Warning: This blog was written prior to discerning Paul's letters. Please refer to Quick Reference for Paul’s Contrary Teachings.
All Scripture is inspired by God or God breathed. Many Christians including several Pastors refer Scripture as Word of God due to ignorance not knowing the difference between two. While it is generally not deceiving in nature to refer Scripture as Word of God but if a doctrine is drawn out of it, you need to stop listening to it and be cautious.
Luke 24:44-45 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Jesus Christ defined what Scripture is which includes the Law of Moses, Prophets and Psalms. The New Testament on the other hand repeatedly uses Scripture to preach Jesus Christ and validate their claims.
John 5:38-40 But you do not have His Word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Jesus Christ Himself differentiates His Word and Scriptures as we read in the above verse. Do not be deceived!
Scripture
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Word of God
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Confined all under sin But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe (Gal 3:22) |
Set free from sin For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2). |
Inspired by God All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Ti 3:16-17). |
He is God He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God (Rev 19:13). |
Testifies Jesus Christ But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (Joh 5:38-39). |
He is Jesus Christ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (Joh 1:14). |
Will lead to Eternal Life But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (Joh 5:38-39). |
He is Eternal Life Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (Joh 14:6). And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1Jn 5:20). |
Searchable These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Act 17:11). |
Unsearchable Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable (Psa 145:3). |
Written by Prophets, Inspired by God Bible is a book written by prophets inspired by God. There are no errors anywhere in the whole Scripture including the Old and New Testament. However, this is not equal to the Word of God but testifies the Word of God. |
God Himself Word of God is not the scripture. He is Jesus Christ and He is God. I can give all references differentiating a book and God but that’s not my aim. I just want everyone to understand that wherever Scripture says ‘Word of God’ it is actually representing Jesus Christ and not a book. |
Beware! Paul’s letters are not equal to God’s words which does not return to Him void or Christ’s words which will never pass even after the heaven and earth pass away. By calling scripture as Word of God, Paul’s letters and the disciples’ epistles are elevated to an authority equal to God’s which is a terrible sin. This is by no means degrading either Paul’s or other apostle’s letters but they cannot be exalted to be equal with Christ’s or God’s. Do not be deceived.
Thank sir for this guidance..
Bravo! It helped, sir. Thank you so much.
I want to ask, which books are included in the term scripture and which are not. What about the book of enoch? What about some poem i wrote last year where i claim to be inspired by god? Is it just the law and the prophet and not the New Testament or both? Could there be letters from Paul which also classify as scripture but are lost to us and nobody knows about it?
I have so many questions about this, because i feel it is important to understand.
The details are mentioned in FAQ -> Scripture.
Scripture, generally referred as Bible is not the word of God but gives witness to the word of God. Jesus Christ is the word of God. Bible is not one book but a collection of books. The books included in Scripture are always been controversial from early Christianity and even during reformation when Martin Luther wants to throw away the last four books of the Bible – Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation.
Our authority comes from Jesus Christ where He mentioned what constitutes Scripture in Luke 24:44-45. He included only 28 books from the Christian Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and Psalms.
Gospels are witness accounts about Jesus Christ and His teachings. Revelation is the only book in New Testament given specifically by God Himself to the churches. Just like there are weightier matters of the law (Matt 23:23), Gospels and Revelation are the weightier books in the New Testament. We need to listen and obey Christ’s teachings for which Father will require of all who reject His Words spoken through His Son (Deut 18:19). It is blasphemy to exalt and glorify a man’s letter or a prophet’s prayer or praises and make it equal to the words of God in Old Testament and Christ’s words in New Testament.