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 Yahweh, the heavens were made, and, by the spirit of his mouth, all their host:
Yahweh, had constituted me the beginning of his way, before his works, at the commencement of that time; At the outset of the ages, had I been established, in advance of the antiquities of the earth; read more. When there was no resounding deep, I had been brought forth, when there were no fountains, abounding with water; Ere yet the mountains had been settled, before the hills, had I been brought forth; Or ever he had made the land and the wastes, or the top of the dry parts of the world: When he prepared the heavens, there, was I! When he decreed a vault upon the face of the resounding deep; When he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the resounding deep, waxed strong; When he fixed for the sea its bound, that, the waters, should not go beyond his bidding, when he decreed the foundations of the earth: - Then became I beside him, a firm and sure worker, then became I filled with delight, day by day, exulting before him on every occasion; Exulting in the fruitful land of his earth, Yea, my fulness of delight, was with the sons of men.
So, shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, It shall not return unto me void, - But shall accomplish that which I please, And shall prosper in that whereunto I have sent it.
When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, the wicked one cometh, and catcheth up that which hath been sown in his heart, - this, is he, by the pathway, sown. And, he on the rocky places sown, the same, is he that, heareth the word, and, straightway, with joy, receiveth it; read more. yet hath he no root in himself, but is, only for a season, - and, there arising, tribulation or persecution because of the word, straightway, he findeth cause of stumbling. And, he among the thorns sown, the same, is he that, heareth the word, - and, the anxiety of the age and the deceit of riches, choke up the word, and, unfruitful, it becometh. But, he on the good ground sown, the same, is he who doth hear and understand the word, who, indeed, beareth fruit and produceth, - this, a hundred, and, that, sixty, and, the other, thirty.
Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.
Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.
Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.
Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God. The same, was originally, with God. read more. All things, through him, came into existence, and, without him, came into existence, not even one thing: that which hath come into existence,
All things, through him, came into existence, and, without him, came into existence, not even one thing: that which hath come into existence,
All things, through him, came into existence, and, without him, came into existence, not even one thing: that which hath come into existence, 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, in the darkness, shineth; and, the darkness, thereof, laid not hold.
And, the light, in the darkness, shineth; and, the darkness, thereof, laid not hold. There arose a man, sent from God, whose name was, John: read more. The same, came, for a witness, That he might bear witness, concerning the light, that, all, might believe, through him. He, was not the light, - but, that he might bear witness concerning the light, It, was - The real light that enlighteneth every man - Coming into the world.
It, was - The real light that enlighteneth every man - Coming into the world. In the world, he was, and, the world, through him, came into existence, and, the world, knew him not.
In the world, he was, and, the world, through him, came into existence, and, the world, knew him not.
In the world, he was, and, the world, through him, came into existence, and, the world, knew him not. Into his own possessions, he came, and, his own people, received him not home. read more. But, as many as did receive him, he gave, unto them, authority, children of God, to become, - unto them who were believing on his name: Who - not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but - of God, were born. And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory, - a glory, as an Only-begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth. (John beareth witness concerning him, and hath cried aloud, saying - the same, was he that said - He who, after me, was coming, before me, hath advanced; because, my Chief, was he.) Because, out of his fulness, we all, received, even favour over against favour. Because, the law, through Moses, was given, favour and truth, through Jesus Christ, came into existence. No one, hath seen, God, at any time: An Only Begotten God, The One existing within the bosom of the Father, He, hath interpreted him .
No one, hath seen, God, at any time: An Only Begotten God, The One existing within the bosom of the Father, He, hath interpreted him .
And, no one, hath ascended into heaven, save he that, out of heaven, descended, - The Son of Man. And, just as, Moses, lifted up the serpent in the desert, so, must, the Son of Man, be lifted up, - read more. That, whosoever believeth in him, may have life age-abiding. For God, so loved, the world, that, his Only Begotten Son, he gave, - that, whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have life age-abiding. For God, sent not, his Son into the world, that he might judge the world, but, that the world might be saved through him. He that believeth on him, is not to be judged: he that believeth not, already, hath been judged, - because he hath not believed on the name of the Only Begotten Son of God. And, this, is the judgment: That, the light, hath come into the world, - and men loved, rather the darkness than the light, for, wicked, were their, works. For, whosoever doth practise corrupt things, hateth the light, and cometh not unto the light, lest his works should be reproved; But, he that doeth the truth, cometh unto the light, that his works may be, made manifest, that, in God, have they been wrought.
Jesus, therefore, said unto them - Verily, verily, I say unto you - Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have not life within yourselves. He that feedeth upon my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath life age-abiding, and, I, will raise him up at the last day; read more. For, my flesh, is, true, food, and, my blood, is, true, drink: He that feedeth upon my flesh, and drinketh my blood, in me, abideth, and, I, in him. Just as the living Father sent me, - and I live by reason of the Father, he also that feedeth upon me, even he, shall live by reason of me. This, is the bread, which, out of heaven, came down: - Not just as your fathers did eat - and died! He that feedeth upon this bread, shall live unto times age-abiding.
Jesus, therefore, cried aloud in the temple, teaching, and saying - Both me, ye know, and ye know whence I am, - and yet, of myself, have I not come, but he is real, who sent me, whom, ye, know not. I, know him, because, from him, I am, and, he, sent me forth.
Again, therefore, unto them, spake Jesus, saying - I, am the light of the world: He that followeth me, shall in nowise walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus answered, and said unto them - Even though, I, bear witness concerning myself, true, is my witness, because I know whence I came, and whither I go; but, ye, know not whence I come, and whither I go.
And, even if, I, am judging, my judging, is, genuine, - because, alone, am I not, but, I, and the Father who sent me;
What, my Father, hath given me, is, something greater than all, and, no one, can carry off out of the hand of my Father: -
And, Jesus, cried aloud, and said - He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me; And, he that vieweth me, vieweth him that sent me. read more. I, a light, into the world have come, that, no one who believeth on me, in darkness, should abide. And, if anyone shall hearken unto my sayings, and not guard them, I, am not judging him; for I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world. He that setteth me aside, and receiveth not my sayings, hath that which is to judge him: The word that I spake, that, will judge him, in the last day. Because, I, out of myself, spake not, but, the Father who sent me, hath, himself, given me commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that, his commandment, is, life age-abiding; The things, therefore, which I speak, just as the Father hath told me, so, I speak.
Jesus saith unto him - I, am the way, and the truth, and the life: No one, cometh unto the Father, but through me. If ye had been getting to know me, my Father also, had ye known: from henceforth, are ye getting to know him, and have seen him. read more. Philip saith unto him - Lord! show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him - So long a time as this, have I been, with you, - and thou hast not come to know me, Philip? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father. How art, thou, saying, Show us the Father? Believest thou not, that, I, am in the Father, and, the Father, is, in me? The things which I am saying unto you, from myself, I speak not; but, the Father, within me abiding, doeth his works. Believe me, That, I, am in the Father, and, the Father, in me; - or else, on account of the works themselves, believe ye.
And, now, glorify me - thou, Father! with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world's existence, with thee.
And, the declarations which thou gavest me, have I given them, and, they, received them, and came to know in truth, that, from thee, came I forth, - and they believed, that, thou, didst send me forth.
Father! As touching that which thou hast given me, I desire - That, where, I, am, they also, may be, with me, that they may behold my own glory which thou hast given me, - because thou lovedst me, before the foundation of the world.
but, these, are written, that ye may believe that, Jesus, is, the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye may have life in his name.
And so that , the most of the brethren in the Lord, assured by my bonds, are becoming more abundantly bold to be fearlessly speaking the word of God: -
The same thing, esteem, in yourselves, which also, in Christ Jesus, ye esteem , - Who, in form of God, subsisting, not, a thing to be seized, accounted the being equal with God, read more. But, himself, emptied, taking, a servant's form, coming to be, in men's likeness; And, in fashion, being found, as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient as far as death, yea, death upon a cross. Wherefore also, God, uplifted him far on high, and favoured him with the name which is above every name, - In order that, in the name of Jesus, every knee might bow - of beings in heaven, and on earth, and underground, - And, every tongue, might openly confess - that Jesus Christ is, Lord, unto the glory of God the Father.
Who hath rescued us out of the authority of the darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; In whom, we have our redemption - the remission of our sins, - read more. Who, is an image of the unseen God, Firstborn of all creation, - Because, in him, were created all things in the heavens and upon the earth, the things seen and the things unseen, whether thrones or lordships or principalities or authorities, - they all, through him and for him, have been created, And, he, is before all, and, they all, in him, hold together; And, he, is the head of the body, the assembly, Who is the beginning, Firstborn from among the dead, in order that, he, might become, in all things, himself, pre-eminent; - Because, in him, was all the fullness well pleased to dwell, And, through him, fully to reconcile all things unto him, making peace through the blood of his cross, - through him- whether the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens;
Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,
Whereas, in many parts and in many ways of old, God spake unto the fathers, in the prophets, At the end of these days, He hath spoken unto us in his Son, - whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he hath made the ages; read more. Who, being an eradiated brightness of his glory, and an exact representation of his very being, also bearing up all things by the utterance of his power, purification of sins, having achieved, sat down on the right hand of the majesty in high places: By so much becoming superior to the messengers, by as much as, going beyond them, he hath inherited a more distinguished name.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we for ourselves gazed upon, and our hands did handle, concerning the Word of Life, -
Because, three, are they who are bearing witness -
and arrayed with a mantle sprinkled with blood, and his name hath been called - The Word of God.