Inter-Faith Series: Is Christianity a religion of the book (Bible) or a religion of the Word (Jesus Christ)?

Question

Please explain your answer.

Answer 1

It is of the Word revealed through His Church.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 2

The Bible says that the Word was in the beginning with God and was God, All things were made by the Word, therefore the Word is God himself. The Word became flesh and dwelt among men. Jesus Christ is the Word. The Old Testament conceals about Jesus Christ (points to him) what the New Testament reveals about Jesus Christ. Therefore Christianity would be about the revealing of God in the flesh i.e. the Word and his relationship to the world and what he does for it i.e. redemption.

Answer 3

that could remember on whether you're Catholic or Protestant. To us Catholics, the Bible is between the techniques that God has printed Himself, alongside with Sacred custom and the classes of the Church. Sacred custom and church coaching would not (and definitely won't be able to) pass against what the Bible teaches, yet neither do they count number entirely on what has been written in Scripture. In that experience, the be conscious is dynamic -- ever dwelling and ever revealing extra approximately Himself to us. Protestants often have faith in "Sola Scriptura," or "via Scripture on my own." in spite of having a background of classic worship varieties (borrowed quite often from Catholicism), the Protestant church claims to be entirely based on the Bible for revelation of actuality. this could be advantageous. . .different than there would not look lots consensus approximately what that printed "actuality" rather is. as an example, one denomination could have faith that Communion is a easy memorial provider, collectively as yet another team believes that it rather is somewhat the physique and Blood of Jesus after the climate are consecrated. and because there are maximum of translations of the Bible, one church could insist that the KJV is the sole suited version, collectively as somebody else will say that the NIV is the terrific translation. the secret is that Catholic Christianity is a faith of the dwelling and holy be conscious, who's Jesus Christ. Protestant Christianity could deny it, yet all too often, they seem to be a faith of the e book. . .in the event that they could only agree on which version and what it says.

Answer 4

Christianity is not a Book-religion. God never intended that we should worship the Book. That is bibliolatry, making the Bible into a physical idol. The reverence that many Christians attach to the book is dangerously close to idolatry of the Bible.

Christianity is Christ. Christianity is the dynamic, personal Spirit of God functioning in man. It is not the study of, memorization of, or adherence to the principles and propositions and precepts of a bound-book.

The best gift that God has given to man is His Son, Jesus Christ.
The foundation of human freedom is in Jesus Christ.
Only God is absolutely comprehensive.

The Bible does not produce righteousness. Righteousness is only produced in the behavior of mankind when Jesus Christ dwells in man and the righteous character of God is expressed in man's behavior as we walk by faith.

Christian obedience is obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:2), not obedience to a book.

Jesus Christ carefully explained to the disciples that He was going to go away and would send the Holy Spirit who would "convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment" (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit "convicts of sin," not the Bible itself.

God's saving power is in His Son, Jesus Christ, not in the Bible. The Bible "itself" is not sufficient to provoke saving faith; God alone provokes such. Salvation is produced only by the action of the Savior, Jesus Christ, not the Bible. Salvation is not some"thing" imparted or dispensed; rather it is the on-going saving activity of Jesus Christ our Savior.

"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me" (John 5:39). Later Jesus prayed, "this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

To state that Jesus Christ and the Bible are "inseparable" is to equate the book with Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ is "inseparable" from Christianity, for Christianity IS Christ.

Answer 5

I do not see a dychotomy between the two.

John says Jesus is the Word ...and is God.

Hebrews 4:12 Says that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword....

that word there, in both cases, is "Logos", which is generally used of the written word.

TEK

Answer 6

Yes.

Jesus IS the Word made Flesh. The Bible is the Word committed to paper. The Word is Life and Salvation. Don't try to confuse yourself by splitting hairs.

Answer 7

It is one of the top three faith based concepts, that is a book and world religion, but most of all it is a social religion.

Answer 8

Neither (it is an interpretation of both)