With a Word

With a word the triune God spoke the world into being. Then Jesus, the God-Man, the Logos, came and spanned the divine-human divide by His birth. And that same Word will silence His opponents at His return. As we look to the holiday season ahead, we invite you to reflect with us on what it means for Jesus to be the Word—the one Word that begins and ends the story of redemption.

Featured in this issue of Kindred Spirit, you’ll find alumnus Bob Deffinbaugh, teaching elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, reminding us that we find information about Jesus’ coming even outside of the Gospels as Bob walks us through Philippians 2. Jack Kuhatschek, executive vice president and publisher for Baker Publishing Group, warns us against the seven deadly sins of Bible study, along with suggestions for how to avoid them. One of our senior professors, Dr. Eugene Merrill, outlines some of the major archaeological finds from the past twenty-five years that substantiate the veracity of the written Word. You’ll also read about the work of another DTS professor, Dr. Daniel B. Wallace, who is committed to preserving biblical manuscripts. And finally, one of our staff artists, Linda Tomczak, depicts Revelation’s description of Christ as the Word of God in her artistic back-cover design.

Jesus became flesh in the body that God prepared for Him through the virgin birth. The attitude Jesus had in coming into the world on that first Christmas—“I delight to do Thy will, O my God” (Ps. 40:8, KJV; Heb. 10:7)—is the same attitude He had when facing the cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. From Jesus’ birth to His sacrificial death, our Lord submitted to the Father. As we meditate on Jesus as the Logos, may our mouths echo His words of trust and obedience. And may they also praise the one true Word

About the Contributors

Mark L. Bailey

Dr. Bailey assumed the role of DTS Chancellor after serving for 19 years as the Seminary’s fifth President, and continues his role as Sr. Professor in the Bible Exposition department. In addition to his years at Dallas Theological Seminary, he has pastored various churches in Arizona and Texas. He was a seminar instructor for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries for twenty years and is in demand for Bible conferences and other preaching engagements all over the country and world. His overseas ministries have included Venezuela, Argentina, Hungary, and China. He is also a regular tour leader in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Rome. His board service includes Bible Study Fellowship, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and Word of Life.