The Word and the Bible

1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 (ESV)
October 26, 2025

Introduction
When I first started going to church, I noticed that Christians referred to the Bible as “the Word.”
I wondered when and why they called it that. I thought perhaps Christians never said “the Bible” but always “the Word.” Yet I realized that some people seemed to use them differently.

At first, I thought “the Word” referred only to the words that God directly spoke. Since English Bibles often print the words of Jesus in red, that seemed to make sense. But gradually, I understood that “the Word” is often used when people feel that the Bible is speaking directly to them.

In Japanese, mikotoba adds an honorific prefix—so it carries the sense of “precious words.”
In English too, The Word can mean not only the Scriptures themselves but also Jesus Christ, as John 1:1 says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Some longtime church members jokingly say, “Mikotoba (God’s Word) is what God says, and okotoba (a polite word) is when we borrow His words for ourselves.”
Either way, every letter of Scripture is God’s Word. The entire Bible is God’s revelation to humanity.

How People Treat the Bible

For many Japanese people, the Bible is an expensive book that sits on a high shelf and is read only on special occasions. Perhaps they bring it to church or open it during a set prayer time, carefully placed on a desk.

When I joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM), I was surprised to see Christians always carrying soft leather Bibles—thin, flexible, and constantly read. Their Bibles were clean and unmarked, as if they had been bought only a few years earlier. In Christian bookstores, those kinds of Bibles cost around 2,500 yen.

In Japan, however, a leather Bible often costs around 10,000 yen and is treated as something that must not get worn or stained. People keep it neatly stored away or, after decades of use, it becomes filled with underlines and notes.

In America, a Bible costs around twenty dollars. People buy new ones every few years, and translations are updated about every ten years.

There’s no single rule about how long to use the same Bible, but I think God would be more pleased if we read it often than if we simply preserve it as a treasure we rarely open.

Because the Bible is a translation, new versions will always appear. This year, I’ve been reading through the New Interconfessional Translation (新共同訳) in Japanese. At first, I hesitated because it was produced jointly with the Catholic Church, and the Catholic edition includes the Apocrypha. The Protestant edition does not. Still, I’ve come to appreciate this translation—it is scholarly and clear in Japanese.

Enough about translations—let’s turn to today’s passage, beginning in verse 13.

I. Is Paul’s Message the Word of God?!

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16, Paul commends the Thessalonians for receiving his message not as human words but as God’s Word.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

Theologically speaking, all Scripture is written by divine revelation. That means Paul’s letters are also the Word of God. In the Old Testament, prophets often wrote down exactly what God spoke. In the New Testament era, God inspired the writers so that there would be no error.

Revelation marks the completion of divine revelation. Scripture itself warns against adding to or taking away from it:

Revelation 22:18–19 (ESV)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city.”

When we listen to and meditate on God’s Word, our spiritual life becomes active. Through Scripture we have fellowship with God. We also receive spiritual strength and nourishment from His Word.

The Bible leads us into truth, and the Holy Spirit gives us the power to understand it. The Word is our spiritual communication with God—the more we commune with Him through His Word, the stronger our spirit becomes. And the Bible is our spiritual food through which we grow. God’s Word carries all three of these blessings: truth, communication, and nourishment.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
“Inspired” means “God-breathed.” It is revelation from God Himself.
Still, we know it is not always easy to read the Bible. Many find the Old Testament difficult—the names of people and places are hard to remember. The New Testament also requires understanding of historical background and character context. Without that, it can feel hard to grasp.

Moreover, reading can be challenging in a world accustomed to screens and videos. Some find long texts tiring. For older readers, small print or blurry vision makes it harder too.

Some people rely only on sermons to hear the Word, but pastors merely explain Scripture; we each must read it ourselves.

Thankfully, God has provided grace even here—we can now listen to the Bible. With smartphones and Bible apps, we can hear Scripture read aloud, even in Japanese.

Recently I’ve been listening to audiobooks, and I’ve found it wonderful—especially in English, where small print often discourages me. Good narrations help me finish books by listening twenty minutes a day.

I encourage you to try reading through the whole Bible next year. It’s not too early to start. Reading three chapters from the Old Testament and one from the New each day will take you through the Bible in about a year. When you read, don’t just follow the words—ask the Holy Spirit to speak and show what God is saying to you personally.

II. Zealous Faith Faces Opposition!

Verse 14 says that the believers in Thessalonica suffered persecution from their own people. They faced hostility because their newfound and passionate Christian faith was disliked. The local Jews, who considered Christianity a heresy, persecuted both Paul and those who accepted his teaching.

Being persecuted by fellow countrymen must have been painful. Yet this is an experience common to Christians everywhere, especially when they are a small minority in their families or communities.

Often, the first believer in a family faces resistance or rejection. In fact, persecution can be a sign of genuine faith. If one compromises to keep peace with everyone, there is usually little persecution. But standing firm for the truth often brings conflict.

Some might think, “Isn’t it wiser to compromise a little, to keep relationships peaceful?” But from my own experience, I believe refusing to compromise ultimately leads to better results.

When I first believed, I told my family, relatives, and friends that this way is the truth and that the world’s way is wrong. Some listened, but many did not. My father strongly opposed me. I spoke to my uncles and aunts as well, though some died without believing. Looking back, I’m still glad I spoke to them. Faith is a personal choice; we cannot force anyone to believe. Yet there’s a great difference between never hearing and having heard. If they knew, they might still have turned to Christ before death.

I am truly thankful that I was led to a church that was passionate in faith. The people there were zealous, and that made me zealous too. Had I gone to a more lukewarm church, I doubt I would have become fervent or shared the gospel boldly.

I remember one girl at that church telling me that she had been forced to attend church by her parents—her father would pull her out of bed and drag her to worship. It became a trauma for her at first. Yet today, she faithfully serves God. Her parents’ zeal, though extreme, ultimately drew her close to the Lord.

III. Are the Jews the Target of Mission?

Verses 15–16 sound harsh toward the Jews. The Jews of that time rejected Jesus. God had desired that they accept the Messiah and bring salvation to the world, but most rejected Him—and even killed Him. They continued to persecute the early church, so it’s understandable that early believers saw them as opposing God.

Even today, modern Israel faces global criticism. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been accused of inhumane actions—what began as a fight against terrorism has turned into scenes of civilian suffering.

Since the coming of Christ, many Jews have misunderstood God’s will. In the Old Testament, during Joshua’s time, God commanded Israel to destroy the Canaanites completely. That was not cruelty but judgment—a way to show that God is righteous and just. God also sent the flood in Noah’s time and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. In each case, innocent children may have perished too, yet the judgment showed His holiness and justice.

Scripture says God will again judge the world at the end of the age. There will be sorrow, but God’s justice remains perfect.

Still, regarding Israel’s modern military actions, there is no biblical justification. God’s command to annihilate enemies applied only in Joshua’s time to stop Canaan’s great wickedness. Since Christ came, warfare and killing are no longer God’s will.

The apostles faced persecution but never fought back with violence. They did not start wars or reclaim property by force. Jesus commanded, “Forgive.” Early Christians followed that command.

Sadly, throughout history, the church—especially the medieval Catholic Church—has often misinterpreted Scripture regarding war and coercion.

As for defensive wars, justice, or preemptive attacks, those are complex moral issues—but today’s message focuses on something else:
Christians do not need to treat Jews as enemies.

From God’s perspective, there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who believe in Jesus and those who do not yet believe. Those who don’t believe are not our enemies but our mission field—the ones we are called to love.

The gospel must be preached to all. Those who believe receive salvation; those who reject it face judgment. Whether a person believes is known only to God. Some may accept Christ at the very end of life—but they must have heard the gospel first.

Also, every person is our neighbor. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That command applies to everyone.

Conclusion
Today we’ve reflected on the Bible itself.
The Bible is entirely the Word of God—every part of it.
It is the visible expression of the invisible God’s absolute authority.
To obey Scripture is to obey God.
To reject Scripture is to reject God.

May we love His Word, live by it daily, and proclaim it faithfully until He returns.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for speaking to us today through Your precious Word,
and for reminding us that all Scripture is breathed out by God.

Help us not only to know Your Word with our minds
but to receive it deeply into our hearts and live it out in our daily lives.

May we hear Your voice through the Scriptures,
grow in fellowship with You, and be strengthened in spirit day by day.

Grant us faith that stands firm on the truth of Your Word, without compromise,
and may Your Word be a light to our path and a lamp to our feet throughout this week.

We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.