The Bible Compared with God

Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you” (Gal. 3:8).

This is one of the most fascinating references regarding the nature of Scripture. Here is what I mean.  

In Genesis 12:3, we read the following: “I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”   

In Genesis 12:3, it was God who spoke these words to Abraham.  But when you read Galatians 3:8, it is the “Scripture” -- i.e. the bible itself. The word “scripture” refers to something written.  But check this out.   There was no Scripture written at the time of Genesis 12:3.  It was Moses who wrote the Book of Genesis and he had not yet been born.  But Galatians, nevertheless says, that it was the Scripture that spoke to Abraham.   But again, let me remind you, according to Genesis 12:3, it was God who spoke to Abraham.

Now to makes thing even more interesting, there are two divine characteristics that Paul points out regarding the Scripture in Galatians 3:8:

First, Paul said that the Scripture “foresaw” something. What did the Scripture foresee?  That God would justify (or save) the Gentiles by faith. But in Genesis 12:3, it was God who actually foresaw this. But Paul tells us it was the “Scripture.”  Right off the bat, Paul is showing a close connection between God and the Scripture. In fact, the connection is so close and strong, there seems not to be any distinction.  God is personal and so are the Scriptures (cf. Heb. 4:12).  The Scripture foresaw what would come to pass, and God was the one to make it so.

Second, Paul said also in Galatians 3:8 that the Scripture “announced” (or preached) the gospel to Abraham.  The promise came from God Himself in Genesis 12:3, but Galatians 3:8 says that it came from the Scripture.

Let’s draw upon five inferences from Galatians 3:8 and Genesis 12:3:

First, God and the Scriptures are viewed as interchangeable.  That is, both God and the Scriptures ought to be viewed as identical in truth and authority.

Second, in many contexts, it is appropriate to refer to Scripture as we would refer to God.  This is why we often hear, “The Bible commands. . .” Or, “The Bible forbids. . .” When the Bible speaks, it carries the same authority as if it was spoken by God Himself.

Third, there is no hint of bibliolatry by ascribing to the Bible the same weight of truth and authority as one would to God.  In fact, if one is not accused of the slightest suspicion of bibliolatry, then his own estimation of the bible is probably not in line with the bible’s affirmation of itself.

Fourth, if the Scripture can possess divine foreknowledge and make divine pronouncements, then it can be slandered and blasphemed.

Fifth, the most dependable way to hear the voice of God is to be gleaned from the Scriptures.   Yes, it is certain that God speaks to us through His Spirit, prayer, circumstances, and others. But the most viable way to ascertain the clear and certain voice of God is through the Scriptures.  

I hear from others how God speaks to them through the formation of clouds in the sky and they explain what they saw and what it all meant with passion and fervor.   Yet, when these same people make reference to the bible, such passion and fervor is missing.  It seems to me that we have allowed our estimation of the Bible to be “less than” in our own eyes, rather than perceiving it as the very breath of God.