Word of God

I normally go for Word of God. I usually capitalize Bible ans Scripture too. As for proper use of English - I'm the wrong guy to ask.

 

depends on your theological position. I vary, but also have moved to referring to the Scriptures as the words of God. The Word of God is, according to John, Jesus...not the Bible.

If I am in a more traditional environment I will contextualize my language to edify those in the range of my hearing too.

Capitalization is a sticky-wicket. For instances I will capitalize Bible and Scriptures but not biblical...just a preferential thing.

Even tougher is how do you capitalize God's pronouns...

 

The Bible



LOL

Sorry Tim, could not resist

 

I think my position on "word of God" is fairly well known on the BB; I try to use other designations such as "scriptures" (which is the common word used by God's apostolic writers to refer to the Hebrew writings), or even a more specific term (like 'Torah', or 'New Testament'). "Bible" itself is ambiguous, since the Protestant canon differs from others (like the various 'Catholic' Bibles).

Nevertheless, I've seen it in printed media with a capital W. But almost all the published versions use a small w for this phrase in their text (see John 10:35, for example). I also agree with BB member preachinjesus that the true "Word" is God the Son. After all, sometimes do Bibles have other words printed in them that are not God's words.

 

I'm BaCk AnD fOrTh On capitalizaTion,
aS time paSSeS I'm MINIMIzInG my uSe of CapitalizatioN
(I've been chastised in a few threads for it tOO).

IN my OT stuDies I've FOund that Capitalization of PROnouns tO Be dISstracTing aT timeS.

rOb

 

"Language Cop, here. You rang?

"The Bible, when referring to Scripture is normally written as 'The Bible' or 'the Bible'. Either is entirely correct.

"'Scripture' should normally be capitalized when used in the same manner, but can be also written as 'scriptures', properly when the plural usage is intended.

"Either 'the Word of God' or 'the word of God' can be proper, depending on the usage, as well.

"For an example of both usages in one sentence:

"'We heard "the word of God" delivered by the preacher who read from John 5:1-10 in "the Word of God" '. :thumbs:

"Now you've 'got it'."

Signed, Language Cop

:type:

Of course, this refers only to the English language.

The Greek NT was written in all "upper case" letters; the OT Hebrew had only "lower case" when written.

yet??

:laugh:

Ed

 

"Language Cop just blew a gasket'! "He'll, no doubt, be out of commission for a couple of days!" :laugh: :laugh:

Ed

 

No wonder some people are confused about whether the "Word of God" (meaning our Scriptures) are Jesus.

The only time 'word of God' should be capitalized is when it starts a sentence or it refers to the Son of God.

In the AV 1873, RSV, NRSV, NASB, HCSB, TNIV, NLT,
the only time “Word” in the phrase "word of God" is capitalized is in Revelation 19:13

"…and his name is called The Word of God. "

Rob

 

I have also wondered about this in well. In Spanish we don´t have this problem. La palabra de Dios = the Bible and El Verbo = equals Christ as the Word.

 

While everyting you say here has Scriptural validity, it does not address the OP. If and when "the Word of God" or "the Word of God" is used to describe the Scripture. then as a proper noun, it is capitalized. And I am by no means a "Ruckmanite" in this.

Ed

 

Oi, I get your point but then...

Can you distinguish between the ‘word of God’ (clausal unit modifying God) and the ‘Word of God’ (proper noun meaning Scriptures) in the following verses?

The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8 NASB95

So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:2, 7 NASB95

If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
John 10:35 NASB95

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing 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.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB95

Rob

 

The KJV
Sorry, DoubleT. I couldn't help myself!

 

Hi, Tim. I just saw this thread. Being a man of some education and professional experience in English, maybe I can help.

1. There is no central English authority who decides these things, especially in the Christian world! (However, in Japan a government agency called the Monbusho does decide many such things about the Japanese language!) In particular, the grammarians and lexicographers of the secular world often don't have a clue about how Christians do such things. For example, pronouns for deity are not capitalized any more in the secular world (they used to be), but some Bible translations (NJKV for one) still do.

2. Such things are decided in editorial offices. Editors have style sheets which determine how that particular Christian magazine or publisher will handle such things as your question. These style sheets may differ from company to company. For example, some years ago Time decided to stop using "whom," though other rags still do. In this case, The Sword of the Lord Pub. has "Word of God" for their rule, and a quick look at Translating Truth from Crossway has "God's Word" on the first page, but there are no doubt other Christian publishers who would not capitalize it. So in other words, take your pick! :thumbs:

I hope this helps! :type:

 

Funny stuff, Rob! It does bring attention to another distinction I like to make between the use of uppercase letters (as in a ransom note) and true capitalization (only the first letter of word is uppercase to indicate a proper name or title).

 

Amen! I don't usually 'quote' an entire post, but this one is worthy. In addition, there have been threads here on the BB that attest to the confusion when the exact phrase "word of God" in the New Testament is interpretated as being a reference to written revelation from God.