I'd posted a quote from Brian Zahnd on my Facebook page. Rev. Zahnd said:
"Jesus is God. The Bible is not God. The Holy Trinity is Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit -- not Father, Son, and Holy Bible. To elevate the Bible
(not to mention your interpretation of the Bible!) to divinity is
idolatry. God is perfectly revealed in Jesus...and only in Jesus! Jesus
is the icon of God (Paul). Jesus the exact imprint of God's nature
(Hebrews). Jesus is the only way anyone has ever seen God (John). The
Bible points us, not to itself, but to Jesus. God is like Jesus. The
technical theological term for this believe is "Christianity." Selah"
A friend questioned it; and this is my elaboration on why I like Zahnd's quote.
I love the scripture from John 1.1. John is my favorite New Testament author and
his gospel is outstanding in showing the Jesus of love, grace and truth. His
comprehension of Jesus is phenomenal and often brings me to tears as I read it.
LOGOS:
According to Strong's concordance, the term used
for "word" in that passage is "logos." To the early Christian writers including John, the term "word"
had a different meaning than "Bible". I'll start with some definitions and history.
"Word" Prior to the Reformation:
From 600 years prior to Christianity and at the
time the Bible was written, and until the Reformation, the definition:
"Logos is the Greek term meaning “the Word.” Greek philosophers like Plato
used Logos not only of the spoken word but also of the unspoken word, the word
still in the mind -- the reason. When applied to the universe, Greeks were
speaking to the rational principle that governs all things. .. Thus, John used
a very special word -- Logos -- that was meaningful to both the Jews and the
Greeks during the first century AD." (from AllAboutPhilosophy.org) Note: the written word is not mentioned in that list.
Current Bible Scholars Definition:
Strong's concordance defines logos as,
"something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject
of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a
computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression
(that is, Christ)" Note: Divine
Expression, not Divinity. Again, the term written word is not in the list as that term used 51 times is graphe.
GOD:
The word for God is theos and Strong's defines it
as, "Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity;
figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: - X exceeding, God, god [-ly,
-ward]."
John 1.1 Using Those Definitions:
Using the most common definitions of the word
logos and theos, that scripture could as easily be read or translated: "In the beginning was the Reason (of
God), and the Reason (of God) was with Deity, and the Reason (of God) was Deity."
I believe in the Bible; but also believe we have
to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) I believe and
love the Bible because it teaches me about the Triune God, but I do not worship
the Bible, nor do I see a Biblical mandate to worship it.
Plus, for me, I can't take that one text and massage it to make it state I'm required
to worship the Bible. Even if I felt it did state that; it has to be out of the mouth of "two or three
witnesses" (said several times in the New Testament, and by Jesus in
Matthew 18:16).
2nd Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture [graphe] is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:" That scripture does not
state the Bible is to be worshiped or deified; but limits how we are to use the holy scriptures.
