Paula

When I was working on my NT Letters, I had the impression that the phrase (not just the “word”) is an idiom meaning “This is something you can count on”, and it goes with the preceding sentence, not the following. From Robertson’s Word Pictures:

{Faithful is the saying} (pistos ho logos). Here the phrase points to the preceding words (not like #1:15) and should close the preceding paragraph.

As for wordplays, while Paul does make extensive use of them, I’m not convinced he ever used “word” that way. It is John who calls Jesus “the Word” and thus personifies it. Paul, on the other hand, always uses it as either that which is written or to refer to “the message” or saying.

But I do believe that the Twelve map to the 12 tribes of Israel, since neither group was replaced and also since both those groups are listed in the foundation and walls of the New Jerusalem. Everything concerning the Twelve precedes the coming of the Holy Spirit, as far as symbolism goes, or as I’ve argued many times, there would have to be twelve church leaders at all times.