Every Letter in Every Word in Every Verse
Understanding the nature of inspiration will open doors to deeper understanding as you study the Bible. Consider that when Moses brought the tablets of stone down from Mount Sanai there were no misspelled words on those stones. Every word was chosen by God. Every single letter of every word had been chosen and written by the hand of God.
Each word of scripture is by the inspiration of God.
Jesus believed in the importance of just one word. The Sadducees asked Jesus about the problem that the resurrection presented regarding the woman who had been married seven times. He answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29, ESV). He emphasized one word spoken at the burning bush and said that because God said, “I am the God of Abraham,” instead of “I was the God of Abraham,” you could prove the resurrection. Just one word. Look at the following examples of the importance of just one word.
The importance of the word “your.” For years, many have struggled with Paul’s instruction that a woman was not to speak in the assembly, and that if she wanted to ask a question, she was to wait and ask her husband at home. Many asked, “What about all those women who do not have a husband. Who are they to ask?” Just one word settles it. Look at the context. Paul had been giving instructions regarding the behavior of the prophets (1 Cor. 14:29-33). He then said, “Let your women keep silent in the churches.” What women? Your women—the wives of the prophets. It was the prophet’s wife who was most likely to interrupt the prophet’s message in that assembly. He specifically addressed those wives of the prophets. Could other women speak in the assembly? Absolutely not. He addresses all women in the next verse saying, “It is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
The importance of the word “this.” Many have overlooked the word “this” in Matthew 24:14. One of the signs given about events before the destruction of Jerusalem was that “…this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” as the final sign the city was about to be destroyed. Look carefully at what He said. It was not just that the gospel would be preached. It was that this gospel—the good news of the kingdom that God had overthrown Judaism and its temple, and the Gentiles could have common access to God. They preached far more than His death, His burial and His resurrection. They preached the fact that all men, Jews and Gentiles, could come to God. Now that is great news!
Read your Bible and look at every word in every verse. It will open many doors of deeper understanding. Every letter of every word has been chosen by God!