The Logos (λογος)

by Chuck Ness

When you think of the phrase, "The Word", you should automatically think of Christ as introduced to us in John 1:1-3

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."
John 1:1-3

You should understand that while the Gospel was written for all time, and all men, it was also written for men of the known world at that time. So when John wrote his Gospel, few in the world, outside of Jerusalem and surrounding areas, had a clue as to who this Jesus, or Christ was.

However, many of that culture would have had a better understanding as to what the word, "Logos" (λογος), meant. So in John's Gospel he introduced Christ to the known world as the, "Logos". You may wonder what was so great about the word "Logos" that the disciple, whom Jesus loved, would use it to introduce HIM to the known world.

Well the principle of the "Logos" originated in classical Greek thought by a philosopher named Heracleitus. Heracleitus refereed to a universal divine reason, immanent in nature, yet transcending all oppositions and imperfections in the cosmos and humanity. An eternal and unchanging truth present from the time of creation, available to every individual who seeks it. A unifying and liberating revelatory force which reconciles the human with the divine.

For us Christians, it became manifested in the world as an act of God's love in the form of the Christ.

The Apostle John used this philosophical expression, because it would be easily recognizable to the Hellenistic world he was trying to reach. Logos emphasizes the redemptive character of the person of Christ, whom the author describes as “the way, and the truth, and the life.” Just as the Jews had viewed the Torah (the Law) as preexistence with God, so also is one way John viewed Jesus. Another way he viewed Him was that Jesus personified source of life and illumination of mankind. The Evangelist interprets the logos as inseparable from the person of Jesus.

Ultimately, John identified Jesus with the logos because it was the perfect example he could use to also introduce the Old Testament concept of revelation and the mind of God to the Hellenistic world as Moses did for the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. However, instead of using a mere man as he did for the Israelites through Moses, this time He did so by becoming man.

Thus, another way to read John 1-3 would be,

"In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God. The Logos was in the beginning with God. All things were made through the Logos, and without the Logos nothing was made that was made."
John 1:1-3

Why is it important to know about the Logos? Well for the answer I'll share a quote from the philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich, who said,

"He who sacrifices the Logos principle sacrifices the idea of a living God, and he who rejects the application of this principle to Jesus as the Christ rejects his character as Christ."

In other words, without an understanding of God's love, will, and power as a living and active force in the world, through the logos in the Christ and through our participation in the logos with our reason, the Christian message becomes a lifeless and inconsequential set of doctrines which can be accepted or rejected without bearing on one's life. Plus, all Christian heresy begins with a misunderstanding of the nature and Character of Christ.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.

Amen