Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THE PRIMACY OF LANGUAGE

It has been said that if one knew and understood every word of every language, he would then possess the sum of all the knowledge of men. Although there is such a thing as experiential knowledge, it mostly affirms the validity of the knowledge base. So, what is this thing about the primacy of language? Think with me for a moment!

The apostle John begins his writing of the gospel with what appears to be a simple statement, yet it is profoundly beyond the apprehension of mortal minds. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” Later in chapter one he tells us that “The Word was made flesh….” No one doubts that this is a direct reference to Jesus.

What is underscored is the initial time, place, and status. It was the Word. This is “Logos” in the Greek language. The same word is used repeatedly in reference to the common utterances of men. The idea of a word is undergirded by the necessity of a mental concept. From the concept a unique word is formulated by which that concept may be conveyed from one mental entity to another. This process, restricted to a single concept, and a single word to convey it is utterly profound. Consider then that the unfathomable intellect of God created multiple languages in an instant of time at the tower of Babel.

John’s introduction of the Word draws from, and is enhanced by, the initial introduction to deity in Genesis 1:1. The Hebrew word for God is “Elohim.” That term specifically denotes not only the intellect of concept, and the production of terminology to convey it, but also the innate power to make the meaning of the words (concept) to become physical reality instantly. Such is the vastness of the divine intellect that is described in comparison to that of man as the difference in distance from heaven to earth. Isaiah 55:9.

But God in His inexplicably vastness of mercy and grace gave to us the Word, and the Word carried out the concept of redemption for an otherwise hopelessly fallen race. Additionally, He has committed to us the Word with which to permeate the world of men. There are many concepts out there, but the ends of them are the ways of death.

FOR THOUGHT: What concepts are you conveying to others? They are conveyed through the primacy of language. What are your words? What are the ultimate ends of your words? Death, or life? Jesus is The Word, and the words He spoke are light and life!