An Analytical and Critical Look at the Concept of Logos from the Ancient Greek to the Church Fathers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Manṣūr Mu‘tamidī
• Walī ‘Abdī

10.22067/philosophy.v45i1.3235

Abstract

The concept of Logos is seen figuratively before Christianity in ancient Greek philosophy and Judaism (Old Testament and some works of Filon of Alexandria). In ancient Greek philosophy, Logos is counted as the first principle, at least up to the middle Platonism period, and more importantly, until the Platonism period; that is to say, as it will be pointed out, Logos was the first principle with Heraclitus and later on with the Stoics and is directly related to the universe without being mediated by any one. On the other hand, Logos has for the first time been identified with Jesus (A.S.) in Christianity (Introduction to Gospel of John). Therefore, here Logos is not used figuratively as it was in the ancient Greek philosophy; rather, it is embodied. First, it is presumed that the reason for the embodiment of Logos in Christianity is the graveness of human sin, as Paul has mentioned in his Letters. However, the truth is that study of Gospel of John and the works of the Church Fathers reveal that the reason for the embodiment of Logos in
Christianity is primarily not due to the graveness of human sin but for the revelation of Lord, the Father. Thus, it can be said that the concept of Logos as being a mediator was for the first time brought up in Christianity in opposition to the Gnostic thoughts. Of course, we do not deny the issue of the graveness of sin in the phenomenon of embodiment, but this issue was brought up in Christianity after the prevalence of Paul’s opinions.

Keywords

• Logos
• wisdom
• Filon
• Church Fathers

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