But look at the subsequent comments by St SteVen in this thread.
QUOTE
Was the Bible (New Testament canon) God's idea?
(since he didn't NEED a book to communicate with us)
Did God hand Adam a KJV Bible to communicate?
Enoch? Noah? Abraham?
Some say it has God's fingerprints all over it, I say it has humankind's fingerprints all over it.
God never touched it.
END QUOTE
QUOTE
I use the Bible every day and appreciate it. Better than nothing, I suppose.
You say, "God has chosen the written word to convey His message to us."
There is no evidence, to my knowledge, that he did choose such.
Humankind depended on an oral tradition prior to things being written down.
And writing it down was probably a good idea, but probably a human idea.
END QUOTE
Thanks for your insightful contribution
@Anchorite. I began listening to Bible readings while I was in the womb, and now in my 72nd year of mostly daily Bible reading, study, devotion, prayer, and worship, I have come to understand and appreciate why we have the written Word of God. I recall Bible College modules that went quite deeply into the
logos and
rhema, and also my time in Children's Ministry using visual aids to explain how we got our Bible. These days we have digital aids to teach those with ill-informed, cynical, or stilted views on the subject.
Examples:
Several people in Scripture were directly commanded by God to write His words, often with very specific instructions. Below is a clear, structured list of the strongest examples.
Key Biblical Instances Where God Explicitly Commanded Someone to Write
1. Moses
- Exodus 34:27 — God tells Moses: “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Bible Hub
- Exodus 17:14 — God commands Moses to “write this for a memorial in the book” regarding Amalek. holybibleword.com
- Deuteronomy 31:24 — Moses completes writing the entire law. Online Bible
Purpose: Covenant preservation, national memory, and authoritative law.
2. Joshua
- Joshua 24:26 — Joshua “recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God.” Bible Hub
Purpose: Renewing and sealing the covenant for future generations.
3. Isaiah
- Isaiah 30:8 — God commands: “Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come.” biblerepository.com
Purpose: A permanent witness against the people’s rebellion.
4. Habakkuk
- Habakkuk 2:2 — God says: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”
Bible Hub holybibleword.com
Purpose: Clarity and public proclamation of God’s message.
5. Jeremiah
Purpose: Preservation of prophetic warnings and restoration promises.
6. John (Revelation)
- Revelation 1:11 — The risen Christ commands John: “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches.”
Bible Hub biblerepository.com
Purpose: Delivering prophetic revelation to the churches.
7. Additional NT Writing Under Divine Commission
While not always phrased as direct “write this” commands, the New Testament affirms that:
- Apostolic writings were produced under divine inspiration (e.g., 1 Corinthians 14:37 — Paul says his writings are “the Lord’s command”). Bible Hub
- Luke intentionally writes an orderly account (Luke 1:3). Online Bible
Purpose: Authoritative testimony of Christ and instruction for the church.
Summary Table
| Person | Passage | Nature of Command | Purpose |
|---|
| Moses | Ex 17:14; 34:27; Dt 31:24 | Direct command to write laws & events | Covenant, remembrance |
| Joshua | Josh 24:26 | Record covenant renewal | Historical & legal witness |
| Isaiah | Isa 30:8 | Write on tablet & book | Long-term testimony |
| Habakkuk | Hab 2:2 | Write vision plainly | Public proclamation |
| Jeremiah | Jer 30:2 | Write all God’s words | Preservation of prophecy |
| John | Rev 1:11 | Write what he sees | Revelation to churches |
www.christianityboard.com
