In a Beginning was the Logic

2006-10-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

en arche ein ho logos

So says the first chapter of John. It is commonly translated, "In the beginning was the Word." A few interesting tidbits about this verse (a verse by the way that probably to my dying day will intrigue me).

First, in Greek, en arche literally means, "In a beginning." Yes that's right, no definite article. When one checks the Greek Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) in Genesis 1, to which this verse obviously makes reference, one sees that the very same words are present there. The mystery does not end there. In Hebrew, in Genesis 1, the word is b'resheet. It's a bit harder to translate this guy, but it is still important to point out that this word also lacks the Hebrew equivalent of a definite article.

My point? None really, except to say that a word as important as "the" is automatically assumed in translation, but is not present in any of the original languages of Scripture. Could there be a different mindset between the likes of us and the likes of the original audience in terms of our concepts of beginning and end?

Second, the word logos, translated as "Word," loses its depth and multivalent nuance when heard from a 21st century Joe or Joanne Faithperson. Without boring anybody, consider that the same word can also mean "Logic" or "Reason." It's the Greek word where we get our "ology" in words like "biology," "geology," etc. So, what if Jesus is the "study of" made flesh? Just kidding. But a more serious question would be, what if Jesus is the Logic made flesh? Perhaps a more involved and informing expression than simply "Word."

Besides Mark, with its sobering emphasis on the Crucified Christ (moreso arguably than any other Gospel), John is a special gospel for me, particularly in this first chapter. A distant and mysterious God shrouded and hidden from the likes of humans (a God outside of time and space) becomes flesh, a part of time and space. This is a part of Scripture that needs to be recaptured as more than simply a recounting of some tale from yester-millenia. It is inextricably tied to the living Christ, that is a Christ that keeps coming, keeps breaking barriers, keeps healing, and keeps urging us to follow the way of the cross. This God enfleshed isn't something that simply happened; it happens.

Logos

In a Beginning was the Logic