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The means by which God makes Himself known, declares His will, and brings about His purposes. The phrases such as word of God, and word of the Lord are applied to the commanding word of God that brought creation into existence <Genesis 1; 2 Pet. 3:5> and also destroyed that same world through the waters of the Flood <2 Pet. 3:6>; to God's announcement of an impending or future act of judgment <Ex. 9:20-21; 1 Kin. 2:27>; to the word that declares God's commitment and promises His blessing <Gen. 15:1,4>; and to a particular instruction from God <Josh. 8:27>.
The term word of God is also used of the Ten Commandments given from Mount Sinai <Deut. 5:5>; of the whole Mosaic Law <Is. 2:3>; of specific parts of the Old Testament <Rom. 9:6; 1 Tim. 4:5>; of a more personal communication from God <1 Sam. 3:21; 15:10>; of the directive of God that set in motion John the Baptist's ministry <Luke 3:2>; of Jesus' message of the kingdom of God <Luke 8:11>; of the gospel as preached in the early church <Acts 4:31>; and finally of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself <Rev. 19:13>.
God's word is the primary means by which He is present and working in the world. He is not Himself part of this world, but He acts in it by means of His word. He becomes personally known through His word <1 Sam. 3:21>. His word is powerfully creative <Ezek. 37:4> and its purposes are irresistible <Is. 55:11; Jer. 23:29>. God's word is totally dependable; it represents His permanent commitment <Is. 40:8>. When heard and responded to, His word meets deep needs in the human heart and provides joy, satisfaction, and confident direction which can be achieved in no other manner <Deut. 8:3; Ps. 119:162; Jer. 15:16>. God's word has the power to penetrate all pretense and discern "the thoughts and intents of the heart" <Heb. 4:12>.
God's speaking of His word reaches a culmination in the sending of His Son <John 1:1,14; Heb. 1:1-2>. All that is true of God's earlier word is supremely true of Jesus. The gospel of Jesus Christ is, in a special way, the word of God as it makes known and brings into operation the reconciliation with God which is His purpose for mankind <2 Cor. 5:18-19>. So central is the gospel to the purpose of God in this world that the successful spread of the gospel is the growth of the word of God <Acts 12:24>.
Not only Jesus' message, but also all that He is communicates God to us. He Himself is described as the word of God <John 1:1; Rev. 19:13>. Jesus brings the presence of God to a new level-- the personal presence of God in the world in a human life.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
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