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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Bible Question: Please explain in detail the difference between LOGOS and RHEMA. What are the implications of all definitions? Where did these terms originate? |
Bible Answer: Word Study................................... Greetings Obie! The terms 'logos' and 'rhema' are basically synonymous. The both refer to a spoken word, though 'logos' has a richer tradition in both philosophical and theological thought. The fact that they are synonymous can be illustrated from Scripture. Here are a couple of examples. 1) Consider Luke 9:44 - " 44 “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”" Here, 'logos' is used to refer to the words (or saying) about the betryal of the Son of Man. Now, look at Luke 9:45 - "But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they might not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement." Here, 'rhema' is used to refer to the statment Jesus just made in Luke 9:44. So, in the span of two verses, both terms are used to describe the same saying. 2) Luke 6:47 uses 'logos' to refer to Jesus' teaching, while Luke 7:1 uses 'rhema' to refer to His teaching. 3) John 8:43 uses 'logos' to refer to the words that the Jews could not hear, while John 8:47 uses 'rhema' to refer to the that they could not hear. 4) John 10:19 uses 'logos' to refer to the teaching that so upset the Jews, while John 10:21 uses 'rhema' to refer to the same teaching. 5) John 12:47-49 uses the terms interchangebly. There are other examples, but these should suffice. Both terms have as their basic meaning a spoken word. There are those who teach that there is a difference between the two terms. They usually belong to the "word of faith" camp. They also usually want the words to mean different things so that it will fit with their teachings, but the words simply don't mean what they say. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |