WORD
(Heb. “dãbhãr”; Gr. “logos”: spoken word, a term that refers, in general, to what is in the mind of the speaker, and “rhema”, “word” considered in itself )
The relationship of the word with thought is of great interest. In any case, the word is, in a general sense, the expression of thought, as well as the mold in which the thought is expressed.
More precisely: the thought can sometimes be expressed in isolated words (“yes”, “no”, “never”, etc.). However, it is normal for the expression to be given in units of meaning made up of groups of words that modify each other.
Language thus becomes the dynamic medium through which the thought of one mind is communicated to another mind. (See LANGUAGE.)
The concept of the Word of God expresses the communication of the mind and purposes of God to man through propositional revelation (that is, expressed through propositions).
In this communication from the mind of God to man, various means are used (see INSPIRATION). The classic formula used in the OT is: “Word of the Lord that came to (lit.: “went to)…” (Hos. 1:1; cf. Ezek. 1:3; 12:8, etc.; Jon. 1:1; 3:1; Mi. 1:1, etc.).
The “Word of God” is thus an extension of the divine personality, through which it is exposed in a rational way and manifested with divine authority (Ps. 103:20; Deut. 12:32), so it must be obeyed. for all, be they angels or men.
The Word of God has power:
creator (Gen. 1; Ps. 33:6),
preserver (Ps. 147:15-18),
regenerator (Ez. 37, etc.) and
for salvation (Isa. 50:4; 61:1, etc.).
Psalm 119 constantly refers to the written Law as the Word of God.
As far as the NT is concerned, the term “logos” is used superlatively in the Gospel message (Mk. 2:2; Acts 6:2; Gal. 6:6), apart from its use to designate the One who is the Living word of the living God and preached by the Gospel (see LOGOS).
“Rhema” is also used to denote the Gospel message (Rom. 10:8; Eph. 6:17; Heb. 6:5, etc.).
The Word of God is mentioned by the Lord Jesus in the parable of the sower (Lk. 8:11; cf. parallel passages), and also as opposed to human tradition (Mark 7:13).
In the Synoptic Gospels, the Lord always refers to his message in plural form (“words”, Mt. 24:5 and parallels; Mark 8:38; Luke 24:44). On the other hand, it is frequently found in singular form in the fourth Gospel.
The word of Christ is:
truly (Eph. 1:3; James 1:18),
of life (Phil. 2:16),
of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18),
of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19),
of salvation (Acts 13:26),
of faith (1 Tim. 4:6),
of righteousness (Heb. 5:13),
of exhortation (Heb. 13:22).
It is by the word of his power that Christ created all things (Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:5), and
It is through this same word that sustains them (Heb. 1:3).
It is a living and effective word (Heb. 4:12) and
which endures forever (1 Pet. 1:25).