The Sword or the Spirit?

[Paidion]

I can recall that during the year I spent at a Bible institute at age 20-21, students made comments such as “I’ll just go get out my sword.” At Sunday schools, I have observed superintendants have “sword drills” with the older children.

Referring to the Bible as one’s “sword” seems to have had its origin in Ephesians 6:17

…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (Eph 6:27)

However, the Greek clearly reveals that it is not the sword which is the Word of God, but the Spirit.

The Greek word translated “which” is “ὁ” (which means either “which” or “who”). In this verse it is neuter in gender. It always agrees in gender with its referent. The word translated as “sword” is feminine, and the word translated as “Spirit” in neuter. Therefore it is not “the sword” which is “the word of God”, but “the Spirit”. I know of only one translation which brings this out:

And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God. (Recovery Version)

At this point one may well ask, “In what sense is the Spirit the word of God?” or “the living voice ( hrāma) of God”? It is the Spirit that convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and judgment. So the Spirit can truly be represented as “a sword.”

[Cindy_Skillman]

Very interesting and enlightening, Paidion. Didn’t Jesus tell His disciples, “I have many more things to say to you but you aren’t able to bear them yet.” . . . and then later, of the Spirit, “He will take that which is Mine and declare it to you.” So I’d say that at least that far, it fits.

[Melchizedek]

I can recall that during the year I spent at a Bible institute at age 20-21, students made comments such as “I’ll just go get out my sword.” At Sunday schools, I have observed superintendants have “sword drills” with the older children.

Referring to the Bible as one’s “sword” seems to have had its origin in Ephesians 6:17

…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (Eph 6:27)

However, the Greek clearly reveals that it is not the sword which is the Word of God, but the Spirit.

The Greek word translated “which” is “ὁ” (which means either “which” or “who”). In this verse it is neuter in gender. It always agrees in gender with its referent. The word translated as “sword” is feminine, and the word translated as “Spirit” in neuter. Therefore it is not “the sword” which is “the word of God”, but “the Spirit”. I know of only one translation which brings this out:

And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God. (Recovery Version)

At this point one may well ask, “In what sense is the Spirit the word of God?” or “the living voice ( hrāma) of God”? It is the Spirit that convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and judgment. So the Spirit can truly be represented as “a sword.”

Probably in the same sense that Christ is the Word made flesh; the living Word (Christ) = the Spirit. Jesus had to go away in order to send the Spirit to indwell us.

[Paidion]

Interesting, Melchizedek, that initially, I posted that since “The Lord (Jesus) IS the Spirit”, and Jesus is “the Word of God”, then it would make sense in Eph 6:27 to say that the Spirit is the Word of God. However, I had to revise what I said because I then noticed that in Eph 6:27, “the word of God” is not "the logos of God (which Christ is), but the hrāma of God.

[Melchizedek]

Interesting, Melchizedek, that initially, I posted that since “The Lord (Jesus) IS the Spirit”, and Jesus is “the Word of God”, then it would make sense in Eph 6:27 to say that the Spirit is the Word of God. However, I had to revise what I said because I then noticed that in Eph 6:27, “the word of God” is not "the logos of God (which Christ is), but the hrāma of God.

Hmm. I wonder if the logos and hrama are different in functionality, but otherwise the same?

Edited to add: I tried looking it up on a Greek interlinear, but it doesn’t seem to have an Ephesians 6:27, it only goes to 6:24

Ok, it seems that it’s 6:17. The Greek interlinear I’m using has it as “rema” which is translated there as “declaration”. So that would appear to be a different form of “word”…? But perhaps “rema/ hrama” is referring to the Sword *of *the Spirit not the Spirit itself. In other words, the *Sword of the Spirit *is the declaration of God, vs. the Spirit is the declaration of God.