77. The Word is the Word according to the understanding of it with man, that is, as it is understood. If it is not understood, the Word is indeed called the Word, but with man it does not exist. The Word is truth according to the understanding of it; for the Word may not be truth, as it can be falsified. The Word is spirit and life according to the understanding of it; for the Letter without the understanding of it is dead. Since man has truth and life according to his understanding of the Word, according to that also he has faith and love, for truth is of faith and love is of life. Now, since the Church exists through faith and love and according to these, it follows that through the understanding of the Word and according to it, the Church is a Church - a noble Church if it is in genuine truths, an ignoble Church if it is not in genuine truths, and a Church destroyed if it is in falsified truths.