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The Living Word: A Joyful Posture Toward Scripture
By Mark D. Thompson | Scripture for All of Life Series
“There is nothing that so much strengthens our faith and trust in God… as continual reading and recording of God’s Word.” —Thomas Cranmer
What we believe about Scripture shapes everything. It determines how we view God, how we follow Christ, and how we live in the world. The Christian doctrine of Scripture is not built on isolated proof texts. It is a rich, interconnected testimony of the Triune God’s self-revelation—given through the written Word and fulfilled in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ.
At the heart of the Christian life is a posture not of critique or control, but of joyful submission. We sit under God’s Word, because we know the One who speaks through it. And as we come to know Him more fully, Scripture becomes not only our authority—but our delight.
Scripture: God’s Word through Human Hands
The Bible is the written Word of the living God. It came to us through faithful human authors—consciously and creatively used by the Holy Spirit for God’s purposes. This doctrine is rooted not in one or two verses, but in the very character of God and the broad scope of biblical theology. At its center is Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who both endorsed the Old Testament and authorized the New.
To follow Christ is to follow Him in how He treated Scripture. His frequent appeals—“It is written”—reveal that Jesus saw the Scriptures as true, clear, and sufficient for knowing the Father and walking in obedience.
Sit Under the Word, Not Over It
Christians don’t approach the Bible as critics but as disciples. We resist the cultural pull to stand in judgment over God’s Word. Instead, we sit under it—submitting our preferences, opinions, and presuppositions to its authority.
This posture is not legalistic or narrow. True obedience flows from faith, and faith is the work of the Spirit. As Martin Luther put it, “It’s only when you’ve won the heart that you’ve really won the person.” The Word of God speaks to the heart—and through it, God shapes individuals and entire cultures.
“This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” —Isaiah 66:2
Study with Reverence, Not Mere Curiosity
Reading the Bible is never neutral. It is a spiritual and moral act, not just an intellectual one. We are always in God’s presence as we study His Word. That demands humility, prayer, and dependence on the Spirit who inspired the text.
We are not called to ignore hard questions or difficult passages. But we must never treat Scripture like a puzzle to master or a text to tame. The Bible is not “safe,” as Warfield once reminded us—because the God who speaks through it is not tame.
And neither is our reading to be isolated. We learn from the global, historical, and communal church—even from those we might disagree with. They may help uncover our blind spots and deepen our understanding.
The study of Scripture is also a spiritual endeavor. As John Webster reminded us, biblical study is not merely an academic discipline but a theological and moral task that takes place in the presence of God.
Scripture Is Not a Burden—It’s a Joy
We must not forget this: the Bible is not a burden. It’s a delight.
King David rejoiced in the law of the Lord. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. And every faithful Christian knows this experience: God’s Word brings life, light, and joy.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” —Psalm 119:18
One pastor once asked, “Do your children ever see you reading the Bible—not to prepare for ministry, but just because you love it?” That kind of joy—deep, unforced, and contagious—is what we’re called to cultivate. And it’s what we commend to the world.
Reading Scripture with Humility and Joy
Thomas Cranmer, the Protestant martyr, captured this beautifully. He urged Christians to read the Bible:
“…humbly with a meek and lowly heart… not without daily praying to God… and take upon you to expound it no further than you can plainly understand it.”3
This is how we avoid error. Not by avoiding Scripture—but by approaching it with reverence, prayer, and joy.
Conclusion: God Has Spoken—Rejoice and Listen
In an age that questions truth and exalts the self, Christians bear a joyful responsibility: to receive, delight in, and proclaim the Word of God. Not as legalists, but as redeemed people who know the Shepherd’s voice and long to follow Him.
Scripture is not just information. It is revelation—light in the darkness, food for the soul, and a call to life. So let us read it humbly, trust it fully, and rejoice in it deeply.
📚 For Further Reading
📚 Notes
- Martin Luther, “Sermon for Monday after Invocavit, March 10, 1522,” in Luther’s Works, ed. Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 51 (St. Louis: Concordia, 1955), 76.
- John Webster, Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), 87–91.
- Thomas Cranmer, “Fruitful Exhortation to the Reading and Knowledge of Holy Scripture,” in Certain Sermons or Homilies (London: SPCK, 1864), 7.
- Ibid., 4.
This article is adapted from The Doctrine of Scripture: An Introduction by Mark D. Thompson. This post originally appeared on crossway.org; used with permission.
