Logos vs Rhema

GOD’S WORD: But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4

By Glenn Miller

 I came across something the other day while researching scripture that presented an entirely new dimension of understanding. It has to do with the word “WORD” as it appears in the New Testament. As you know, most of the New Testament was written in Greek, but there are two different Greek words used for the word “WORD” in two different places.

 In John 1:1, we read “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God”. The Greek word used here is LOGOS. John appealed to his readers by saying in essence, “You’ve been thinking, talking, and writing about the Word for centuries and now I will tell you who He is.” Thus John introduced Jesus in terms his audience understood, showing that Jesus is God. He wanted his readers to engage with the realities of what they meant when they spoke of the Logos or “Word of God” and how all those things are fulfilled in the person of Jesus.(Source: World View and Apologetics)

But a different Greek word is used in Ephesians 6:17 when Paul writes about the armor of God, citing that the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” There, the Greek word used is RHEMA, which refers to a word that is spoken and means “an utterance.” A rhema word is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction. (Source: Institute of Basic Life Principles) In the context of Ephesians 6, it implies that the spoken truths about God using Scripture is our offensive weapon in spiritual warfare. In short, when we find ourselves in spiritual warfare, we should speak verbally, out loud, scriptures over the situation! In addition, when we prophesy and speak words of knowledge or words in due season over someone, we speak the written, scriptural word, a Rhema word.

This may be a little deep but understanding this brings about the power of speaking scripture over situations. In order to do that, we have to have a good working knowledge of scripture. Not a degree from a Bible College or Seminary, but a working application of Scripture that is relevant and in context of God’s power and promises when we face certain situations. That’s what Jesus did when He was tempted by Satan in the desert; He spoke scripture over each of Satan’s attempts and defeated them.

We can and should do the same.