Don Stewart :: Why Was Jesus Called the Word of God?

Why Was Jesus Called the Word of God? (Logos)

What Everyone Needs to Know about Jesus – Question 11

One of the titles of Jesus was the Word of God or the “Logos.” We find it used several places in Scripture of Jesus. It is only used in the writings of John.

In the introduction to John’s gospel we read the following:

In the beginning was the word [logos], and the word [logos], was with God, and the word [logos], was God. (John 1:1 KJV)

Here we are told that the Word, or Logos, was with God and that the Logos was God.

John also wrote how the Word, or the Logos, became a human being. He said,

So the Word [logos], became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. (John 1:14 NLT)

The Logos became a human being at a certain point in time.

In the Book of Revelation, it says the following about the Logos, or Word, of God:

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word [logos], of God. (Revelation 19:13 NRSV)

Jesus is thus called “the Logos,” or “Word of God.”

This Term Logos Is Not Defined In Scripture

While Jesus is called the “Logos” the term is never explained in Scripture. Although there is no explanation given in Scripture as to why Jesus is called the Word of God there have been several suggested reasons.

1. It May Refer to Wisdom Personified

It has been argued that Jesus is the personification of wisdom as is described in Proverbs 5-8. This section begins by saying:

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight. (Proverbs 5:1 NIV)

In this is the case, then Jesus personifies wisdom. He is perfect wisdom in everything that He said and everything that He did. Whether or not this is what the word logos actually means when used in the New Testament, this is certainly true of Jesus.

2. The Word Is God’s Communication to Humanity

It is possible that the term “word” is used the same manner as does the Old Testament; it is the communication of God to humanity. This is exactly what Jesus did. Indeed, He revealed to the world the Word of God. Jesus is clearly the personification of the written and spoken Word.

In the Old Testament, God revealed His Word through the prophets, while in the New Testament the Word of God was revealed in a Person, God the Son.

The writer to the Hebrews emphasized that Jesus was God’s ultimate revelation to the human race. He wrote,

In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3 God’s Word)

Thus, Jesus was God’s Word, or communication, to lost humanity.

In sum, while we cannot be exactly certain what was meant by the Greek word logos, translated as “word” we have a couple of possibilities which fit well with the overall teaching of Scripture.

Summary – Question 11
Why Was Jesus Called the Word of God?

In a few places in the New Testament, Jesus is called, “the Word of God.” This term which is only found in the writings of John is not defined for us.

The first verse of John’s gospel tells us that the Word, or the logos, was in the beginning with God. Later in the chapter we are told that the Word became a human being. In the Book of Revelation, when Christ returns to the earth, we are told that His name is called the “Word of God.”

Although Scripture does not define what is exactly meant by this term in these various contexts, there are a couple of suggested possibilities.

Some feel that the word logos could refer to the fact that Jesus is the personification of wisdom. Wisdom is spoken of as something personal in the Book of Proverbs. Thus, this usage in John could refer back to what has been written in Proverbs.

There is also the suggestion that may refer to the fact that Jesus is God’s communication to humanity. The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh. Jesus, therefore, is the Living Word of God now made known to us through the written Word of God.

While we may never be exactly sure what John meant by the term we do know that these suggested meanings are in agreement with the overall teaching of Scripture on the subject of the Person of Jesus Christ. All wisdom is found in Him and He is indeed the Living Word of God.