The Memra and the Logos: When God’s Word dwelt alive amongst humans

The Memra and the Logos:
When God’s Word dwelt alive amongst humans
A proposition by Dr. Galen Currah

Terms

Memra (Hebrew:מַאֲמָר , maʾamar, דִּבֵּר, dibber; Aramaic: מֵאמַר, meʾmar; Greek: λόγος, logos

Definition

“The Word,” in the sense of the creative or directive word or speech of God manifesting His power in the world of matter or mind; a term used especially in the Targum as a substitute for “the Lord” when an anthropomorphic expression is to be avoided. (Kaufmann Kohler, Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906

Proposition

First-century CE Jews were familiar with the term memra, which they often employed in place of a name of God. Early Jewish Christians chose this term as a title for Jesus, whom they understood to be the presence of God incarnate in human flesh.

Biblical examples

Genesis 15:1
1 Samuel 3:21
Psalms 33:6
Psalms 107:20

Rabbinical examples

Mek., Beshallaḥ 10
Wisdom 16:26
Wisdom 18:15
Cant. R. 1:13

Examples from the Targum (commentaries in Aramaic

“In the Targum the Memra figures constantly as the manifestation of the divine power, or as God's messenger in place of God Himself.” (Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906

Targ. Deut. 1:32
Targ. Deut. 18:19
Targ. Deut. 60:3
Targ. Isa. 48:13

Examples of mediatorship

“The Word brings Israel nigh unto God and sits on His throne receiving the prayers of Israel” (Targ. Yer. to Deut. 4:7

Targ. Yer. to Lev. 22:12
Targ. Hos. 11:5
Targ. Zech. 12:5

Philo Judaeus of Alexandria (Jewish philosopher, c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE

Legum Aleg. III, 175
De Agri. 51
Quis Rerum 205

Early Jewish Christians
John, Gospel 1:1 ESV
John, Gospel 1:14
Epistle to the Heb. 4:12-13
John, Bk. of Rev. 19:13

Conclusion

The first-century, Christian Jews who composed the New Testament writings borrowed Jewish concepts and vocabulary from their Scriptures and philosophers, applying these to Jesus, in order to demonstrate that Jesus is the Word of God incarnate.