The Spoken and the Written Word of God

Not only was the divine word spoken by the prophets of old, it was also written. In this way the Heaven-sent revelations were preserved for succeeding generations.BSPC 8.6

We read in the Scripture of truth that the divine oracles were:BSPC 8.7

“Spoken. by Daniel the prophet!” Matthew 24:15. “Spoken of the Lord by the prophet!” Matthew 1:22. “Spoken... by the prophet Esaias!” Matthew 3:1. “Spoken by Jeremy the prophet!” Matthew 27:9.
“Spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets!” Luke 1:70.BSPC 8.8

We read also that they were written:BSPC 8.9

“Things which are written may be fulfilled!” Luke 21:22.BSPC 8.10

“Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write.” John 1:45. “It is written in the book of Psalms.” Acts 1:20. “That the scriptures [writings] of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Matthew 26:56.BSPC 9.1

Concerning that which was written we do well to understand its value and its sacred character, for:BSPC 9.2

“The writing was the writing of God.” Exodus 32:16. “There came a writing...from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 21:12. “Said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me.” 1 Chronicles 28:19.BSPC 9.3

The emphasis upon the written as well as the spoken word of God is seen also in the way the apostle Paul uses the Old Testament Scriptures. Twice he uses the word “describes” in the book of Romans as under:BSPC 9.4

“Moses describes the righteousness.” Romans 10:5.
“David ... describes the blessedness.” Romans 4:6.BSPC 9.5

It is the same word in English, but there are two different words used in the Greek New Testament. In Romans 10:5 the word is grapho, “to write”; in Romans 4:6 it is lego, “to say, to tell.”BSPC 9.6

So whether the divine revelation is spoken or written it is equally the word of the everlasting God.BSPC 9.7

Dr. George T. Purves writes:BSPC 9.8

“Not only did Moses and the prophets speak from God, but the sacred Scriptures themselves were in some way composed under divine control. He not only affirms with Peter that, ‘moved by the Holy Ghost men spoke from God,’ but that ‘the Scriptures themselves are inspired by God.’ Paul plainly recognizes the human authorship of the books, and quotes Moses and David and Isaiah as speaking therein. But not only through them, but in these books of theirs did God also speak. Many readers notice the first part of Paul’s statement, but not the second. God spoke ‘through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures.’”—The Presbyterian and Reformed Review, January, 1893, p. 13.BSPC 9.9

We read also:BSPC 9.10

“The book is thus rightly said to be inspired no less than the prophet. The book reflects and perpetuates the personal characteristics of the prophet, but it does not create them. Writing introduces no limitation into the representation of truth which does not already exist in the first conception and expression of it.”—Brooke Foss Westcott, Introduction to the Study of the Gospels (Boston, 1862), p. 15.BSPC 9.11