This is a short paper on the meaning of Logos and its translation.

Logos is a Greek word that is usually

translated as ‘Word’ (See John 1:1-14 ESV). What is logos? And why is it translated as ‘word’? I have a
hard time understanding what is being conveyed by translating it as ‘word’? So this study will delve into
better understanding the translation of logos as the Word.

The Greeks Use of Logos

As logos is a Greek word what did logos mean to the Greeks? The Greek philosophers pondered all the
big questions such as the meaning of life, how this world got here, ultimate truth, etc. They used the
term logos to refer to an impersonal force that was behind it all. The apostle John came along and
basically said to them, You know that logos you talk about? I can tell you all about it. This logos that is
above and beyond and behind all things is not an impersonal force but is a personal being. This being is
the eternal God who created the heavens and the earth.

The Rabbis Use of the Word Memra

An Aramaic word that is basically equivalent to logos is memra. The Jewish rabbis used the word memra
to explain a number of things in the OT. They believed God was linked to his creation and interacted
with his creation through his memra. Here is what they said.

1. The memra (logos) was sometimes the same as God and other times distinct from God. The
rabbis left this as an unexplained paradox.
2. The memra (logos) was the agent of creation. Everything God created he created by means of
his memra.
3. The memra (logos) was the agent of salvation. Whenever God saved he did it through his memra
(e.g., Exodus).
4. The memra (logos) is the visible manifestation of God’s presence. It was the means by which he
became visible, the means by which he displayed his Shechinah glory.
5. The memra (logos) is the agent of revelation. The rabbis said that whenever God revealed
himself, he always did so by means of his memra.
6. The rabbis said that God sealed his covenants with the memra (logos).

John’s Use of Logos Parallels the Rabbis’ Use of Memra

Now if you read John 1, nearly all these things the rabbis said about the memra will sound very familiar.
The things they said about the memra apply to Jesus Christ who John refers to as the Logos. Let’s run
through each of the six teachings of the rabbis and see how John applies them to Jesus.

1. John 1:1-2: In the beginning was  the Word, and  the Word was with God, and  the Word was
God.    He was in the beginning with God.
- Jesus, the Word, is God and yet as the Son he is distinct from God the Father.
2. John 1:3-4, 10a: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made
that was made. In him was life,  and  the life was the light of men. … He was in the world, and
 the world was made through him
- Jesus was the Word by which God spoke the world into existence and created life.
3. John 1:12-13: But to all who did receive him,  who believed in his name,  he gave the right  to
become  children of God,    who  were born,  not of blood  nor of the will of the flesh nor of the
will of man, but of God.
- Jesus, the Word, is the Light in a sin darkened world. Those who believe in him have “the right
to become children of God” and are born of God. Jesus is the means of salvation. Through Jesus,
the Word and the Light, God saves people from the darkness of sin.
4. John 1:1-2, 14: In the beginning was  the Word, and  the Word was with God, and  the Word
was God.    He was in the beginning with God. … And  the Word  became flesh and  dwelt among
us,  and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son  from the Father, full of  grace
and  truth.
- Jesus, the Word, who is God, “became flesh and dwelt among us” and displayed God’s glory.
Jesus is the visible manifestation of God.
5. John 1:14a, 18: And  the Word  became flesh and  dwelt among us … No one has ever seen
God;  the only God,  who is at the Father's side,  he has made him known.
- Jesus, the Word, became flesh and blood like us. When you see Jesus you see God. God came
in human form to reveal himself to us.
6. John did not speak of sealing a covenant with blood but Luke did when Jesus instituted the
Lord’s Supper. Luke 22:20: And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,  “This cup that is
poured out for you is  the new  covenant in my blood.
- Jesus, who is the Word, sealed the new covenant with his blood.

Jesus is the Logos of God

And so, we see that everything the rabbis said about the memra holds true in Jesus Christ. In John 1
Jesus is affirmed as the Memra/Logos/Word of God. Jesus is the Logos, which means:

1. The Logos/Jesus is God and at the same time is distinct from God.
2. The world was created through the Logos/Jesus.
3. God saves through the Logos/Jesus.
4. The Logos/Jesus is the visible manifestation of God.
5. God reveals himself through the Logos/Jesus.
6. The new covenant is effective because it is sealed with the blood of the Logos/Jesus.

Words Communicate

So far we know that the Logos is not an impersonal force but a person and that person is none other
than Jesus Christ. It is through the Logos/Jesus that God makes himself known and works in the world he
created. So Jesus is the Logos and most translations translate Logos into English as “Word.” Why is that?

Let us very briefly consider words in general. What is the primary purpose of someone speaking words?
It is to communicate. If a person thinks thoughts but never expresses those thoughts by speaking or
writing words, those thoughts will never be known. So, in the Bible God expressed what was on his mind
in words that humans could understand. If God had not done that, we would have no way of knowing
the mind of God. This is especially true concerning his plan of salvation. Through the Word God reveals
his mind, expresses his will, and lays bare his heart. In the words of Scripture God communicates to us
who he is, his power, his wisdom, his holiness, and especially his grace and love for us.

God Communicates Through His Son, The Word

In the beginning of Hebrews God said that long ago (in the OT) God spoke his communicating Word
through the prophets but now in these last days God speaks to us through his Son: “1  Long ago, at
many times and  in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  2  but  in these last days  he
has spoken to us by  his Son, whom he appointed  the heir of all things,  through whom also he
created  the world.” So God uses his Son in the same way that he uses words, to communicate with us.
So, when we see and hear and get to know Jesus, God is speaking to us and communicating to us himself
and his love toward us.

God’s Word is Performative and Creative

Now let’s take a cursory look at what the Bible says about “God’s Word.” The first instance of God’s
Word is found at the beginning of the Bible where God was at work creating. Genesis 1 tells us that God
created the universe. How did he do it? He simply spoke his Word and it came to be just as he said. So,
God’s Word not only communicates but it also creates. His Word is a performative word. It does what it
says. When God works, he works through His Word and it causes things to be and to happen.

As John says, Jesus is the Word: “14  And  the Word  became flesh and  dwelt among us“. And God used
the Word to create the world: “3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing
made that was made.” So, the Word is the preincarnate Christ through which God created the universe.
God simply said the Word and it was so. His Word does what it says. So, God spoke the Word, which is
the second person of the Trinity, and made the universe out of nothing.

God’s Word is His Saving Instrument

God’s Word is an instrument God uses not only to create but also to save. God sends forth his Word and
it accomplishes what he sent it to do (Is. 55:10-11). He sends his Word to do his will, to heal and to
deliver (Ps. 107:19-20). Jesus, the Word made flesh (Jn. 1:14), was sent by the Father (Jn. 5:36) not only
to preach the Good News of salvation (Lk. 4:18, 43), but to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10). He is the
instrument by which God saves; he is the Savior of the world (Lk. 1:47; 2:11; Jn. 4:42).

God’s Word is a Light that Reveals

We live in a sin-darkened world. God sends his Word as light that we may see clearly the path he wants
us to walk (Ps. 119:105). Jesus is God’s Light sent to dispel the darkness and to overcome it (Jn. 1:4-5,
11). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” The absence of light is darkness. In the dark one cannot
see. It is like being blind. But Jesus, the Word, is Light. He reveals the reality of a chaotic and sin-filled
world. He reveals our need for a Savior. Jesus said in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and
save the lost.” It is through his Word that God reveals the mess we are in and the means by which he
saves us.

God’s Word is Fulfilled

In the OT God made many words of promise and since God’s word is sure and true they were all fulfilled.
The most important promises God made were to Abraham and David. It was through the promised Seed
of Abraham that God would bless the whole world. God promised that the Messiah would come from
the line of David. These words of promise were fulfilled in Jesus. He is the Seed who rose from the dead
bringing blessing to the whole world. He is the promised Messiah who is from the line of David and who
sits on the throne of David forever. Jesus, who is the Word, fulfills God’s word.

Judgment for Those Who Reject God’s Word

In the OT the prophets spoke God’s Word. If people did not heed his Word and despised it, they brought
judgment upon themselves (Is.5:24). How much more is this true if anyone despises Jesus, the Word of
God? Rejection of Jesus brings eternal judgment in hell.

God’s Word Gives Life

God told Ezekiel to speak his word to dry bones and those bones came alive (Eze. 37). This was indicative
that God’s word would cause Israel who was dead as a nation to come back to life. What God would do
for Israel was a picture of what Jesus, the Word, would make possible for all people. All people are dead
in their trespasses and sins. Only the Word can give people life. Jesus said, “I am the Life of the world.”
Outside of the Word there is no life.

The Word Received Produces Fruit

In the parable of the sower (Matt. 13, Mark 4; Luke 8), when the seeds (God’s word) are received by
good ground, they yield an abundant harvest. It is the same with Jesus, the Word. When one by faith
receives Jesus, he will naturally produce the fruit of good works.

The Word Saves You

When the word of the Gospel is preached and received, we know the Holy Spirit is active creating faith
in Jesus which saves you. The way that the Gospel word saves is that points us and leads us to Christ.
Christ has done all that is necessary to save us. We simply use the faith given to us to cling to Christ, the
Word. When Christ is the object of your faith, you will be saved.

Summary of Why Jesus is Called the Word

So, in summary, the Logos/Word is a personal being that creates and upholds the universe. It gives life
and meaning to life. John tells us that that personal being is Christ Jesus. Jesus is described as the Word
made flesh. He is God and yet distinct from God. He creates and he saves. He reveals God and seals the
covenants God makes. Logos is translated as Word because it is the best English word we can come up
with that describes Jesus and all that he does. As the Word, he communicates to us God and his love. As
the Word he makes all things and causes things to happen. As the Word he reveals that we are in need
of a Savior and that he is the Savior. God saves sinners through the Word. All of God’s words of promise
find their “yes” in Jesus. He fulfills God’s word. Those who reject the Word receive judgment. Those
accept the Word are given eternal life. And those who receive the Word automatically produce fruit,
good works that help others. After this brief study I think “the Word” is a pretty good fit when trying to
describe Jesus and all that he does. God’s word has many facets to it. Each of those facets can be used
and applied to Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Son of God incarnate, the Logos.