λόγος: lexical background (brief)

Says λόγος (logos, "word") is the noun related to λέγω. Its standard glosses in ordinary Greek are word, statement, message and account, and also reason. Thayer s.v. λόγος (G3056) and BDAG s.v. λόγος are cited by reference only.

Background (summary; see the Hebrew and Historical notes): - OT/LXX: λόγος often renders דָּבָר (davar, "word"), the creative and revealing word of YHWH. An example is Ps 33:6 (LXX 32:6): τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ κυρίου οἱ οὐρανοὶ ἐστερεώθησαν, "by the word of the Lord the heavens were made firm" (Greek checked letter by letter against Swete's printed page, vol. 2, p. 251). Personified Wisdom (Prov 8) is also relevant. - Hellenistic: In Stoic thought, λόγος is the rational principle pervading the cosmos. Philo of Alexandria uses λόγος for a mediating divine reason.

Says John's λόγος is personal. He "was with God," "was God," and "became flesh" (1:1, 14). In the Fourth Gospel the absolute title appears only in the prologue. Compare 1 John 1:1 (περὶ τοῦ λόγου τῆς ζωῆς) and Rev 19:13 (ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ).

Implies The term was meaningful to both Jewish and Greek readers. John fills it with content from Genesis and Israel's Scriptures, and he goes beyond both backgrounds by identifying the λόγος with a historical person.

Uncertain Which background is primary. The team favors the OT background (the echo of Gen 1:1, the creative word, and the tabernacle and glory language of 1:14) and treats Hellenistic resonance as secondary.