Truth Taught by God's Word

The Word of God is True. Many would agree with me. However, when asked about certain phrases or specific words those same people will explain them away or re-interpret them, making them void of any validity.

This is not treating the Word as the Holy Word. It is offensive to the One True God, to say the least, to claim that He states meaningless things. Every word is specifically chosen by Him. Every phrase was formed by Him and in I Cor 13 He states that all things will pass away, but His Word will remain forever. His Word doesn't change with time just as He does not change with time.

In John 1 He says that the Word was God - They are the same and inseparable.

Exodus shows us a picture of the Ark of the Covenant. In it were the Commandment Tablets, Aaron’s rod that budded, and jars of manna. Manna is a picture of the Bread of Life, the Word of God; the rod is picture of His promise of new life, and the Commandment Tablets are His direction, His Law. The Ark of the Covenant represents the Bible - the written Word of God – holy and separated to God.

The Bibles we hold in our hands, though, are not "the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, so help me God". They are altered Truth - called “translations” -but they are really interpretations.

This is the difference between a translation and an interpretation: translations are unchanged in their meaning while crossing languages - they do not differ between translators because the original manuscript is the authority.

Interpretations are perceptions of what the original manuscript meant. This can alter from one interpreter to another - as the various versions of the Bible we have do.

In the back of a large concordance it will list the numerous words used to interpret each Hebrew and Greek word. The words used for one Hebrew or Greek word will vary in meaning - at times a word will be interpreted using up to 15 or more different English words. The variation and number of words used in interpretation should not be. This is to the shame of the interpreter, as this reveals and makes evident that they did not handle the Word of God as the Holy Word.

God's Words are not open to free interpretations and “what it means to me”. They are specifically chosen by the Holy Spirit, the Author of the Whole, and are consistently used no matter whose pen wrote them. The Bible was penned by many but compiled by One. Not only does the Word of God as a Whole not change but each specific Word of God does not change. What if we change one word, why not two? Why not 10? Why not a chapter? Etc. It either stands - complete Truth, or none at all.

This makes translating the Word all the easier. For instance, whenever we find any form of the Greek word "dunamis" we can know that we are talking about super-natural spiritual power and always translate it in this manner. This word has ridiculously and numerously been translated as "can" or "able" or “may” Why? Did the interpreter find it hard to believe that supernatural spiritual power was involved in the things of God? How inane.

We are instructed under threat of curses not to touch the Word of God. In the story of David and the Ark of the Covenant, his friend was killed because he touched the Ark. David became upset with God because his friend's intentions were good - he didn't want the Ark to fall as it was being moved on a wooden cart pulled by oxen. Then David finally realized that the Ark was a Holy Thing and the fault was his own as he had treated it as any other unsanctified box.

The Ark is a picture of the Written Word of God. Translators have treated it without regard to its holiness and have reached out to touch it because they thought the Word would fall. We have been given the Word of God interpreted as if it were any other book, carried from one country to another on an ox cart. If the Ark (the Word) is transported from one place to another in the instructed manner - untouched by man and carried by people who are sanctified and appointed to the position, on sanctified poles - translation tools used to move the Word from one language to another, it will not fall. On the contrary, it says that when David arranged for the Ark of the Covenant to be transported in the manner ordered by God then "the LORD helped them". Hallelujah!

Psalm 138:2 says “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy Name for Thy loving kindness and for Thy Truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name.” There is no higher name. God places highest priority on His Word. His priorities are our priorities. Isn’t that right? He holds His Word above His own Name. There is absolutely nothing higher.

It is important, vital that we recognize and honor the holiness of His Word. To revere His Word is to worship God because we give Him our attention and listen and know we are listening to the most important words we will ever hear!

His Word is our Life. God’s life and creative force are in His Words – living words changing us. John 1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him (the Word); and without Him (the Word) was not any thing made that was made. In Him (the Word) was Life; and the Life was the light of men.” - The Light that shines from those who believe is the Living Word of God. How will it shine if it not the unaltered, true and holy Word sent from God?

I encourage you, if you are a student of the Word, dig a little. When comparing two different versions of the Bible and they are interpreted differently, find out which one if either are correct. Check out the meaning of the original Greek or Hebrew words. In this world my good friend if you want to know the truth – if you really want to know, you’re going to have work at finding it. Our Father in Heaven honors that desire and that effort.

Here are two links that are wonderful links to free Bible study programs. One you can download, the other is online.

www.e-sword.net & www.blueletterbible.org

OUR CLAIRE