Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LOGIA

A saying, often short, generally associated with deity. In Classical Greek lógia was nearly equivalent to chrēsmós, “oracular saying.” In the LXX it is usually used to translate Heb. ʾōmer and ʾimrâ but is also used for dāḇār instead of the usual lógos (“word”). Usages of lógion and lógia in the LXX fall into four categories: (1) individual sayings of God associated with the Law (Isa. 28:13); (2) oracular pronouncements of God declared by an intermediary (Num. 24:4, 16); (3) commands, occasionally placed in parallel with covenant (diathḗkē), and the Law of the Lord (tón nómon kyríou) (Isa. 5:24); (4) general reference to the collective sayings of a person (Ps. 19:14[18:15]), or of God (Ps. 119 [118], 17 times), often conveying promises or statements regarding a future state of affairs.

In the NT lógia occurs four times. In Acts 7:38 Stephen uses the phrase “living” (zṓnta) lógia to cite the Torah which Moses received on Mt. Sinai. He is referring to the entirety of God’s revelation to Moses and stressing its living or abiding nature, and thus its contemporary efficacy. In Rom. 3:2 Paul, after speaking extensively about the OT law, proclaims the privilege of the Jews in having received the lógia of God. The reference is again to the entirety of God’s revelation in the OT. Here, however, the Jews have forfeited their blessing because of unfaithfulness and others have benefited. In Heb. 5:12 the writer, in the context of Jesus’ relation to the OT sacrificial system, chides his audience that they need instruction in the basic principles of God’s lógia. The reference is to the entirety of the OT revelation, along with the Word which was “spoken to us by a Son” (Heb. 1:2). It is essential that this lógia be understood and obeyed. Finally in 1 Pet. 4:11, in reference to the proper use of a charismatic gift, the audience is cautioned to speak as one who utters the lógia of God. As in Num. 24:4, 16, lógia refers here to the oracular pronouncements of God given to an intermediary to speak on his behalf.

There are two categories of usage for lógia in the NT: (1) a continuation of the pre-Christian use, pronouncements from a deity relayed by a spokesperson, although the reference is to the entirety of the message and not to individual sayings (Acts 7:38; 1 Pet. 4:11); and (2) God’s total revelation as it relates to salvation throughout the history of the OT and into the contemporary setting where Jesus has achieved that salvation for his people (Rom. 3:2; Heb. 5:12).

In early Church literature these same two categories continue along with a stress on individual sayings from the OT and NT, especially the sayings of Jesus. In contemporary scholarship lógia is a technical term for a saying, particularly with respect to a saying of Jesus, and is often associated with the oral Q source.

Casey W. Davis

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LOGIA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)