1. Introduction
Within Charismatic and Pentecostal theology, a popular teaching distinguishes Logos and Rhema as two different dimensions of God’s Word:
- Logos: The general, written Word of God (Scripture).
- Rhema: A specific, spoken, or illuminated word from God to an individual or situation, often associated with prophecy, personal guidance, or faith declarations.
This distinction is used to emphasise both the authority of Scripture and the immediacy of God’s present speaking.
2. The Charismatic/Pentecostal View
2.1 Definitions
| Term | Charismatic Definition |
|---|---|
| Logos | The written Word of God, the Bible as God’s complete and revealed Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17). |
| Rhema | A specific, direct word from God for a person or situation, bringing immediate application, guidance, or empowerment (e.g. prophetic words, personal conviction). |
2.2 Application in Teaching and Practice
2.2.1 Faith Teaching
Based on Romans 10:17 (“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of Christ”), teachers argue:
- Rhema is a quickened word that imparts faith to act, beyond general biblical knowledge.
2.2.2 Prophecy and Guidance
- Rhema is emphasised as:
God’s present, dynamic communication, enabling believers to discern His will in specific decisions, ministry contexts, or intercessory prayer.
2.2.3 Spiritual Warfare
- Ephesians 6:17 describes “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God,” interpreted as declared, specific scriptural promises or Spirit-inspired utterances in warfare prayer.
3. Biblical and Linguistic Analysis
3.1 Overlapping Meanings
3.1.1 Logos Usage
- Refers to Scripture (Mark 7:13), Jesus as the divine Word (John 1:1–14), apostolic preaching (Acts 4:31), and general speech or message (Acts 10:44).
3.1.2 Rhema Usage
- Refers to spoken words or utterances (Luke 1:38).
- Also used for scriptural citations (Luke 4:4).
- Romans 10:17’s rhema indicates the preached gospel message, not necessarily a private, individual word (Moo, 1996).
3.2 Lack of Rigid Lexical Separation
3.2.1 Scholarly Consensus
| Scholar | Viewpoint |
|---|---|
| Kittel (TDNT, 1964) | Logos and rhema overlap; distinctions are contextual, not ontological. |
| Fee (1994) | Cautions against constructing doctrinal distinctions unsupported by consistent New Testament usage. |
4. Theological Reflection
4.1 Strengths of the Charismatic View
- Emphasises the living and active nature of God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12).
- Encourages expectation of God’s direct communication and guidance, fostering relational faith.
4.2 Critiques and Cautions
- Risk of lexical fallacy: building doctrine on selective word definitions rather than holistic exegesis (Carson, 1996).
- May inadvertently undermine the sufficiency of Scripture if Rhema is elevated as independent new revelation rather than illuminated application of Logos.
5. Integrative Biblical-Theological Understanding
| Aspect | Balanced View |
|---|---|
| Logos | The complete revelation of God in Christ and Scripture, objective and authoritative. |
| Rhema | Often a spoken, applied word within Scripture or via Spirit-led prophetic speech, always subject to Logos as its test and standard (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21). |
6. Conclusion
The Charismatic/Pentecostal distinction between Logos and Rhema, while helpful pastorally in encouraging dynamic application and prophetic attentiveness, is:
- Not strictly supported by Greek lexical or New Testament usage, where both words overlap in meaning.
- Best understood as:
Logos – God’s universal, revealed Word (Scripture and Christ).
Rhema – God’s specific, applied Word, often drawn from Logos, illuminated by the Spirit for present obedience.
Both are essential, but Rhema should never be detached from Logos, ensuring doctrinal integrity and spiritual discernment.
7. References
- Carson, D. A. (1996). Exegetical Fallacies (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids: Baker.
- Fee, G. D. (1994). God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul. Peabody: Hendrickson.
- Kittel, G., & Friedrich, G. (Eds.). (1964). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Vol. 4). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
- Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.