Logos in the Prologue of John: A Philological Inquiry

In this paper, I will first explore the meaning of Λόγος in John 1:1 and its Latin equivalent in the Vulgate, Verbum. Therefore, I shall try to define the biblical and cultural context of Λόγος: the Hebrew and Aramaic words that might underly this concept, Philo’s reflections on λόγος, the Johannine uses of this word. These results will be compared to the specific meanings of sermo and verbum in Latin. This inquiry will allow us to draw some conclusions on the following relations: Υἱός ~ Πατήρ (Huios ~ Patèr), ἀπαύγασμα ~ δόξα (apaugasma ~ doxa), χαρακτήρ ~ ὑπόστασις (charaktèr ~ hupostasis), εἰκών ~ ἀόρατος (eikòn ~ aoratos).