The Meaning of Logos: Divine Communication in Scripture

The Meaning of Logos

In John, *Logos* is a key concept that explains how God communicates and creates.

Derived from the Greek root *legein* (to speak or count), *Logos* means the underlying reason, message, or principle behind spoken words. Unlike *Rhema*, which emphasizes a specific utterance or event, *Logos* refers to the enduring, structured expression of thought. This distinction highlights *Logos* as the foundational, intentional word of God that orders and sustains reality.

John 1:1 explicitly declares, *'In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'* Here, *Logos* personifies Christ as the divine agent of creation and revelation, bridging the eternal nature of God with the tangible world.

Logos in John 1:1

In John's prologue, *Logos* serves as a foundational Christological concept, establishing Jesus as both divine and distinct from the Father.

John 1:1 declares, *'In the beginning was the Word [\u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'* This triadic structure positions *Logos* as an eternal, pre-existent entity who co-exists with God while sharing divine essence. The verse underscores *Logos* as the agent of creation and revelation, bridging the transcendent Godhead with the material world. Such language elevates *Logos* beyond mere metaphor, framing it as a hypostatic reality - both personal and active in cosmic order.

This usage shapes early Christian Christology by affirming Jesus' divinity without collapsing distinctions within the Godhead. The duality of *Logos* being *with God* and *God* theologically anticipates later Trinitarian formulations.

By incarnating the *Logos* as Jesus, John's Gospel transforms abstract divine communication into tangible, embodied revelation. This framework not only grounds Christian theology in Hellenistic philosophical categories but also redefines Jewish concepts of divine speech. The implications resonate throughout the New Testament, where *Logos* becomes synonymous with the salvific work of Christ.

Logos in the Septuagint and Jewish Thought

The Septuagint's use of *Logos* for divine speech and action laid groundwork for its New Testament theological development.

In the Septuagint, *Logos* (λόγος) often translates Hebrew terms like *dabar* (word/command), as seen in Psalms 33:6: *'By the word [λόγῳ] of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.'* This emphasizes God's creative and sovereign speech. Jewish wisdom literature, particularly Proverbs 8, personifies Wisdom (*Sophia*) as an active agent in creation, paralleling later *Logos* theology through concepts of embodied divine reason.

These traditions positioned *Logos* as both a creative force and a medium of revelation, bridging Jewish and Hellenistic frameworks. This context clarifies how New Testament authors, especially John, reimagined *Logos* to articulate Christ's role as the incarnate Word of God.

Putting 'Logos' into Practice

Grasping Logos as both divine reason and incarnate Word reshapes how we approach Scripture and discipleship.

Reading John 1:1 - 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God' - demonstrates that the Bible actively reveals God's presence, rather than being only a collection of texts. This understanding invites us to engage Scripture as a living dialogue, where every command and promise reflects the Logos who became flesh. Such a perspective challenges us to see our own discipleship as participation in this ongoing expression of divine wisdom.

Embodying Logos in daily life means aligning our words and actions with the structured, life-giving intent of God's communication. This bridges our study of Scripture to practical faith, preparing us to explore how Logos shapes Christian teaching and community in the next section.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of Logos, explore how early Christian thinkers and contemporary scholars have expanded on its theological and philosophical dimensions.

Patristic texts such as those by Irenaeus and Augustine offer foundational insights, while modern studies by scholars like N.T. Wright and Richard Bauckham provide nuanced perspectives on its biblical and historical context. Engaging with these resources can illuminate how Logos continues to shape Christian theology and practice today.