Journal for Christian reflections in the context of social sciences and humanities

Caritas et veritas 2026, 16(1):33-44 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2026.005

The Word without a Speaker? Scripture, Its Meaning, and the Challenge of Large Language Models

Jiří Dosoudil
Charles University, Protestant Theological Faculty, Černá 9, 115 55 Praha 1, Czech Republic

Recent developments in AI, particularly LLMs, have brought renewed attention to herme neutical questions concerning how meaning arises in language and whether it depends on the intention of a speaking subject. Against this background, the present study asks how Scripture can be understood as the Word of God in a context where language demonstra bly functions without a speaker, arguing that this situation challenges modern logocentric models of meaning rather than theological conceptions of Scripture. Methodologically, the article combines philosophical analysis of language, biblical-theological examination of the concepts of dābār and logos, and systematic-theological reflection, using contemporary en gagements with LLMs to clarify the distinction between textual meaning and the Word as an event of address. It concludes that Scripture need not be understood as a repository of divine intention, but as a medium through which the Word takes place in the act of reading as address and response. These conclusions have implications for contemporary theological reflection and practice, supporting a responsible use of AI as an interpretive aid that clarifies the limits of meaning-based interpretation.

Keywords: Scripture, Word of God, Logocentrism, Large Language Models, Artificial Intelligence, Address

Received: December 29, 2025; Revised: March 14, 2026; Accepted: March 31, 2026; Published: July 2, 2026  Show citation

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Dosoudil, J. (2026). The Word without a Speaker? Scripture, Its Meaning, and the Challenge of Large Language Models. Caritas et veritas, 16(1), 33-44. doi: 10.32725/cetv.2026.005
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