Jesus is the Word
The Word - Jesus Christ incarnate - is the very heart of Christianity. It is a profound declaration about Jesus’ identity and a lens through which the entire biblical narrative is illuminated. The concept of the Word (“Logos” in Greek) draws together threads from Jewish wisdom literature, Greek philosophy, and the Old Testament’s portrayal of God’s creative and revelatory speech. In calling Jesus, “The Word,” the New Testament presents him as the ultimate self-expression of God - eternal, personal, and incarnate. This article will examine the scriptural basis for this title, explore its theological meaning, and reflect on its implications for understanding the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Scriptural Foundation: Jesus as the Word
The clearest and most direct biblical statement identifying Jesus as the Word is found in the opening verses of the Gospel of John. John 1:1-3 declares: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
This passage is a deliberate echo of Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”) and a radical expansion of its meaning. John asserts that the Word existed before creation, was in intimate relationship with God, and indeed was God. The Word is not a created being or a mere attribute of God, but a distinct, personal reality who shares in the divine essence.
John continues in verse 14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The identity of the Word is made explicit: the Word is the one who became flesh - Jesus Christ. Jesus’ incarnation is the central miracle of the Christian faith, in which the eternal Word enters human history, taking on a real human nature without ceasing to be God.
Other New Testament passages reinforce this identification. In Revelation 19:13, the victorious Christ is described as “clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.” This title, used at the climax of redemptive history, affirms that Jesus is the living, active, and authoritative communication of God. The expression of Lord.
Why Is Jesus Called the Word?
To understand why Jesus is called the Word, it is necessary to consider the rich background and multifaceted meaning of the term Logos in both Jewish and Greek thought, as well as its specific use in the biblical context.
The Old Testament Background
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the “word” of God is a dynamic and powerful force. God creates by speaking: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The psalmist declares, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host” (Psalm 33:6). God’s word is not just information; it is effective, accomplishing what God intends (Isaiah 55:10-11).
The word of God is also the means by which God reveals himself and his will. The prophets repeatedly introduce their messages with the phrase, “The word of the Lord came to…” (e.g., Jeremiah 1:4). God’s word is his self-disclosure, his communication to humanity.
Jewish Wisdom Literature
In later Jewish writings, especially the wisdom literature, the concept of God’s word is closely associated with God’s wisdom–personified as an agent of creation and revelation. Proverbs 8:22-31 presents wisdom as present with God before the world began, delighting in creation and humanity. The Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, writing in the first century, used the term Logos to describe the intermediary between the transcendent God and the created world.
Greek Philosophy
In Greek philosophy, logos referred to reason, order, or the rational principle that governs the universe. While John’s use of the term is rooted primarily in the Old Testament, he also engages with the broader intellectual context of his day, presenting Jesus as the true and ultimate Logos–not an abstract principle, but a living person.
The Word as God’s Ultimate Self-Expression
John’s identification of Jesus as the Word means that Jesus is the ultimate self-expression of God. Just as a person’s words reveal their thoughts, intentions, and character, so Jesus reveals the very nature of God. As John 1:18 states, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” Jesus is the perfect and complete revelation of God, making the invisible God known in visible, tangible form.
The Word as Creator and Sustainer
John 1:3 affirms that “all things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” This echoes Paul’s teaching in Colossians 1:16-17: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Jesus, as the Word, is not only the agent of creation but also the one who sustains and upholds the universe.
The Word as Redeemer
The incarnation of the Word is the way of redemption. By becoming flesh, Jesus enters into the human condition, lives a sinless life, and offers himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin. Through his death and resurrection, the Word accomplishes the salvation that the Old Testament anticipated and the prophets proclaimed. As Hebrews 1:1-3 declares, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”
The Word as the Source of Life and Light
John’s prologue also presents the Word as the source of life and light: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). Jesus, as the Word, brings spiritual life and illumination to a world darkened by sin and ignorance. He is the true light who gives light to everyone (John 1:9).
Theological Implications
The identification of Jesus as the Word has far-reaching theological implications.
First, it affirms the full deity of Jesus. John does not hesitate to declare, “the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus is not a created being or a lesser divine figure, but shares the very nature and essence of God.
Second, it grounds the doctrine of the Trinity. The Word is both distinct from God (“the Word was with God”) and fully God. This distinction and unity are foundational for understanding the relationship between the Father and the Son.
Third, it establishes Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God. While God spoke in many ways through the prophets, Jesus is the final and complete Word. To know Jesus is to know God (John 14:9).
Fourth, it underscores the necessity of the incarnation for salvation. Only by becoming flesh could the Word accomplish redemption, bridging the gap between God and humanity.
Implications for Faith and Life
For believers, the truth that Jesus is the Word calls for a response of faith, worship, and obedience. To receive Jesus is to receive the life and light he brings (John 1:12). It also means that the Scriptures, as the written word of God, point ultimately to Jesus, the living Word. As Jesus himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39).
We are called to proclaim Jesus as the Word to a world in need of truth, life, and hope. In a culture marked by confusion and competing voices, the Word stands as the definitive revelation of God’s love, wisdom, and power.
Conclusion
The declaration that Jesus is the Word is a central affirmation of the Christian faith. Rooted in the opening verses of John’s Gospel and echoed throughout the New Testament, this title reveals Jesus as the eternal, divine, and incarnate self-expression of God. He is the creator, sustainer, revealer, and redeemer. To know Jesus as the Word is to encounter the fullness of God’s truth and grace. As the church continues to proclaim and embody this truth, it bears witness to the light that shines in the darkness–a light that the darkness cannot overcome.