Skammer, that is my understanding as well. Jesus is the Word of God, which makes his message the Word of the Word of God. 
In Matthew 15:6 Jesus said to the Pharisees, “For the sake of your traditions, you have set aside the Word of God”. He was speaking to them about the Old Testament scriptures which they had misinterpreted and\or set aside. This is the most direct reference Jesus made to the scriptures being “the Word of God”. There are many more “indirect” references indicating that the scriptures came not from man but were spoken by God Himself and simply penned by men.
Good point. Many people, though, feel that Jesus’s attitude was that the Scriptures convey “the Word of God” (which, of course, John equates with Him), not that they are equivalent to It.
Regarding your last sentence, one could not find a better example of eisegesis. In short, having that view, you read Scripture and find it exemplified in various passages. On the other hand, Paul is quite clear regarding two comments he makes on Christian marriage to the Corinthian Church, that one is “from the Lord” and one is his considered advice.
Jesus (Who is the Word of God in human form) as well as every Old Testament and New Testament writer equates the Scriptures with God speaking directly to mankind. This is why the O.T. prophets began with “Thus says the Lord…”. They were moved upon by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s direct will and purpose to others. This view is summarized in 2Peter1:21 which states, “…no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of any personal or private or special interpretation. For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it, but as men spoke from God who were borne along by the Holy Spirit.” Other relevant scriptures: Jn10:35 Jesus says, “… the scriptures cannot be broken”, Matthew4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word which comes forth from the mouth of God”, Mark13:31 “heaven and earth will pass away but My Word will never pass away”, John17:17 Jesus prays, “Sanctify them by Truth, Your Word is Truth”, James1:21, “welcome the Word which has the power to save your souls”, Hebrews4:12, “the Word is alive and full of power”.
No other book on earth claims such direct communication from God to mankind, but like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, there are still those who seek to dilute it or set it aside. But by refusing to listen, they reject God’s will and purposes for themselves and shut themselves out of a coming Kingdom whose foundation rests soley on His spoken Word.
Ever heard of the Koran?
Lots of books claim to be the word of God or gods. The Bible is nothing special in that regard.
It sounds like you think that people should believe the Bible is the word of God simply because (you think) the Bible says so. That’s a circular argument.
I agree it is a circular argument,Since there is no written word by Jesus, I do not think he thought it important enough to base a division among people. I know John called him the Word, but John was just a human like you and I and not infallible either. I have noticed that Jesus saw divinity in all people, if one can believe what he was said to have spoken, when he was accused of Blasphmey, he reminded his accusers that their Fathers were regarded as Gods and sons of God,as the psalmist was quoted as telling them.
I find no fault if someone regards Jesus as different than any one else, and it helps them see people in the way that Jesus seemed to(Or at least the writer who states that he was a certain way and spoke the way He did).
I think any thing that keeps people from respecting others, or their beliefs is sad; to me it is like a member of a family that would bring harm to the others through their actions or words. I do not know of anyone who is not uplifted by the kindness of someone else, that is why it surprised me when I read the New testement and read that Jesus came to save all people, then is quoted as saying he spoke in parables so some would not understand lest they believe and be saved. I doubt that God would speak in contradictory tones, or leave it up to fallible people to get his message out. A good father in my belief would not have one child rear another, he would do it himself. One need but look round at the various translations,religions and sects of religion to see there is too much disharmony and always has been. If faith is a gift (as some call it) then this Father favors some and not others, a contradiction to the Bible that states God favors no man.
Monavis
I know a lot of people believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God just as if God wrote it. Others have modified that tradition to argue that the Bible reveals the will of God even though there are minor errors. I think they are missing what the Jesus taught.
The Word of God is the living Spirit of God. Many of the references in the Bible to the Word such as Mark 13:31 ; John 17:17 ; James 1:21 that you mentioned are not refering to the written word but the living Word that no book can contain. Even if you believe that the Bible is divinely inspired, there’s no indication that it was ever the the will of God that we have one final and authoritative collection of writings. That’s just a tradition of Christianity.
To truly worship God you must make a commitment to the truth over tradition.
If you believe the Bible is the direct communication of God you’ll have to explain this.
If you can read that passage and believe it is the commandment of God simply because you have been taught by men that the Bible is divine, then you need to look into your heart and mind and ask “would God make such a commandment?” “Does it make any sense at all?”
The usual justification is that there are things we have to accept on faith, or that we just don’t understand with our limited mortal minds. I totally agree that our understanding is limited, but it doesn’t take divine insight to look at that passage and realize how it conflicts with any reasonable concept of a God of love who is “no respector of persons”
Which language do we read it in?
I give little credibility to forums of thelogians. I can respect historical knowledge, as part of the truth, but historical knowledge about religion, scripture,theology, doesn’t translate into true spiritual insight in any way. A deeper understadning of God comes from communion with God through the Holy Spirit. Every individual has equal access to know the truth and to discern the truth from the passing fads and the long held traditions of men. Jesus gave us a simple yardstick to use. Do you see acts of love, kindness, compassion. Do we treat each other as brothers and sisters, children of God? If we do then that’s the Spirit of God working in us. If we don’t then we still have work to do.
Do you remember what passage that is?
Read it in a language you understand. I assume you mean that it is more accurate in the original language or that meanings can become lost or distorted in translation. That can’t be denied, but that is why Jesus said before He left, “I will not leave you orphans, I will send you the Holy Spirit and He will teach you all things”. The places in our particular language that may fall short of the original will be made clear to each of us by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, without His help we would be unable to understand the scriptures no matter how accurately we might have them in front of us. (remember the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts8:31 “How is it possible for me to understand, unless someone explains it to me and guides me in the right way?”)
There are many unexplained ritual washings and purifications in the Law which weren’t understood until our generation, when science finally caught up. Among them is the ritual of circumcision which doctors will tell you is best perfomed on exactly the eighth day (something to do with blood development). Perhaps at a future time we’ll discover the medical wisdom behind these different rituals concerning the birth of male and female babies.
And you seriously believe that and call it faith?
What doctor has ever told you that that circumcision is best done on exactly the eitghth day/ CAn you provide any credible cite for that?
OK. Over in the thread on the dating of Daniel you have made a number of claims about history that are, frankly, silly, but that we would probably wrangle over for months getting past your interpretations of history. However, you have now made an objective claim that you need to support with an actual citation to a recognized source of medical information, otherwise you should be aware that we will simply begin dismissing your claims as lacking any foundation.
So. For the record: please provide a citation to an actual recognizable medical association, published (peer-reviewed) paper, or recognized authority on proctology who has ever made the claim that the eighth day after birth provides some ideal window in which to perform a circumcision.
There are many sources, but you could log on to circumcisioninfo.com, go to General Information, click “Circumcision practices around the world”, and scroll down to where it says, “the bloodclotting mechanism stabilizes on the 8th day after birth.” By the way, I kind of flamed you on your recent comments about the forum on dating the book of Daniel, accusing you of making historical claims without citing sources, and of possibly never having actually read Daniel’s book, therefore I won’t take a cheap shot or give a lecture about what part of the anatomy a proctologist actually deals with. A lesser person who might have been insulted by your accusations that I gave falsified history in the Daniel forum might tell you that you, of all people, should be well acquainted with proctology. But I’m quite willing to let your ignorance of both topics pass without further ado. Thanks, goodbye, and keep hitting those books!
I wouldn’t call that a credible medical reference. Anything by a widely recognized Medical organization?
Many people here on the SDMB have a great repsect for the truth. If you believe things based on faith without conclusive evidence one way or the other then fine. When you embrace inaccurate history or medical rumors as the truth to support your beliefs you do a disservice to yourself and to the teachings of Christ.
A comittment to the teachings of Christ is a comittment to the truth and personal honesty. There are many false teachings circulating within the closed community of Christian fundamentalism. False and inaccurate information that is passed along as factual and readily accepted to support long held tradional beliefs. Jesus taught that we should not accept the traditions of men over the truth. If what you’ve been taught doesn’t stand up to and honest examination of the facts, which includes scholastic studies, then it’s time to rethink what you believe and why.
I do not remember off hand which writer, chapter or verse gave the quote but will look it up. It has been many years since I read the Bible. I have read it through at least 24 times in my life time.I try to understand the beliefs of others but I know it is there, My bible has been read nearly to shreads, but the New Testement is still well intact. The Bible is a Catholic version given me by a friend in 1960. I will look it up and then post it.
Monavis
Thus proving that you are, indeed, a lesser person. (The proctology remark was a joke, but I will grant you have not interacted with me long enough to recognize that.)
However, you should note that I have not accused you of giving “falsified history.” I have noted that the history you have presented is clearly in error. I suspect that this is not your fault (and, thus, not “falsified”). Just as you have provided an opinion piece, unsupported by medical references for your claim about circumcision, I suspect that you honestly believe the nonsense you have posted regarding history, simply led astray by bad teachers.
Since I see that you have no actual support by qualified experts for any of your claims, I will now treat your opinions with the due caution they deserve.
Indeed, all human opinion should be treated with caution (the human heart is deceitful above all things, and is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and mortally sick. Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)). Distrust of human opinion is wise, yet you have been quoting (as yet unnamed) human historical sources as if they were actually inerrant. The conflict has ensued because your sources (human and prone to error) stand in disagreement with my sources which actually are innerrant (the Scriptures). The difference in sources is that yours completely originate with man, while my source originates with God but is merely penned by man (2Pet1:20-21). You have placed your trust in something that admittedly cannot be trusted, yet armed with such faulty weaponry, you and your colleagues now ride forth to take on the personal writings of the very God who created you! Lots of luck! “Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will never pass away” (Matt24:35)