The designation of Jesus as "the Word" holds profound significance in Christian theology, encompassing themes of creation, revelation, incarnation, and redemption....
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Why is Jesus called the Word?
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The designation of
Jesus as “the Word” holds profound significance in Christian theology, encompassing themes of creation, revelation, incarnation, and redemption. This title originates from the opening verses of the Gospel of John, where the apostle John presents a majestic prologue that establishes the identity and role of
Christ.
To explore why Christ is called the Word, we must delve into the theological depth of this concept, drawing upon references from the Bible.
The Gospel of John begins with a striking declaration that sets the stage for the rest of the narrative: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was
God” (
John 1:1 NKJV). This opening statement immediately introduces
Christ as “the Word” (Greek: Λόγος,
Logos), who existed from eternity past, was in intimate relationship with
God the Father, and shared the divine nature.
Logos in Greek means, “utterance,” “saying,” “speech,” and “account.” Logos is commonly used for both creative (Psalms 33:6; Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, etc.) and communicative (Jeremiah 1:4; Ezekiel 1:3; Amos 3:1) expressions of the divine thought and will. In the past, the Lord has revealed His divine plans and purposes through these avenues.
John goes on to affirm the preexistence and creative agency of Christ: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (
John 1:3 NKJV).
Here, the Word is portrayed as the divine agent through whom God brought the entire cosmos into existence. This echoes the language of Genesis 1,
where God speaks creation into being by His Son.
.....................................Note: The Word was with God in Genesis. The Word made vocal what God wanted said.
In John 1:14 (NKJV), the apostle John makes a remarkable assertion: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth.” This verse encapsulates the doctrine of the Incarnation—
the belief that the eternal Word of God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Through the Incarnation, the Word became the ultimate revelation of God to humanity, embodying His grace, truth, and glory.
Christ became a human to reveal the Father’s infinite
love. He came to partake of our experiences, to leave us an example (
John 13:15), to help us in
temptation (
Matthew 6:13), to die for our sins (
John 3:16), and to represent us without blame before the Father (
Hebrews 2:14–17).
The eternal Word, who had ever been with the Father, became Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The concept of the Word also conveys the idea of divine communication or self-expression.
In John 1:18 (NKJV), John declares, “No one has seen God at any time. The
only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” Christ serves as the divine revealer who makes known the character, will, and purposes of God to humanity. Through his teachings, actions, and ultimately his sacrificial
death and resurrection, the Son reveals the Father’s
love, righteousness, and redemptive plan.
The Word is not merely an abstract concept or message but a personal being—the second Person of the
Trinity—who actively communicates with humanity.
In John 10:30 (NKJV),
Christ declares, “I and My Father are one,” affirming His essential unity and identity with the Father. Through Christ, God speaks to humanity in a personal, relational manner, inviting them into communion with Himself.
The designation of Christ as the Word finds resonance with various Old Testament passages that speak of God’s word as powerful, creative, and revelatory. For example,
Psalm 33:6 (NKJV) states, “
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” Christ embodies and fulfills these prophetic images of the divine Word in human form.
The incarnation of the Word in Christ represents the pinnacle of God’s self-disclosure to humanity.
In Colossians 1:15-20 (NKJV), the apostle
Paul describes Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, and the one in whom all things hold together. This cosmic Christology underscores the universal significance of Christ’s.
In Christ, “dwells all the fullness of the
Godhead [<a href="
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2:9&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-29504a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a</a>]bodily” (
Colossians 2:9, NKJV). Nevertheless, “in all things He had to be made like
His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (
Hebrews 2:17, NKJV). The Son was one with the Father from the days of eternity. But He chose to leave the throne of the universe and step down to
earth in order that He might dwell among us, and make us acquainted with His divine character.
Finally, the Word invites a response of
faith and
obedience from humanity.
In John 3:16-18 (NKJV), Christ declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Faith in Christ as the incarnate Word is the means by which individuals are reconciled to God, receive forgiveness of sins, and inherit eternal life.
In conclusion, the title of Jesus as “the Word” encompasses themes of creation, revelation, incarnation, and redemption. Through the Word, God communicates His divine will and purpose to humanity, ultimately culminating in the person of Christ—the Word made flesh. As believers contemplate the significance of Christ as the Word, they are invited into a deeper understanding of God’s self-disclosure and a transformative relationship with the Godhead.
