Foundation
Doctrine #1: Words
Doctrine #1
Doctrine #1 Read
When I was 12 years old I moved from Canada to the U.S. It was a tough move for me, but it definitely had some perks. I was very excited to play baseball for the first time. I had grown up playing softball. Throughout middle school, I would hone my skills playing in Little League and Peewee until I reached High School: "The Big Leagues". I was thrilled and quite nervous to walk into the locker room to sign up for the team. Before the day was over I heard kids laughing at me. I didn't know why. It turns out the baseball coach, while looking at the signup sheet, had turned to several of the players after spotting my name and said, "Canadians can't play baseball!" After two years of feeling like an outsider, I quit.
Overview
Words are powerful. God chose to make Himself known through words with the Bible. Our ability to handle words not only proves our ability in God's Eyes, but it plays a critical role in our salvation. If a person does not believe words are powerful, there is no reason to read the Bible.
Discussion Question
Do you believe words are powerful?
Scripture
Genesis 1:1-3
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Commentary
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 1
The phrase "In the beginning" did not mean "the first moment of time." It actually meant "shaking" as in the moment that something happened. The "heavens" was where God lives. In this verse "earth" meant "all the physical matter that would ever exist." Basically, this first verse of the Bible could be read as: "When the First Cause made something happen, He created the intangible place where He lived and all the physical matter that would ever exist."
After an in-depth study of both the definitions and etymology of the words used in the first two chapters of Genesis, a much deeper meaning behind these verses is revealed. This first verse of the Bible actually alluded to God's eternal plan in the etymology. Here was this first verse according to etymology: "At the time of the First Cause, the intangible place where God places his banner and the marriage bed were created by consent and the agreement of the Trinity on an original thought." Creation only occurs with agreement...by two or more people exchanging value. The devil cannot create because he cannot come into agreement with anyone, he only destroys. If it was only God the Father, none of this would have been created. The Trinity's purpose was to create a Bride for Jesus. This would allow each of the Trinity to interact with each other through the Bride in a manner that would be profitable for eternity.
Commentary · verse 2
Here is the translation of this verse according to the definitions and etymology of the words that were used:
- The phrase "And the earth was waste and void" meant "All the physical matter that would make up all of life was from its beginning without purpose and without anything good or bad in it."
- The phrase "...and darkness was upon the face of the deep" meant "a complete lack of understanding covered the shell of this chaotic egg that consisted of water."
- The phrase "...and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" meant "the breath of the most powerful Right and Just sat brooded like a bird upon the inside of this egg."
Basically, God created a mass of water that resembled an egg, while the Holy Spirit brooded like a bird over this egg. The physical matter was not good or bad, it was just physical matter. The Holy Spirit was the seed that "fertilized this egg." Notice, the New Testament began with the Holy Spirit fertilizing the egg inside Mary. Her egg was not good or bad, it was just physical matter. People who think the egg was good end up worshipping the earth...and worshipping Mary.
Commentary · verse 3
God spoke things into existence. God is intangible, otherwise, a person could ask, "Where did the matter that made up God first come from?" God also created the tangible through the intangible: words. Words are vibrations, which themselves are not tangible. Every other "creation story" began with tangible matter, which was not possible. "Light" came from Hebrew word or which meant "energy." Everywhere the word "light" was used in the Bible, you can substitute the word "energy." Recently, science has determined that all the elements can be created with water, high energy, and heat. So far, we've seen the earth was all water. The Holy Spirit's brooding supplied heat. God creating light/energy allowed elements and physical uniqueness to be possible.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Commentary
Jesus was referred to as the Word. Could a Believer in Jesus recognize that Jesus is the Word while saying words aren't important?
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 1
The Word was: in the beginning, with God, and was God.
Doctrine: This established Jesus' pre-existence before His natural birth. Remember, "In the beginning" (from Genesis 1:1) did not mean "the first moment of time." It meant "shaking," which meant when all the physical matter that would ever exist was created. Jesus existed before all the physical matter ever existed, which is known as "pre-existent."
Commentary · verses 2-3
God's Word or the Word created all things. God's Word is truth. Truth is facts that create in the long term (a right WHAT with a right HOW/WHY). God the Father created everything through Jesus.
Doctrine: Creation requires more than one person because profitability is an effect of an exchange. The devil cannot create because he cannot come into agreement and exchange with anyone. The devil can only destroy.
Commentary · verse 4
In Him (the Word) is life (the ability to repair). Life is the light (energy) of men.
Doctrine: The ability to repair is from Jesus because it is an effect of truth.
Commentary · verse 5
Doctrine: The word "light" meant "to be made manifest"...to become apparent and realized. "Darkness" meant "obscurity"...to not be able to be realized.
2 Timothy 2:14-15
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.
15Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Commentary
We are warned not to strive about words to no profit. This verse did not say you should not strive about words to a profit. In fact, the next verse stated we are supposed to handle the word of truth SO well that it brings a profit to ourselves and those who hear us.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 14
Paul told Timothy to remind the people he was with to not strive about words without a profit. Some people try to interpret this verse to mean we should not debate words and definitions. That was not what Paul stated. Paul wanted Timothy to be profitable in his words and to help others be profitable in their words, to the point that even striving (arguing) with another person could be profitable.
Commentary · verse 15
Let's look at the key words in this sentence:
- "present" (Strong's #3936) paristēmi - "to bring into one's fellowship or intimacy, exhibit whom you covenant with"
- "workman" (Strong's #2040) ergatēs - "to toil with works of words as a teacher"
- "needeth not to be ashamed" (Strong's #422) anepaischyntos - "unable to be of equal value by scriptural support"
- "handling aright" (Strong's #3718) orthotomeō - "make a straight cut, a precise singular surgical cut that is perpendicular to the horizon, to make a cut from above, which is God's view: straight down."
We ought to show whether we are in covenant with God or not by our ability to toil with works of words by our ability to have God's view on God's Word.
Romans 10:8-10
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: 10for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Commentary
Speaking words is the way confession is made unto salvation.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 6-8
Paul referenced Deuteronomy 30:12-14, however, he gave an interpretation of two parts of the scripture in parentheses in verses 6 and 7. The end of the referenced scripture was the first half of verse 8: "...and in thy heart:" Paul then directly gave his interpretation of the third part: The word that Moses spoke of in the believer's mouth and in the heart (because it came out in actions) was the word of faith Paul was writing about. Why?
Commentary · verse 9
Paul stated that if we allowed the influence from the Holy Spirit through our spirit to come through our hearts (verse 8) when it came out in our actions (verse 9) we would be saved. Again, doing the Law would cause a person to accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Commentary · verse 10
Doctrine: Salvation - a choice that resulted in belief in the heart (DO, actions) and confession with the mouth (SAY, words). Notice, the person's DO and SAY would be consistent. This was Paul's premise.
Matthew 12:32-37
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
32And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
33Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.
34Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Commentary
The only unforgivable sin mentioned in the Bible concerned speaking against the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the mouth speaks what is in the heart. Jesus also said every idle word that all people speak, even believers, will have to be explained at Judgment Day. Jesus said our words could condemn us.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 31-32
Blasphemy ("speak against") against the Holy Spirit is not to be forgiven. The context here explained this as intentionally attributing a work of the Holy Spirit to Satan or his demons. The example in this verse was Jesus casting demons out by the Holy Spirit being attributed to the enemy. Also, the word for "speak" when it referred to the Holy Spirit was eipon/epo which referred to "rhema": the revelatory spoken word without cause. If a person spoke a word out of "understanding" (lego) then it was an error and didn't apply. However, if a person spoke a word that was of themselves without cause (reason/understanding), then it was divination because the person themselves was attempting to be the source, and if it was wrong and blasphemed the Holy Spirit then it was unforgivable. People who can't give a reason (a WHY) for what they speak are attempting to be the source and when it is wrong this is divination.
Commentary · verse 33
Causality: "The tree (cause) is known by its fruit (effect)." Throughout this chapter, Jesus demonstrated the Pharisees were contradictory. In this verse, Jesus wanted the Pharisees to state their will and stop being contradictory.
Commentary · verses 34-37
We will be judged according to our works (including words) and will give an account of our lives in the day of judgment. The word "word" in verse 36 was rhema - "the revelatory and powerful word without precedent that brings salvation when it comes from God." Above, we saw when people speak words without precedent, they are attempting to be the source, to be God. Everyone will have to give an account of the words they speak that do not have a precedent. Again, this was the same application in verse 32 relative to speaking a word against the Holy Spirit. For verse 37, if someone speaks a wrong word based on understanding, this was logos. For example, teaching about the Holy Spirit incorrectly because you have interpreted a Bible passage wrong is not rhema. The source was the Bible and you would have erred in your understanding. However, teaching something wrong about the Holy Spirit based not on the Bible, but on something you believe is rhema. This wrong doing will have to be paid for in the day of judgment, unless the person responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and confessed and repented. Jesus' point here was the Pharisees were not confessing and repenting so they would have to pay for this in the day of judgment.
63It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Commentary
Jesus stated the words He spoke are life and profits us. Remember, 2 Timothy 2:14-15? We ought to handle the word of truth so well it will yield profit.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 62-63
Doctrine: Words are spiritual. The words that Jesus spoke were spirit and life. Jesus said the physical flesh profited nothing from this discussion. The physical should not have been considered at all. The disciples must have been thinking about the physical.
1Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
2For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3Now if we put the horses’ bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
4Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
5So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Commentary
James said people could recover from mistakes people made in everything except words. He said the tongue can defile the whole body depending on the words that are spoken. In other words, if the words we speak cause us or others to stumble, the path leads to hell. There are huge consequences for the wrong words we speak.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 1
James' premise: Teachers will receive greater judgment because of the responsibility of what is being taught. We ought to be more careful when we attempt to teach Doctrine to others because we open ourselves up to greater judgment if we are wrong.
Commentary · verse 2
James' reason was that there were many things humans stumble in, however, not stumbling in word allowed us to be considered perfect: to be able to achieve the maximum profitability. This placed a lot of importance on words. It seemed that James stated the only thing that prevented us from being perfect (maximum profitability) was our "stumbling" with regards to words. This reason was stated in the context of the premise of verse 1 that focused on teachers. Here were James' supports...
Commentary · verse 3
James used a natural example to support his premise. "Obey us" meant "persuaded to act."
Commentary · verse 4
James used another natural example to support his premise.
Commentary · verses 5-6
James' conclusion was that the tongue was a fire. Words are powerful and can destroy or create. Destructive words have a wrong or no HOW/WHY. Words that create have a right HOW/WHY and they are profitable, even to the maximum which is perfect.
Proverbs 4:20-27
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
20My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Commentary
Here is a nice summary of some of the above passages. The passage from the Book of Proverbs stated the right words ought to be kept in the heart so they result in life.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 20-22
The words Solomon wrote brought life to those who found them. We ought to embrace truth and allow it to affect our actions: wisdom.
Commentary · verse 23
Guard your heart because what was planted in it would come out: causality.
Commentary · verses 24-26
Consider the path you are walking. You ought to be aware of where you are going and why you are going there.
Closing Thoughts
Do you still doubt the importance of words? I do not. It's no wonder so many people's favorite word is their name. Like all words, your name has meaning. Do you know the definition of your name?
The following passages contained some form of "word" or "say/speak." The Hebrew and Greek both had multiple words that were translated into English as "word" or "say/speak." We will be looking at the difference between each and revisiting the following passages in later Doctrines.
God created everything by speaking words. Think about it; everything that is physical began with words.