John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. The Greek word that John used in this verse for word is logos. People who tend to limit their reading of the Bible to a literal/factual interpretation, especially fundamentalist Protestants, will simplistically interpret word as that which is written in the 66 books of the Christian Bible. Unfortunately, the actual Greek word, logos, does not lend itself to so simplistic an interpretation. According to A Greek Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG), logos has three principle meanings with many subtle nuances: 1. a communication whereby the mind finds expression, word - it may be an utterance, chiefly oral. It may take on a variety of formulations or topical nuances; what you say, question, prayer, prophesy, report, story, proclamation, instruction, teaching, or message. It may be an individual declaration or remark, such as a speech. It can be instructions given by human or transcendent beings. It can refer to a matter under discussion. It can refer to literary or oratorical productions. 2. a computation, reckoning - a formal accounting, especially of ones actions. The settlement of a commercial account. It can connote respect, regard, with regard to. It can be the reason for or cause of something; reason, ground, or motive. 3. the independent personified expression of God, the Logos. God, who revealed himself through Jesus Christ, his Son, who is his Word. The use of word in John 17:17 refers to logos as the divine revelation through Christ and his messengers; it fits as a nuance of meaning #1 of logos. It cannot refer to the New Testament canon of the Bible, as there was no such thing for the next 360+ years after the remark is reported to have been made.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:58:04 +0000
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