Personal Theological Question

[SGO]

Hello.
I have a question about this verse, Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
KJV

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
NASB

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
ESV

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
NIV

Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
NABRE

Question:

Since the bible is alive, whose life is in it?


A few of my thoughts:

Is it God's life that is in the bible? (inspired, God breathed, from the Holy Spirit)

We know the bible originated with God.

Is the life in the bible it's own, separate life?

We interact with this book as we read, are changed, and strengthened.


I really do not know the answer and was wondering if you might have some insight.

Please do not quote theologian X, rather just what you think personally.

I would prefer this not degenerate into an argument or dispute about "versions".

 

[Alex2165]

Let see what the Bible said about Bible.


Romans 15.4

4."Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."



2Timothy 3.16-17

16."All Scripture is inspired by GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,

17.that the man of GOD may be adequate, equipped for every good work."




I view the Bible in a certain way. Bible does not have life on its own or introducing some kind of separate secret society or world, the Bible is the Guide, just like a map, GPS, or directional sign.

So according to the verses above the Bible direct and leads people on the path to GOD, and this is the only purpose of the Bible.


Matthew 7.13-14

13."Enter through the narrow gate, the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.


~ 13. Narrow gate means to live according to Biblical principals and ideals, according to all Spiritual Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances of the Bible which limit a person to a narrow way of life with many restrictions, boundaries, and limits.


What goes through every gate? Some kind of road or path. So in this sense the Bible can be compare also to a Path that goes throw the Narrow Gate which is leading to the Kingdom of GOD and everlasting Life.



14. The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to Life, and there are few who find it."


~ 14. Yes indeed, the Gate is Narrow and the road to GOD is hard but they lead to Life. The Narrow Gate is designed only for small amount of people to get through and for larger crowd it is very hard to get through the Narrow Gate, so the people naturally choosing a wider Gate and a wider Path through which much easier and much faster to go through, but it do not lead to Life.


The words, "there are few who find it," under this context these words do not mean that it is hard to find a Narrow Gate, because the Bible available today to all, but perhaps mean that very few who chose to get through it, so it is a matter not of search but a matter of choice.

 

[canadyjd]

I don’t believe the passage from Hebrews is to taken literally... that each Bible is a living organism.

It should be understood as an analogy: God’s Word is powerful and transformative for those who read or hear and understand.

peace to you

 

[rlvaughn]

Briefly, I think the word of God in verse 12 is primarily referring to the same as him with whom we have to do in verse 13.

 

[SGO]

Thank you for the replies.

I am very happy you were thoughtful and did not quote a commentator or theologian.


I would tend to think then that the word of God might be a separate thing from the bible then and I really am not comfortable with that.


If God is omnipresent why could He not be in the bible, but I am thinking perhaps he is there in a special way.


And later in verse 12 it states the word "discerns" or "able to judge".

"Discerns" to me means an something active which the discerning takes place regarding reaction to the thoughts of the reader. Just like you are reacting in reading this.

 

[SGO]

Apparently many do not think the bible is alive on its own but that its inspired words are a tool used by the Holy Spirit and in that sense The Holy Spirit of Christ makes the words live.

 

[utilyan]

Since the bible is alive, whose life is in it?

When they say word =/= bible. They are talking about JESUS CHRIST.

 

[Walter]

When they say word =/= bible. They are talking about JESUS CHRIST.

I was a member of a Baptist church that worshipped the written word. The pastor hoisted the bible in the air multiple times during his never-ending sermons and crying out 'the word, the word, the glorious word of Gawd!!!'. Bibliotry is a alive and well in too many fundamentalist churches.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

I was a member of a Baptist church that worshipped the written word. The pastor hoisted the bible in the air multiple times during his never-ending sermons and crying out 'the word, the word, the glorious word of Gawd!!!'. Bibliotry is a alive and well in too many fundamentalist churches.

There’s some truth to that. Some try to make the Bible a member of the Trinity, while accusing Catholics of doing the same with Mary.

Seems I’ve seen the same from the Orthodox as they hoist their gilt Bible aloft and proceed around through the iconostasis. Do Catholics not have any such ceremony?

 

[SGO]

Being born again,
not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible,
by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever.
1Peter 1:23

Small "w" word
which liveth and abideth for ever.

Bibliolitry?
Then you are hard pressed to say born again.

Oh, but the word of God is not a book.

Do you not read the book and are strengthened by what is in it?

Yes, but what is in it is not the book.

At least our God is alive.

 

[utilyan]

When they talk about THE SCRIPTURES......they actually say THE SCRIPTURES.

And more than likely the AUTHORS directly mean the OLD TESTAMENT.

WORD OF GOD is Jesus Christ.


"Is the life in the bible it's own, separate life?"
No. you can't do nothing with a Chinese bible unless you know Chinese.

If thats "VALID" then You can make up your OWN language and then "OOF" means the entire bible written out.

 

[Walter]

There’s some truth to that. Some try to make the Bible a member of the Trinity, while accusing Catholics of doing the same with Mary.

Seems I’ve seen the same from the Orthodox as they hoist their gilt Bible aloft and proceed around through the iconostasis. Do Catholics not have any such ceremony?

Anglicans, Lutherans, and others also draw attention to the reading of the gospel passage. In a Methodist church I recently attended the pastor said: 'Now, in honor of the Lord Jesus, please stand for the reading of the Holy Gospel. In Catholic Churches, the book of the Gospels is raised above the congregation with the words pronounced by the deacon/priest 'The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _________ with the gospel passage read followed by the sermon based on that gospel passage.

I don't think I have experienced anything that I would consider 'bibliotry' in my own church. Nothing like what I experienced in my Baptist church. Maybe it was an isolated IFB church I attended.

 

[SGO]

"Is the life in the bible it's own, separate life?"
No. you can't do nothing with a Chinese bible unless you know Chinese.

If thats "VALID" then You can make up your OWN language and then "OOF" means the entire bible written out.

What are you talking about or are you just here to poke.

 

[SGO]

Anglicans, Lutherans, and others also draw attention to the reading of the gospel passage. In a Methodist church I recently attended the pastor said: 'Now, in honor of the Lord Jesus, please stand for the reading of the Holy Gospel. In Catholic Churches, the book of the Gospels is raised above the congregation with the words pronounced by the deacon/priest 'The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _________ with the gospel passage read followed by the sermon based on that gospel passage.

I don't think I have experienced anything that I would consider 'bibliotry' in my own church. Nothing like what I experienced in my Baptist church. Maybe it was an isolated IFB church I attended.

Can you say inside yourself that you are excited about reading the word of God?

Don't you like that He talks to you directly as the Spirit moves?

No need to answer here, just for yourself.

 

[SGO]

If any of you think that I think I know the answer to the OP question you are wrong.

All I know is that the bible claims life for itself.

The word of God is quick (alive). Hebrews 4:12
The word of God liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23

 

[utilyan]

If any of you think that I think I know the answer to the OP question you are wrong.

All I know is that the bible claims life for itself.

The word of God is quick (alive). Hebrews 4:12
The word of God liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23

Word of God does not mean ONLY scriptures. Peter was not walking around with a King James bible. The disciples didn't go to the local Barnes and Noble a have copies of bibles.

 

[SGO]

Word of God does not mean ONLY scriptures. Peter was not walking around with a King James bible. The disciples didn't go to the local Barnes and Noble a have copies of bibles.

There you go twisting and shouting.
If you look at the OP there are numerous translations quoted including a Roman version.

 

[utilyan]

There you go twisting and shouting.
If you look at the OP there are numerous translations quoted including a Roman version.

So you think the apostles had new testament books?


Simply put you are reading it wrong.

 

[SGO]

So you think the apostles had new testament books?


Simply put you are reading it wrong.

What are you talking about again?
This is not the OP question.
You are sidetracking.

And Peter called Paul's writings scripture so there were some of the new testament writings flowing around new testament writers.

... Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him
hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things;
in which
are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures,
unto their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:15b-16

 

[utilyan]

What are you talking about again?
This is not the OP question.
You are sidetracking.

"Since the bible is alive, whose life is in it?"

Bible is not alive.