λόγος

Meaning

A word or words

Statement

Message

Speech

Account

Used in John to mean God the Son

Masculine noun. Related to the verb λέγω.

λόγος in Greek Thought

Before the New Testament, λόγος already had deep philosophical use. In Greek philosophy, λόγος was the rational principle that ordered the universe, the divine reason that structured all things. In Heraclitus, λόγος referred to the unifying rational principle behind the constant change in the world.

In Philo of Alexandria (a Hellenistic Jewish thinker), λόγος was the mediator between God and the world, the expression of God’s mind, a bridge between the transcendent God and creation.

This philosophical background shaped how early readers understood the word, especially in John’s Gospel.

In the Gospel of John

The most famous use is John 1:1–3, 14:

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος

(In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God)

Here, λόγος is personal (not merely speech or reason). The λόγος is with God (distinct from the Father). The λόγος is God (sharing divine nature). He is the pre-existent Son of God. And in verse 14, “The Word became flesh” - identifying Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word.

In John, therefore, λόγος expresses Jesus as:

The full self-expression of God

The agent of creation (“All things were made through Him”)

The revealer of God to humanity

In Other NT Writings

Reference	Usage	Meaning
8	“Only say the word (λόγος)”	Spoken word, command
11	“The seed is the word of God”	Message, divine revelation
31	“They spoke the word of God boldly”	The gospel message
18	“The word of the cross”	Proclamation of salvation
12	“The word of God is living and active”	God’s powerful speech/revelation
1	“The Word of life”	Personal title for Christ
13	“His name is called The Word of God”	Christ as divine warrior and revealer

So λόγος can refer to God’s speech (His revealed word), the gospel message, or Christ Himself, the living embodiment of that word.

Grammatical Forms

Singular

Case	Form with Article	Function / Meaning
Nominative	ὁ λόγος	the word (subject)
Genitive	τοῦ λόγου	of the word
Dative	τῷ λόγῳ	to/for the word
Accusative	τὸν λόγον	the word (object)
Vocative	λόγε	O word! (addressing)

Plural

Case	Form with Article	Function / Meaning
Nominative	οἱ λόγοι	the words (subjects)
Genitive	τῶν λόγων	of the words
Dative	τοῖς λόγοις	to/for the words
Accusative	τοὺς λόγους	the words (objects)
Vocative	λόγοι	O words! (addressing)