Tuesday: The Written Word of God
“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write these words, for according to the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel’” (Exod. 34:27, NKJV). Why would the Lord have Moses write down these words as opposed to having Moses recite them to the people only? What is the obvious advantage of the Written Word?
Image © Jeff Preston at Goodsalt.com
The God who speaks and who created human language enables chosen people to communicate the divinely revealed truths and divinely inspired thoughts in a trustworthy and reliable manner. Hence, it is no surprise to find that God commanded biblical writers early on to commit His instruction and revelation in writing.
What do the following texts teach about written Revelation?
Rev. 1:11, Rev. 1:19; Rev. 21:5; Rev. 22:18-19
Why did God command that His revelation and inspired messages be written down? The obvious answer is so that we will not forget them so easily. The written words of the Bible are a constant reference point that directs us to God and His will. A written document can usually be preserved better and be much more reliable than oral messages, which must be told over and over again. The Written Word, which can be copied over and over, can also be made accessible to many more people than if it were only spoken. Lastly, we can speak to a limited number of people at one time in one place, but what is committed to writing can be read by countless readers in many different locations and continents, and even be a blessing numerous generations later. In fact, if people can’t themselves read, others can read a written document aloud to them.
(27)
We take the notion of written words for granted now-a-days where so much information is available on paper. It is quite possible that we are currently seeing a transition for physical media to electronic media - something that many people distrust.
It is worth reflecting on how the Word of God was written back in ancient times and how it was preserved. The Egyptians were using papyrus (essentially squashed papyrus stems) for writing on long before the Israelites were living there. So, presumably, the Israelites took that technology with them during the exodus. Papyrus deteriorates with time and consequently, a lot of information that required some form of permanency was impressed on clay tablets, or in some cases carved in stone. The reason we know so much about Mesopotamian culture these days in that they used baked clay as the medium for recording business transactions. (can you imagine the bandwidth of a two-horse chariot loaded with clay tablets galloping at 20 kilometres per hour?)
There are several references to leaders of the Israelites writing information down during the exodus, and it probably fair to say that the Torah was essentially started during this time.
It is also noteworthy that the Ten Commandments were committed to stone. Essentially they were regarded as so important they were given permanent storage, rather than the volatile storage of papyrus.
The fact that the Isrealites were able to write and store information so early in their history should not be lost. The time they spent in Egypt was not all spent in hard labour and there were quite a few who had developed the skills of making and preserving papyrus and writing. God had preparated them to write things down.
Also God had a backup plan - the important stuff was written in stone so that if the papyrus failed the stone writing was still there.
And as a natural extension of writing on stone and papyrus, how about these words from Solomon:
[Addendum: I forgot in my haste this morning to mention parchment, the use of animal skins as a writing medium. It started about 5th BC and was popularised around the 2nd century BC. A bit of commercial competition developed between Alexandria, the source of papyrus, and Pergamon, the source of parchment.]
In reading these words that God wants us to read and use his word daily.Then apply them in our lives. (Deut 6:7, Rev 1:3) Yet for centuries it was only in Greek and Hebrew. There were plays and puppets shows to tell the stories to the masses. We have Tyndales’ vision of the bible in English to thank we can read it today. Plus Coverdale and Martin Luther.
I work with an orthdox Jewess who puts just as much importance on their oral beliefs or more than the written, ie their belief of what happens at death is oral. Does anyone have suggestions how you would respond to their strong belief in the oral. I find it difficult to believe in the oral as it can change from one person to the next, one generation to the next depending on beliefs, culture etc.
A suggestion Rochelle...
You know what you believe: "I find it difficult to believe in the oral as it can change from one person to the next, one generation to the next depending on beliefs, culture etc."
But do you know - in sufficient detail - how/why your work colleague currently has faith in oral belief transmission? Ask them to explain how they have faith in this so that you can also clearly understand where they are coming from.
We essentially need to 'walk in another person's shoes' first to understand:
a) how they see things and
b) whether and/or what they may or may not be open to in regard to any input from you.
Until you do this, you will not be able to see where you might or might not raise a question for discussion or a thought for consideration.
Does this make sense?
Thank You Phil, I think this is good advice for reaching out to connect with anyone.
You have 'hit the nail on the head' Tammy - it is about reaching out to connect with others... that is the motivation and method that Jesus displayed.
The oral law is very much part of Jewish culture and if you want to have a discussion with a Jew about it you need to be well versed in their understanding of scripture. They essentially believe in two Torahs: The written Torah -essentially the five books of Moses and the oral Torah, or Torah, she-be-`al peh, (Torah of the mouth). The oral Torah was passed down from generation to generation - part of their education was to learn the oral Torah so well that it could be transmitted to the next generation word for word. This went on for about 1800 years until the development of the Rabbinical schools around 70 AD. when it was considered necessary to commit them to writing. We now know these as the Mishna and the Gemarah, which collectively form the Talmud. They are essentially commentaries and explanations of the written Torah. Modern Jews regard them as part of their heritage even when they are non-observant. The more orthodox Jewish sects regard them as sacred writings.
Part of the issue with talking to Jews about Christianity is that we typically want them to make a major cultural change. It is hard enough to convert a Sunday keeping Christian into a Sabbath-keeper, but converting a Jew often becomes a cultural tug of war. Part of the issue is that we think of our brand of Christianity of not having ties with culture when in fact the ties are quite strong. One thing that we should perhaps look at is trying to imagine a Christianity that allows jews to retain their culture.
One of my PhD supervisors was Jewish Rabbi and a very influential figure in modern Jewish culture in Australia. Although he disregarded some of the health laws (he used to have bacon and eggs for breakfast) his take on ethics was something that I could resonate with.
Thanks Maurice for your explaination of the Jewish oral law.
I agree with you that the Jewish faith/culture has unique qualities where they need to be able to incorperate them into a faith in Jesus. After all there are things that as Christians we can learn from them.
Thanks Phil, I try and walk/understand why she believes what she does but always get stumped as she always has plausable answers though not necessarily Biblical. Unfortunately she isn't particularly interested in what I have to say as a Christian so I usually keep the conversation as neutral as possible.
As Tammy Danitz has summarised well, its about reaching out and making genuine connection with others such that our relationship with a person is a positive for them.
The main thing is not feeling pressured to have to convert your friend. It is the Holy Spirit's role to do the converting - and if the Holy Spirit has a particular 'task' for you above and beyond building and authentic and positive connection, the Holy Spirit will let you know.
Whether conversation has to stay neutral or not depends on the person. It can be possible to have an honest conversation with another person whereby each person shares their perspective but neither is trying to convert the other.
I have a fairly large group of people that I have built and continue to build an authentic connection with. Some of them I can have a spiritual conversation with when relevant, others not at this point. But all of those people know I am someone who is authentic and trustworthy and who has their best interests at heart. That is the kind of positive experience of a Christian I want them to have. And if the Holy Spirit has a role for me at some point in their conversion process, so be it. And if not, so be it.
I once spoke with a young man who told me that the only contact he'd had with Christianity was with people who he perceived were out to convert him to earn "brownie points" for their benefit. That was very sad and has stuck with me since. The world is so filled with people who seem to be "reaching out" to others but typically with a string attached. People are used to this - and therefore come to expect that Christianity is no different. I want to show them this is not true Christianity.
"Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” {MH 143.3}" ... when He perceived they were ready and open. And if not, He still mingled with them as one who desired their good.
I hope this makes sense and perhaps takes the pressure off when you interact with your friend/associate.
Thanks Phil for the reminder that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to lead a person to Jesus and we are here to make real connections/friendships.
It is a timely reminder for while we are in isolation to reach out and keep in contact with our work colleagues and friends, to be the hands and feet (or listening ear) of Jesus.
Lord thou has been our provider and educator, educate us today.
Before the written was the oral. In Genesis it tells us about God communicated orally with 1st, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah before and after the flood.
Israel was a young nation but their forefathers came out from another nation who were already developed in skills; reading, writing and book keeping. When God called Abraham he spoke to him and his son and grandson.
Joseph and family went to Egypt for 400yrs, Egypt had written documents.
Then came along Moses, the Lord told Moses to write his words for record keeping- it provides proof about things about the pass, present and future. Some of the writings were contractual between God and a new nation. Nations need laws and bylaws to guide them. We have to remember humans are sinful and disobedience therefore it was necessary for the words of God to be on record. It was first written on humans heart, but the heart became deceitful, then written on stone. To be cont
Have you played the Chinese whisper game, the first player comes up with the message and whispers to the second player, the players repeat whispering the message to the next person, the last person when he speaks aloud the message almost always the message gets distorted.
“The New Testament has been preserved in more manuscripts than any other ancient work of literature, with over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts catalogued, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages including Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian. “
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_manuscript
No other book in the world has been authenticated as the New Testament.
These findings authenticate the Bible to be inspired by God.
This should encourage us to put our trust in God.
At a 6 AM YouTube/Facebook live message of a patient of mine (he is a pastor), I heard him saying something very nice about praying, "do you recognize the voice of God? How can we recognize the voice of a person if we are not used to listen to that person?" And how do we listen to God? In prayer and by reading His Words! The Bible is plenty of God's language, God's ways to communicate with people. Therefore, we must get acquainted with God's voice, so when we hear It, we can recognize Him, among so many voices around.
The written testimony is more certain and easier to prove than oral testimony. We are told to "prove all things" by the "law and the testimony".
Yes, Maurice, this is a vital issue. Sola Scriptura means, scripture only is the object of divine interpretation, the only rule of faith, teaching and practice. The reformers rejected post apostolic tradition as an instrument of interpreting scripture. According to the Roman Catholic view, they do accept scripture, but without the prefix "only". So we seem to have a difficult time persuading people to shift from tradition to Scripture Only. The apostle John reminds us, what we have heard from the beginning shall remain in us. (1 John 2:24) The remaining of apostolic teaching in us seems to be stressing the conservation of that teaching -- without adding new teachings.
Winfried Stolpmann
God putting His word in writing also allows people to compare to other writings to discern more easily, as more translations occur. it also allows us to meditate on his words and grasp what he wants us to understand.