Logos: The Reason for the Season

Heraclitus was a Greek philosopher in the 6th century B.C. He was the first man to use the term Logos. In his writing, he used it to show that there is a divine reason or plan that coordinates a changing universe. [http://www.iep.utm.edu/heraclit/] In the New Testament book of John, this word "logos" is translated into "word" however, there is a connotation that we lose in the english rendition where logos means "the reason behind the universe." So, I'd like to share with you my rendition of John 1:1-18 in this Christmas season, where I'm replaced each instance of logos and references to Him and He [the personal pronouns referring to the Logos] with ""the reason behind the universe." I hope it helps you contemplate the true reason for the season.

John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the reason behind the universe, and the reason behind the universe was with God, and the reason behind the universe was God. 2 The Reason behind the universe was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through the reason behind the universe, and apart from the reason behind the universe nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In the reason behind the universe was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 The reason behind the universe was in the world, and the world was made through the reason behind the universe, and the world did not know the reason behind the universe. 11 The reason behind the universe came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive the reason behind the universe. 12 But as many as received the reason behind the universe, to them the reason behind the universe gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the reason behind the universe became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about the reason behind the universe and cried out, saying,"This was the reason behind the universe of whom I said, 'the reason behind the universe who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for the reason behind the universe existed before me.' " 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at anytime; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, the reason behind the universe has explained the reason behind the universe.

-NASB

The whole of creation hinges on this moment when the reason behind the universe [Jesus Christ] left heaven and came to earth so that we could be set free from ourselves. As C.S. Lewis said, “In our world too, a stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

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