The Logos

The Greek word logos simply means “word”; however, along with this most basic definition comes a host of quasi-technical and technical uses of the word logos in the Bible as well as ancient Greek literature. Logos is arguably the most debated and most discussed word in the Greek New Testament. Its most famous usage is John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Ge 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Jn 1:1–18 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 was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Re 19:13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

There are two other unique, personified uses of logos in the New Testament, both of which are found in the Johannine literature.

1. In 1 John 1:1, Jesus is referred to as the “Word of life”; both “word” and “life” are significant to John, as this opening to the first letter is related in some way to the opening of the Gospel.

2. In Revelation 19:13, the returning Messiah is called the “Word of God,” as a reference to His person and work as both the revealed and the revealer.

All of the remaining uses of logos in the New Testament are mostly standard uses, with a small number of special uses mixed in (e.g., Acts 4:31, where logos refers to the gospel message).