This week we are continuing with the second part of our two-part study of Λογικὸς (Strong's #3050), which is variously rendered in English translations as "reasonable," "rational," or "spiritual," and is an adjective derived from the word λὸγος (Strong's #3056) which means, "word" or "speech." Its actual meaning has to do with dwelling upon words or the thought process with which a person reasons. Λογικὸς is found twice in the New Testament.
Last week we learned from Romans 12:1 that Paul used this word to describe the kind of service we are to give the Lord for all that He has done for us. Paul says we are to serve the Lord from out of our reasoning process. As we reason things out in our mind, we are to seek the Lord's will and make our decisions based on His will. In Romans 12:2 Paul said we are to, "…stop continually being fashioned by this age, but be continually being transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to prove what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God." In this verse Paul teaches that we are to focus our attention on the transformation of the perceptive processes and abilities of our mind, so that, while we reason issues out, we can put things to the test and prove what the Lord's will for us is.
This week we want to study from the second place in Scripture where λογκὸς is found, I Peter 2:2. Peter wrote:
"as newborn infants, yearn after the reason-nourishing, without duplicity milk, in order that you may grow in it," (Literal Translation)
At the end of the preceding chapter, specifically in I Peter 1:23, Peter said that believers experienced, "having been born again, not out of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding for ever Word of God." When he opens Chapter 2, he commands new believers, as newborn infants in the faith, to long for or yearn after the milk of the Word that nourishes the mind and soul and causes spiritual growth.
Peter uses two adjectives that describe the milk new Christians are to desire: reason-nourishing milk (λογικὸς) and milk that is without duplicity or double meaning. Our word λογικὸς is used to describe the milk of the Word that feeds and nourishes the reasoning process. Both Peter and Paul teach that the most intimate and active relationship with the Lord happens in the believer's reasoning process. This relationship is described by Peter in II Peter 2:4 as having become "partakers of the Divine nature."
The second adjective used to describe the milk of the Word in I Peter 2:2 is ἂδολος (Strong's #97) which means, "unmixed, unadulterated, without duplicity." In context it means to have "no double meaning." The Word of God, presented according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the original meaning of the instrument or author, has no double meaning. The Word of God means what it says and says what it means. When the Word of God is perceived and assimilated in the form of its original meaning, the believer will experience spiritual growth. That spiritual growth signifies our living relationship with the Lord.
Sadly, there are many in the Church today who are not experiencing the transformation of their minds; consequently, they are not experiencing a living relationship with Jesus. Instead, they may be acting out of a sense of duty. Even though they are attending church and Bible studies, they are burdened with legalism instead of experiencing the intimacy of knowing the involvement of the Lord in every circumstance of their lives. It is possible that these people are not yet saved. It is also possible that these are Christians who are not being taught with the true meaning of the Word. It is also very possible that these are immature Christians who have not understood the importance of Paul's and Peter's encouragements (actually commands) that they seek to be fed from God's Word so that their reasoning processes are nourished, their perceptive processes and abilities transformed, in order to prove what is the will of God in every circumstance and issue of their lives.
God has given us all we need to know Him and to carry out His will for our lives. It is incumbent upon us to respond to what He has done for us, to serve Him from out of our reasoning process by feeding upon His word so that our minds are renewed, so that we discern His will, so that we experience a living, loving relationship with our Savior and Lord.
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.