77. Whether or not the Word is the Word depends on our comprehension of it - that is, on how we understand it. If we do not understand it, we may of course call it “the Word, ” but for us it is not the Word.

The Word is truth depending on how it is understood, for the Word can be nontruth - it can be distorted. The Word is spirit and life depending on how we understand it, for the letter is dead if it is not understood.

Since we gain truth and life depending on how we understand the Word, we also gain faith and love depending on how we understand it, because its truth yields faith and its life yields love.

Since the church exists by means of its faith and love and is only as good as its faith and love, it follows that a church exists by means of its understanding of the Word and is only as good as its understanding of the Word. A church is worthy if it is focused on genuine truths, unworthy if it is not focused on genuine truths, and ruined if it is focused on distorted truths.

297. "Come and see." This symbolizes a manifestation regarding the people first in order.

We said above that this chapter describes an examination of all the people on whom the Last Judgment would fall as to their states of life, and this by the Lord in accordance with the Word (no. 295). Described here therefore is an examination of the first people in order, as to their character in respect to their understanding of the Word and thus as to their states of life.

To be shown that the church is founded on the Word, and that its character is such as its understanding of the Word, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 76-79.