Word

Cross-references:

• Also found in Nave's Topical Bible
• Also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary

Word

1. logos
2. rhema

logos denotes

(I)

"the expression of thought," not the mere name of an object,
(a) as embodying a conception or idea, e.g., Luke_7:7; 1_Cor_14:9,19;
(b) a saying or statement,

1. by God, e.g., John_15:25; Rom_9:9; Rom_9:28, RV, "word" (AV, "work"); Gal_5:14; Heb_4:12;
   
2. by Christ, e.g., Matt_24:35 (plur.); John_2:22; John_4:41; John_14:23 (plur.); John_15:20.

In connection with 1(1) and 1(2) the phrase "the word of the Lord," i.e., the revealed will of God (very frequent in the OT), is used of a direct revelation given by Christ, 1_Thess_4:15; of the gospel, Acts_8:25; Acts_13:49; Acts_15:35,36; Acts_16:32; Acts_19:10; 1_Thess_1:8; 2_Thess_3:1; in this respect it is the message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power (cp. Acts_10:36); for other instances relating to the gospel see Acts_13:26; Acts_14:3; Acts_15:7; 1_Cor_1:18, RV; 2_Cor_2:17; 2_Cor_4:2; 2_Cor_5:19; 2_Cor_6:7; Gal_6:6; Eph_1:13; Php_2:16; Col_1:5; Heb_5:13; sometimes it is used as the sum of God's utterances, e.g., Mark_7:13; John_10:35; Rev_1:2,9;
(c) discourse, speech, of instruction, etc., e.g., Acts_2:40; 1_Cor_2:13; 1_Cor_12:8; 2_Cor_1:18; 1_Thess_1:5; 2_Thess_2:15; Heb_6:1, RV, marg.; doctrine, e.g., Matt_13:20; Col_3:16; 1_Tim_4:6; 2_Tim_1:13; Titus_1:9; 1_John_2:7;

(II)

"The Personal Word," a title of the Son of God; this identification is substantiated by the statements of doctrine in John_1:1-18, declaring in verses John_1:1,2

1. His distinct and superfinite Personality,
   
2. His relation in the Godhead (pros, "with," not mere company, but the most intimate communion),
   
3. His deity; in John_1:3 His creative power; in John_1:14 His incarnation ("became flesh," expressing His voluntary act; not as AV, "was made"), the reality and totality of His human nature, and His glory "as of the only begotten from the Father," RV (marg., "an only begotten from a father"), the absence of the article in each place lending stress to the nature and character of the relationship; His was the shekinah glory in open manifestation; John_1:18 consummates the identification: "the only-begotten Son (RV marg., many ancient authorities read "God only begotten,"), which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him," thus fulfilling the significance of the title "Logos," the "Word," the personal manifestation, not of a part of the Divine nature, but of the whole Deity (see IMAGE)

The title is used also in 1_John_1:1, "the Word of life" combining the two declarations in John_1:1,4 and Rev_19:13 (for 1_John_5:7 see THREE).

See also : logos in other topics

rhema denotes "that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing;" in the singular, "a word," e.g., Matt_12:36; Matt_27:14; 2_Cor_12:4; 2_Cor_13:1; Heb_12:19; in the plural, speech, discourse, e.g., John_3:34; John_8:20; Acts_2:14; Acts_6:11,13; Acts_11:14; Acts_13:42; Acts_26:25; Rom_10:18; 2_Pet_3:2; Jude_1:17; it is used of the Gospel in Rom_10:8 (twice), Rom_10:17, RV, "the word of Christ" (i.e., the "word" which preaches Christ); Rom_10:18; 1_Pet_1:25 (twice); of a statement, command, instruction, e.g., Matt_26:75; Luke_1:37, RV, "(no) word (from God shall be void of power);" Luke_1:38; Acts_11:16; Heb_11:3.

The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," Eph_6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.

Notes:
(1) Epos, "a word," is used in a phrase in Heb_7:9, lit., "(as to say) a word," RV, "(so to) say," AV, "(as I may so) say;" logos is reasoned speech, rhema, an utterance, epos, "the articulated expression of a thought" (Abbott-Smith).
(2) In Rom_16:18, AV, chrestologia, "useful discourse" (chrestos, "beneficial"), is rendered "good words" [RV, "smooth ... (speech)"].
(3) For logikos, 1_Pet_2:2 (RV, "spiritual"), rendered "of the word," AV, see MILK.
(4) For the verb apangello, rendered "to bring word," see apangello_under_BRING.
(5) In Matt_2:13, AV, eipon, "to tell" (RV) is rendered "bring ... word."
(6) For "enticing words," Col_2:4, see ENTICE and PERSUASIVENESS.
(7) For "strifes of words," 1_Tim_6:4, AV, and "strive ... about words," 2_Tim_2:14, see STRIFE, STRIVE.
(8) For suntomos, Acts_24:4, "a few words," see suntomos_under_FEW. For the same phrase see oligos_under_FEW and brachus_under_FEW.

See also : rhema in other topics