. In this case Paul is referring to the words he, Silas, and Timothy had spoken to the Thessalonians. when they first traveled there in Acts 17. 

Importantly Paul distinguishes between human words and the very word of God. The word of God, which is the Gospel or Good News about Jesus Christ, has the power to change lives. While human words can be persuasive and powerful, God's word has the literal power to change lives. And the word of the gospel, when believed in faith has not only the power to save, but also continues to work in the life of a believer to bring them to full maturity in Christ. 

Read this commentary from Barnes where he distinguishes the power of God's Word and the words of man. 

"Not as the word of men - Not of human origin, but as a divine revelation. You were not led to embrace it by human reasoning, or the mere arts of persuasion, or from personal respect for others, but by your conviction that it was a revelation from God. It is only when the gospel is embraced in this way that religion will show itself sufficient to abide the fiery trials to which Christians may be exposed. He who is convinced by mere human reasoning may have his faith shaken by opposite artful reasoning; he who is won by the mere arts of popular eloquence will have no faith which will be proof against similar arts in the cause of error; he who embraces religion from mere respect for a pastor, parent, or friend, or because others do, may abandon it when the popular current shall set in a different direction, or when his friends shall embrace different views; but he who embraces religion as the truth of God, and from the love of the truth, will have a faith, like that of the Thessalonians, which will abide every trial."

The bible is the inspired Word of God, which reveals the gospel about Jesus Christ. This is the gospel that has changed the world and continue to change it as we proclaim it for all the world to hear.  The bible is useful for correction and training to be more like Christ. It is not like any other book. It is more than words, much more! 

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