In Greek, the “Word” is logos. In the Bible, logos is much more than just a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing. It encapsulates much broader concepts and has much deeper meaning and implications. In a sense, logos is what the Bible is all about. It connects Genesis with Revelation and touches on everything in between. It is central to the greatest themes in the Bible, such as creation, salvation, prophecy, and revelation. It is a subject that many scholars have written books about but let’s take a brief look at some core aspects.
The Word and God
Among the gospels, John uses the term “logos” the most. As will become evident in this article, most of the connections between the word/Word and other related metaphors such as the sword and the mouth, come from the works of John the Beloved.
The most notable passage on “the Word” in scripture that reveals much about what the Bible means when it uses the term, is John 1:1-2. It says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” From these verses, we glean that the word pre-existed creation was with God (contextually a reference to the Father, the first person in the Trinity), and was God in his own right as well. “The Word,” therefore, had to be one of the persons in the Trinity.
One surprising element of John’s narrative is how he reveals the Messiah as the Word. In John 1:14 he says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This potent revelation of how God became flesh laid the foundation for John’s later narrative of how the Word, in the form of man (Jesus), laid down his life to save humanity. It also reveals the relation between the Word and God (the Father) which was not as clearly defined in the opening verses of John 1.
John’s narrative in this regard is corroborated by the vision he saw on Patmos when he penned Revelation. John saw the vision of Christ as he led the heavenly host on a white horse at his Second Coming. The rider of the white horse is called “The Word of God,” and the robe dipped in the blood that he is wearing recalls the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
The Word as a Creative Power
John 1 calls to mind Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” These opening words of the Bible introduce the creation narrative. It then relates how God spoke everything into being. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The words God uttered created whatever God called into being. Psalm 33:6 affirms that “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”
John 1:3 provides an additional layer, “All things were made through him [the Word], and without him was not any thing made that was made.” The Word was the active agent of creation, the one that did the work of creating. Not only did he call the elements of the universe into being, but he also brought life to those parts of his creation that he wanted to live and procreate through natural processes, such as plants and animals (Genesis 1:20-28).
Considering that the Word became Jesus, it shows that the creator humbled himself to the extent of becoming part of his own creation to save humanity from the consequences of sin, which is death. By dying as a man, he created a path to eternal life for all of mankind, though only those who believe will receive that reward. In that way, the Word did not just create in the beginning, he also does the work of re-creation in the life of the believer. Paul explains it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Word, then, is the creator and re-creator (Savior).
The Word as the Gospel, Revelation, Teaching, and Truth
Throughout the New Testament, whenever people gathered to hear the gospel message, the Bible referred to it as “the word of God.” That implies that “the word of God” also refers to the good news (gospel) and constitutes the revelation of God to man.
In John 17:17, Jesus is interceding on behalf of his disciples, asking the Father: “Sanctify them in the truth,” and then defining it: “Your word is truth.” This reference can be taken on several levels. The word could refer to Jesus, who declared: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). This interpretation presents Christ as the true revelation of God and is why he shortly thereafter declared that whoever saw him, saw the Father (John 14:9).
John 17:17 can also refer to the scripture (the Bible or word), which is the written revelation of Christ. Jesus explained to the Pharisees that the scriptures (word) testifies of him, and is, therefore, a revelation of who he is (John 5:39). To be sanctified in the truth means to be set apart by the principles of God revealed in the word (Bible). It means arranging your life according to the teachings the scriptures contain.
The Bible draws a parallel between the word and a sword on several occasions. One of the most notable is the connection made when Paul explains the armor of God: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The word is a weapon of attack and defense, depending on the situation. Just like a sword, the Bible requires skill and diligent practice to wield safely and effectively as an instrument of attack and defense. Irresponsible use of the Bible does harm, twists the truth, distorts the revelation of God, and contaminates the good news of the gospel.
The Word as Judgment and a Destructive Power
The Bible presents words/the Word as a creative power, but also a destructive one. As it can lead to life, it can lead to death also. Proverbs 18:21 says: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Though the verse does not use the term “the Word,” the connection between the tongue and speech/words is obvious. It is comparable to how tongues imply languages when it comes to the gifts of the spirit. This verse contextually speaks to the effect of words on other people, thus using life and death in a metaphorical sense for the positive versus the negative. The principle, however, also applies literally to the words of the Word. Just like the Word called the world to life using words, life can also be extinguished by it.
We have already highlighted the connection between words and a sword. The sword that comes from the mouth is a metaphor for righteous judgment. Consider these verses from Revelation that describe Jesus as the righteous one speaking judgment:
Revelation 1:16
“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”
Revelation 19:15
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”
Revelation 9:21
“And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.”
At the Second Coming, the wicked will be judged for their persecution of the saints (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). The actual instrument of destruction is fire, not a sword, reinforcing the metaphoric nature of its use.
One reason a sword is a suitable metaphor for speaking words of judgment is the way it depicts cutting through to the core of the matter. Hebrews 4:12-13 beautifully brings the word, the sword, and investigating a case together in a vivid image. It states:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Though the immediate context suggests self-examination at the hand of the principles the Bible (the word) presents, it is eventually Christ who will execute judgment on those who have rejected the opportunities for mercy and grace.
Considering the Word
In the Bible, the word/Word can reference many things. In English, the capitalized use indicates the translator’s conviction that the term refers to the Second Person in the Godhead, the Son of God who became Jesus in the flesh. It is, however, also a reference to the gospel, the scriptures, the revelation of Christ, and the truth. It has strong connections to creation, re-creation, and even destruction. Careful consideration of the context and use of “the word” reveals which one applies.
