14. Word. Words

 
Both ῤῆμα and λόγος are translated ‘word' and ‘words.' ῤήμα is the saying, the thing spoken (έρῶ, εἴρηκα, 'to speak'); it is more individual than λόγος, standing in relation to it rather as a part to the whole. λόγος includes the thoughts as well as the utterance. Compare the use of the French mot with parole.
The words have been thus distinguished: λόγος is the deeper, fuller word; it is the revelation of what is in God, in His nature and character ― His love, His ways ― in short, all that He communicates: ῤῆμα is the actual communication. λόγος (from λέγω, 'to speak') is that which is known in the mind, and known by expressing it. I cannot think without having a thought, and λόγος is used for that, and the expression of it: it is the matter and form of thought and expression, as well as the expression of it. It is a word so large in sense as to be very hard to express. ῤῆμα is the actual utterance.
If this distinction be borne in mind, the following passages will be the better apprehended. For λόγος, Matt. 13:1919When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (Matthew 13:19); Mark 14:3939And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. (Mark 14:39), ‘word' not ‘words' (compared with Matt. 26:4444And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:44)); Mark 7:13; 16:2013Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7:13)
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20); Luke 1:22Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; (Luke 1:2); Acts 4:31; 6:431And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4); Rom. 9:66Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (Romans 9:6); Heb. 4:12; 6:112For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1); Jas. 1:1818Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18); 1 Pet. 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23). And it will be understood how characteristic λόγος is of John's writings: chap. 1:1, 14; 5:24, 38; 8:31, 37, 43; and in verses 51, 52, and 55 (where it is the same ― 'word,' instead of ‘saying' as in the A. V.); 10:35; 14:23, 24 (‘word' and ‘words,' not ‘words' and ‘sayings' as the A. V.); 15:3, 20; 17:6, 14, 17; 1 John 1:11That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (1 John 1:1).
Yet the apostle also uses ῤῆμα: John 3:34; 6:63, 68; 8:47; 12:47, 48; 14:10; 17:834For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34)
63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)
68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)
47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. (John 8:47)
47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:47‑48)
10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)
8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. (John 17:8). Compare also Matt. 4:44But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4); Eph. 6:1717And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17) (not the book merely, but the text); Matt. 26:7575And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75); Luke 5:55And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (Luke 5:5); Rom. 10:8, 178But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Romans 10:8)
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17); Heb. 1:3; 6:5; 11:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:5)
3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3); 1 Pet. 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25). These will suffice to illustrate the use of the word, which has the force more of individual utterances, divine communications.
λαλιά (from λαλέω, ‘to talk, utter a sound') is, as a substantive, of much more limited use, as it is of meaning, being in fact only found in Matt. 26:7373And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. (Matthew 26:73) = Mark 14:7070And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. (Mark 14:70); John 4:4242And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42) (comp. λόγος, verse 41); and 8:43. But the constant use of the verb for the fact of uttering human language (Matt. 9:3333And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. (Matthew 9:33); Mark 16:1717And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17); Acts 2:4; 18:94And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)
9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: (Acts 18:9)), and in such expressions as "He spoke saying" (cf. Mark 6:5050For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. (Mark 6:50); Heb. 2:22For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (Hebrews 2:2)) sufficiently defines its force. John 8:4343Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. (John 8:43) brings λόγος. and λαλιά, together in a way that illustrates their respective meanings: λόγος is the matter of those discourses, the word itself; λαλιά the outward form and utterance which His word assumes. They did not understand what He said (λαλιά), because they did not take in His thought (λόγος); as it has been said, "In divine things one does not learn the definitions of words and then the things: one learns the things, and then the meaning of the words is evident." There could not be a more important principle.