by Dr. Dwight David Croy
In Matthew 5:18 it says, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Literally, it means, “not one stroke of a letter” will pass away. In Luke 16:17 it says with a Greek variant, “stroke of a pen.” Not quite an “Hapax Legomenon” (one time usage) which are some of my favorite words in New Testament Greek.
In the art of writing so much meaning is communicated in the small elements of writing. From the Capital that begins a sentence to the period. The dashes, dots, commas, and ellipses. Our Lord Jesus Christ shows us that every little mark is important concerning God’s Word. By way of practical application, God’s word is eternal, the mind of Christ, the living Word will not pass away. It is perfect a reflective of the manifold grace of God revealed to us in a systematic and God ordained way.
As Christian Writers we must value the word of God and its application in our writing, but verses like these, tell us that every detail is important in the communication of meaning. Even if you have to wrestle with your editor about em & en dashes or spacing. As writers we wrestle with the micro and the macro. The verse encourages me in the detailed work of writing. Both micro and macro are important.
As your mind goes back and forth in gaining perspective on your manuscript, remember God is working through you to bring His truth to bear upon your story. Revelation 22:18-19 ESV shows us God taking His word seriously. “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” If God moves men and women to write in the Holy Spirits power to communicate His good news of forgiveness and restoration with great care given to even the stroke of a pen; then we also should be just as diligent and caring in our creative work that God allows us to do for Him.
Dr. Dwight David Croy, US Army Chaplain Retired, DMIN George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Spiritual Leadership and Formation, MDIV Denver Seminary with an emphasis in Christian Education, BRE Multnomah University is a Pastor, Teacher, an Author of “God’s Focus on the Fatherless;” “God’s Gracious Killer;” and “God’s Illuminating Blindness;”
contributes to the body of Christ by writing, teaching, and speaking to promote Jesus Christ our one and only Savior.
Comments 3
Great thoughts. Thank you.
Wise information. I thought of Revelation 22:18-19 when beginning to read this article (although I didn’t know the exact verse), I know we’re not to add or take anything away from the Word. I pray that as we all write for Christ, we do so with a close connection to the Holy Spirit.
Great post, Dwight! We need to be mindful in our writing and in our editing.