The letter of the word vs the spirit of the word.

[Doug]

The bible says 'the letter of the word will kill you but the spirit of the word will give life'.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Can anyone give an example of the letter of the word?

Can anyone give an example of the spirit of the word?

[Kofi]

From my little understanding, a letter is something we can touch. A letter is written in ink and the ink fades away with time. letters(of the alphabet) come together to form words. meaningless words are useless because they have no meaning in everyday life. Since letters do fade away with time, the meaning of the word may be distorted. According to the Bible, the word saves. The word saves but a distorted word in my opinion can bring nothing but doom.

Spirit is immaterial. the spirit of the word unlike the letter, is something we cannot touch and it is something that doesn't fade away. The spirit of the word therefore is not something in ink but something written in our hearts, in our minds, and, in our souls. It is the true meaning of the word that doesn't fade away. Because the spirit of the word doesn't fade away, that is the true meaning of the word the Bible says can give life.

Because of the distorted meaning, deception, lies, etc. could be examples of the letter of the word.

Truth and Wisdom could be examples of the spirit of the word.

The letter of the word vs the spirit of the word

The “letter” or written word is simply that. Writing, to be read, interpreted, questioned, explained, debated.

The spirit of the word is what we “do” with the word. How we interpret it for our use. For our action. How we live, What course of action it leads us to perform. How we live our lives and how our life touches those around us.

It is how we allow God’s indwelling spirit to be awakened by his written word. In hearing his “word”, are we stirred? If not, do we seek out its meaning? And if we seek, perhaps it is through other believers, which essentially “stirs the pot” of all. Just as a cook stirs a broth or soup to blend the flavors together, so we stir each other with our witness and sharing of the Spirit.