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
and regardeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and snatcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he who received the seed as by the way-side. And he who received the seed as upon stony grounds, is one that heareth the word and immediately receiveth it with joy: read more. yet hath he no root in himself, and therefore is but for a short season; and when affliction cometh, or persecution on account of the word, he is as soon disgusted. And he that received the seed among the thorns, is one that likewise heareth the word; but the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choketh the word, and so it becometh unfruitful. But he who received the seed into good ground, is one that heareth and understandeth the word, who indeed beareth fruit, and yieldeth, like fertile lands, some an hundred-fold, 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. The same was in the beginning with God. read more. By Him were all things made, and without Him was not any one thing made that was made.
By Him were all things made, and without Him was not any one thing made that was made.
By Him were all things made, and without Him was not any one thing made that was made. 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 shineth in darkness, and the darkness attained it not.
And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness attained it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John: read more. this man came for witness, that he might testify concerning the light, that through him all might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of the light. The true light was that which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world.
The true light was that which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and yet the world knew Him not:
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and yet the world knew Him not:
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and yet the world knew Him not: yea, He came to his own peculiar right, and even his own people received Him not. read more. But as many as received Him, to them granted He the privilege to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, being full of grace and truth: and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father. Of Him did John bare witness, and publicly declared, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for He was before me. And of his fulness have we all received, even grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ: and though no one hath ever seen God, or can see Him: yet the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, hath made Him known.
and though no one hath ever seen God, or can see Him: yet the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, hath made Him known.
For no one hath ascended up into heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up: read more. that whosoever believeth on Him may not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him might not perish, but have everlasting life: for God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved by Him. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is already condemned; because he hath not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doth evil, hateth the light; and he cometh not to the light, least his deeds should be reproved. But he that acts according to truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Then said Jesus unto them, I tell you truly, that unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath 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 that feedeth on my flesh and drinketh my blood, abideth in me and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that feedeth on me he also shall live by me. This is the bread that came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat, and yet are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.
Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, ye say, and ye know whence I am: now I am not come of myself, but He that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He hath sent me.
Then spake Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he, that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear witness of myself, my testimony is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I am going; but ye know not whence I come, nor whither I go.
though if I should judge, my judgement is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father that sent me.
My Father who gave them to me, is greater than all: and therefore none is able to force them out of my Father's hand.
And Jesus raised his voice, and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me only, but on Him that sent me: and he that beholdeth me, beholdeth Him that sent me. read more. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me, might not abide in darkness. And if any one hear my words and believe not, I do not condemn him: for I am not now come to condemn the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word, that I have spoken, will condemn him at the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father, who sent me, gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, I so speak, as the Father hath directed me.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye do know Him, and may be said to have seen Him. read more. Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long with you, and dost thou not know me? Philip, he that hath seen me, hath seen the Father: and how then dost thou say, Shew us the Father? Dost thou not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? as to the words which I speak to you, I speak them not of my self; and the Father who abideth in me, doth the works. Believe me therefore that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: at lest, believe me for the very works.
and now, O Father, glorify Thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was made.
for the instructions, which Thou gavest me, I have given to them: and they have received them, and have known of a truth that I came from Thee, and have believed that thou hast sent me.
Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
but these things are written, that ye may believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life through his name.
and many of the brethren in the Lord, encouraged by my bonds, are much more bold to publish the word without fear.
Let the same mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be as God. read more. Yet He emptied himself, assuming the form of a servant, when made in the likeness of men: and being in the human state, He humbled himself, and was obedient even unto death, and that the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of celestial beings, as well as of those on earth, and of those under the earth; and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son: in whom we have redemption by his blood, even the remission of sins. read more. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all were created by Him, and for Him. He is before all, and by Him all things subsist. And He is the head of the body, which is the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father, that all fulness should dwell in Him; and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace by the blood of his cross; by Him only, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven.
God, who at sundry times, and various ways, spake of old unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds. read more. Who being the refulgence of his glory and the imprest image of his person, and sustaining all things by his powerful word, having by Himself performed the purging away of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Being as much superior to the angels, as He inheriteth a name more excellent than they.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have contemplated, and our very hands have felt concerning the Word of life,
Yea there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood:
And He was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood: and his name is called, "The Word of God."