Definitions of Logos & Rhema

Two words that stand for "word of God"--logos and rhema--refer to two very distinct forms. In Christianity, these Greek words describe not only the words that fuel the religion, but the worshiper's relationship to the deity through those words.

The Written Word

Logos and rhema both translate to mean "word." Logos, however, refers to the written "word of God" or the Bible. Christians believe that the Bible is a divine text written to guide them through life on Earth.

The Spoken Word

Rhema is a bit different. It refers to the spoken "word of God," which can be more than one thing. Many Christians believe that God "speaks" to them while reading the Bible through verses that seem tailored for their particular situation. Others believe that, through meditation and prayer, one can hear the voice of God.

Significance

Many believers feel that the rhema is superior to the logos because the rhema is a realtime message from God through his written words in the Bible or logos. Others feel that without faith and a familiarity with the logos, the rhema is not possible.

Identification

Rhema is found in the Bible used synonymous with "speak." Logos is used synonymous with "logic."

Misconceptions

Logos and rhema are often given more power as words than they were meant to have. For example, one Bible scholar heard the word logos used to mean "all that God embodies." The word however, is clearly used in the Bible to mean written words or an understanding of the written word.

References

• An Interpretation of Logos and Rhema