All About GOD

All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Does Jesus ever call himself the Word. I know John chapter 1 refers to him as the word, but does He ever call Himself the Word?

Views: 272

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Lispott,

Here's an article which may be helpful.



 The gospel of John, which presents Jesus Christ in His deity, is sometimes called the "I AM" book. Over and over again in the book of John, Jesus said, "I AM." To the learned Jew this phrase "I AM" was very significant. It was a claim by Jesus that He is God. Why? In the Old Testament when God called Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He told Moses to tell the nation that "I AM" has sent you (Exodus 3:13-15). "I AM" is the covenant God of Israel, Jehovah! Therefore, the great "I AM" is the designation for God to the nation of Israel and Jesus' statement "I AM" is a clear indication that He was saying, "I AM God."

Did Jesus say He was God? Jesus claimed equality with the God the Father. "Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.' For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (John 5:17-18).

"Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, 'Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me'" (John 7:28-29).

"Then they asked him, 'Where is your father?' 'You do not know me or my Father,' Jesus replied. 'If you knew me, you would know my Father also'" (John 8:19) "'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'" (John 8:58). "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).

Therefore the Jews certainly understood that Jesus was claiming to be God and they sought to kill Him because of it. "'What about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, "I am God's Son"? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.' Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp." (John 10:36-39). This is just one incident where the Jewish authority sought to take Jesus or to stone Him and He escaped out of their hands because His time had not yet come (John 8:20).

Jesus also affirmed His deity to the disciples. "'If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.'" (John 14:7-11, 20).

The seventeenth chapter of John records Jesus Christ's high priestly prayer. "After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began'" (John 17:1-5).

In this wonderful prayer, Jesus says, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:20-21). Did Jesus say that He was God? Yes! Amen!

https://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/did-jesus-say-he-was-god-faq.htm

Maybe I’m just not understanding the biblical meaning of “Word!”

That is excellent. Thanks. I am still wondering if Jesus ever calls Himself the Word??  Someone told me that He does but I can’t find it in scripture!

John Chaper 14

He calls Himself  "The Way, the Truth and the Life"

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=NLT

I don't think there is a scripture where Jesus refers to Himself as the 'Word', but He doesn't have to. 

Matt 24:35 Jesus says "34“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." 

Additionally, I searched out the root for the word 'WORD' and found this:

The word study shows the authority of Him as the Word.  There are many more...too many to post.

The Word Became Flesh

Joh 1:1  InG1722 the beginningG746 wasG2258 theG3588 Word,G3056 andG2532 theG3588 WordG3056 wasG2258 withG4314 God,G2316 andG2532 theG3588 WordG3056 wasG2258 God.G2316 

G3056

λόγος

logos

log'-os

From G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ): - account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

Total KJV occurrences: 330

There are several words throughout the bible which have the same root-word 'logos'.  Here are some (I've bolded and underlined them for easier reading):

 

Mat_5:37  ButG1161 let yourG5216 communicationG3056 be,G2077 Yea,G3483 yea;G3483 Nay,G3756 nay:G3756 forG1161 whatsoever is moreG4053 than theseG5130 comethG2076 ofG1537 evil.G4190

Mat_7:24  ThereforeG3767 whosoeverG3956 G3748 hearethG191 theseG5128 sayingsG3056 of mine,G3450 andG2532 doethG4160 them,G846 I will likenG3666 himG846 unto a wiseG5429 man,G435 whichG3748 builtG3618 hisG848 houseG3614 uponG1909 a rock:G4073

Mat_7:26  AndG2532 every oneG3956 that hearethG191 theseG5128 sayingsG3056 of mine,G3450 andG2532 doethG4160 themG846 not,G3361 shall be likenedG3666 unto a foolishG3474 man,G435 whichG3748 builtG3618 hisG848 houseG3614 uponG1909 theG3588 sand:G285

Mat_19:1  AndG2532 it came to pass,G1096 that whenG3753 JesusG2424 had finishedG5055 theseG5128 sayings,G3056 he departedG3332 fromG575 Galilee,G1056 andG2532 cameG2064 intoG1519 theG3588 coastsG3725 of JudaeaG2449 beyondG4008 Jordan;G2446

Mat_7:28  AndG2532 it came to pass,G1096 whenG3753 JesusG2424 had endedG4931 theseG5128 sayings,G3056 theG3588 peopleG3793 were astonishedG1605 atG1909 hisG846 doctrine:G1322

 

Mat_8:16  WhenG1161 the evenG3798 was come,G1096 they broughtG4374 unto himG846 manyG4183 that were possessed with devils:G1139 andG2532 he cast outG1544 theG3588 spiritsG4151 with his word,G3056 andG2532 healedG2323 allG3956 that were sick:G2192 G2560

Mat_21:24  AndG1161 JesusG2424 answeredG611 and saidG2036 unto them,G846 I alsoG2504 will askG2065 youG5209 oneG1520 thing,G3056 whichG3739 ifG1437 ye tellG2036 me,G3427 I in like wiseG2504 will tellG2046 youG5213 byG1722 whatG4169 authorityG1849 I doG4160 these things.G5023

Mat_24:35  HeavenG3772 andG2532 earthG1093 shall pass away,G3928 butG1161 myG3450 wordsG3056 shall notG3364 pass away.G3928

In case you're interested in the rootword G3004...

G3004

λέγω

legō

leg'-o

A primary verb; properly to "lay" forth, that is, (figuratively) relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 means an extended or random harangue]); by implication to mean: - ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say (-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

Here's an extremely long read on the 'Word'  ;-)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/word/

That is so excellent!  Thanks so much Carla!

You're welcome Lispott..  God Bless

I think Carla explained it great. Here are parts of another article I came across that could add to it. 

John uses the Greek word logos to describe Jesus "in the beginning," or before creation and time began. Logos means word, but specifically, it means the spoken word or a statement. Jesus is God's spoken word, according to John.

Jesus is the Word because He was the means through which the Father brought all physical reality into existence and because He is the One Who represents the Father's invisible nature and character to that creation. Just as your spoken word is the physical manifestation of your thoughts and personality, Jesus is the "Word" of the invisible God to His creation.

Here is the link for the entire article: https://www.versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/how_is_jesus_the...

Excellent!

That is really good, thanks!

No, Jesus never calls Himself the "Word."

I tend to think of the description in John 1 as metaphorical (since a literal interpretation wouldn't make any sense).

What is a word?  A word is a concrete symbol for an abstract concept, something physical that stands for something ethereal.  Jesus was the physical expression of the spiritual God.

In that sense, it is an apt metaphor.

I would like to approach this topic from a different angle.  What do we mean by "the Word" or the "Word of God?" What do we mean when we say Jesus is "the Word?"

The Bible is a collection of writings by many human authors inspired by God.  Through the Bible, God speaks to us.  The ultimate expression and fulfillment of God's Word is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.  He is the incarnate Word of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 | NIV

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 | NIV

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 | NIV 

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 | NIV

RSS

The Good News

Meet Face-to-Face & Collaborate

© 2024   Created by AllAboutGOD.com.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service