the bible is THE word of god
... or the difference between "the" ('thuh') and "The" ('thee') ...
i memorized this version when i was a small child ...
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (king james version)
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
that scripture in particular is used time and time and time again to say that the bible is "The" word of god. the only word, usually. hmmmmm ... interesting.
it was interesting to me when i was in 3rd grade too ... i have less than a handful of teachers i remember, and mrs. kempton was one of them. as a student at a 'christian' school, we studied the bible every day. i had already memorized those verses of the bible whether for sunday school or just as one of my parent's required passages, when we began to study paul's letter to timothy in our class.
my hand went up ... i have a question.
i had learned that "scripture" was, "a sacred writing." i learned about the construction of the bible by emperor constantine. i was taught about the various authors of the books of the bible and their context and purposes. i had just learned that the books we were studying, timothy, were really a series of letters from paul to timothy.
and then we get to this part of our lesson ... my question was simple, "what scripture is paul writing about?" obviously, it could not have been the bible, the bible did not exist nor would paul even in his most grand ego trip consider the letters he was writing as scripture.
i suppose he could, but i just don't think that when paul was writing to timothy he was projecting that this letter here would be included in a book compiled by the command of the emperor of the roman empire and hence forever be called a scripture to which he would then be referring to in his letter.
my teacher, gave me a round about answer that really didn't answer my question. she just repeated that the bible is a scripture and that it is god's word. i was puzzled ... thankfully, so was she.
several days later, she spoke with me alone on the subject. she had discussed it with the school principal and others, and said at this school, what paul's letter to timothy meant that the bible was inspired by god and that the bible is "The" word of god. AND ... this is why she was a GOOD teacher ... she went on to say, that i was right. paul could not have possibly been talking about the bible, and that there were many scriptures paul was referring to in his letter to timothy.
that teacher gave me freedom. she gave me the freedom to believe that the bible is "the" word of god, but not "The" word of god. and while i believe that one may find god from the bible alone, the bible is not the only way to find god, and that god has inspired scripture after scripture after scripture after scripture; and continues to breath life in sacred writings even today.
for "christians" to continue in their claim that the bible is "The" word of god cuts them off from "the" word of god which has no judgment in love based on so many things created by man. it creates "us" and "them" and the separation from one another that they can never possibly bridge holding so tightly to "The" word of god. "The" word of god chokes the life from their lips, and allows the lie that paul's words to timothy create an exclusive scripture by which god speaks to man.
"the word of god is a lamp," let it light your journey and teach you that 'all scriptures are inspired by god', and know that jesus would care less that people knew his name or believed in him if they were seeking god in whatever scripture they chose.
peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'
i memorized this version when i was a small child ...
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (king james version)
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
that scripture in particular is used time and time and time again to say that the bible is "The" word of god. the only word, usually. hmmmmm ... interesting.
it was interesting to me when i was in 3rd grade too ... i have less than a handful of teachers i remember, and mrs. kempton was one of them. as a student at a 'christian' school, we studied the bible every day. i had already memorized those verses of the bible whether for sunday school or just as one of my parent's required passages, when we began to study paul's letter to timothy in our class.
my hand went up ... i have a question.
i had learned that "scripture" was, "a sacred writing." i learned about the construction of the bible by emperor constantine. i was taught about the various authors of the books of the bible and their context and purposes. i had just learned that the books we were studying, timothy, were really a series of letters from paul to timothy.
and then we get to this part of our lesson ... my question was simple, "what scripture is paul writing about?" obviously, it could not have been the bible, the bible did not exist nor would paul even in his most grand ego trip consider the letters he was writing as scripture.
i suppose he could, but i just don't think that when paul was writing to timothy he was projecting that this letter here would be included in a book compiled by the command of the emperor of the roman empire and hence forever be called a scripture to which he would then be referring to in his letter.
my teacher, gave me a round about answer that really didn't answer my question. she just repeated that the bible is a scripture and that it is god's word. i was puzzled ... thankfully, so was she.
several days later, she spoke with me alone on the subject. she had discussed it with the school principal and others, and said at this school, what paul's letter to timothy meant that the bible was inspired by god and that the bible is "The" word of god. AND ... this is why she was a GOOD teacher ... she went on to say, that i was right. paul could not have possibly been talking about the bible, and that there were many scriptures paul was referring to in his letter to timothy.
that teacher gave me freedom. she gave me the freedom to believe that the bible is "the" word of god, but not "The" word of god. and while i believe that one may find god from the bible alone, the bible is not the only way to find god, and that god has inspired scripture after scripture after scripture after scripture; and continues to breath life in sacred writings even today.
for "christians" to continue in their claim that the bible is "The" word of god cuts them off from "the" word of god which has no judgment in love based on so many things created by man. it creates "us" and "them" and the separation from one another that they can never possibly bridge holding so tightly to "The" word of god. "The" word of god chokes the life from their lips, and allows the lie that paul's words to timothy create an exclusive scripture by which god speaks to man.
"the word of god is a lamp," let it light your journey and teach you that 'all scriptures are inspired by god', and know that jesus would care less that people knew his name or believed in him if they were seeking god in whatever scripture they chose.
peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'
Labels: freedom, god's word, scripture
posted by elaine x at 9:00 PM
6 comments
