Relationship Between Logos and the Written Word of God
The term "Logos," translated as "Word," holds significant theological weight in Christian thought, particularly in the writings of John. It primarily refers to Jesus Christ as the divine expression and revealer of God [1, 2]. John's Gospel opens by declaring, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1) [2, 3, 5]. This establishes the pre-existence and divine nature of the Logos [1, 2].
As the Logos, Christ is understood to be the manifestation or expression of God to humanity [2]. John 1:18 states, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" [1]. This highlights the role of the Logos in making God known. The Logos is also identified as the Creator of all things (John 1:3), emphasizing his active role in creation [1, 11]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, clarifies that this "Word" is not the written word but the "essential word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ" [3].
The concept of the Logos becoming flesh is central to Christian doctrine. John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" [1, 7]. This signifies the incarnation of the divine Logos in the person of Jesus Christ. This idea was particularly striking to both Greeks and Jews, as it bridged the divine and the human, a concept that challenged their existing worldviews [7]. The humanity and divinity of Jesus are considered complete, forming the "bedrock of a Christian understanding of Christ" [7].
While "Logos" specifically refers to Christ, the term "word" (Greek: logos or other related terms like rhema) is also used in the New Testament to refer to the written word of God, the Scriptures [10]. For instance, John Gill suggests that in John 5:38, "And ye have not his word abiding in you," the "word" could refer to the written word or the prophecies concerning the Messiah [10]. However, the primary theological application of "the Word" (capitalized) in John's writings is to Christ himself [1, 2, 3].
The relationship between the Logos (Christ) and the written Word (Scripture) is therefore one of revelation. The written Word testifies to the living Word. The "life" that was in the Word is described as the "light of men," the source of knowledge, integrity, and wisdom [4]. The apostle John, as an eyewitness, declared what he had seen and heard concerning "the Word of life" (1 John 1:1-2) [8, 9]. This message, or "word," that he received from the Father through the Son, he then announced to others [6]. Thus, the written Word serves to communicate the truth about the living Word, Jesus Christ.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word, The — (Gr. Logos), one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). This title designates the divine nature of Christ. As the Word, he "was in the beginning" and "became flesh." "The Word was with God " and "was God," and was the Creator of all things (comp. Ps. 33: 6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:18; Isa. 40:8).”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 1 (introduction): THE WORD MADE FLESH. (Joh 1:1-14) In the beginning--of all time and created existence, for this Word gave it being (Joh 1:3, Joh 1:10); therefore, "before the world was" (Joh 17:5, Joh 17:24); or, from all eternity. was the Word--He who is to God what man's word is to himself, the manifestation or expression of himself to those without him. (See on Joh 1:18). On the origin of this most lofty and now for ever consecrated title of Christ, this is not the place to speak. It occurs only in the writings of this seraphic apostle. was with God-”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 1 (introduction): John 1:1 joh 1:1 joh 1:1 joh 1:1In the beginning was the word,.... That this is said not of the written word, but of the essential word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is clear, from all that is said from hence, to Joh 1:14 as that this word was in the beginning, was with God, and is God; from the creation of all things being ascribed to him, and his being said to be the life and light of men; from his coming into the world, and usage in it; from his bestowing the privilege of adoption on believers; and from his incarnation; and also there is a particular ap”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 1:4: In Him was life--essentially and originally, as the previous verses show to be the meaning. Thus He is the Living Word, or, as He is called in Jo1 1:1-2, "the Word of Life." the life . . . the light of men--All that in men which is true light--knowledge, integrity, intelligent, willing subjection to God, love to Him and to their fellow creatures, wisdom, purity, holy joy, rational happiness--all this "light of men" has its fountain in the essential original "life" of "the Word" (Jo1 1:5-7; Psa 36:9).”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: Homily IV. John i. 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” [1.] When children are just brought to their learning, their teachers do not give them many tasks in succession, nor do they set them once for all, but they often repeat to them the same short ones, so that what is said may be easily implanted in their minds, and they may not be vexed at the first onset with the quantity, and with finding it hard to remember, and become less active in picking up what is given them, a kind of sluggishness arising from the difficulty. And”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:5: First division of the body of the Epistle (compare Introduction). declare--Greek, "announce"; report in turn; a different Greek word from Jo1 1:3. As the Son announced the message heard from the Father as His apostle, so the Son's apostles announce what they have heard from the Son. John nowhere uses the term "Gospel"; but the witness or testimony, the word, the truth, and here the message. God is light--What light is in the natural world, that God, the source of even material light, is in the spiritual, the fountain of wisdom, purity, beauty, joy, ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 1:14: 1:14 The idea that the Word became human (literally became flesh) stunned both Greeks and Jews. Greeks separated the sphere of God from the mundane world of humanity, which they called flesh (Greek sarx). John wrote that God himself became flesh in Christ (cp. 1:1). Jesus’ humanity and divinity were complete, not partial. The two ideas—Jesus as 100-percent divine and 100-percent human—form the bedrock of a Christian understanding of Christ. • the Word . . . made his home (Greek skēnoō, “pitched his tent”) among us: This Greek word is related to the word used for the”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1 (introduction): THE WRITER'S AUTHORITY AS AN EYEWITNESS TO THE GOSPEL FACTS, HAVING SEEN, HEARD, AND HANDLED HIM WHO WAS FROM THE BEGINNING: HIS OBJECT IN WRITING: HIS MESSAGE. IF WE WOULD HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, WE MUST WALK IN LIGHT, AS HE IS LIGHT. (Jo1 1:1-10) Instead of a formal, John adopts a virtual address (compare Jo1 1:4). To wish joy to the reader was the ancient customary address. The sentence begun in Jo1 1:1 is broken off by the parenthetic Jo1 1:2, and is resumed at Jo1 1:3 with the repetition of some words from Jo1 1:1. That which was-”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:2: the life--Jesus, "the Word of life." was manifested--who had previously been "with the Father." show--Translate as in Jo1 1:3, "declare" (compare Jo1 1:5). Declare is the general term; write is the particular (Jo1 1:4). that eternal life--Greek, "the life which is eternal." As the Epistle begins, so it ends with "eternal life," which we shall ever enjoy with, and in, Him who is "the life eternal." which--Greek, "the which." the before-mentioned (Jo1 1:1) life which was with the Father "from the beginning" (compare Joh 1:1). This proves the disti”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 5:38: And ye have not his word abiding in you,.... Which some understand of Christ himself, the Logos, or word: who, though he was now with them, being made flesh, and dwelling among them, yet would not long continue with them: though rather this designs the written word, or the Scriptures of truth; and especially that part of them, which contains prophecies concerning the Messiah, which did not dwell in them richly, nor they dwell in their meditation on them, as was requisite. Or rather, it may intend that word of God expressed in the testimony he bore to the sonship of Chri”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 1:3: 1:3 The logos is God (1:1-2); all that God does, the logos likewise does. Throughout his Gospel, John rightly viewed Jesus’ actions as divine activity.”