I’ve heard many say that the words of the Bible or scripture are empty unless they are empowered by the Spirit. I think this creates an unnecessary separation of the two, but that’s the question of this post.
The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Romans 1:16
The Gospel IS the POWER. It’s interesting that the scriptures do not say “derives its power,” or “has been given power,” but “is the power.” Naturally, or supernaturally, I assume that the scriptures are powerful in and of themselves. Is that a good assumption? Why or Why Not?
Missionary in the Andes Mountains Cloud Forest Region of Ecuador. My last name, "Labrador," is the word that's used for "Vine Worker" in the Spanish Bible, and it's OK with me. 
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Personally I believe your assumption is correct. I believe the Bible as a whole to be the inspired Word of God. There is power in those Words but IMO faith is needed to ignite that power. Just as your car engine is powerful but useless without a tank of gas, so it is with the Word of God. Again, this is my opinion and how I see things. Remember of all the miracles Jesus performed, never once did He say “Yeah, that’s right. I’m God and I can do that”. Each time He said “…your faith has made you whole/well/etc.”. And even when Jesus went back to his hometown, scripture says he could do little but cure a few sick people, due to their lack of faith. Jesus Himself was limited by the people’s lack of faith! So the way I see it is even though the power is in the words, without our faith, they’re just words.
Well, if it were so that we only need written words in a book, then all that Christ did was unnecessary. He could have just sent a letter of correspondence. We do not need Life in us, we have a book. We can live by, in, and through a book! So who needs Life, who needs Reality, who needs transformation? Does make one feel very sad for those with reading disabilities, it must be so very hard for them to know the book life.
Kat, Beautifully stated! Thank You!
Kat! Good to see you again
I see what you’re saying, and in part, I agree, but we (western thinkers) tend to separate the Word from His words. Or as you pointed to His words from His actions. The hebrew mind, as you know, did not do this. Also, I think that the mind being transformed and being likened to the mind of Christ, Romans, 12:2 does not do this so easily.
Jesus said, if you abide in me and my words in you… He never separated the Word from His words.
I don’t consider the Bible just a book. It is a collection of 66 books and letters written to the body and acknowledged as scripture (the Old Testament) by Jesus himself. As for the New Testament, it too was acknowledged as scripture in several instances. Peter said Paul’s writings were scripture, John said Luke’s writings were scripture, and “many witnesses” attested to the authority of the written word post resurrection.
We need the Book and it’s author. That’s the way it has been since Moses was told by God to make a record of history for the benefit of the people of God.
As to disabilities, We have personally ministered to people who have been deaf and blind, and have had no linguistic context except for the language of love and prayer. We have have seen them greatly transformed by action. These actions, however, were based on some things we got from the book. Loving your neighbor as yourself, ministering to people’s needs, walking by faith and not by sight, and so on.
The Gospel (the term) in the first century context has the most beautiful meaning. I recently learned that:
“Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful
tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy…William Tyndale
In its most basic form, the term ‘gospel’ means “good news” (II Sam. 4:9, 10). It is not uncommon for this good news to include things like proclamations of victory (II Sam. 18:19, 20) or of a king’s coronation (I Kin. 1:41-43).
When viewed through this understanding, we have a picture far different than our usual understanding. With these ideas in mind what we get when we say “The Gospel”, or “The Gospel of the Kingdom” we get a picture of a first century Herald, riding through the kingdoms proclaiming a new victorious King has arrived. A spiritual King bringing spiritual victory. By placing our faith and trust in Him, we are translated out of the kingdom and dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of God, the kingdom of Light. This news makes us want to leap and shout and dance for joy.
Marc,
I’ve “recently” encountered some different and ancient meaning for the word “gospel” as well. I am not completely sold on them yet, but I’m leaning towards accepting those definitions. Some of them are the ones you mentioned.
But, with your comment, I’d like to ask you and others, does the bile contain “chunks” of the Gospel, or is it, in its entirety, the Gospel?
The problem is that our temptation from the beginning is to want independent wisdom apart from God. As Dr. Paul Tripp points out, when Satan tempted Eve by saying the fruit would make one wise like God, she already had an intimate relationship with the God who is all wisdom. It’s not that she needed wisdom, but wanted autonomy.
I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I don’t believe the book itself can save anyone. The eunich asked Philip how anyone could understand scripture without someone to explain it. I come from church background where folks believed that all you needed was a Bible and you could then do salvation/church yourself. And I came to see that God doesn’t intend our life or our salvation to be a DIY project. It requires Him and our walk with Him requires community. We aren’t capable of autonomous wisdom. And when we take scripture (which is vital) and make it our god instead of God, we are trying to use the very wisdom God grants us in order to subvert His authority. We can make an idol of the Bible and worship it (a created thing) rather than the Creator.
If Jesus is the Word (and I believe He is), we must not attempt to make the Bible do or mean anything apart from Him.
While I am a strong proponent of correct handling of Scripture, it is the truth behind the words that matters. I have encountered folks who seem to worship the words themsleves (much like old hymns seemed to worship the cross rather than the Savior) and others who seem to believe they can twist God’s arm if they can find just the right promise verse and quote it back at Him.
I don’t believe there is any power in the words themselves, like the magic words in a magician’s book. It is indeed the Holy Spirit that works in hearts, making the words ‘alive.’
But on the other hand, I disagree with those who say no one can in any way understand Scripture unless God does something miraculous inside them. It is not a secret code or a foreign language (except for some who allegorize everything like some of the early church Fathers). ‘Spiritually discedrned’ is not saying that the words make no sense…just that they will not reach one’s spirit unaided.
On a practical level, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.