The Name: Word of God

In Revelation 19:13, Jesus is named Word of God.

But the phrase “word of God” almost exclusively refers to the message and teaching recorded in the Bible.

Born Again through the word of God

In 1 Peter 1:23, we read that being born again is a result of the word of God.

Active, Alive Word

In Hebrews 4:12, we read that the word of God is active and alive.  It “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Not a Human Word

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul writes that he thanks God for their willingness to receive the word of God.

He emphasizes that the word of God is not a human creation.

Paul’s Sacrifice for the word of God

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.  I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people (Colossians 1:24-26, NIV).

Sword of the Spirit

The sword of the spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

Spread of the “word of God”

In Acts 12, King Herod actively persecutes Christians.  Toward the end of the chapter, we learn that when his followers called him a god and he didn’t correct them, Herod was struck with sickness and death.

Verse 24 says, “But the word of God continued to spread and flourish,” despite Herod’s best efforts.

“The word of God” appears to be synonymous with the message that Peter has been preaching.

You are ‘gods’

I find John 10:34 one of the most curious verses in the Bible: Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’?

In Psalm 82, Asaph calls sons of the Most High ‘gods.”

Jesus quotes this psalm when he is threatened with stoning after he calls himself the son of God.

Jesus explains that if the Old Testament uses the term ‘god’ to describe people “to whom the word of God came,” then there is no reason to stone him for blasphemy.

The “word of God” as teaching

In Luke 5:1-3, we read that Jesus’ teaching is called the word of God.

This is another use of this phrase, and adds another layer of meaning.

Parable of the Crazy Farmer

In Luke 8:4-15, Jesus tells and interprets the parable of the sower.  Pastor David Votaw affectionately calls the sower the “Crazy Farmer” since it’s not normal to spread seed anywhere and everywhere.

According to Jesus, “The seed is the word of God.”