I recently came across an article written by Spiros Zodhiates, editor of Pulpit Magazine, and a well known Greek scholar. The title of the article was Logos: Logic Incarnate. Following is the first paragraph of the article:
Ever since the Fall, man’s limited perspective has been at odds with God’s omniscient intelligence. At the beginning of his Gospel, John introduces us to the Word (ho Lógos) who was with God and was God (John 1:1). Lógos not only means “word” but also denotes logic and intelligence. In a nutshell, the goal of logic is to arrive at a definite conclusion based on a starting premise of idea. Because God is not only logical but logic itself, His thought patterns would undoubtedly make the most sense when applied to any situation.
December 2005, Pulpit Helps, page 5
Interestingly, there is another Greek word, dialogismós, which is used a number of times in the New Testament to refer to the thoughts or logic of men. Though the word literally means, “consideration, reasoning or thought” (Strong’s), it often refers to a human logic that is at odds with the Lógos. Notice the following scriptures:
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:21-23).
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23).
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20).
The lesson here is obvious. When men begin to reason for themselves, separate and apart from God’s revealed will, their “logic” is flawed. Further, they are unable to recognize the fallacy of their reasoning, because they have rejected God. In the language of the apostle Paul, they “did not like to retain God in their knowledge”, and so “God gave them over to a debased mind” (Romans 1:28).
One of the primary reasons there is so much ungodliness in our day is that men have sought to establish their own “wisdom”, rather than acquiescing to the wisdom of God. James wrote about such earthly reasoning:
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you havebitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:13-17).
Man must come to the realization that, “…the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). As the wise man wrote, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
We are all dependent upon the Lógos, the Word for instructions in God’s ways. Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through [him]” (John 14:6).
