Over the past few months I have been drawn to a number of scripture passages that emphasize the power and importance of our words. In response I hope to to spend my next few blog posts fleshing out a theology of words. To start with let’s look at the beginning:

And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. Genesis 1:2

Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ Genesis 1:26

I find it compelling that the dominant characteristic of God shown previous to the creation of man is that God’s words have power to create. In fact, God was still speaking Man into being when he uttered the thrilling words, “in our image”.  Personal reflections on the first chapter of Genesis have developed in me a deep conviction that part of the responsibility we have as image bearers of the Almighty is that our words are also loaded with great power. Power to create and to destroy. Power to give life or to take life away. Power to raise up cities and tear down nations. Power that we are all to often ignorant of, but power that God’s written word is conscious of and guides us in.

Upcoming Post: Theology of Words – Guidance from Proverbs

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