The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

Names by Which the Scriptures Are Known

In the Divine Record various terms are used to designate the word of the Most High. It is called the Scripture or Scriptures at least sixty eight times, seventeen in the Old Testament and fifty one in the New. BSPC 5.1

The word scriptures means “writings,” and so when we study the collection of divine messages, we are meditating upon the “divine writings”—letters from the Most High to the children of men. We might think of the Bible as a book in which God expresses His deep love for mankind. It certainly reveals His matchless love and compassion, especially in the gift of His only-begotten Son. Consequently it becomes God’s love letter to the human race, perhaps one of the longest love letters ever written. Here God speaks. to the sons of men in language of endearing affection. He not only loved but “so loved” (John 3:16) that He gave us His eternal Son, and He assures us over and over again that He loves us even though we have been sinful and disobedient. BSPC 5.2

Observe such expressions as the following: BSPC 6.1

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3. BSPC 6.2

“He loved them unto the end.” John 13:1. BSPC 6.3

“God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. BSPC 6.4

The divine revelation is known also as the “oracles of God.” We read in Romans 3:2 of the “oracles of God” and in Acts 7:38 of “the lively oracles.” This revelation from Heaven is called also the “word of God.” This term is used in both the Old and the New Testament, and it comes to us in varying associations. For instance, in addition to the expression “word of God,” this divine revelation is called “the word of the Lord” (Psalm 18:30), and “the word of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 5:24). BSPC 6.5

Furthermore, when the prophets describe the divine communication through them, they speak of it as “the word of the Lord came unto me, saying.” There are many variants of this expression, as will be seen in the following: BSPC 6.6

“Thus says the Lord.” 2 Samuel 7:8. “As God hath said.” 2 Corinthians 6:16. “God spoke.” Genesis 8:15. “The Holy Ghost says.” Hebrews 3:7. “I the Lord have said.” Ezekiel 21:17. “The Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke.” Acts 1:16. “The scripture says.” James 4:5. BSPC 6.7

The word Bible is the term most frequently employed when referring to the Sacred Scriptures, but this is not a Biblical word. It comes from the Greek biblia, which means “books.” BSPC 6.8

The Holy Bible—the Book—is a sacred collection of many books. However, the Bible is a complete whole, and so this is a correct term. It is referred to as “the book” in the Scripture itself. “In the volume of the book it is written of me.” Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:7. BSPC 6.9

Even though it is a book, thank God, it is the Book of books, and this has been well expressed, in the following lines: BSPC 6.10

“Of all the books that have flooded the world, be they ever so valuable, the Bible is the Book of books, and is most deserving of the closest study and attention.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 129. BSPC 7.1