And the Speech Was Made Flesh
Friday, December 23, 2005 at 09:17AM
Figaro
nativity.jpgQuote:  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us … full of grace and truth."  John 1:15

Figure of Speechlogos, meaning "word," "argument by logic," and "speech."

The Book of John begins, "In the beginning was logos"— in the beginning was the word.  But the apostle John's rhetorical training taught him that logos also deals with the orator's construction of an argument.  So you could also say, "In the beginning was the plan."

The early Renaissance philosopher and rhetorician Desiderius Erasmus chose a different version of logos:  "In the beginning was the speech."  Erasmus, who uncovered many of Cicero's writings in old libraries and monasteries, thought it perfectly natural for his creator to talk, or even persuade, the world into being, and to convert that sacred speech into humanity.

However you interpret John's "logos … made flesh," you have to love the King James translation, full of "grace and truth."

Snappy Answer:  "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good argument."

Article originally appeared on Figures of Speech (http://inpraiseofargument.com/).
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