The Power of the Word
By Jonathan Mitchell

This study will consider NT use of two Greek nouns which are both commonly translated as "word," and then connect their associations with the noun normally rendered as "power." Beyond this, we will investigate a question posed to us, "Why were the words of Jesus powerful?"

We will first focus on Koine Greek term "logos" and its semantic range of meaning. It is the noun which is the subject of John 1:1, commonly rendered, "In the beginning was the Word..." We submit that it continues being the main topic of the first fourteen verses of the first chapter of the Gospel of John, but at the same time, the main topic of this passage is the Word incarnated in Jesus.

Here is the broad semantic range of "logos," based upon lexicons and various definitions offered by scholars: word, thought, collection of thoughts, idea, reason, message, blueprint, laid-out and ordered arrangement, principle of coherence, verbal expression, transfer and input of information that conveys meaning, flow of information that is a pattern-forming Influence.

There can be other English words or expressions which could be added to this list. The last two, above, are based upon reference to The Logos as found in "Information and the Nature of Reality," Paul Davies & Niels Henrik Gregersen, Editors, Cambridge Univ. Press 2010.

The organic and intrinsic senses of The Logos can be observed in the following verses from Jn. 1:

2. This (or: This One) was continuing in existence, within a power of beginning, in union with Headship and Sovereign principle, and in the sphere of a Primary-One facing [focused, directed, and moving] toward God (or: [then] staying with the Divine Nature of the Divine Mystery). (or: This [situation?] was existing {or: continued being} within the midst of Arche {Source; = Father}, [aimed; progressing; being; moving] toward, and thus [to be] face-to-face with, Deity.)

3. All things suddenly happened and came to be (or: occur and come to be; were birthed; came about) by means of It, or Him (or: He at some point gives birth to all humanity through It), and apart from It (or: Him) not even one thing comes into being (occurs; was birthed; came into being; happens) which has come into being (which has occurred; which has happened or come about).

4. Within It (or: In the sphere of Him), Life was continuing and progressively existing (or: In It was life [as a source]; [Aleph, D and other witnesses read present tense: In union with it there continues being life; Life progressively exists within the midst of It]). And this (or: the) Life was continuing being, and began progressively existing as, the Light of the humans.

Heb. 4:12 gives us another example of "logos," and also informs the topic of this study:

"You see it follows that, the Word of God (or: God's Thought, Idea, Reason, and Message; or: the expressed Logos and Blueprint from God; or: the Pattern-forming Influence, which is God) [is] living (or: alive), and active (working; operative; energetic; at work; productive) and more cutting above every two-mouthed (two-edged) sword, even passing through (penetrating) as far as a dividing (or: parting; partitioning) of soul and spirit (or: of inner self-life/consciousness and breath-effect), both of joints and marrows, even [being] able to sift, separate and discern (or: and [is] skilled in judging and deciding) concerning thoughts (ponderings; reasonings; musings; reflections; in-rushings; passions; sentiments) and intentions (notions; purposes; mental inclinations) of a heart (= from the core of one’s being; or: which are [the] "heart").

The second noun which we will consider is "rhema." Rhema comes from the verb "rheo," whose root meaning is: to be in flux, to flow, or to gush. It is used of streams and rivers that flow, or springs that gush, of hair that falls away and of fruit that falls off a tree. It is a word that expresses progressive action or ongoing movement. Rhema thus means the effect of ongoing movement, such as flux, or the result of progressive action, such as flowing or gushing. In grammar, rhema corresponds to a verb, in contrast to a noun; or to a phrase, in contrast to a single word. It has thus come to be defined as: a saying; that which is or has been spoken; a declaration. But keep in mind the root meaning of the verb from which it comes: motion; flux; flow; gush. Thus, the core idea is that rhema signifies the result of a flow, or gush, of the person that is speaking. Or, it is the effect of a flux of thought. [note: the -ma ending of a Greek noun signifies "effect" or "result" of what the noun means]

A clear example of the use of "rhema" is found in Rom. 10:

8. But rather, what is He (or: it) saying? "The result of the flow (The gush-effect; or: The saying; The declaration; That which is spoken; The speech) is (or: continuously exists) near you - within your mouth and within your heart (in the sphere of the core of your being)!" [Deut. 30:11-14] - that is, (or: This exists being) the effect of the gush from The Faithfulness (or: the result of the Flow which is the saying that pertains to this conviction of trust; the effect of the flux and movement of that Faith; or: that which is spoken which is trust; or: the speech and declaration which come from [Christ’s] Fidelity) which we are habitually announcing publicly (proclaiming extensively),

9. namely, that whenever you can speak the same gush-effect (or: because if you would agree with this word-result) within your mouth [vs. 8], because "Jesus Christ [is] Lord," [with other MSS: that if at any time you should confess in your mouth the flow of this declaration, 'that Jesus {is} LORD {= Yahweh, as per LXX}'; or: because if ever you should avow this saying, in your own mouth, since Jesus {is} Lord,] then you can trust, in union with your heart, (or: and you should believe within the core of your being) because God raised (or: that God aroused and awakened) Him forth from out of the midst of dead folks, you will proceed being healed and made whole (or: will keep on being delivered, kept safe, rescued, saved, and will progressively be restored to the original state and condition).

We find this term, again, in Rom. 10:17,

"Consequently, the faithfulness (or: the trust and faith; confidence; loyalty) [comes or arises] from out of the midst of, or from within, hearing (an ear, and the ability to hear; or: a report, or news, that is heard), yet the hearing (or: and this ear, and ability to hear the report) [comes] through a gush-effect of Christ, even through the result of a flow which is an Anointing (or: through Christ's utterance; through something spoken concerning Christ; or: by means of a declaration which is anointed, or from Christ; through a word uttered which is Christ; [other MSS: God's saying]). [cf Mat. 11:15, et al; Rev. 2:7; 3:22]

We read, in Ps. 119:11 (LXX), "In my heart I hid Your brief messages (the little Words, reasons, thoughts, ideas and blueprints from You) so that I would not fail with You (deviate from my aim to You; sin against You)."

Because of Who/What Jesus was/is, when He spoke, It was the Logos speaking: It was creative. We read in Ps. 107:20 (LXX), "He sent out the Logos from Him (or: His Word) and healed them."

1 Cor. 1:18 informs us:

"It follows that, the Message (the Word; the Logos; the Blueprint; this Flow of meaning-bearing Information) of the cross (or: the Idea from, and the Concept pertaining to, the execution-stake/suspension-pole) is, and continues being, on the one hand, stupidity (nonsense; foolishness) to (or: for; in; with) those folks constantly and progressively full-destroying themselves (or, as a passive: being habitually fully lost, or progressively undone and ruined); yet, on the other hand, it is, and continues being, God's inherent Power (or: an Ability of, and a Means of influence from, God; a Power which is God) in us, to us, and for us: in the folks being presently delivered (or: for those being continually rescued, repeatedly saved and progressively restored to health and wholeness; or: with the ones being now salvaged and progressively preserved)."

Here, we come to our third word, "power," which also means, "ability," or "means of influence." Notice that not only is the Logos creative, it also has Power. Both of these are God: the Word, and the Power. Added to this, we have Jesus' words in Jn. 6:63,

"The Spirit (or: Breath-effect; or: spirit; Breath; Attitude) is (or: continues being) the One continuously creating Life (or: repeatedly making alive; habitually forming life). The flesh (= the non-spiritual, natural realm) continues being of no help or benefit to anything (furthers or augments not one thing). The Declarations (Gush-effects; spoken words; sayings; results of the Flow) which I, Myself, have spoken to (or: in; with; for) you folks are (or: continue to be; exist being) Spirit (or: spirit; Breath-effect; attitude) and they are (or: continue being) Life."

So now we have two other concepts, and realities, joining our investigation: Spirit, and Life. But wait, there is more: Your Logos (The Word and Blueprint [that is] Yours) continues existing being the Truth (or: Your Thought, Idea, Pattern-forming Influence, Meaning-bearing Information, and expressed Purpose, is the Reality; Your laid-out, communicated Reason continues with Being [as] Reality)." (Jn. 17:17b)

After His resurrection, Jesus told His followers,

"Nevertheless, you folks will progressively receive inherent power and will continue taking to yourselves ability (or: means of influence; faculties, capabilities and potentialities): a sudden (point of time) added, full coming [= Parousia] of the Set-apart Breath-effect (the Holy Spirit and Sacred Attitude) upon you folks - and you will keep on being My witnesses..." (Acts 1:8)

This was also recorded, in different words, in Lu. 24:49, where He informed them that,

"And so, look and take note: I Myself am now progressively sending forth the Promise from out of the midst of, and from, My Father (or: am, out from within, repeatedly sending forth My Father's pledge, as an Emissary; [with other MSS: From where I now am, I now continuously send off the Promise, which is My Father]) upon you people. So you, yourselves, sit down (be seated) within the City [other MSS add: of Jerusalem] - until where (or: which [situation] or: what [time]) you can (or: may) clothe yourselves with (or: enter within the midst of) inherent power, ability, and a means of influence, from out of the midst of an exaltation (or: a height; elevation; perhaps: = on high)."

We recall the words to Isaiah, where Yahweh said to him:

"For as rain or snow comes down from out of the atmosphere, and then will not return until it has soaked the ground and brought forth and blossomed and given seed to the sower, then bread for food, so shall the result of My Flow (My gush-effect) be, whatever goes out from My mouth: It will not return until whatever I have willed and intended is fulfilled, and I will prosper your ways and My implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inner destiny; inward directive)" (Isa. 55:10-11; LXX, JM).

This is echoed by Jesus, in Mat. 24:35,

"The heaven and the earth (i.e.: This Atmosphere and this Territory) WILL progressively pass on by. Now in contrast, My thoughts and words (or: messages; patterned Declarations; transfers and conveyances of Meaning-bearing Blueprints) can by no means pass on by."

In his general epistle, Peter emphasized the importance and permanence of what the Lord had said:

"yet the Gush-effect of the Lord (result of what flowed from [Yahweh]; saying, declaration or thing spoken concerning the Lord) is constantly abiding (continuously remaining), on into the midst of The Age (or: the era [of the Messiah]) Now THIS continues being "the Saying" (the Declaration; this Gush-effect; that Utterance), the ONE being announced as Well-being and Goodness unto you folks (or: And the aforementioned is the result of the Flow being brought and spoken into you, in the Good News)." (1 Per. 1:25; [Isa. 40:6-8])

Jacob (Jas. 1:21) also points us to the importance of the Word:

"you folks must receive (or: at once take in your hands), in gentle friendliness (absence of ego; mildness), the implanted (ingenerated) Logos (Word; collected Thought and Blueprint; Idea; Message of a transfer and input of Information that conveyed Meaning and that is a Pattern-forming Influence), the One being continuously able (or: the one which is constantly powerful) to deliver (rescue; keep safe; heal; make whole) your souls (the consciousness and being, which you folks are)." [cf Acts 13:26; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Eph. 1:13; Titus 2:11; Heb. 2:3; 1 Pet. 1:9]

A closing thought arises from Paul's admonition in Col. 3:16a,

"Let Christ's Word (or: the Logos, which is the Christ; the Idea which is the Anointing; or: the message of, and Reason from, the Christ; this transfer and conveyance of Meaning-bearing Information, and this Flow of Information that is a Pattern-forming Influence from the [Messiah] [other MSS: of God; of {the} Lord]) be continuously making Its home within you folks (or: progressively indwelling and residing - centered in and in union with you) richly and abundantly..."

With all that we have now come to see about the Word, what should be our "take away" from this final quote? Christ within us means "the Logos within us." We are One Spirit with the Logos (1 Cor. 6:17). With what intension should we live, and how should we engage the Logos within us? What "means of influence" are latent within us? Do we take these Scriptures seriously? Remember, there is an upward call for us (Phil. 3:14) to be living in a higher realm of consciousness... and with inner activity, with corresponding outward actions.

Jonathan

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