0
The concept of Logos, the divine Word, was developed in the pagan milieu by Greek philosophers. The Logos was the active reason pervading the universe and animating it; conceived of as material and usually identified with God or Nature. In this way, the Greek philosophers were moving away from the ancient Greek gods towards pantheism.
The Logos entered Judaism and then Christianity, via Philo of Alexandria. John's Gospel identifies Jesus with the Logos, or Word, at verse 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIn ancient Greek, logos meant 'word', but this meaning gradually extended to include other concepts such as speech, thought, reason, principle and logic. In the Platonic school of philosophy, Logos became the principle of unity, order and reason within the universe, and later came to refer to a kind of subsidiary god or divine force, an emanation of the deity.
The word Logos entered Hellenistic Judaism under the influence of Philo, an Alexandrian Jew, as a paraclete or emanation of his God. In Quaestiones in Genesi II.62 Philo called the Logos a 'second God' who is subordinate to the Supreme God. According to Philo, logos was God's son, through whom the world was created as a rational and ordered universe. Born of mother Wisdom and appearing in the world, the logos was the agent through whom the great leaders of Israel learned what God expected of them. At the same time, Philo also sought to maintain monotheism by asserting that the Logos is not really distinct from God. Eventually, the concept of Logos entered Christianity, with Jesus as the Logos or 'Word'.
Finally, in the prologue of John's Gospel, the Logos is declared to have manifested in human form: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." This is the only reference anywhere, of the 'Word' or Logos appearing in human form. By the time of this Gospel, the concept of Logos was already in use in the early Christian religion, having arrived via Hellenistic Judaism, from Platonic philosophy.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What was Jesus before his birth?
Logos, the Word.Creator of all things, no thing was created without him.Son of God.etc. (see the gospel of John)
Did Lazarus write the Gospel of John?
No, Lazarus did not write the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John is traditionally attributed to the apostle John, not Lazarus.
What is meant by The Word in Christianity?
I am assuming by the phrase 'meaning of word' that you are curious about the 'Logos' which is Greek for 'word'. This is found in the Book of John, the fourth gospel of the Christian New Testament. According to Christian tradition, the Logos is the gentile writer's definition of Jesus as God. According to John, Logos was in the beginning and everything that was created was created by the Logos. We know the writer was a gentile because he does not write as a Jew and his description and familiarity of the Logos identifies him as a gentile convert to Christianity. John defines Jesus according to John's interpretation of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus' philosophy concerning Zeus whom he portrays as the Logos. The philosophy of the Logos was written by a Greek gentile, Heraclitus, around five hundred years before the birth of Jesus. This philosophy was well known in the ancient world, especially among other Greeks. When the writer of the Book of John wrote his story, he relied heavily upon the writings of Heraclitus to portray the Logos as Jesus rather than Zeus, who was the person Heraclitus described. Originally, the Logos did not portray Jesus as a creator. The Logos discussed creation through the Zeus and not the Hebrew God or Jesus. It was a philosophy of a gentile discussing his gentile and pagan gods.
Which gospel traces the origins of Jesus to eternity past?
A:John's Gospel says that it the beginning was the Word (Logos). This clearly refers to Jesus although the Word, or Logos, was originally a concept of Greek philosophy that eventually entered Christianity via Philo of Alexandria.
Where did the author of the Gospel of John adopt the doctrine of Logos from?
In ancient Greek, logos meant 'word', but this meaning gradually extended to include other concepts such as speech, thought, reason, principle and logic. In the Platonic school of philosophy, Logos became the principle of unity, order and reason within the universe, and later came to refer to a kind of subsidiary god or divine force, an emanation of the deity.The word Logos entered Hellenistic Judaism under the influence of Philo, an Alexandrian Jew, as a paraclete or emanation of his God. In Quaestiones in Genesi II.62 Philo called the Logos a "second God" who is subordinate to the Supreme God. At the same time, Philo also sought to maintain monotheism by asserting that the Logos is not really distinct from God. Eventually, the concept of Logos entered Christianity, with Jesus as the Logos or Word. From Philonism, the concept of Logosentered Christianity as a reference to Jesus. Probably one of the earliest examples is the "Word of life" in 1 John 1:1.Finally, in the prologue of John's Gospel, the Logos is declared to have manifested in human form: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." This is the only reference anywhere, of the 'Word' or Logos appearing in human form. By the time of this Gospel, the concept of Logoswas already in use in the early Christian religion, having arrived via Hellenistic Judaism, from Platonic philosophy.
How many chapters are there in the Gospel of John?
The Gospel of John has 21 chapters.
How many verses are in the Gospel of John?
There are 4,146 verses in the Gospel of John.
What does logo mean in the bible?
"Logos" is Greek and it means "word." In John's prologue of the gospel, he writes, "In the beginning was the LOGOS, and the LOGOS was with God, and the LOGOS was God." Then in verse 14 John writes, "And the LOGOS became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth..." LOGOS can mean "the disciplined study of" such as: THEOS [God] + LOGOS [disciplined study of] = theology, or the disciplined study of God. But the word "theology" does not appear in the Bible. John's prologue evokes the beginning of Genesis, when the Spirit of God brooded over the face of the deep. Genesis 1:3 tells us, "Then God SAID..." and creation came into being! The WORD of God was SPOKEN. And John tells us that the same LOGOS became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. There is very deep mystery and wonder and faith all wrapped up in this! There is so much meaning that even goes beyond our ability to understand! And at last when faith has feasted on this LOGOS, we can only fall on our knees and cry out, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"
What are the 4 Gospels in Christian Bible?
They are the Gospel of Matthew,Gospel of Mark,Gospel of Luke,and the Gospel of John.
When was The Gospel of John released?
The Gospel of John was released on 09/26/2003.
What was the Production Budget for The Gospel of John?
The Production Budget for The Gospel of John was $11,000,000.
What decade was Gospel of John written?
The Gospel of John reached its present form around A.D. 90-100.
