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"'''Logos'''" is the [[Greek]] term used by [[St. John]] to describe the second person of the [[Holy Trinity]], the Word of God. In Greek "logos" means word, reason or speech.
"'''Logos'''" ([[Greek]]: λόγος) is the [[Greek]] term used in the beginning of the Gospel according to John. In [[Greek]] "logos" means word, reason, teaching,<ref>See {{bibleref|Hebrews|6|1}}</ref> or speech. [[Heraclitus]], a Greek philosopher, first used the term "logos", around perhaps 500 B.C., in order to mean '''divine reason'''. The broad, multifarious meanings of the term "logos" illustrates an imprecision in the Greek language, and the weakness of the language in conveying some of the powerful new concepts of [[Christianity]], despite how Greek was far more sophisticated than any other ancient language.
As explained by [[PBS]], logos is:
{{cquote|A principle originating in classical Greek thought which refers to a universal divine reason, immanent in nature, yet transcending all oppositions and imperfections in the cosmos and humanity. An eternal and unchanging truth present from the time of creation, available to every individual who seeks it. A unifying and liberating revelatory force which reconciles the human with the divine; manifested in the world as an act of God's love in the form of the Christ.<ref>https://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/theogloss/logos-body.html#:~:text=A%20principle%20originating%20in%20classical,every%20individual%20who%20seeks%20it.</ref>}}
When used in connection with thought or the mind, as in John 1:1, logos means the mental faculty of thinking and reasoning. In the beginning was "logos", referring to the mind or thought of God. If wikis had existed in ancient Greece, then the meaning of "logos" might have included a wiki! Other example uses of logos in the [[Bible]] are in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%208:11&version=KJV Luke 8:11], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%204:12&version=KJV Hebrews 4:12], and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians%202:16&version=KJV Philippians 2:16].
The use of "logos" in Hebrews 4:12-13 demonstrates that it cannot be accurately translated merely as
"word", because it refers there to how God [[Omniscience|omnisciently]] knows what is in man:<ref>[[ESV]] translation used here.</ref>
{{cquote|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.}}
It has been suggested that "logos" in Hebrews 4:12 above should be translated as "Christ" (based on the interpretation of many Fathers, such as Oecumenius, Theophylact, Thomas Aquinas, Lyra, Cajetan, Clarius, Justinian, [[Cornelius a Lapide]], Jac. Cappellus, Gomar, Owen, Heinsius, Alting, Clericus, Cramer, Ewald—see [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/4-12.htm commentaries on Hebrews 4:12]). ''Hebrews'' uses the term "logos" frequently.
In [[literature]], logos refers to an appeal to logic, as opposed to an appeal to emotion ([[pathos]]) or an appeal to authority ([[ethos]]).
In [[literature]], logos refers to an appeal to logic, as opposed to an appeal to emotion ([[pathos]]) or an appeal to authority ([[ethos]]).
*"account" - 8 times
*"account" - 8 times
*"speech" - 8 times
*"speech" - 8 times
*"Word" as in Christ - 7 times, mostly in the first verses of the [[Gospel of John]]
*"Word" as in Christ - 7 times, mostly in the first verses of the [[Gospel of John]] - [[St. Augustine]] preferred to translate logos in this context as the "Living Word."
*"thing" - 5 times
*"thing" - 5 times
*not translated and omitted from the English - 2 times
*not translated and omitted from the English - 2 times
This calls into question the translation of "logos" as "Word" in the beginning of the Gospel of John.
This calls into question the translation of "logos" as "Word" in the beginning of the Gospel of John. Under the view of some biblical scholars, logos was used by [[John the Apostle]] to describe the second person of the [[Holy Trinity]], [[Jesus]], as the Word of God. Commentators have pointed out the inadequacy of the English term "word" to capture the full meaning of "logos".<ref>article: [http://www.bible-researcher.com/logos.html In the beginning was the λόγος ... (John 1:1) at bible-researcher.com]</ref> The Letter to the Hebrews explains that the Son is "the express image" of God (see [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%201:1-3&version=KJV Hebrews 1:1-3 KJV]), which can be understood as ''the complete self-expression'' of God the Father.
== Multiple translations of John 1:1==
''See'' [http://biblehub.com/john/1-1.htm John 1:1 at biblehub.com] This online site includes classic (conservative Protestant) Parallel Commentaries:
*[http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/john/1.html Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary]
*[http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/john-1-1.html Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible]
*[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/john/1.htm Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary]
== Possible Confusion ==
λόγος (word, reason) should not be confused with ''logic'' (ἡ λογική), nor with ''intelligence'' (νοημοσύνη).
==See also==
*[[Word of God]]
*[[Rhema]]
*[http://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm Strong's lengthy list of meanings for "logos"]
*[[Heraclitus]] (circa 535–475 BC)
==Also see==
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[category:New Testament]]
[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:New Testament]]
[[Category:Rhetoric]]
[[Category:Rhetoric]]