LOGOS

Logos is the term used in the Gospel of John to describe the preincarnate Christ. "In the beginning was the Word [logos] and the Word [logos] became flesh" (Jn. 1:1, 14). Though the term logos was used profusely in classical Greek in a variety mystical ways, there is no evidence whatever that John imported the classical sense into his use of the word. Better is the idea that John's employment was grounded in a Hebraic background. In the Greek version of the O.T. (LXX), logos was commonly used to convey the ideas of creative power (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, etc.) and communicative activity (Jer. 1:4; Ezek. 1:3; Amos 3:1). In John's use of the term, with reference to Jesus, several forceful ideas are conveyed: (a) The logos existed eternally; the imperfect tense verbs (en -- "was") suggests a timeless existence. (b) The logos was in intimate association with Jehovah ("with [pros] God" affirms a face-to-face closeness). (c) The logos, as to his essence, is God, i.e., deity -- not "a god," as the Watchtower cult alleges. (d) The logos was the instrument of creative activity. (e) The logos "became flesh" and dwelt among men, "declaring" (providing a commentary on) the Father to them (v. 18). To know what God is like can be best discovered by studying Christ most carefully.