Musings: 6/2/08, The Word and words by JAH

Because of a comment made by "Elder Child" to my study on the John 1:1-14, I've just restudied the use of "word" in the Greek language. Actually a word is an expression of thought, not a thing. We name things with words, but words are much more important than just names. When we say, "Speak a word" to someone, we are actually asking that person to address others with some sort of information. If we say, "Pass the word," we may be preparing others to act on a specific order, such as an army might use in preparing to charge the enemy. The Greek language has a number of different word forms for different occasions and uses. Let's look at a few of them.

"Logos" is generally used as the expression of thought. Without a definite article, it can refer to any word or words in general, or all words. If it has a definite article, then it refers to a specific word, rather than just any word. In John 1, "'o Logos" definitely refers to Jesus each time it is used in John 1, and Jesus is God's specific Revelation of Himself to us. The fact that Jesus came in the flesh makes Him even more the impressively and expressly revealed Mind of God for mankind.

The Greek word, Rema, generally refers to someone's specific utterance. I believe there is a Rhema school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The word is pronounced hray-mah, and is used in Matthew 4:4. Here it refers to God's spoken word, and it is used again in chapter 12:36 by Jesus, and concerns our answering to God for every "idle word" we speak. In 18:16, Jesus used Rhema to refer to the spoken words of witnesses of the facts in any troubled relationship. In 26:75, Peter remembered Jesus' spoken word (Rema) when Jesus prophesied Peter's denial. Peter wept bitterly.

"Apangeilate" is still another word used in Greek. Herod used it in asking the wise men to bring him a message revealing where Jesus was born.

"Epos" is a word brought over into English. It was used particularly in reference to speeches and poetry. In the simplest use, it can be translated to tell, or to say.

As I have said before, I must say again, John 1:1 in the Greek makes Jesus' position quite clear, "...and the Word was with the God, and God was the Word." That's the correct order of the words in the Greek text. In the first clause, the definite article is used for both God and Word. In the second clause, it is used only with Word. That means that all God is, is also in the Word! Jesus is God, not a lesser being.

These are really only a few of the many forms of idea expression used by the people at the time the New Testament was written. Most of them have similar words to express ideas and thoughts in English, but sometimes an important shade of meaning is missed in translation. Their number should give rise to the thought that there is definitely a lot to any word. The Hebrews had the idea that a spoken word was like a stone tossed into water. The ripples go outward from it in a never ending fashion. The effect of a word continues forever.

Jesus is the never-ending, eternal Word of God. There is no other like Him. When you have thought everything you can think about Jesus, you will have the best knowledge of God possible at that moment. You can continue to read His Word (the Bible), to pray, and to contemplate what you have read and experienced, and your view of God will expand. It will never be complete, or perfect, even though the Scripture in I John 3:2c says, "We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." The next verse adds, "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as He is pure."

When we speak, it should be an utterance (Rema) from God, and it should come from the Christ (o Logos) who saves, commissions and empowers us to tell (epos) others about Jesus. If we are successful in our delivery of God's Word, we can be sure we are God's Messengers (aggelos, pronounced angelos).