Rhema
Encyclopedia
Rhema literally means an "utterance" or "thing said" in Greek. It is a word that signifies the action of utterance.
In philosophy, it was used by both Plato
and Aristotle
to refer to propositions or sentences.
In Christianity, it is used in reference to the concept of Rhematos Christou; Jesus Christ's sayings.
In the New Testament
, this noun is used in such instances as 1 Peter : “τὸ δὲ ῥῆμα Κυρίου μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα” i.e. “the Lord's utterance/saying remains forever”, or more commonly, "the word of the Lord endureth for ever".
Both Plato
(c. 428–347 BC) and Aristotle
(384–322 BC) used the terms logos, rhema and onoma. In Plato's usage, a logos (often translatable as a sentence) is a sequence in which verbs are mingled with nouns and every logos must have an onoma and rhema. For Plato, every logos was either true or false and in a logos, names included rhema which denotes actions and onoma a mark set on those who do the actions. Aristotle identified three components as central to the proposition: onoma, rhema and logos. These terms are translated differently depending on the context of the discussion - grammar or logic, as in the table on the right. But it was only in the 12th century that grammarians began to think in terms of units we understand as subject and predicate.
into Greek uses the terms Rhema and Logos
as equivalents and uses both for the Hebrew word Dabar
, as the Word of God.
, with Rhema at times called "a word from the Word," referring to the revelation received by the reader from the Holy Spirit
when the Word (Logos) is read. In this usage, "Logos" refers to Christ.
In this modern usage, Logos is the "Word of God" Jesus Christ, the subject from Genesis to Revelation
. Rhema is the revealed word of God, as an utterance from God to the heart of the reader via the Holy Spirit
, as in John
In this usage Rhema refers to "a word that is spoken", when the Holy Spirit delivers a message to the heart as in Romans
:
and in the Matthew
:
(Greek word #4487) Rhema can be found in the following (non exhaustive) New Testament
passages to refer to the concept of Rhematos Christou:
(Greek word #4487) Rhema can be found in the following (non exhaustive) New Testament
passages to refer to the concept of something being uttered:
In philosophy, it was used by both Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
to refer to propositions or sentences.
In Christianity, it is used in reference to the concept of Rhematos Christou; Jesus Christ's sayings.
Etymology
The Greek noun ῥῆμα "saying, utterance, verb, word" is analyzed as consisting of the root ἐρ-/ῥε- (er-/rhe-) "say" (cf. εἴρω "I say"; ἐρῶ "I will say") and the suffix -μα (-ma), a suffix used to form nouns from verbs.In the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, this noun is used in such instances as 1 Peter : “τὸ δὲ ῥῆμα Κυρίου μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα” i.e. “the Lord's utterance/saying remains forever”, or more commonly, "the word of the Lord endureth for ever".
Greek philosophers
| LOGIC | ARISTOTLE | GRAMMAR |
| subject | onoma | noun |
| predicate | rhema | verb |
| proposition | logos | sentence |
Both Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
(c. 428–347 BC) and Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
(384–322 BC) used the terms logos, rhema and onoma. In Plato's usage, a logos (often translatable as a sentence) is a sequence in which verbs are mingled with nouns and every logos must have an onoma and rhema. For Plato, every logos was either true or false and in a logos, names included rhema which denotes actions and onoma a mark set on those who do the actions. Aristotle identified three components as central to the proposition: onoma, rhema and logos. These terms are translated differently depending on the context of the discussion - grammar or logic, as in the table on the right. But it was only in the 12th century that grammarians began to think in terms of units we understand as subject and predicate.
Rhema and Logos in Christianity
In Christianity, rhema is used in Bible study to signify Jesus Christ's utterance. The Greek word rhema is useful to distinguish between two meanings of word. While both rhema and logos are translated into the English word, in the original Greek there was a substantial distinction. Rhema is Christ's utterance, while Logos refers to Christ himself.Septuagint usage
The Septuagint translation of the Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
into Greek uses the terms Rhema and Logos
Logos
' is an important term in philosophy, psychology, rhetoric and religion. Originally a word meaning "a ground", "a plea", "an opinion", "an expectation", "word," "speech," "account," "reason," it became a technical term in philosophy, beginning with Heraclitus ' is an important term in...
as equivalents and uses both for the Hebrew word Dabar
Dabar
The word dabar means "word" or "talk" in Hebrew. Dabar occurs in various contexts in the Hebrew Bible.In the Hebrew Bible, dabar is sometimes used in reference to the "Divine Word", and in an active sense as a "word event", or prophetic words....
, as the Word of God.
Modern usage
Some modern usage distinguishes Rhema from Logos in Christian TheologyChristian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
, with Rhema at times called "a word from the Word," referring to the revelation received by the reader from the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
when the Word (Logos) is read. In this usage, "Logos" refers to Christ.
In this modern usage, Logos is the "Word of God" Jesus Christ, the subject from Genesis to Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
. Rhema is the revealed word of God, as an utterance from God to the heart of the reader via the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, as in John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
"... the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
In this usage Rhema refers to "a word that is spoken", when the Holy Spirit delivers a message to the heart as in Romans
Epistle to the Romans
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
:
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (rhematos Christou)"
and in the Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
:
"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word (rhema) that comes from the mouth of God".
In reference to Rhematos Christou
From Strong's Concordance of the BibleStrong's Concordance
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, generally known as Strong's Concordance, is a concordance of the King James Bible that was constructed under the direction of Dr. James Strong and first published in 1890. Dr. Strong was Professor of exegetical theology at Drew Theological Seminary at...
(Greek word #4487) Rhema can be found in the following (non exhaustive) New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
passages to refer to the concept of Rhematos Christou:
- Mat 4:4 "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhemati) that proceeds from the mouth of God." (also Luke 4:4)
- Mat 26:75 "And Peter remembered the saying (rhematos) of Jesus, having said to him that, before a rooster calls out, three times you shall totally reject me." (also Mark 14:72)
- Mat 27:14 "And he did not answer to him not even one word (rhema) so that the governor marveled exceedingly."
- Luke 1:38 "And Mary said, behold the maidservant of the Lord; may it be to me according to your word (rhema), and the angel went forth from her.
- Luke 3:2 "with chief priests Annas and Caiphas, came the word (rhema) of God unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness."
- John 3.34 "For the one whom God has sent speaks the sayings (rhemata) of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."
- John 8:20 "These words (rhemata) Jesus spoke in the treasury teaching in the temple; and no one laid hold of him for his hour had not yet come."
- John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words (rhemata) abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you."
- Acts 2:14 "And Peter standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and declared to them, Men, Jews, and all the ones dwelling in Jerusalem let this be made known to you and give ear to my words (rhemata)!"
- Acts 10:37 "You know the thing (rhema) taking place in all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the immersion which John proclaimed."
- Acts 11:14 "Who shall speak words (rhemata) to you by which you shall be delivered, you and all your house."
- Acts 11:16 "And I remembered the saying (rhematos) of the Lord, how he said John indeed immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in Holy Spirit."
- Acts 13:42 "And exiting from out of the synagogue of the Jews, the nations appealed to them in the time between the Sabbath to speak to them these things (rhemata)."
- Acts 26:25 "But he said I am not mad most noble Festus but speak forth the words (rhemata) of truth and soberness".
- Romans 10:8 "What does it say, then? The word (rhema) is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word (rhema) of faith, the faith which we proclaim."
- Romans 10:17-18 "But it is in that way faith comes, from hearing, and that means hearing the word (rhematos) of Christ. Well then, I say, is it possible that they have not heard? Indeed they have: in the entire earth their voice stands out, their message (rhemata) reaches the whole world."
- 2 Corinthians 12:4 "That he was caught up into Paradise and heard words (rhemata) said that cannot and may not be spoken by any human being."
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 "This third time I come to you. By the mouth of two witnesses and three every saying (rhema) is established."
- Ephesians 6.17 "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God."
- Hebrews 6:5 "And tasted the goodness of God's message (rhema) and the powers of the world to come."
- Hebrews 11:3 "It is by faith that we understand that the ages were created by a word (rhemati) from God, so that from the invisible the visible world came to be."
- Hebrews 12:19 "And to the trumpet's sound, and to the voice of utterances (rhematon), of which the ones hearing asked pardon for the word to not proceed to them."
- 1 Peter 1:25 "But the word (rhema) of the Lord remains for ever. And this word (rhema) is the good news that has been brought to you."
- 2 Peter 3:2 "Remember what was said (rhematon) in the past by the holy prophets and the command of the Lord and Saviour given by your apostles."
- Jude 1:17 "But you beloved, remember the sayings! (rhematon) the ones being described beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Not in reference to Rhamtus Christou but simply to anybody's uttering
From Strong's Concordance of the BibleStrong's Concordance
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, generally known as Strong's Concordance, is a concordance of the King James Bible that was constructed under the direction of Dr. James Strong and first published in 1890. Dr. Strong was Professor of exegetical theology at Drew Theological Seminary at...
(Greek word #4487) Rhema can be found in the following (non exhaustive) New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
passages to refer to the concept of something being uttered:
- Acts 6:11 "Then they suborned men, saying that, we have heard him speaking blasphemous words (rhemata) against Moses and God."