Thy Word - Logos & Rhema Series

There are two more primary Greek words I would like to investigate today that describe Scripture as the “Word” in the New Testament. The first is the Greek word logos; this refers principally to the totally inspired Word of God and to Jesus, who is the outworking or manifestation of the living Word. Logos is found in John 1:1; Philippians 2:16; Hebrews 4:12; and many other verses. The second Greek word translated “Word” is Rhema, which refers to the spoken word or revelational word. Rhema literally means an utterance (individually, collectively or specifically). Examples are found in Luke 1:38; 3:2; 5:5; and Acts 11:16 and many other verses. As we go through these readings I have placed the Greek number next to the word ‘Word’ as a reference, the reason why will become more clearer as we go through this study together.

John 1:1, AMP

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (3056) (Christ), and the Word (3056) was with God, and the Word (3056) was God Himself.

Philippians 2:14-16, AMP

Do all things without grumbling and fault finding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], 15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, 16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word (3056) of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

Hebrews 4:12, NKJV

“For the word (3056) of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12, AMP

For the Word (3056) that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

“Word” 3056 = Logos, what is the emphasis on this word?

3056 lógos (from 3004 /légo, "speaking to a conclusion") – a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying. 3056 /lógos ("word") is preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressing the thoughts of the Father through His life and the Spirit.

3056 (lógos) is a common term (used 330 times in the NT) with regards to a person sharing a message (discourse, "communication-speech"). 3056 (lógos) is a broad term meaning "reasoning expressed by words."

(Vines dictionary of Biblical words)

Let us look at the full meaning of the Logos of God from scripture. My best way to explain Logos is that it is the philosophy of God to be lived out as a Life source, expressed through thought and life in the power of the Holy Spirit, this is the intent. Its emphasis is on acquired knowledge.

We can see in the Old Testament that just having the written Word was not enough for humanity to understand the will of God, humanity needed it demonstrated. We read in John one, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ Then in verse fourteen we find out, ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’

We find that the Word of God was lived out as a Life source, expressed through thought and life in the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of a man called Jesus. We also find that Jesus understood the Logos of God and that all He had to do was speak it into existence.

Another reinforcing truth found in John chapter one is verse four and five, these verses quantify the authority and power of the Word of God (the Logos). John one verses four and five read like this; ‘In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.’

Let us unpack these verses a little. There are three words that stand out for me in these verses; they are Life, Light and shine. This eternal life He came to give us is the very nature of God, it is known as the Zoe’ of God or you could say the God kind of life. In John 1:4 we get a better understanding of what this life will do for us: “In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.” One of the meanings of the word Light in the dictionary is ‘a state of understanding or awareness’ the Greek meaning is to shine and make manifest. So, we could read verse four like this, ‘In Him was the God kind of Life, and the God kind of Life was the state of understanding and awareness for men to shine and make manifest.’