THE TERM ‘LOGOS’ IS AMBIGUOUS FOR A REASON 😉 Of course, I understand the concep

THE TERM ‘LOGOS’ IS AMBIGUOUS FOR A REASON 😉

Of course, I understand the concept as originally intended, as the universal law by which all things follow. But…the term ‘logos’ has evolved over history from ancient Greek, to Christian, To later philosophical thought. (The same way the left ‘appropriated and abused other terms).

In Greek philosophy:
1) Heraclitus conceived of logos as the universal law which all things follow.
2) More generally, Logos referred to the rational principle that governs the universe and as associated with divine wisdom or reason.
3) The Stoics used logos to refer to the animating power of the cosmos.

In Christianity:
1) Logos (λόγος) is translated as “Word” in the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
2) In that context, it Jesus as the divine Word/Wisdom of God through which all things were created. It connects Jewish conceptions of Wisdom with Greek notions of Logos. (cd: herein lies the problem)
3) Early Christian theologians like Justin Martyr equated Jesus as the incarnation of the Logos or divine Reason that orders the universe.

In philosophy:
1) Logos refers to reasoned discourse or meaning-laden language.
2) Platonic philosophy contrasts logos (reasoned speech) with mythos (myth/story).
3) Logos later became associated with logic and the rational deductive mode of thinking.

So in summary, logos has evolved from universal law,
to rational order, to divine wisdom, to meaningful discourse, by the attempt to bridge rational philosophy and divine revelation (cd: ack!), to rational deductive thinking and logic.