Kelloggs
Member
Agreed.I apologize in advance that these thoughts are not organized, but I only had a couple of minutes to post and did not have time to organize them.
Standing_alone asked : "Why was Jesus referred to as "the Word," as in John 1? (opening post)
Scuba Pete said “Perhaps all of those scriptures referring to the Word of God are referring NOT to scripture, but to Jesus.” (post #9)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was (a) God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2
Such references often refer to the savior by the name “the word”. John seems to use this ancient name for the redeemer, more often than other witnesses. “…And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13). It is in this context that Jesus was often referred to as “the word” of God in early texts.
The appellation "the word" is an appellation that was frequently used in much of Early Judeo-Christian literature, especially when referring to Jesus in his pre-creation and pre-carnation roles as he was with the Father from the beginning of Creating this world. The Epistle of Barnabas refers to this point when it says “For the Scripture speaks about us when he says to the Son: “Let us make man according to our image and likeness, and let them rule over the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea.” And when he saw that our creation was good, the Lord said: “Increase ad multiply and fill the earth.” These things he said to the Son.” (Barnabas 6:12) In the context of ancient pre-mortality existence, when describing Adam, God refers to Jesus as “the word” when he says, (speaking of Adam), “… And (as my) image he knows the word like (no) other.... (c.f. 2nd Enoch 30:10-17)
However, other prophets in other sacred witnesses often use the same name in reference to the redeemer. When the Prophet Baruch prays "O hear me, you who created the earth, the one who fixed the firmament by the word…." (Baruch 2 21:4-5) he is referring to the early description of Jesus’ in his role as Creator under the direction of God the Father, in this ancient context. The early coordination of God the Father and the son are seen in early descriptions of their roles in such texts as Jewish Haggadah “The superiority of man to the other creatures is apparent in the very manner of his creation, altogether different from theirs. He is the only one who was created by the hand of God. The rest sprang from the Word of God." (The Haggadah (Man and the world)
Multiple sacred witnesses speak of Jesus in this context as creator for God. For example, Hebrews when it describes that “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds ( Heb 1:1-2 )
In reference to the ancient Judeo-Christian traditions regarding the war in heaven, a Coptic psalm spoke of “the word” as the one who subdues the rebellious angels : "Now as they were warring with each other, they made bold to attack the land of Light, considering themselves capable of conquering it….. But there was a host of angels in the Land of Light which possessed the power to issue forth and overcome the enemy of the Father, whom it pleased that through the Word that he would send, he should subdue the rebels who desired to raise themselves above what was more exalted than they". Coptic Psalm 223 (allberry 9-11);
The Rechabite literature also spoke of the incarnation of the redeemer as "the word" : “To us the holy angels of God announce (both) the incarnation of the Word of God, who (is) from the holy virgin…” History of the Rechabites 12:9a
Occassionally the use of this name for the redeemer goes unnoticed in the early sacred texts : for example, “ For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass….. 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you." 1 Pet 1:24-25. In this case, “the word” does not seem to refer to the gospel message, but the source which is preaching the gospel. I think this is another use of "the word" as an appellation for the redeemer.
The decensus literature also contains this use of “the word” as a name for Jesus. For example, when Bartholomew tells us that "But when the Devil perceived that the Word of the Father had come down upon the earth, he said: "Do not fear, Hades; we will make fast the gates and make strong our bars….” He is clearing referring to Jesus since it references one who “was hanged upon the cross for your sake and for the sake of your children." And when he heard that, he groaned and said: "So you were pleased to do, O Lord. " The Gospel of Bartholomew ;
Again, it is John who tells us that “… the Word was made 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. John 1:14. As in other examples, the message is not "made flesh" but it is the pre-existing redeemer that is "made flesh".
Like John, the Judeo-Christian Enochian literature uses this appellation a lot. "… in the last generation, there will be another Melkisedek, the first of the 12 priests. And the last will be the head of all, a great archpriest, the Word and Power of god, who will perform miracles, greater and more glorious than all the previous ones." 2nd Enoch 71:33-34
Sometimes one cannot tell if the reference is an appellation referring to Jesus, or to the message itself. For example, when John says “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. " It could be a reference to something John heard Jesus (the word) said, or the message (the word) that Jesus said. Acts 11:16
Clear
ειτζσεσεω
P.S. In the early Christian textual witness, Life of Adam and Eve (vita), when the promise is made to Adam that he would be redeemed, Adam is pleading to God "Cast me not from your presence, whom you formed from the clay of the earth", Adam relates "And behold, your word came to me and the Lord said to me, ‘Because your days are numbered, you have been made to cherish knowledge; ...” (A&E Vita) 27:2-3.
There are numerous examples of where the appellation "the word" applies to the redeemer in his various roles at various times in his existence.
I think I posted a similar thing on another post:
http://www.religiousforums.com/threads/jesus-the-word-jesus-the-way-truth-and-life.190983/
post #11
