When you get down to it, aren't words themselves metaphors?
The Bible can be "the word of God," and Jesus was "the Word" (Logos) for John the Evangelist. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
Throughout his writings, John goes on to draw an elaborate word-metaphor equating creation with every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. When God speaks, he breathes outward. In sending forth his spirit "they are created;" he "inspires," meaning that he breathes life into some of his creatures. So his word borne by the Holy Spirit is life, and he sent life to earth in the form of Jesus, the Logos.
Such is my memory of the stuffy RC theology I was taught about this passage.
For fun, lately, I compare standard translations with "The Message."
John 1
The Life-Light
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5Everything was created through him;
nothing”not one thing!”
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.
Here is an explanation of this "reading Bible."
The Message (MSG) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com
™ Version 4.2
