Excursus:
At this point, it would be
helpful to examine briefly the use of λόγος and ρήμα in Luke and Acts. In Luke,
λόγος occurs 32 times and ρήμα 19 times. Λόγος is used for referring to the
words of Gabriel given to Zechariah (τοϊς λόγοις μου, Luke 1:20), and to the
word(s) of Jesus in the sense of his preaching and teaching (4:22, 32; 6:47;
9:26; 10:39; 20:20; 21:33), and to the word of God (τόν λόγον τού θεού, 5:1;
8:11, 21; 11:28 and in the absolute use, 8:12, 13, 15). Jesus' specific saying
or teaching is also referred to by τούς λόγους τούτους (9:28, 44; cf. 24:44).
In other cases the term λόγος is employed for a specific greeting from an angel
(1:29), prophetic words in a citation formula (3:4), Jesus' authoritative and
powerful command/saying (4:36; 7:7), an oral report regarding Jesus (5:15;
7:17) and final written report of the stewardship (16:2), any word/saying
against the son of man (12:10), a question (20:3), Herod's many words asking of
Jesus as a means of verbal communication (23:9), and a conversation of the two
disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:17). Three occurrences of 1:2, 4 and 24:19
may not be obvious. But in light of the Lukan phrase “the ministry of the word”
(Acts 6:4), “the word” of Luke 1:2 appears to be the word (of God) that the
apostles preached. The term λογον
of 1:4 may be taken as “things” (RSV), but it is something to be instructed.
Thus, the words rather mean several pieces of “teachings.” And “mighty in deed
and word before God” of 24:19 indicates that the “word” implies Jesus' powerful
message as the word of God.
On the other hand, in Luke ρημα is also used for the word of
God (ρήμα θεού, 3:2; in a different form, παρά τού θεού πάν ρήμα, 1:37; and as a specific
revelatory word of God in a form of “your word,” κατά τό ρημά σου, 2:29). It refers to Jesus' specific
teachings or sayings (7:1; 9:45 [twice]; 18:34; 20:26; 24:8; and notice the
phrase “τού ρήματος τού κυρίου,” 22:61, and for a specific
saying of the boy Jesus in 2:50), an angel's word (1:38), a command to be
followed and to be fulfilled as an authoritative and powerful saying (5:5), and
the women's sayings/reports (24:11). And ρημα is unique in being used for “events” (1:65; 2:15, 17, 19;
5:51).
The term λογος is much more frequently used in Acts
(64 times) than in Luke (32 times), while the term ρημα is less frequently used in Acts (14
times) than in Luke (19 times). In Acts, the λογος appears about 40 times as related to a Christian message,
either in the phrase of “the word of God / of the Lord” or in other ways. Only
one use is in the plural (15:15), and all other occurrences are in the
singular. In contrast, all four occurrences of ρημα for such a message are used in a plural form (2:14; [5:20];
10:22; 11:14), though these may be understood in a different way.
In other cases, the term λογος is used in various senses in
Acts. It means “volume,” “book,” or “account” (1:1), “suggestion” (6:5), “reason/motive”
(10:29; 18:14), “report” (11:22; 19:40), “an act of speaking” (14:12; cf.
7:22), “issue” (15:6), “complaint” (19:38), “language in reference to a
religious terminology” (18:15) and “account/mention” (20:24). It also refers to
specific saying(s) (2:22; 5:5, 24; 7:29; 16:36; 20:35, 38) and “words” as a
means of verbal communication (2:40; 15:24, 27, 32; 20:2). Ρημα means “things/events” (5:32; 10:37;
13:42), “any spoken words” (6:11, 13) and “a statement” (28:25). It also refers
to a specific saying (10:44; 11:16; 16:38) and signifies “solemn utterances”
(26:25).
From this survey, we may draw
conclusions about the use of λόγος
and ρήμα in relation to the
notion of the word of God. Among their wide variety of meanings, the two terms
are commonly used to refer to the sayings of God, Jesus, angels, apostles and
disciples, and even of opponents. In some cases, the two are interchangeable (e.g.,
Luke 9:44 and 45; 20:20 and 26; Acts 10:36 and 37; 10:44; 16:36 and 38).
Nevertheless, there is a clear distinction of the two terms for the use of the
specific phrase “the word of God” of the Lord.” Thus, the significance of this
phrase lies in the genitive, “of God / of the Lord” (τού θεού / τού κυρίου). (Yun Lak Chang, “’The Word of God’ in Luke-Acts: A Study in
Lukan Theology” [PhD Dissertation, Graduate School of Emory University, 1995], 4-5)