Covenant Reformed News – November 2004, Volume X, Issue 7
This article defends the Reformed doctrine that faithful preaching of God's Word is itself the Word of God, drawing on 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and the Second Helvetic Confession and Westminster Larger Catechism. While distinguishing between the written Word (infallible Scripture) and preached Word (fallible but authoritative proclamation), the author argues that Christ has instituted the church to uphold His truth chiefly through faithful pulpit ministry.
Receiving Preaching as the Word of God (1) In response to detractors in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul affirmed that he did not preach his own opinions but the pure Word of God: “when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe” (I Thess. 2:13). The Word of God mentioned here is not simply the Word of God written (the OT) for Paul tells us that he spoke (4) and...