Saying the Bible is the “word of God” means Christians believe it was written by human authors who were inspired by God, so that its message is God’s message to humanity. The Bible is the central sacred text of Christianity, and its Old Testament is also central to Judaism. Click here for additional info.
Definition of “Word of God”
When Christians say the Bible is the word of God, they mean it is the written record of what they believe God communicated to humanity through inspired human authors. Additional info can be found here.
What is the Bible?
The Bible is a collection of religious texts written over a period of centuries by a variety of authors. It is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is made up of the books of the Torah, the Psalms, the Prophets, and the Writings. The New Testament is made up of the Gospels, the book of Acts, and the Letters.
Different views of the Bible
People hold different views on the Bible’s authority. Some believe it is the word of God in the fullest sense; others read it as an important collection of ancient religious writings without that claim. This page describes what Christians who hold the first view mean by the phrase.
What does the Bible itself say about this?
Two passages are usually pointed to as the Bible’s own claim about its origin:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
How the Bible is different from other religious texts
Within Christianity, the Bible is treated as uniquely authoritative because Christians hold it to be inspired in the way described above, rather than simply a record of human religious reflection.
How can we apply the Bible to our lives?
The Bible is a collection of writings from many different authors over a period of centuries, compiled and edited over time. For those who hold it as the word of God, it serves as a source of moral guidance and instruction for daily life.
The importance of studying the Bible
For Christians, studying the Bible is a primary way of learning about God and seeking to follow His ways.