Where is God, in the bible? In his people?

Xeno.of.athens · Jun 1, 2025

The holy scriptures are good for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright. And being inspired by God some think that God may be found in the pages of their printed bible, others observe that the people of God are said to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and his kingdom of priests. What do you think?

BobRyan · Jun 1, 2025

Peter says the "Spirit of Christ in them" is what "predicted the sufferings of Christ AND the glories to follow" - 2Pet 1:11
Jesus said that scriptures (OT) "testify of Me" - John 5:39.

Jesus calls the scriptures "The Word of God" in Mark 7

NewLifeInChristJesus · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
The holy scriptures are good for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright. And being inspired by God some think that God may be found in the pages of their printed bible, others observe that the people of God are said to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and his kingdom of priests. What do you think?

He is omnipresent.

Maria Billingsley · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
The holy scriptures are good for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright. And being inspired by God some think that God may be found in the pages of their printed bible, others observe that the people of God are said to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and his kingdom of priests. What do you think?

John 14:23
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Xeno.of.athens · Jun 1, 2025

BobRyan said:
Peter says the "Spirit of Christ in them" is what "predicted the sufferings of Christ AND the glories to follow" - 2Pet 1:11
Jesus said that scriptures (OT) "testify of Me" - John 5:39.

Jesus calls the scriptures "The Word of God" in Mark 7

John 5:39 is about "the scriptures"

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; John 5:39 LSB

And 2Peter 1:11 doesn't mention "the Spirit of Christ in them"

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 2 Peter 1:11 LSB

And Mark 7 does not call the scriptures "the word of God"

And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever you might benefit from me is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer leave him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” Mark 7:9-13 LSB

Clare73 · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
The holy scriptures are good for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright. And being inspired by God some think that God may be found in the pages of their printed bible, others observe that the people of God are said to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and his kingdom of priests. What do you think?

God is omnipresent. . .

Clare73 · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
John 5:39 is about "the scriptures"

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; John 5:39 LSB
And 2Peter 1:11 doesn't mention "the Spirit of Christ in them"

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 2 Peter 1:11 LSB
And Mark 7 does not call the scriptures "the word of God"

See Mk 7:13.

Also Mt 15:6, Lk 5:11, 11:28, Jn 10:35, 5:38 do.

Are you saying Scripture is not the word of God (2 Tim 3:16)?

Xeno.of.athens said:
And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever you might benefit from me is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer leave him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” Mark 7:9-13 LSB

Mark Quayle · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
The holy scriptures are good for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright. And being inspired by God some think that God may be found in the pages of their printed bible, others observe that the people of God are said to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and his kingdom of priests. What do you think?

The question seems to me to conflate two different things. "God may be found in the pages" is a figure of speech. But the notion of God's dwelling place is basic to all fact, to Scripture and to life. It is the covenant that God has made with himself. It is the plan for which he created. It is a theme that is found throughout scripture right up to Revelation 21. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." And that is to his glory and praise.

Xeno.of.athens · Jun 1, 2025

Clare73 said:
But Mt 15:6, Lk 5:11, 11:28, Jn 10:35, 5:38 do.

Not one of those verses calls the holy scriptures "the word of God".

Clare73 said:
Are you saying Scripture is not the word of God (2 Tim 3:16)?

2Tim 3:16 does not say that the scriptures are "the word of God".

Xeno.of.athens · Jun 1, 2025

Mark Quayle said:
But the notion of God's dwelling place is basic to all fact, to Scripture and to life.

This is not so.

Clare73 · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
Not one of those verses calls the holy scriptures "the word of God".

2Tim 3:16 does not say that the scriptures are "the word of God".

More homework is needed on Mt 15:6, Mk 7:13, Lk 5:11, 11:28, Jn 10:35, 5:38, as well as 2 Tim 3:16, which homework seems to be outside the purview.

Mark Quayle · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
This is not so.

"God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." This is what God is doing from the beginning of time until the end of time, when it is consummated fact. Heaven.

Fervent · Jun 1, 2025

The Scriptures are an icon through which the Word of God manifests. The dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is in His people, but the Scriptures are the warp and woof of sound doctrine.

ozso · Jun 1, 2025

9 Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God — 12 then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.” Mark 7:9-13 (NRSVCE).

BobRyan · Jun 1, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
John 5:39 is about "the scriptures"

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; John 5:39 LSB

Xeno.of.athens said:
And 2Peter 1:11 doesn't mention "the Spirit of Christ in them"

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 2 Peter 1:11 LSB

1 Pet 1:11
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

Xeno.of.athens said:
And Mark 7 does not call the scriptures "the word of God"

And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever you might benefit from me is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer leave him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” Mark 7:9-13 LSB

Mark 7:7-13
7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

In that teaching we see "Commandment of God" = "Moses said" = "Word of God" -- and scripture is quoted as an example of it.

IN opposition to that scripture the text places "precepts of men", "tradition of men", "your tradition which you have handed down"

Xeno.of.athens · Jun 1, 2025

BobRyan said:
1 Pet 1:11

I see, your original citation was wrong, why not just say so?

Xeno.of.athens · Jun 1, 2025

BobRyan said:
Mark 7:7-13
7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

"commandment of God" is not "word of God", and "Moses said" is not "word of God" on two counts, (1) Moses was the one talking and (2) what was invalidated was "the commandment of God" and not "holy scripture". What God says is not what God has written. People often write what God said but God himself not so much.One would be more accurate to say "the scriptures contains a record of words spoken by God (a.k.a. the word of God)."

BobRyan · Jun 2, 2025

BobRyan said:
1 Pet 1:11
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

Mark 7:7-13
7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

BobRyan said:
In that Mark 7 statement above we see: "Commandment of God" = "Moses said" = "Word of God" -- and scripture is quoted as an example of it.

IN opposition to that scripture the text places "precepts of men", "tradition of men", "your tradition which you have handed down"

Xeno.of.athens said:
"commandment of God" is not "word of God", and "Moses said" is not "word of God"

Yet Christ uses those terms interchangeably to refer to Moses' statement in the OT text of Ex 20:12.

Xeno.of.athens said:
on two counts, (1) Moses was the one talking and

Ex 20:12 is God Himself speaking the command to honor Parents - speaking directly to Israel

Xeno.of.athens said:
(2) what was invalidated was "the commandment of God" and not "holy scripture".

scripture is quoted in Mark 7 to show the commandment of God (the scripture quoted) being set aside by tradition in Christ's day

Xeno.of.athens said:
What God says is not what God has written.

On the contrary -- Ex 20 says that is exactly what it is - God spoke it directly to the people AND God wrote it on stone with his own hand.

Clare73 · Jun 2, 2025

BobRyan said:
Mark 7:7-13
7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Xeno.of.athens said:
"commandment of God" is not "word of God", and "Moses said" is not "word of God" on two counts, (1) Moses was the one talking and (2) what was invalidated was "the commandment of God" and not "holy scripture".

Relevance?

Tell it to Jesus, who did call the Scriptures the "word of God" in Mark, at 7:13, as well as in Mt 15:6, Lk 5:11, 11:28, Jn 10:35, 5:38, contrary to your false assertion above denying "word of God" in Scripture.

Jesus believed the OT was the "word of God" in every detail (Jn 10:35, Lk 11:28, 5:1),
that it was the truth of God vested with the authority of God and backed by the power of God (Mt 5:17-19).
He treated arguments from Scripture as having clinching force. When he said, "It is written," that was final. There was no appeal against Scripture, for "the scripture cannot be broken." (Mt 4:5, Mt 4:7, Mt 4:10, Jn 10:35). God's word holds good forever.
He constantly scolded the Jews for their ignorance and neglect of Scripture: "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures?". . ."Have you not read. . .?". . ."Go and learn what this means. . ." (Mk 12:24, Mt 12:3, Mt 12:5, Mt 19:4, Mt 21:16, Mt 21:42,
Mt 9:13).

Likewise, Jesus himself submitted to the OT as the word of God:
he lived a life of obedience to Scripture (Lk 4:17-21, Mt 8:16-17, Mt 11:2-5),
and then he died in obedience to Scripture (Lk 18:31, Mk 8:31, Mk 9:31, Mk 10:33-34, Mt 26:24, Lk 22:37, Mt 26:53-56),
when he arose, he explained who he was by the Scriptures (Lk 24:44-47, Lk 24:27),
he presented himself to the Jews as the fulfiller of Scripture (Jn 5:39-40, Jn 5:46-47).

Belief in the authority and truth of the OT as the word of God was the foundation of Jesus' whole ministry.

Xeno.of.athens said:
What God says is not what God has written. People often write what God said but God himself not so much.One would be more accurate to say "the scriptures contains a record of words spoken by God (a.k.a. the word of God)."

What a low view of Holy Writ, the word of God written! . . .a view certainly not shared by Jesus!

Is this unBiblical low view of the word of God written the reason there is so much objection to Catholicism?

ARBITER01 · Jun 6, 2025

Xeno.of.athens said:
The holy scriptures are good for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be upright. And being inspired by God some think that God may be found in the pages of their printed bible, others observe that the people of God are said to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and his kingdom of priests. What do you think?

The dwelling place for The Holy Spirit is inside those that are born again and seek His filling, but The Holy Spirit can reveal the scriptures to such a person also. It's what people call a "quickening" of the word of GOD.

Where is God, in the bible? In his people?

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

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