How Does Scripture Function as God’s Communication to Humanity?
1. The conviction that Scripture is the written word of God
Christians have long confessed that the Bible is not merely a record of human thought but the written word of God. The Old Testament was considered by Jews as divinely given, a body of writings with binding authority (Romans 3:2). Early Christians embraced this same conviction, believing that “what Scripture says, God says” (Romans 9:17; Galatians 3:8). The apostles themselves applied the word “Scripture” not only to the Law and the Prophets but eventually also to their own writings (2 Peter 3:16). This conviction that Scripture speaks with God’s own authority undergirds all of Christian faith and practice. Without it, the church has no sure foundation for truth.
2. The nature of communication between God and humanity
To understand how Scripture functions as God’s communication, one must reflect on the nature of communication itself. Human speech conveys meaning through words, symbols, and shared understanding. Similarly, God has chosen to communicate by speaking in human language, making His will known in ways people can hear, understand, and respond to. Communication involves a source, a message, and a receiver. In Scripture, God is the source; His message is His word; and humanity is the receiver. Like all communication, God’s speech aims at a response—faith, obedience, trust, or worship. This reminds us that Scripture is not a static text but an ongoing encounter with the living God who addresses His people.
3. The God who speaks in history
The Bible presents a God who reveals Himself by speaking. He spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1:3). He spoke promises to Abraham (Genesis 17:1–8), commands to Moses (Exodus 19:3–6), and covenant warnings through the prophets (Jeremiah 23:29). Ultimately, “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2). God’s communication has always been embedded in history, clothed in cultural contexts, and delivered through human agents, yet it remains His own voice. Whether through thunder at Sinai, visions to prophets, or the written words of Scripture, God’s speech is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).
4. The attributes of God expressed in His communication
Scripture’s authority rests on who God is. Because God is omniscient, His word is true and reliable (Psalm 119:89–90). Because He is King, His word carries absolute authority (Isaiah 55:10–11). Because He is holy, His word is pure and trustworthy (Psalm 12:6). Because He is faithful, His promises stand firm (Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Corinthians 1:20). Because He is Father, His word comes with mercy and love (John 3:16). These divine attributes ensure that when God speaks in Scripture, His words do not merely inform but transform, shaping His people into holiness and hope.
5. The human role in receiving divine communication
Human beings are both the recipients and interpreters of God’s word. Created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), people have the capacity to hear, understand, and respond to Him. Yet because of sin, human perception is clouded (Romans 1:21). This means that apart from God’s Spirit, Scripture may be misunderstood, resisted, or distorted (2 Peter 3:16). The Holy Spirit therefore plays a central role in enabling believers to grasp and obey God’s communication (John 16:13). This is why the Reformers insisted that the Spirit’s witness accompanies Scripture, convincing the heart of its truth.
6. The multifaceted forms of Scripture as speech
Scripture functions as communication in diverse ways. It contains assertions that inform and instruct (Romans 15:4), commands that demand obedience (Exodus 20:1–17), promises that invite trust (2 Corinthians 1:20), and expressions of praise that invite participation (Psalms 95:1–6). In this sense, the Bible is a collection of speech-acts—God not only informs but also commands, promises, warns, comforts, and redeems through His word. The varied genres—narrative, prophecy, law, poetry, and letters—are all channels of divine communication, each suited to convey aspects of God’s redemptive purposes.
7. The challenge of “noise” in receiving God’s word
As with all communication, God’s word can be obscured by “noise.” Misunderstanding, fear, selective hearing, or forgetfulness often hinder people from rightly hearing what God has said. Historical and cultural distance can also create barriers, as modern readers may struggle to understand practices such as sacrifice or covenant rituals. Moreover, sinful hearts may resist God’s truth, preferring their own wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:14). Yet despite these obstacles, God’s Spirit ensures that His word accomplishes His purpose (Isaiah 55:11). The problem lies not with Scripture but with human hearts that need renewal.
8. The unity of Scripture as divine revelation
Scripture must be understood not as a random collection of religious writings but as a unified communication of God’s redemptive plan. The same God who spoke through Moses also spoke through the prophets, apostles, and ultimately His Son. The unity of the Bible allows it to interpret itself, so that one passage sheds light on another. This unity also ensures that the Gospel—the good news of Christ’s kingship, death, and resurrection—stands at the center of all biblical communication (Luke 24:27). Through Scripture, God not only reveals truth but also draws His people into His story of redemption.
9. The effects of God’s communication through Scripture
Because Scripture is God’s communication, it has power to transform lives. Paul writes that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The result is that believers are equipped for every good work. God’s communication through Scripture teaches truth, exposes sin, corrects error, and trains His people in godliness. Most importantly, it brings people into fellowship with God through the Gospel, drawing them to faith in Christ and to hope in His coming kingdom (Romans 10:17).
10. The Gospel as the heart of divine communication
At the center of God’s communication stands the Gospel. Scripture testifies to Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Word made flesh (John 1:14). All of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). The Bible communicates God’s saving purposes not merely as abstract truth but as a call to trust in Christ the King, who forgives sins and establishes His kingdom. In the last days, this word points forward to the new creation, where God will dwell with His people and His communication will be direct and unbroken (Revelation 21:3–5). Thus, Scripture as divine communication is not only about information but about transformation, leading humanity into the fullness of life in Christ.
Bible Verses about Scripture as God’s Communication
Genesis 1:3 – “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
Exodus 34:27 – “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
Deuteronomy 8:3 – “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
Psalm 19:7 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.”
Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty.”
Jeremiah 23:29 – “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
Matthew 4:4 – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching.”
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.”
