Lexical Summary logion: Oracle, saying, utterance Original Word: λόγιον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance oracle. Neuter of logios; an utterance (of God) -- oracle. see GREEK logios HELPS Word-studies 3051 lógion (from 3056 /lógos) – a divine declaration; a statement originating from God. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originneut. of logios Definition a saying, an oracle NASB Translation oracles (3), utterances (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3051: λόγιονλόγιον, λογιου, τό (diminutive of λόγος (so Bleek (on Hebrews 5:12), et al.; others, neuter of λόγιος (Meyer on Romans 3:2))), properly, "a little word (so Schol. ad Aristophanes ran. 969 (973)), a brief utterance, in secular authors a divine oracle" (doubtless because oracles were generally brief); Herodotus, Thucydides, Aristophanes, Euripides; Polybius 3, 112, 8; 8, 30, 6; Diodorus 2, 14; Aelian v. h. 2, 41; of the Sibylline oracles, Diodorus, p. 602 (from 50:34); Plutarch, Fab. 4; in the Sept. for חֹשֶׁן the breast-plate of the high priest, which he wore when he consulted Jehovah, Exodus 28:15; Exodus 29:5, etc.; (once for אֹמֶר, of the words of a man, Psalm 18:15 Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 3051 designates the “oracles” or “utterances” of God—authoritative, living words that originate with Him and demand faithful transmission. Across four New Testament occurrences the term links Sinai, Israel’s covenant privilege, Christian ministry, and discipleship, revealing a unified theology of divine speech that undergirds all revelation. Divine Self-Revelation in Salvation History At Mount Sinai the Lord spoke through angels to Moses, giving “living words to pass on to us” (Acts 7:38). These life-imparting utterances framed Israel’s national existence and foreshadowed the fuller revelation in Jesus Christ. The Mosaic “oracles” are therefore not relics but an enduring testimony to God’s redemptive initiative. Israel’s Stewardship of the Oracles Paul stresses that the Jews were “entrusted with the very words of God” (Romans 3:2). Their unique custodianship highlights two truths: Thus the Old Testament corpus stands as an unbroken witness, safeguarded for the benefit of the whole world. Christ, the Fulfillment of the Oracles All prophetic words converge in the incarnate Word. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection validate the Sinai revelation and illuminate its ultimate meaning (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27). The early church therefore read the ancient “oracles” christologically, recognizing continuity rather than contradiction between covenants. The Oracles and the Ministry of the Word Peter exhorts every speaker in the assembly to do so “as one conveying the words of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Christian proclamation is not the sharing of private opinions but the re-articulation of divine utterance. Dependence on the Spirit, reverent accuracy, and God-centered motives guard the preacher from trivializing holy speech. Discipleship and Maturity Hebrews rebukes believers who, though longtime converts, still need “the basic principles of God’s word” (Hebrews 5:12). The “oracles” provide foundational instruction (“milk”) but also call the church toward deeper, “solid food” discernment. Growth in biblical literacy is therefore indispensable to spiritual adulthood. Implications for Preaching and Teaching Today 1. Fidelity: Expositors must root every sermon in Scripture’s God-breathed sentences, avoiding speculation. Historical Reception within the Church Patristic writers revered the “oracles” as the soul of ecclesial worship and doctrine, compiling lectionaries to ensure systematic reading. The Reformers recovered their primacy by translating Scripture into the vernacular, insisting that every believer hear the living words personally (Romans 10:17). Evangelical missions have continued this trajectory through Bible translation and literacy efforts. Connection with the Canon The term 3051 underscores why the canon is closed yet speaking: God has finished the deposit of authoritative utterance, and the church’s task is to guard and transmit it intact (Jude 3). Extra-biblical claims to new “oracles” are weighed against the sufficiency and finality of the apostolic witness. Key References Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; 1 Peter 4:11; Hebrews 5:12 Forms and Transliterations λογείον λόγείον λογείου λογια λόγια λόγιά λόγιον λόγιόν λογιων λογίων logia lógia logion logiōn logíon logíōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 7:38 N-ANPGRK: ὃς ἐδέξατο λόγια ζῶντα δοῦναι NAS: living oracles to pass KJV: the lively oracles to give INT: who received oracles living to give Romans 3:2 N-ANP Hebrews 5:12 N-GNP 1 Peter 4:11 N-ANP Strong's Greek 3051 |
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