This page deals with animation which is the fact the Bible, the Word of God, has vitality. It does not mean the words of themselves are living, but that they are living because they are the very God-breathed words of God. The key verse in this connection is Hebrews 4:12--"For the Word of God is quick [living], and powerful [active], and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." This has often been referred to the Lord Jesus Christ as The Word; however, the word logos is not used in this passage but another word entirely which is used for utterance. That word is never used of Jesus Christ. The other notion here in this verse is that of powerful which is not the word from which we get dynamite, but rather the word from which we get energy. Though this word does not in itself suggest life, it is the natural outcome of life. Another verse along this same line is 1 Peter 1:23 which uses the living. Here the word logos is used, so this word refers primarily to Jesus Christ, but secondarily to the written Word. There are at least two relationships concerning the Word of God.
1. The Word of God and the unsaved. Romans 10:17 states, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." As one hears (or reads) the word of God, the Holy Spirit takes that word and applies it to the heart so that the living and powerful word results in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. It is that word that makes one "wise unto salvation." (2 Timothy 3:15). 2 Peter 1:4 indicates by the "precious promises [obviously a reference to God's word]" we become "partakers of the divine nature." We have already cited 1 Peter 1:23 which speaks of the new birth as coming by the living word of God.
2. The Word of God and the saved. Repeatedly the written Word of God is declared to be for the saved. 1 Peter 2:2 speaks of the newborn believer as desiring the milk of the word. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 tells us how the Thessalonians received the word preached by Paul as the Word of God "which effectually worketh [energies] also in you that believe." In Acts 20:32, Paul commends the Ephesians elders "to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up," etc. Furthermore, the Word of God is a purifier. In this connection see Ephesians 5:26 and Psalm 119:11. There are, of course, other passages along this same line.
In the light of this discussion, one can see the imperativeness of giving God's Word, the Bible to people. This writer has discussed many things with various people, but when he gives them the Word of God, there is either acceptance or rejection. Thus, the believer's job is to present the Bible which the Holy Spirit uses to convict people's heart "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:8, also see verses 9-11).
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