Logos And Rhema! What's the difference?
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Davies Ige
Over time I personally have had to argue with some people over the difference between RHEMA and LOGOS and even how they apply to us as Christians. I recently came across a book written by Derek Prince titled “Faith to Live By” which confirmed all of my personal revelation on rhema and logos.
In the original greek context of the New Testament, there are to different words that are normally translated “word”; one is Logos, the other is Rhema. At times the two words are used interchangeably, yet each has a distinctive significance of its own.
The word “logos” means just more than a word that is spoken or written. It denotes those functions that are more than the expression of a mind. The greek lexicon of Liddell and Scott defines Logos as “the power of the mind that is manifested in speech; reason”.
In this sense, Logos is the unchanging Word of God. It is Gods counsel, settled in eternity before time began, due to continue on, even into eternity, long after time has run its course (P.S: time is only but a fragment of eternity).
On the other hand, Rhema is derived from a verb meaning “to speak”, and denotes specifically “a word that is spoken”- something that occurs in time and space. In Romans 10:17 Paul says that “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”, in this context he used the word Rhema, and not logos. This usage agrees with the fact that he coupled “word” with “hearing”. Logically in order to be heard, a word must be spoken.
In practical sense, when the Holy Spirit makes the word of God to become flesh, such that it would meet our needs at a particular moment, and impart our lives, they (the words made flesh) become a RHEMA- something we can hear and feel at the time, speaking directly and personally to us.
Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no Rhema, that’s why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:6 “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”. In the Bible, the Logos (the entire counsel of God) is made available to us, but logos is too vast and complex for us to comprehend and assimilate in its totality, so Rhema is the way that the Holy Spirit brings a portion of logos down out of eternity and relates it to time and space and human experience.
By His Holy Spirit, He directs us to the very words that are appropriate and imparts life to them so that they become a Rhema- a living voice. At this point the only response required of us is HEARING. To the extent at which we hear, to that same extent we receive faith.
Now what does hearing entail? It is important that we know as precisely as possible what is important for us. Proverbs 4:20-21 tells us how to accomplish this:
My son attend to my words (Proverbs 4:20): Give close undivided attention to what God is saying to us by His Spirit.
Incline thine ear (verse 20): Adopt a humble, teachable attitude towards God. Renounce your prejudice and preconceptions and accept what God says in its plainest and most practical meaning.
Let them not depart from thine eyes (verse 21): Focus on the word to which God has directed you to. Do not allow your eyes to wander to statements that may conflict with what God is saying.
Keep them in the midst of thine heart (verse 21): even when the words are no longer before our eyes, we continue to meditate on them in our hearrts. In this way, we retain them continually at the center of our beings and their influence permeates every area of our lives.
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