This is part 3 of a series on the concept of logos. If you haven’t read part 1 or part 2, I recommend you read those first.
We have taken a brief look at the concept of logos as the mind of God, and Jesus Christ as the embodiment of it. I find this to be simply mind blowing, and every time I think about it I can’t help but get excited, it is such a glorious thought. Consider this definition in the Wikipedia article about logos:
the preeminent expression in fulness of all the attributes, the complete thought, and the entire “knowable” reality of the infinite and spiritually transcendent Godhead
Take a moment to enjoy a selah, or just to bask in the glory of that. Wow!
Now, let’s take a look at another major use of the word in the New Testament, where logos is used to describe “a reasoned argument” or “discourse” or the world view that comes as a result of hearing/accepting the reasoned argument.
Take a look at the following verses, where I have replaced the English “word” for the original Greek “logos“.
“Those who had been scattered preached the logos wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.”
Acts 8:4-8
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the logos of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human logos, but as it actually is, the logos of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus”
1 Thessalonians 2:13-14
I think it is obvious in the cases above that the meaning of logos is much more than just “word”. I find it adds so much more meaning and depth to our understanding if we allow ourselves to look beyond such a superficial meaning.
Before I understood the manifold meanings of logos, I was very comfortable with the concept of “the word”. Peter preached “the word”, “the word of God spread…”, etc. However, I never stopped to think about what “the word” actually meant practically. When you think about it, it doesn’t really make sense unless you’ve been indoctrinated to understand Christianese, even then it is a really vague term, comprising mostly of a mishmash of Jesus, the Bible and whatever is preached on Sunday. It also didn’t help that I wasn’t able to distinguish between the various meanings of logos and apply them appropriately in context. What eventually became clear to me is that adopting a one size fits all approach to this really wasn’t helping and often led to understandings which did not fit the narrative of Scripture well. It was possible to make sense of my clumsy understanding of logos only by taking verses out of context.
The idea of logos as a logical argument is extremely helpful and I think fits the narrative well. Peter’s presentation of the gospel in Acts 2 is a wonderful example where we can see logos clearly illustrated as a reasoned argument. Peter lays out his case that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. He uses the Scriptures (Old Testament prophecies in this case) to back up his argument and makes it clear that the myth of the Messiah had now become reality in Christ. The scene ends with the following:
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”Those who accepted his logos were baptized , and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
Acts 2:36-41
As an aside, it is interesting that the logos cut to the heart in this narrative. Could it be that this verse is giving us a practical example of Hebrews 4:12?
“For the logos of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Peter’s reasoned presentation of the Gospel is referred to as “his logos” (v41). We see this again in Acts 3 and 4 where the scene ends with this:
“They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the logos believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”
Acts 4:2-4
And also here where the disciples got together to pray after they were being persecuted by the Jewish leadership:
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your logos with great boldness.
Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the logos of God boldly.”
Acts 4:29-31
Consider Paul’s exhortation to Timothy:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the logos; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2
Paul contrasts the reasoned position of the Gospel (logos) with delusion of myths (mythos) which was also an ancient Greek practice. He continues to encourage Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. It seems obvious that the idea of the logos as a presentation of the good news of Christ was a large part of that.
I’ll list a few more scriptures here which continue on this trend. In each case, when you see “word of God”, “ministry of the word” or “the word”, consider whether the logos as a worldview or as a reasoned argument is appropriate in context.
- Acts 6v1-7
Note that, “the ministry of the word (logos)” by the disciples clearly referred to preaching the gospel to the Jews. In the book of Acts to this point, the logos was presented in the synagogue and in the temple courts. In context, it is difficult to understand it as “teaching from the Bible in church” as we do today. - Acts 6v8-10
Stephen argued with Jews about the Gospel. The Scripture notes that they were not able to stand up to Stephen’s wisdom. - Acts 7
Stephen is before the Sanhedrin, and again presents the Gospel as a reasoned argument (logos). - Acts 9:20-22
Paul gets saved and immediately begins preaching the Gospel in the synagogues. It is clear that his preaching was based on reason and scriptural evidence, proving to the Jews who Jesus was. “Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” - Acts 11:1
- Acts 11:19
“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the logos only among Jews.” - Acts 13:7
“The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the logos of God.” Why would the fact that he was intelligent be relevant unless the logos was an appeal to reason, something an educated man would be interested in hearing? - Acts 13:13-49
Paul and Barnabas are invited by the synagogue; “Brothers, if you have a logos of exhortation for the people, please speak.” Paul then embarks on a lengthy and detailed discourse using the Old Testament prophets to prove that Jesus is the Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:4
“My logos and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive logos, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
Well, there you have it. Once you start revisiting scripture verses regarding the “word of God” (logos) in the New Testament, it is surprising how many are employing it as described here. The next step for us is to start allowing our understanding of those verses to be adjusted, for the Holy Spirit to breathe insight and understanding into what they’re really talking about.
Continued in Part 4.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and to discuss this further, please consider leaving a comment.