Jesus as the Word (Logos)

The writer of the gospel of John begins its first chapter with a strong Christological note

on Jesus as the Word, "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word

was God" (John 1:1). This "Word" is identified as "Logos" in original text. This Christological

connotation of Logos is systematically developed in the first chapter as follow:

1. The Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1-2)

2. All things that have been created were made through the Word (John 1:3-10)

3. The Word became flesh, dwelt among us and became ultimate revelation of God to

humankind (John 1:11-18)

The originality of the term "logos" (the Word) does not lay on the writer of the gospel of

John though it is used strongly in the whole gospel but in Greek and Hebrew literature and

philosophy. The "logos" is understood in the light of the Greek philosophy of the rational

principle of the universe which guides human history.1 For Hellenist Christians, therefore, the

"logos" was with God unexpressed in eternity. But at creation God spoke the universe into

existence in accordance with the "logos." And at the incarnation this creative principle appeared

as the human Jesus. For Hebrews, this "logos" is identified as 'wisdom of God' which is closed

related to the "Torah." In Psalm 119:105, the Psalmist claims the 'wisdom of God' to be 'the

Word of God' which is "logos."2

"The Word – Logos became flesh..." (John 1:14), for the writer of the gospel of John, is

the very statement which answers the question: who is Jesus Christ? Biblically, the ultimate self-

revelation of God takes place in the fact that the Word of God – Logos took human form and

became one among us. In other words, Jesus reveals God himself or God reveals himself in the

1
D. George Vanderlip, 30.
2
R. H. Strachan, The Fourth Gospel (London: Student Christian Movement Press, 1951), 93.
Word of God which is Jesus Christ. The gospel of John, therefore, declares Jesus to be the true

and ultimate self-revelation of God to humankind. "No one has seen God at any time. The only

begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1:18). In short,

Jesus declares who God is. In John 14:9, "he who seen Me has seen the father," it assures that

God makes himself visible in Jesus who is the Word of God.3

In biblical synonymy the "Word or Logos" of the gospel of John is closely related to

"wisdom of God" which is expressed in Old Testament books such as Torah, Psalm and Proverb.

In Proverb 8:22-31, it denotes that wisdom is the philosophy or principle of life which guides

human beings how to live the good life. This wisdom is, thus, originated in Divinity for it directs

the affairs of the kingdom of God on earth. Therefore, wisdom can be understood as the "Divine

organizing energy" of the whole universe. The wisdom is understood someone who guides,

directs and governs the universe.4

For the writer of the gospel of John it is very authentic and contextual (in Hellenistic

world) to identify Jesus as the Word of God in relation to the "wisdom of God" biblically. The

connotation of Jesus as the Word is, therefore, very biblical, sound theology and very personal to

be applied.