1288. That 'words were one' means that they held to the same doctrine in its particular details is clear from what has been stated already, for 'lip' means doctrine in general, as has been shown, while 'words' means doctrine in detail, that is, particular details of doctrine. These, as has been stated make no difference provided they have the same end in view, which is to love the Lord above all things and the neighbour as oneself. When they do so they are the details that contribute to the general whole.
[2] That 'the Word' means all doctrine concerning charity and faith derived from it and that 'words' means the details that constitute doctrine is clear in David,
I will confess You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgements I will keep Your statutes. How will a young man make pure his path? By observing Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You; cause me not to wander from Your commandments I have laid up Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Jehovah; teach me Your statutes! With my lips I have declared all the judgements of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies. I meditate on Your commands and look to Your ways. I delight in Your statutes, I do not forget Your Word. Psalms 119:7-16.
'The Word' stands for doctrine in general. The fact that here commandments, judgements, testimonies, commands, statutes, way, and lips, are distinguished shows plainly that they are all features of the Word, that is, of doctrine. The same applies wherever else in the Word these terms are used with different meanings.
[3] In the same author,
A love song. My heart is pondering 1
a goodly theme. 2
My tongue is the pen of a ready scribe You are the fairest of the sons of man. Grace has poured out from your lips. Ride on the word of truth, and of the meekness of righteousness Your right hand will teach you marvellous things. Psalms 45:1-2, 4.
'Riding on the word of truth, and of the meekness of righteousness' is teaching the doctrine of truth and good. Here, as elsewhere in the Word, word, mouth, lip, and tongue mean differing things. The fact that they all have to do with doctrine concerning charity is clear because it is called 'a love song', and it is to this doctrine that 'the fairest of the sons of man', 'grace on the lips', and 'a right hand that teaches marvellous things' have reference.
[4] In Isaiah,
The Lord 3
has sent a word into Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel. Isaiah 9:8.
'A word' stands for the doctrine of internal and external worship. Here 'Jacob' stands for external worship, 'Israel' for internal. In Matthew,
Jesus said, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that goes out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4.
In the same gospel,
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not give heed to it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. Matthew 13:19
'The word' is again referred to in verses 20-23 of that chapter. In the same gospel,
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Matthew 24:35.
Here 'word' stands for the Lord's doctrine and 'words' for the things that constitute His doctrine.
[5] Since the term 'words' stands for everything that constitutes doctrine the Ten Commandments are therefore called 'words' in Moses,
Jehovah. wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the ten words. Exodus 34:28.
In the same author,
He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the ten words, and He wrote them on two tables of stone. Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4.
In the same author,
Take heed, and guard your soul diligently, lest perhaps you forget the things 4
which your eyes have seen. Deuteronomy 4:9.
And there are further examples besides these.
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