in relation to Scripture

Scripture is described in many ways by Christians, but one of the common epithets is "the living word of God." I have sometimes wondered about the word "living" here. In what sense is Scripture alive? How is it more alive than other words on other pages?

It seems that people are most fully alive when we are "in relation" to others, when we are in an "I-Thou" relationship; when we look for the image of God in another person. I have found this idea useful in conceptualizing (however woefully inadequately) the Trinity: Each Person of the Trinity is alive, has being, in relation to the other Persons and in the mutual giving to the others.

I wonder if this idea might be fruitfully applied to Scripture? Perhaps Scripture is the living word of God only when it is read and heard "in relation" to us. Perhaps Scripture is not "true" in some absolute, abstract, distant sense, but is only true if we listen for the Word of God as we read it, when we struggle to read, believe, and live out its meaning as a community of God's people.

Although this idea has been lurking in my mind for a while, it was recently rekindled by hearing Pete Rollins discuss (among many many other things!) the idea of truth as a soteriological event rather than an empirical fact. A thought-provoking notion - I am still trying to come to terms with what this might mean in practice.