Jesus is the logos or word? What does that mean?
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| English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Greek for word is logos. In the early church, what we call “Logos Christology” was a frequent subject of discussion: What did it mean for the Logos—the Word—to become flesh?
The term logos had a long history in Greek philosophy. Among the philosophers it generally referred to some kind of impersonal principle that held together all the diverse appearances of the world. Throughout church history, this Greek idea has infected theology under the assumption that the apostle John was proclaiming the Greek view of logos in his Gospel.
Actually, however, John has to be understood against the background of the Old Testament, not against the background of Greek philosophy. John wrote in Greek, of course, and so he used Greek words; but he filled those words with Old Testament content, not Greek philosophy.
For instance, in Proverbs 1–9, and particularly in chapter 8, we find a discussion of the “wisdom” of God. Some have viewed this “wisdom” as a mystical description of the pre-incarnate Christ. That may be going too far, but it does make a point: Clearly there is some connection between Christ and Old Testament wisdom, and close examination shows that John’s Logos alludes to this.
Most important, however, John tells us that this Logos is God himself, an actual Person of the Godhead. He states that the Word was God and that the Word was with God.
Notice his progression: First, the Word already existed in the beginning. This Word was in existence before the universe was created. Second, the Word was with God. The Greek term for with here carries the implication of “face-to-face” presence. The Word was face to face with God. Finally, he climaxes by telling us that the Word is God himself.
The Person of Christ continues to be a subject of great theological controversy. This should not surprise us, for our understanding of Christ is central to our salvation and worship. Satan certainly desires to spread fog over the landscape. Is your concept of Jesus influenced by what you or others wish him to be? Listen critically to human teachings about Jesus and guard your own thinking through the study of God’s Word.
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