God knows our needs. He adapts himself to us and has chosen to speak to us with human words.
This is the meaning of the Bible. What do we understand when we say that the Bible is God's word or equivalently that it is divinely inspired: We mean: God willed that there should be in the believing community a book or rather a collection of books, which would be known as his book or word, through which he would be teaching us to know and love him and to understand his plan for us. God chose holy men, inspired them to write the books, which he wanted, and guided them so closely by his holy spirit that they wrote only what he wanted. It is the Church guided by God through his spirit that discerns which the books are chosen by God to be his word.
"Idols have mouths and they do not speak" (Ps 115:5f) "They cannot speak, they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them for they cannot do evils neither is it in them to do good" (Jer 10:5). This satire on the "dumb idols" (1 Cor 12:2) emphasizes the most characteristic trait of the living God in the biblical revelation. As against an idol we have a living God who: Speaks (Heb 1:1; Jn 1:18) Creates (Gen 1 and 2) Judges – (Is 13; Amos 2:3-3:3).
In the Old Testament the theme of the divine word is not an object of abstract speculation but a fact of experience. God speaks to chosen men (prophets) who have mission to transmit his word. The manner in which he addresses himself can vary.
He speaks in 'Visions and Dreams’ (Num 12:6). He speaks to Moses 'mouth to mouth’ (Num 12:8) He bears witness unto himself through creation (Acts 14:17) He spoke to our fathers at many times in many ways (Heb 1:1)
God's word is his self-disclosure and self-gift, the revelation and offer of his love which is he himself. Faith is our responding gift of self and life. Word and response, revelation and faith weave the dialogue of human life. God reveals and gives himself in his words, works and gifts (Rom 1:19-21; Acts 14:15-18; Mt 5:45; 6:26-30).
Genesis chapter 1 manifests the creative power of the word. God's word is considered a dynamic reality; a power that infallibly brings about the effects at which God aims. He sends, as a living messenger (Is 9:7; Ps 107:20, 147:15). He watches over it to see that it is fulfilled (Jer 1:12) and it produces what it proclaims (Num 23:19; Is 55:10). 'He spoke and it was' (Ps 33:6-9). Same word remains active in the universe, ruling the stars (Is 40:26), the waters of the natural phenomena (Ps 107:25; 147:15-18).
The concept of word as law and rule of life is very ancient in Israel. The Sinai covenant which Moses gave to the people on behalf of God, moral and religious charter, is summed up in ten words: the Decalogue (Ex 20:1-17; Dt 5:16-22; cf Ex 34:28; Dt 4:1, 10:4). God's revelation and his activity, 'I am Yahweh, your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt'. Ex 20:2 is the basis of law, demanded by God, and it is also responded by human freely (Ps 119).
As history gradually unfolds, it is the word of God that enlightens Israel, concerning the hidden meaning of history. In each national trials God's hidden purpose is recognised in prophets. Besides revealing the present, it uncovers the future; not only immediate future but what is to come "in the last day" when God will carry out his plans in all its fullness - prophetic eschatology. Law, revelation and promise: these three aspects of the divine word accompany and mutually condition each other through out the entire Old Testament. It is God's call that brought Israel into existence and history is the fulfilment of his promise (Dt 9:5; 1King 2:4; Jer 11:5).
Only three New Testament (NT) texts apply the term "word' to Christ, as a proper name and all three texts belong to John. In John1:1 in the beginning was the Word; the World was with God. The word was God. Christ is Word, because he reveals, he is the "word", because he lives not "for" his mission as the prophets did, BUT "of" his mission. Jn. 8:42. In 1 Jn 1:1 'word of life’ word, which is life, object of proclamation.
The word of God is Kerygmatic preaching of Christ event by the apostolic church. It is a spoken word, preached word (Act 4:19). Without preaching it, there can be no hearing and faith (Rom 10:17) If received in faith it has the power of consecrating even material things (1 Tim 4:5). Christians are born again through the living word of God (1Pet 1:23). It is the gospel itself (1 Pet 1:25). Faith documents record of faith experiences, written to provoke this same experience in others.