Rhema vs Logos
Rhema and Logos are Greek words that have been literally translated as word on the New Testament. Both these words as they have been translated roughly as word or the speech of God. Both these terms have been used in spheres other than religion such as in philosophy and linguistics. However, it is their use in religion, especially Christianity that creates confusion in the minds of the faithful. This is because of the similarities in the meanings of the two terms. However, despite overlap, there are differences between Rhema and logos that will be highlighted in this article.
The followers of Christianity often find themselves looking for the direction when facing problems in life. Logos and Rhema are the words that help us in our relationship with Jesus. While Rhema is taken as the spoken word or the teachings of the Christ himself, Logos refers to Jesus himself. Logos as a concept in Greek means a written word. Thus, bible itself is Logos. When you read the bible, you are taking in Logos. It is the Logos as it was in the very beginning used by Christ himself. There are people who read bible and then complain that they do not understand. This is because the words are not ministered to them, but when you hear a sermon in the church coming straight from the mouth of a minister, you start to understand. This is the Rhema word that is meant to be spoken so that you understand it easily.
When you are reading the bible on your own, you are reading Logos, or the sayings of Jesus. At times, you get much more than the mere words. This is when you get the Rhema word. This is like Eureka for the scientist involved in an experiment or discovery. It is not that Rhema word can come to you only when you are reading the bible. It can come to you as a revelation while driving the car, walking in the garden, or even while sleeping and dreaming. This is like God talking to you directly. This could be the word giving you a direction and peace of mind. Rhema word brings joy and excitement along with it.
Logos vs Rhema Word
• Rhema is the right now word, word from HIM that gives you a sense of direction and joy and excitement of knowledge.
• Rhema word is the word for your current situation telling you what to do.
• Logos is the uttering of Christ himself; it is the spoken word communicated through Bible. Thus, Bible is an example of Logos.
• Both Rhema and Logos are Greek terms that have been roughly translated as word in the New Testament.
iemcd says
Thank you for your insight, and this is what is commonly understood among evangelicals etc.
When I read Hebrews 4:12 that the word (logos) of God is alive and powerful, I see that the substance of the text, not the black print, but the substance represented by the form of words is alive and powerful.
I think that the condition of the indvidual heart makes the difference. Jesus said to the Jews who were lusting to kill Him, that they search the Scriptures and think they they have eternal by reading them. But they refused to come through the Door. They were closed in mind so nothing was going to get in. They were proud, not humbly seeking – God resists the proud. When Jesus was speaking, those who were open received the word and those who were closed did not. God does not give grace to the proud, only to the humble.
Jesus spoke about the sower who sows seed, The same seed falls on hard ground or fertile ground. It is the fertile ground that produces fruit. There was nothing wrong with the seed – the seed has the life in itself, The seed is the Word (logos) of God – Luke 8:11. Logos falls on fertile ground and hard ground. The same seed is either stolen or, produces fruit depending on the soil. Of ourse the soil is prepared by God because He is the Husbandman – Sower, Farmer.
If we say that the logos is what is written and I think we may say that without contradiction, then Scripture – the thing written, is able to make us wise unto salvation – because it is God breathed.
Many testimonies abound when a muslim or athiest or satanist or prostitute picks up the Bible and reads it and its words come alive to them and they are soundly converted. The written word of God is Heaven’s currency, as are any word of God that He may even now be speaking in Heaven.
Man’s currency may be stashd int eh bamnk but it has an authority stamped on it, and it is ready to work for its rightful owner,
The farmer has seed in his shed. It looks dead and lifeless, but inside that tiny shell is the Law of Life from the Creator. When it is placed in the soil at the right time and when the right circumstances are in place, that life exxpresses itself and in due time the life in the seed is seen but having a different body as Paul describes in 1 Cor 15.
Logos 3056, according to Strong’s refers to what is said or communicated, or thought,etc etc. but doesn’t mention the word written.
Mark 16:20 logos, and the logos was what was uttered and the Lord conmfirmed what was uttered, by signs following.
Acts 15:36 they specifically preached the word – logos – of the Lord. The logos was their utterance of the mind of God for that moment. This was living and powerful..
IUt is passages like the above that cause me to conclude that the two words may not be as distinctive as they are often presented.
If I saw in the text, the use of rhema and logos in the same event, then I would have good reason to see the distinction.
For example: The Ethiopian was reading (silently?) the “word (3056)”, and Philip spoke a “word” (4487) to him.
It is the Scriptures – the logos itself that has life in it. Paul tells Timothy that the Word – logos, of God is God breathed. It being God breathed, God’s power is inherent in it, just as God’s power is in the tiny seed..
God breated into the lifeless man (Adam) and man became a living soul. And even after his fall man is still a living soul because God’s breath is in him.
As the Ethiopian was reading the text, it began to work in him even before Philip showed up. Philip was sent to explain Jesus to him and to baptize him in the name of the Lord. But the logos had already begun to work in the man, because it has life in itself being God breathed – this man’s heart was fertile ground and the seed was sending down roots and a shoot was pushing upwards. That Life is the same Life of the Spirit.
Oduola Timothy says
Well, taken you by your explanation, rhema is the spoken text of the scriptures as we read. Logos is the word that transform into divine being Jesus