Logos and Rhema
In the New Testament, two Greek words are used to denote 'word': logos and Rhema. The former is the word in a general sense, that is, what is written in the body of truth contained in the Bible. The latter, on the other hand, refers to the spoken word. This, unlike logos, is more subjective, and derives from fellowship. In Matthew 4:4, when Jesus said "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God", it was a reference to rhema.
When we say that the Bible is the word of God, logos is implied. By itself alone, logos will do us very little good in daily decision making, even though it can provide a general guide for conduct. Merely knowing what the Bible says does not generate faith, but it is important for judging the accuracy of a rhema (what God is saying). Rhema is the spoken word of God giving us direction for specific, current decisions that we need to make. Better still, rhema is a word from God that is tailor-made for our personal needs.
Romans 10:17 is an example of rhema. It is a word heard from God for the present occasion. It is something that has its origin in God (1 John 5:4). Faith comes from rhema (hearing from God). When Peter walked on the water, it derived its life from the word that Jesus spoke to him, 'come'. It would have been a presumptuous act for Peter to have stepped out into the water if Jesus did not say 'come', his faith to walk on water came from a word that he heard from Jesus.
What if a person read in the logos (the written word) that Peter walked on the water, and then decides to replicate the same act of faith, and then goes to the sea to walk on the water like Peter? I am sure that you know what the outcome will be.
In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." Rhema is here meant. As important as rhema is, you cannot make a doctrine out of it because it's personalised nature.
John 316, for example, is a logos telling us what is available to the human race, but a time comes when it leaps from this general note,and becomes a personal word spoken to specifically to us. At this time, it becomes a rhema. Rhema is a personalised word spoken to us from God for a present need. But it is important to emphasise that all of rhema is judged by logos because God will never give a rhema that conflicts with logos.
Toni
In the New Testament, two Greek words are used to denote 'word': logos and Rhema. The former is the word in a general sense, that is, what is written in the body of truth contained in the Bible. The latter, on the other hand, refers to the spoken word. This, unlike logos, is more subjective, and derives from fellowship. In Matthew 4:4, when Jesus said "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God", it was a reference to rhema.
When we say that the Bible is the word of God, logos is implied. By itself alone, logos will do us very little good in daily decision making, even though it can provide a general guide for conduct. Merely knowing what the Bible says does not generate faith, but it is important for judging the accuracy of a rhema (what God is saying). Rhema is the spoken word of God giving us direction for specific, current decisions that we need to make. Better still, rhema is a word from God that is tailor-made for our personal needs.
Romans 10:17 is an example of rhema. It is a word heard from God for the present occasion. It is something that has its origin in God (1 John 5:4). Faith comes from rhema (hearing from God). When Peter walked on the water, it derived its life from the word that Jesus spoke to him, 'come'. It would have been a presumptuous act for Peter to have stepped out into the water if Jesus did not say 'come', his faith to walk on water came from a word that he heard from Jesus.
What if a person read in the logos (the written word) that Peter walked on the water, and then decides to replicate the same act of faith, and then goes to the sea to walk on the water like Peter? I am sure that you know what the outcome will be.
In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." Rhema is here meant. As important as rhema is, you cannot make a doctrine out of it because it's personalised nature.
John 316, for example, is a logos telling us what is available to the human race, but a time comes when it leaps from this general note,and becomes a personal word spoken to specifically to us. At this time, it becomes a rhema. Rhema is a personalised word spoken to us from God for a present need. But it is important to emphasise that all of rhema is judged by logos because God will never give a rhema that conflicts with logos.
Toni
