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 Jehovah the heavens were made, and by the spirit of his mouth all their army.
Jehovah set me up the beginning of his way, before his works from ancient time. From forever I was knit together, from the beginning, from the first of the earth. read more. In no depths was I begun; in no fountains abundant in waters. Before the mountains were settled; before the hills I had a beginning: Yet he made not the earth and the fields, and the head of the clods of the habitable globe. In his preparing the heavens I was there: in his inscribing a circle upon the face of the deep: In his making firm the clouds from above: in his strengthening the fountains of the deep: In his setting his law to the sea, and the waters shall not pass by his mouth; in his making firm the foundations of the earth: And I shall be near him the builder, and I shall be a delight of day, day, smiling before him in all time Smiling in the habitable globe of his earth; and my delight with the sons of man.
So shall be my word which went forth out of my mouth: it shall not turn back to me empty, but doing what I delighted in, and it shall prosper for what I send it
Every one hearing, and not understanding, the evil one comes, and carries off that sown in his heart. This is he having sown by the way. And he having sown upon rocky places, this is he hearing the word, and quickly with joy receiving it; read more. And has no root in himself, but is for a time; and there being pressure or expulsion for the word, straightly is he offended. And he having sown among thorns, this is he hearing the word; and the care of this time, and the deceit of riches, choke the word, and it is unfruitful. But he having sown upon good earth is he hearing the word, and understanding; who indeed bears fruit, and who makes truly a hundred, and who sixty, and who thirty.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. This was in the beginning with God read more. All things were by him; and without him out him was not one thing that was.
All things were by him; and without him out him was not one thing that was.
All things were by him; and without him out him was not one thing that was. 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 light shines in darkness; and darkness comprehended it not.
And light shines in darkness; and darkness comprehended it not. A man was sent from God, the name to him John. read more. This came for testimony, that he might testify concerning the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not that Light, but that he might testify for the Light. The Light was true, which enlightens every man coming into the world.
The Light was true, which enlightens every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was by him, and the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and the world was by him, and the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and the world was by him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own things, and his own received him not. read more. And as many as received him, he gave them authority to be the children of God, to them believing on his name: They were not born of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was flesh, and dwelt with us, (and we beheld his glory, as the glory of the only born of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John testifies for him, and he tried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He coming after me was before me: for he was before me. And of his completion we all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth were by Jesus Christ. None has seen God at any time; the only born Son, he being in the bosom of the Father, he has declared.
None has seen God at any time; the only born Son, he being in the bosom of the Father, he has declared.
And none has ascended to heaven, except he having descended from heaven, the Son of man, he being in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up; read more. That every one believing in him perish not, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that every one believing in him perish not, but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world that he judge the world; but that the world might be saved through him. He believing in him is not judged: and he not believing has been already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. And this is the judgment, that light has come into the world, and men rather loved darkness than light, for their works were evil. For every one doing bad things hates the light, and he comes not to the light, lest his works should be rebuked. But he doing the truth comes to the light, that his works might be manifested, that they are wrought in God.
Then said Jesus to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in yourselves. He chewing my flesh, and drinking 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 chewing my flesh, and drinking my blood, remains in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father: also he chewing me, the same also shall live through me. This is the bread which having come down from heaven: not as your fathers ate manna, and died: he chewing this bread shall live forever.
Then cried Jesus in the temple, teaching, and saying, And ye know me, and ye know whence I am: and I have not come of myself, but he having sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him; for I am from him, and he sent me.
Again therefore Jesus spake to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he following me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus answered and said to them. Though I testify of myself; my testimony is true: for I know whence I came, and where I retire; but ye know not whence I came and where I retire.
And if I also judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father having sent me.
My Father, who has given to me, is greater than all; . and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
Jesus cried and said, He believing in me, believes not in me, but in him having sent me. And he seeing me, sees him having sent me. read more. I have come a light into the world, that every one believing in me should not remain in darkness. And if any hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world. He rejecting me, and not receiving my words, has him judging him: the word which I spake, that shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not of myself; but the Father having sent me, he gave me a command, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his command is life eternal: therefore what I speak, as the Father said to me, so I speak.
Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, except by me. If ye had known me, ye had also known my Father: and from now ye know, and have seen him. read more. Philip says to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us. Jesus says, to him, So long time am I with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? he having seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest thou, Show us the Father?, Believest thou not that I in the Father, and the Father is in me? the words which I speak to you, I speak not of myself: and the Father remaining in me does the works. Believe ye me that I in the Father, and the Father in me: and if not, for these works believe me.
And now, honour thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the honour which I had with thee before the world was.
For the words which thou hast given me, I have given them and they received, and knew in truth that I came out from thee, and they believed that thou sentest me.
O Father, those thou hast given me, I will that where I am these also be with me: that they might behold my glory, which thou gavest me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
But these have been written, that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life in his name.
And many of the brethren in the Lord, having trusted to my bonds, more abundantly dared to speak the word fearlessly.
For let this be in mind among you, which also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought not robbery to be equal to God read more. But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, born in the likeness of men: And found in fashion as man, he humbled himself, being obedient until death, and the death of the cross. Wherefore God has also exceedingly exalted him, and favored him as a gift with a name above every name: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of the heavenlies, and of terrestrial things, and things under earth And every tongue should avow that the Lord is Jesus Christ, to the glory of the Father.
Who saved us from the power of darkness, and transferred into the kingdom of the Son of his love: In whom we have redemption by his blood, the remission of sins: read more. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: For by him were all things created, things in the heavens, and things upon earth, things visible and invisible, whether thrones, whether dominions, whether beginnings, whether authorities: all were created by him, and for him: And he is before all, and all things have been established by him. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that he might be the first in all For in him was he pleased that all fulness should dwell: And by him to reconcile all things anew to himself; having made peace by the blood of his cross, by him, whether things upon earth, whether things in the heavens.
For in him dwells all the completion of divinity bodily.
God, formerly multifariously and abundantly having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, At these last days spake to us in the Son, whom he set heir of all things, by whom also he made the times; read more. Who being the brightness of glory, and the figure of his foundation, and bearing all things by the word of his power, having made by himself the purification of our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty among the highest ones; Being so much better than the angels, inasmuch as he has inherited a more distinguished name than they.
What was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we beheld, and our own hands felt, concerning the word of life;
For three are testifying (in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.
And surrounded with a garment dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.