What is the Logos?

TL;DR:

Logos, meaning “Word,” reveals God’s divine reason and creative power, fully embodied in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, all things were made, and He will ultimately restore order and life at His return.

what does the bible say?

In Greek philosophy, Logos refers to divine reason or the power that makes order instead of chaos. Hebrew philosophy had a similar concept to the Greek Logos where life-giving God Himself was referred to in the terms "the Word of God." In the Old Testament, God refers to Himself as “the Word of God” (Genesis 15:1) and shows that His word spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1—2; Psalm 33:6). The New Testament indicates that Jesus is the living Word of God (John 1:1-3) through whom all things were created (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Jesus, “The Word of God,” will ultimately make all things right at His Second Coming (Revelation 19:13).

from the old testament

In Genesis 15:1, the Bible states, "After these things, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: 'Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great'." Jewish rabbis used this phrase, "the Word of God," to refer to God Himself.
Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.” The Lord’s divine power is such that His word creates.
God’s word is sure. Through the prophet Isaiah, God said, “my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,”

from the new testament

In the Gospel of John, John writes "In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). John introduced Jesus in terms his audience understood, showing that Jesus is God. Not until verse 17 does John name this Logos as Jesus Christ.
First John 1:1 refers to Jesus as “the Word of Life,” indicating that Jesus holds the key to eternal life.
This is further shown by Revelation 19, which describes a rider on a white horse who “is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (v. 13). The rider is Jesus, coming to gather His elect, ending the chaos of the world and ushering in a glorious day for believers.

implications for today

Words matter. They can hurt or heal, praise or profane. But as much impact as our words have, they are nothing compared to the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ.

The Bible identifies Logos as Jesus (John 1:1-18). The Word of God is God Himself. The Bible tells us that God took on human form and lived among humanity as Jesus Christ. Some religions, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, deny that reality. They believe that Jesus was a created being.

But such a view diminishes what God did for us in His incarnation. Knowing that God loved us enough to take on human form, come to earth, suffer, and die for us should change our lives. Only that Word is powerful enough to have made the early apostles sacrifice their very lives to proclaim the truth. Christians today should be prepared to do the same.

understand

Logos is God’s divine Word, expressing His creative power and reason.
Jesus is the living Logos through whom all things were made.
The Logos will restore and renew all creation at Christ’s return.

reflect

How does knowing that Jesus is the living Word (Logos) influence the way you view creation and God’s power?
How do you seek to honor God’s truth with your words and actions?
How does the reality of Jesus as the Logos give you hope or courage in times of chaos or uncertainty?

engage

How does understanding Jesus as the Logos influence our perception of God’s interaction with the world?
What does it teach us about God that the same Word that created the universe also became human and lived among us?
How can we reflect the life-giving and restoring power of the Logos in our relationships and lives?