Rhema-

Rhema – This word is usually translated as “word”. This is not really that poor of a translation as we shall see. However, because we translate it as word and most translators (incorrectly) render “logos” as “word”, there is some confusion and blurring of the two. Specifically speaking Rhema means a spoken word or spoken message. In order to defferientiate this from logos and graphe there will be further explanation of how to distinguish them below.

Graphe-

Graphe- There is also some confusion of both “logos” and “rhema” and the word “graphe” which actually simply means a written word. Most English translators render “graphe” as scripture or writings. When it is termed as Hagias Graphe it means scriptures that are set apart specifically for God’s use and thus in this instance “graphe” is typically rendered as Holy Scriptures. However, there is some confusion here because all three have a connection to “word.” Therefore, when many people see logos or rhema translated as word they think what is being described is the Bible (Holy Scriptures) but this simply isn’t the case. When those words are used they mean different things and so a discussion of how the 3 words interplay with each other follows below.

A Deeper study on the interaction between logos, rhema, and graphe!

So let us dive further here. While all three of these Greek words may be related, the fact is that logos, rhema and graphe all have different meanings. Logos is a person’s logic or thought process in a certain subject or area (see the earlier blog post on “Logos” for further understanding of this). “Rhema” simply means spoken word and “Graphe” means written word. So why the confusion? The confusion is because any spoken or written word means more then just being a spoken or written word. This is because when spoken words or written words are put together we get sentences, which form an expression and explanation of a persons logos (their logic or thought process expressed in a verbal or written form). This set of words when understood as an expression of one’s logic could be expressed as a message when spoken (rhema) and scriptures or writings when written down (graphe). As such when a rhema appears it would probably be best translated as a spoken message.

A key thing to understand here is that, it is the logos (logic) of God that is called the logos (logic) of life (in 1 John and Hebrews). Not only this but it is understood by the writers of the scripture that God’s logos (or wisdom in the Old Testament) is life giving. Now, “graphe” and “rhema” can be and are life giving as long as they contain God’s logos (which is the true source of life). Remember, God’s rhema is some of God’s logos spoken out loud and could therefore be considered a message from God. The same is true of God’s Holy (set a part) Graphe. Hagias Graphe would be a portion of God’s logos written down and delivered as a message from God to its readers. Therefor it is not a stretch when scripture says things like “ these very words (rhema) I say to you are life” or “The Holy Scriptures (graphe) are inspired by God” this is because if the words that are spoken or written down contain some of God’s logos, than they are messages being delivered by God to their recipients, making those those claims very much true statements.

However a rhema or a graphe (even if it is from God) is not the same thing as logos, as the entirety of God’s logos (logic) is so much bigger then what can be said in a single message or what is written down and contained in scriptures. However, rhema and graphe always do contain someone’s logos and when that someone’s logos is God’s it is life giving. It is just key to understand that God’s logos (His logic) is something bigger and not fully contained in rhema or graphe. Therefor what is life giving is not Rhema (spoken words) or Graphe ( scriptues / bible) but instead God’s logos, his very own logic. that becane flesh (John 1:1). We Know Him as Jesus (For more on this please visit the Greek word study on Logos on this blog site).