Understanding that the Word of God is both the spoken word and the person of Jesus Christ, what are some of the characteristics of the Word, as described in Hebrews 4:12.
The King James Version says the Word is "quick and powerful." The Amplified Version expands on this and explains the Word is "alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing and effective]."
Let's look at the original Greek words used in this verse. (H/t to www.blueletterbible.org, an exceptional study tool).
"Quick" is translated from zao, which means "to live". It's used in Scripture to convey ideas including "to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead);" "having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul;" "active, powerful, efficacious".
"Powerful" comes from energes, meaning "active, operative, effective, powerful." This in turn comes from en, meaning "in, by, with, etc." and ergon, which has the idea of "to work".
So, when we read the Word is "quick and powerful," this means the Word is alive, active, having power in itself, and at work".
It's no accident that God used the Word to create the earth we see (and that this Word is defined as Jesus in John 1). It's no accident that this Word became flesh. It's no accident that this Word is called the "word of life" in Philippians 2:16. It's no accident that Ephesians 6:17 says this Word is the "sword of the Spirit" (or, in the Amplified translation, "the sword that the Spirit wields"). It's no accident that this word "endures forever" (1 Peter 1:23-25).
Let's resolve never again to view the Word of God as something passive or as a 'dead letter'. This Word is literally able to "save our souls" (James 1:21).
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