What is the Logos in John 1:1?
There exists no single word in any language that can adequately be used as a replacement for the Greek philosophical concept of Logos.
Therefore, I will explain my answer by defining logos from more universal concepts…. Wisdom and Truth.
God’s Logos (capital L) is His eternal non-personified Wisdom - the 1 Truth of everything understood within the mind of God.
Wise (adj): characterized by wisdom : marked by deep understanding (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wise)
The Logos of John 1 can not be fully grasped on earth by humankind. No one can fathom what knowledge can be contained within the entire Logos. By its very nature then, it defies definition by mere words. Words had a beginning. God’s Logos had no beginning. He always possessed it and IT was with Him.
The eternal Wisdom of YHWH is personified as a female for the sake of poetry.
Proverbs 8
22 YHWH possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
To possess all of God’s Logos(Wisdom), would be to know all Truth.
Only the 1 Creator can have this logos. Its the 1 Logos. No other’s logos is comparable because all things came from God’s Logos.
The Logos is God’s complete understanding and control of His creation.
By the very nature of a creation, the corresponding creator has ALL the understanding available, because he/she designed it. The 1 God was alone in creation, therefore it is His alone….. That was the case until He beget His son Jesus.
Logos(Wisdom/Truth) and Pneuma(Spirit) were hellenistic concepts that predated Jesus by 500 years.
From Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos#cite_note-5)
“Logos became a technical term in Western philosophy beginning with Heraclitus (c. 535 – c. 475 BC), who used the term for a principle of order and knowledge.[5]”
From Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneuma_(Stoic)#cite_note-2)
“....Pneuma for the Stoics is the active, generative principle that organizes both the individual and the cosmos.[2]”
God’s Logos is His wisdom and knowledge OF HOW He orders the cosmos. God’s Spirit (pneuma) IS HOW He orders it.
One way to conceptualize this is by visualizing an electromagnetic field. Without disturbances, the field is natural and constant or static. This is represented by the Logos. This is the passive understanding that holds the creation together. Around this same period, the scientists of the day, used the term Aether to describe the invisible medium which holds all things in place. This is only one of countless wisdoms within the Logos.
Whereas the Logos is the static medium, the dynamic aspect to this Aether is the breath or Spirit of God.
Consider this statement by our master:
John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
God’s Logos orders the Static forces, rules, and laws that govern His creation. God’s Spirit is the vehicle He uses to Dynamically CHANGE the order in any way He pleases.
A son inherits qualities and duties of his father.
Likewise, Jesus has all the Wisdom and Truth of his Father because he inherited and kept it perfectly as a good son would.
This is completely in agreement with what the prophet Isaiah says about the Messiah:
Isaiah 11
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of YHWH: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Jesus received authority with understanding over all of creation. This is how the Logos became flesh for the first time. The Son inherited the absolute Wisdom of Everything from the only 1 who knows Everything, his Father, the 1 Creator, YHWH.
Of course, God’s Logos includes His redemptive plan and message to humanity and was spoken by the Spirit through the Son while he walked the earth.
1Cor1
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
Wisdom and/or Truth works seamlessly into the context of many verses. Here are some examples.
Matt 8:16
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with wisdom, and healed all that were sick:
And the verse in question:
Mat 8:8
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak wisdom only, and my servant shall be healed.
And in John
John 2:22
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and truth which Jesus had said.
Jhn 5:38
And ye have not His Truth abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, him ye believe not.
Jhn 4:41
And many more believed because of his own wisdom;
The logos of God the Father was made flesh in His only son who was begotten by the new incorruptible seed of his Father. The seed of the New Creation.
Seeds produce more seeds. Therefore this new seed will redeem the entire old corrupted Genesis creation back to his God and Father, YHWH. All praise and honor to Him and the Lamb.
If you'd like to understand this concept from the Spirit in more detail please begin here: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/a/78878/52004
“Logos became a technical term in Western philosophy beginning with Heraclitus (c. 535 – c. 475 BC), who used the term for a principle of order and knowledge.[5]”
– Read Less Pray More Dec 02 '22 at 19:33