Word-Logos-Rhema4
Listed below is a quote from John MacArthur. I am comfortable with his explanation of the two Greek Words and thus the end of the series on the two Greek words for “word”.
May this information help you to make a conclusion about the difference between Logos and Rhema.
Eph. 6:17b
“The term Paul uses here for word is not logos, which refers to general statements or messages, but is rhēma, which refers to individual words or particular statements. The apostle is therefore not talking here about general knowledge of Scripture, but is emphasizing again the precision that comes by knowledge and understanding of specific truths. Like Jesus did in the wilderness, we need to use specific scriptural truths to counter specific satanic falsehoods. That is why Paul counseled Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). The faithful believers of Revelation 12 “overcame him [the accuser] because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony” (v. 11).”
Quote: John MacArthur Commentary on Ephesians
From that BASE – will look at different scripture references to show some possible conclusions:
The sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) is first of all a defensive weapon – deflecting the blows of an opponent – against the onslaughts of Satan. Jesus used the scripture each time to contradict the devil’s word. (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10) There would be nothing wrong with looking at “the sword of the Spirit” being an offensive weapon when one is taking the lead toward some wrong idea or action. THINK about ways you might find the action in your life!
Ephesians 6:17(ESV)
17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
The Greek word for “word” in this case is rhema (not Logos) as two different words are used that can be translated “word”, but they carry a different meaning….
Logos (word) – refers to general statements or messages…..
Rhema (word) – refers to individual words or particular statements.
Greek Word “Rhema” (word) here is emphasizing the precision that comes by knowledge and understanding of specific truths.
Like Jesus in the wilderness where it took specific spiritual truth to counter specific satanic falsehoods.
Romans 10:17 (NKJV) – God’s word needs to be specific in order to be effective….
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (the Greek word used is “rhema”)
Offensively, as well as defensively, the use of God’s Word needs to be specific in order to be effective.
Maybe more clearly translated Romans 10:17 could read: “faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes by a word [rhēma, a particular word] of God” (emphasis added).
It is not from just any part of Scripture that men come to faith, but from those parts that declare the gospel. Saving faith does not come from believing just any truth of Scripture, but from believing that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and trusting in His death to cleanse our own sins.
2 Timothy 2:15(ESV)
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,£ a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word (Logos) of truth. In this case “word” is translated from the Greek word “Logos” – meaning: General statements or messages….
To help see a difference note the SENSE line of both:
1st is “message – word, word of God”
2nd is “message (content)”
Since the scripture (the sword) is a ‘living and active and sharper than any two-edge sword, … it reflects the blows of the enemy. (Hebrews 4:12–13 (NKJV) 12 For the word (Logos) of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
The Word of God is so powerful that it transforms men from the realm of falsehood to that of truth. Every time God’s word is used to lead someone to ‘salvation’ it shows the power to cut through Satan’s dominion of darkness.
Rhema (word) – refers to individual words or particular statements.
Logos (word) – refers to general statements or messages…..
Rhema (word) – refers to individual words or particular statements.
Eph. 6:17 Romans 10:17 2 Timothy 2:15
Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God;
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word (logos) of truth.
Logos (Word) 329 times NKJV
Rhema (Word) 69 times NKJV
Rhema – as Message – Word – 37xs
Rhema – Translated: “word, words” or “saying, sayings” majority of times….
Rhema – Translated: (56 xs) “word, words” or “saying, sayings” majority of times….
Logos – Mostly translated (245xs) “word, word’s, words
Logos – Mostly translated (245xs) “word, word’s, words
Part of the information on “The Sense” of “Logos”:
Looking at the SENSE of the word “rhema”:
Rhema – definitions from various sources:
Strongs: 4487ῥῆμα[rhema /hray·mah/] n n. From 4483; TDNT 4:69; TDNTA 505; GK 4839; 70 occurrences; AV translates as “word” 56 times, “saying” nine times, “thing” three times, “no thing + 3756” once, and not translated once. 1that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word. 1aany sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning. 1bspeech, discourse. 1b1what one has said. 1ca series of words joined together into a sentence (a declaration of one’s mind made in words). 1c1an utterance. 1c2a saying of any sort as a message, a narrative. 1c2aconcerning some occurrence. 2subject matter of speech, thing spoken of. 2aso far forth as it is a matter of narration. 2bso far as it is a matter of command. 2ca matter of dispute, case at law.
Louw-Nida- 33.9ῥῆμαa,τος n: a minimal unit of discourse, often a single word—‘word, saying.’ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ πρὸς οὐδὲ ἓν ῥῆμα ‘he refused to answer him a single word’ Mt 27:14. In place of a rendering such as ‘refused to answer a single word,’ it may be more idiomatic to say ‘said nothing’ or ‘refused to speak.’
ANLEX: ῥῆμα, ατος, τό (1) as what has definitely been stated, with focus on content, (single) word, saying, utterance (MT 27.14); often translated according to the context: prediction or prophecy (MT 26.75), command or direction (LU 5.5), threat (AC 6.13); plural, as a unified communication sermon, proclamation, speech (LU 7.1); message (JN 3.34), teachings, doctrine (JN 5.47); (2) Hebraistically, as a happening thing, matter, business, transaction (MT 18.16; LU 1.37)
BDAG– ῥῆμα, ατος, τό(Pind.; Pla., Leg. 840c [w. μῦθο], prob. of edifying maxims; Hdt.+)
①that which is said, word, saying, expression, or statement of any kind τὰ ῥήματαthe words(opp. τὰ ἔργα) 2 Cl 13:3; Hs 9, 21, 2; cp. Ac 16:38. πᾶν ῥῆμαevery wordB 11:8. πᾶν ῥῆμα ἀργόνMt 12:36.πᾶν ῥ. πονηρόνHs 5, 3, 6; οὐδὲ ἓν ῥ. not even one word Mt 27:14; cp. ῥῆμα ἕνAc 28:25.—Lk 2:17, 50; 20:26; 1 Cl 27:7 (Ps 18:3). φωνὴ ῥημάτωνthe sound of words, a voice whose wordsHb 12:19; αἰσχρὸν ῥ. Hv 1, 1, 7. ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥ. Lk 24:11. ἄρρητα ῥήματα(s. ἄρρητος2) 2 Cor 12:4. ῥ. ἔκφρικταHv 1, 3, 3b. ῥ. ἀληθῆm 11:3; δεινὰ ῥ. MPol 8:3. ῥ. βλάσφημαAc 6:11.ῥῆμα, ῥήματα ἀκούεινB 16:10; Hv 1, 1, 6; 4, 1, 7; 4, 2, 6 al. τὰ προειρημένα ῥ. (s. προεῖπον1) 2 Pt 3:2; s. Jd 17; Hm 9:4. πολὺν ἐν ῥήμασιν γενέσθαιbe profuse in speech, be too talkative1 Cl 30:5 (Job 11:3).—τὸ ῥ., τὰ ῥ. oft. takes a special significance fr. the context: prophecy, prediction Mt 26:75; Mk 9:32; 14:72; Lk 1:38; 2:29; 9:45ab; 18:34; 22:61 (v.l. λόγο); 24:8; Ac 11:16; MPol 16:2. Declaration of scripture 2 Cl 15:4 (cp. Mel., P. 11, 73 τὰ ῥ. τῆ γραφῆ).—Command(ment), order, direction Lk 5:5; esp. of God (Dt 1:26) 3:2; Hb 11:3; 1 Cl 10:1; ῥ. τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦHb 1:3.τὸ ἰσχυρὸν ῥ. the mighty creative word Hv 1, 3, 4; cp. 3, 3, 5. διὰ ῥήματος ΧριστοῦRo 10:17.—Threat λαλεῖν ῥήματα κατά τινοςmake threats againstsometh. Ac 6:13.—τὰ ῥ. speech, sermon, proclamation πάντα τὰ ῥ. αὐτοῦeverything he had to sayLk 7:1. ἐνωτίσασθε τὰ ῥήματά μουpay attention to what I am proclaimingAc 2:14.—10:44; J 8:20. τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶνtheir preachingRo 10:18 (Ps 18:5).—Of pronouncements of (Christian) teaching or of divine understanding πῶς τοῖς ἐμοῖς ῥήμασιν πιστεύσετε;J 5:47.Cp. 6:63; 10:21; 12:47f; 14:10; 15:7; 17:8; Ac 10:22. ῥήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίουJ 6:68.τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτηςAc 5:20.ῥήματα ἐν οἷς σωθήσῃ11:14.ῥήματα ἀληθείας κ. σωφροσύνης26:25.τὰ ῥ. τοῦ θεοῦ(Sextus 4, 39 ῥήματα θεοῦ; Marinus, Vi. Procli 32 θεῖα ῥ.) J 3:34; 8:47. ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ(Dt 8:3) Mt 4:4. τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ κυρίου τὰ λεγόμενα διὰ παραβολῶνthe Lord’s teachings which were expressed in the form of parablesHs 5, 4, 3. διάσταλμα ῥήματοςthe special meaning of the teachingB 10:11. Gener. the sing. brings together all the divine teachings as a unified whole, w. some such mng. as gospel, or confession: ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστινRo 10:8a(Dt 30:14); cp. vs. 9 v.l. MSuggs, ‘The Word Is Near You’ Ro 10:6–10, JKnox Festschr. ’67, 289–312. Cp. Eph 5:26. ἐπότισεν ῥήματιhe(Paul) gave (Artemilla) a drink of words to ponder AcPl Ha 4, 5. τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν εἰς ὑμᾶς1 Pt 1:25b.W. objective gen. τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεωςRo 10:8b.W. subjective gen. ῥῆμα θεοῦEph 6:17; Hb 6:5. τὸ ῥ. κυρίου1 Pt 1:25a(cp. Is 40:8).—GKittel, D. Wort Gottes im NT: Pastoralblätter für Predigt etc. 80, ’37/38, 345–55.
②after the Hebrew an event that can be spoken about, thing, object, matter, event οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμαnothing will be impossible with GodLk 1:37 (Gen 18:14). ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμαMt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1 (both Dt 19:15; cp. TestAbr A 13 p. 92, 24 [Stone p. 32]). Cp. the sing. (TestAbr A 15 p. 96, 15 [Stone p. 40]; JosAs 17:1 [CBurchard, A Note on ῥῆμαin JosAs 17:1f; Lk 2:15, 17; Ac 10:3: NovT 27, ’85, 281–95]) Lk 2:15 (cp. 1 Km 4:16); Ac 10:37. Pl. Lk 1:65; 2:19, 51; Ac 5:32; 13:42.—ERepo, Der Begriff Rhema im Biblisch-griechischen (Academia Scientia Fennica) I ’52 (LXX); II ’54 (NT and early Christian lit.), but s. critique by GZuntz, L’Antiquité Classique 22, ’53, 106–12.—B. 1262. DELG s.v. εἴρω(2). M-M. EDNT. TW.