In chapter 1 of the Gospel of John, the writer introduces
his story with a prologue which reads (in the Authorized Version of James I,
King of England and head of its Church):
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 any thing made that was made. In
him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the
darkness comprehended it not.
The word here in the original Greek is “Logos”.
Unlike some others in Greek, the word Logos can be
translated several ways. Logos can be
translated as “study of”, like in “gelogia” (geology), or “study of earth”. Logos can be translated as “word”, like in
the opening of the work known as the Gospel of John. Logos can also be translated as “Reason”.
Another word, this time in the KJV, needs to be translated into
modern English. Few people, especially
among American fundamentalist Christians, who try to interpret the meaning of
the word “comprehended” understand that in the 16th and 17th
centuries “comprehend” did not mean “to understand” but “to overcome”.
Now the early modern translators of the Bible into English could
have validly rendered Logos as “Reason” instead of “Word”, producing the
following, in modern English:
In the beginning was
Reason. And Reason was with God and
Reason was God. Reason was in the beginning
with God; all things were made through Reason, because nothing could be made without
it. In Reason was life, and that life
was the light of humanity. The light of that
Reason shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Imagine that.
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