The object of this present paper is to present to the reader the evidence from Scripture of the propriety of calling it "The Word of God." Many we are well aware have no question as to this and do not hesitate to use the designation; others, on the other hand, from conscientious motives shrink from applying such a title, reserving it for Him who is indeed " The Word " (John 1:i). We are bound therefore to respect the consciences of such, as there is an evident desire to exalt the person of the Son of God, a motive none too common in this day of man's greatness. Nor does there seem to be a denial of the inspiration of Scripture. Still we feel bound to point out the danger of refusing this title to Scripture, when its use is so fully warranted, as we shall see.

We might ask, at the outset, what is the objection to using this term? The word of a man is that which he has spoken as the expression of his thoughts; is not the word of God also that which He has spoken as the expression of His thoughts ? And does not this blend in a beautiful way with the designation of the Son of God as the Word-"The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him"? "God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son." To deny that God has spoken is, of course, to deny inspiration in any form:to deny that what has been spoken is His word, is to give it less importance.

Now it is just here that we believe the danger lies in refusing this term to Scripture. It is something less than the word of God,-is not that above all other writing and to the exclusion of all else-is not that beyond all operation of the Spirit in the heart of man. At once Scripture loses its unique and commanding place, and is brought to the level of the ordinary revelation of God in nature and human thought. Were this true we would be robbed of our Bibles, as being the standard of all truth, the unchanging and eternal word of the living God. What Christian would not shrink with horror from such a thought?

But let us turn to divine testimony on this matter.

" Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven " (Ps. 119:89). "Thy word is very pure, therefore Thy servant loveth it" (Ps. 119:140). "Every word of God is pure " (Prov. 30:5). " And it came to pass when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book" . . (Deut. 31:24). "The word of the Lord came unto me'" (Jer. 1:5).

These are but a few of a multitude of passages in which the expression is found in the Old Testament, which show, whether spoken or written, God's message was spoken of as His word. The prophets have the expression again and again, and in just the connection in which we would use it as to Scripture.

Passing to the New Testament the use is, if possible, even more unequivocal. " When any one heareth the word of the kingdom " (Matt. 13:19). " The seed is the word of God " (Luke viii ii). In both cases it refers to the same thing, the truth of God, and the word, is the same in the original. " Moses said, Honor thy father and mother " . . . making the word of God of none effect through your tradition " (Mark 7:10, 13). Now, here we have a writing of Moses in Scripture-one of the ten commandments-called the word of God, What could be plainer? "The people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God" (Luke 5:i). "My mother and brethren are these which hear the word of God and do it " (Luke viii- 21); see also Luke 11:28). "He that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life " (John 5:24). Here it is the Word who is speaking, but He says "my word.' For similar examples, see John 8:31, 37, 43, 51, 52, 55 ; John 14:23, 24:John 15:20. It is worthy of notice that in the gospel of John where the title "Word" is given to our Lord, we have this constant use of it as not referring to His person. It seems as though there were here a special guard against the misapprehension of which we are speaking.

It is well to remark just here that we are confining ourselves, in all the passages quoted from the New Testament to the Greek word Logos, the term applied to our Lord in John 1:1:Also in the passages quoted from the Old Testament, the Septuagint (Greek) translation usually gives Logos. There is another word to which we will shortly call attention ; but as the question is as to the use of the word Logos we confine ourselves for the present to that.

Let us briefly note the use of Logos in our Lord's prayer in John xvii :"They have kept thy logos (ver. 6); "I have given them thy logos (ver. 14); Thy logos is truth (ver. 17); those who shall believe on me through their logos (ver. 20). Can we doubt for a moment that reference to truth and not to a person is meant in all these ? The only one where a question could be raised is in ver. 17. " Thy word is truth." But compare it with ver. 19, " And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified though the truth," Our Lord takes His place in separation on high in order that the truth of this may be a sanctifying power in the lives of His disciples. This is God's truth-His word is truth.

Passing now to the rest of the New Testament, we find abundant confirmation of what must now be plain is the ordinary usage of Scripture. We might note a few passages in Acts:"The former treatise (logos) have I made " (Acts 1:i). " They that gladly received his word " (Acts 2:41). "The word of God grew " (Acts 12:24; 13:5, 7, 44; 19:20). " I commend you to God, and the word of His grace (Acts 20:32).

" Not as though the word of God had taken none effect" (Rom. 9:6). "Came the word of God out from you ? " (i Cor. 14:36). "Corrupt the word of God " (2 Cor. 2:17). "Nor handling the word of God deceitfully " (2 Cor. 4:2). "And hath committed to us the word of reconciliation " (2 Cor. 5:19). "Let him that is taught in the word, communicate to him that teacheth in all good things " (Gal. 6:6). "The word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Eph. 1:13). "To fulfil the word of God" (Col. 1:25).

This last is of interest as showing how the expression "word of God" refers to the entire scope of revelation. Paul was entrusted with that truth which would complete or round out the entire unfolding of God's thoughts. The Church is the mystery which was hidden until the last days, when it was brought out-the last part of that wondrous, divine word of God.

" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly " (Col. 3:16). " When ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe" (i Thess. 2:13). This is the word of the gospel, as will be seen from i Pet. 1:23. "Being born, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." " If the word spoken by angels was steadfast" (Heb. 2:2). "The word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword" (Heb. 4:12). See also Heb. 5:13; 7:28; 13:7, 22; Jas. 1:18, 21, 22, 23; 2 Pet. 3:5, 7. " Let us not love in word (logos) . . but in deed and in truth " (i John 3:18)-an interesting use of the word which could not possibly be misunderstood.

There are many more passages, but these surely are sufficient to show that the term logos is most ordinarily to be rendered "word." Only occasionally does it refer to the person of Christ-and that exclusively, we believe, in John's writings, viz. John 1:1,14; i John 1:i; Rev. 19:13. We believe a prayerful arid attentive reading will bear us out in this.

There is another word (rhema) translated" word," but it is not so common as logos. We mention a few of the passages where it occurs:Luke 3:2; 4:4; John 3:34; 8:47; Rom. 10:8, 17; Eph. 5:26; 6:17; Heb. 11:3; i Pet. 1:25. These passages are nearer in use to logos than most of the others. The difference seems to be, logos suggests the thought, as well as the word ; rhema the saying, giving special emphasis to the form-the very letter of the word.

We trust sufficient has been said to prove to the tenderest conscience our privilege to speak in all confidence of the precious "Word of God." What a solid resting place, what a mine of wealth. Oh for grace to use it aright and to be sanctified by it.