Reference: Logos
Hastings
In classical Greek logos signifies both 'word' and 'reason,' but in the Septuagint and the NT it is used, with few exceptions, in the former sense only. When it is God's word that is spoken of, it denotes the declaration or revelation of the Divine will, and specifically the Christian gospel as the utterance of the Divine plan of salvation (e.g. Mt 13:19-23; Php 1:14). But in the Prologue to the Fourth Gospel (Joh 1:1 [3 times] 14, with which cf. 1Jo 1:1 [1Jo 5:7 of AV is spurious; see RVand Re 19:13) 'Logos' (English Version Word) is applied to Jesus Christ, and is used to set forth His peculiar glory as the only-begotten Son of God, who is also the Life and Light of men. It is with this Johannine Logos that we have now to deal, and in doing so it seems necessary to consider (1) the content of John's Logos doctrine; (2) its sources; (3) its place in the Fourth Gospel; (4) its theological significance.
1. Content.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
By the word of LORD were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was, read more. when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water, before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong, when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men.
so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. And it shall prosper in the thing to which I sent it.
Of every man who hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understands it, evil comes, and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that which was sown by the wayside. And that which was sown upon the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and straightaway receiving it with joy, read more. yet he has no root in himself, instead it is temporary. And when tribulation or persecution develops because of the word, straightaway he is caused to stumble. And that which was sown in the thorns, this is he who hears the word, and the care of this age, and the deceitfulness of wealth, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But that which was sown upon the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who indeed bears fruit, and is productive, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This man was in the beginning with God. read more. All things came to be through him, and apart from him not even one thing came to be that has come to be.
All things came to be through him, and apart from him not even one thing came to be that has come to be.
All things came to be through him, and apart from him not even one thing came to be that has come to be. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. A man came to be who was sent from God, his name was John. read more. This man came for testimony so that he might testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. That man was not the light, but that he might testify about the light. He was the TRUE light coming into the world that enlightens every man.
He was the TRUE light coming into the world that enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, and the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, and the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own did not accept him. read more. But as many as did accept him, to them he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were begotten, not from blood, nor from a will of flesh, nor from a will of man, but from God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about him, and cried out, saying, This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me came to be before me, because he was before me. And from his fullness we all received, even grace for grace. Because the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God. The only begotten Son, being in the bosom of the Father, that man reported him.
No man has ever seen God. The only begotten Son, being in the bosom of the Father, that man reported him.
And no man has ascended into heaven, except he who came down out of heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, read more. so that every man who believes in him would not perish, but may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that every man who believes in him would not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not that he might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned. He who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. For every man who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.
Jesus therefore said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. read more. For my flesh is truly food, and my blood is truly drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, also he who eats me, that man will also live because of me. This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live into the age.
Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know where I am from? And I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom ye know not. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.
Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me would, no, not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.
Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I might testify about myself, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I go, but ye do not know where I come from and where I go.
But even if I judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me.
My Father who has given to me, is greater than all, and not one is able to snatch out of my Father's hand.
And Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. read more. I have come a light into the world, so that every man who believes in me may not remain in the darkness. And if any man hears my sayings, and will not believe, I do not judge him, for I came not so that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has that which judges him: the word that I spoke, that will judge him in the last day. Because I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore what things I speak, just as the Father has said to me, so I speak.
Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, except by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also. And from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. read more. Philip says to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus says to him, Have I been so long a time with you, and thou do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. And how can thou say, Show us the Father? Do thou not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The sayings that I speak to you I speak not from myself, but the Father who dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. But if not, believe me because of the works themselves.
And now, Father, glorify thou me with thyself with the glory that I had with thee before the world was.
Because the sayings that thou gave to me, I gave to them. And they received them, and knew truly that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou sent me.
Father, whom thou gave to me, I desire that where I am, they also may be with me, so that they may see my glory that thou have given me, because thou loved me before the foundation of the world.
But these are written, so that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in his name.
And more of the brothers in Lord have been convinced by my bonds to be much more bold to speak the word fearlessly.
Indeed have this way to think in you, that also was in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God something to seize and hold. read more. But he emptied himself, having taken a form of a bondman, having become in a likeness of men. And having been found in a form like a man, he lowered himself, having become obedient until death, even of death from a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the heavenly, and the earthly, and the sub-earthly, and that every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Who rescued us out of the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, read more. who is an image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Because in him all things were created, things in the heavens and things upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or lordships or principal offices or positions of authority, all things have been created And he is before all, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become preeminent in all things. Because in him it was considered good for all the fullness dwell, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross, through him whether things upon the earth or things in the heavens.
Because in him all the fullness of the divinity dwells bodily.
God, who formerly spoke in many portions and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, spoke to us in these last days by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the ages. read more. Who, being the radiance of his glory, and the exact image of his essence, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having made purification of our sins through himself, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in the Having become so much better than the heavenly agents, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life
Because those who testify are three:
and clothed in a garment dipped in blood. And his name is called The Word of God.