[TXnMA]

"The letter in a mailbox has no meaning until it is read."

Dear Sister in Christ: it is so seldom that I find myself in disagreement with you that I feel that I must avail myself of this opportunity! ;-)

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Of course, that letter has meaning -- to the one who wrote it. By the same token, God's Word has meaning (it is His Word) -- whether or not we choose to read it!

That letter and the Bible are both "repositories of meaning" -- stored and encoded information that is capable of conveying meaning -- independent of whether or not there is a receiver.

Or -- did I miss a definition of "meaning" that indicates otherwise?

[Alamo-Girl]

I doubt if we are in disagreement, dear brother in Christ, except perhaps on the semantics.

Certainly the message has meaning to the sender. And to the receiver it will also have meaning. Whether the two are the same, who knows.

The message, intrinsic to itself is just a message. The conveyance, a conveyance.

If I pick up a message sent by someone to you and read it, it will have meaning to me. Even then, it may not be the same meaning as it would have to you or the sender of it.

That letter and the Bible are both "repositories of meaning" -- stored and encoded information that is capable of conveying meaning -- independent of whether or not there is a receiver.

Truly they are the mechanism for conveyance of meaning.

Creation itself is such a repository. (emphasis mine)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard. – Psalms 19:1-3

And God will hold us accountable for "hearing" it.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: - Romans 1:20

God is the sender of the message. Obviously, it has meaning to Him. Creation is the conveyance of the message.

But God is not holding the conveyance accountable in Romans 1:20. He is holding us, the receivers, accountable.

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. - Hebrews 4:7

To God be the glory!