[Nell]

Originally Posted by Trapped

I don't mean to have any negative effect, but I'm a little confused here. When Jesus says, "it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God", isn't Jesus talking about actual bread?

Definitely. Actual bread. But not "bread alone". That's the way I read it.
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It's not a commentary that Scripture is insufficient.

Agreed.

Jesus says, "it is written that man shall not live by bread alone." He doesn't say, "what is written IS bread, and man shall not live by it".

In the next exchange, Jesus again says, "it is written", but this time He says, "It is written, you shall not test the Lord your God". This doesn't mean that what is written is a test to God.

I think logos versus rhema is one of these things that, upon looking at how they are used, would show the "written versus spoken" thing might not be quite right.

Here is a link to a blog post about it: https://reflectingtheologian.com/logos-and-rhema/

I'm not saying the guy's conclusions are right, or that we should automatically believe him. I'm just including that link because he already did the work of finding and arranging verses, using John and Ephesians as examples, and marking which ones use logos and which use rhema, and at least from what I see, it's difficult to conclude a significant difference between the two, as they both seem to be used in overlapping ways.

Trapped

I'm not so much out to engage in the validity of the way logos and rhema are interpreted. There are cases to be made from multiple directions. We do know that "Bread" is a "word picture" from the beginning of the Bible to the end. There is a lot that can be said, as you and your source have aptly done.

From my POV, what's important to me, is that logos and rhema exist in my life, personally, on a daily basis. That's what my life and living is about. Sometimes the written words "jump off the page" at me. Sometimes not. While writing on the forum, sometimes I struggle over the right word in a certain place. I try to be aware of the point I'm trying to make and that the Holy Spirit might like to have some input in how I represent Him. I obviously don't always get it right, but I try to be aware that this forum is not about me and what I think...apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Awhile back, I was driving and the traffic was a mess. I was trying to hold my own, keeping my place in line while trying to avoid getting creamed. A thought came to me..."let them all go...". Huh? Where did that come from? At the time, and to this writing, I understood that this was rhema. Spoken to me. Personally. Along with this word "let them all go," I was happy to...let them all go. I lost my place in line. I didn't get creamed. I was able to relax and get to where I was going safely.

Wow! That was awesome! I will never forget this experience. As small, seemingly insignificant, thing in my life, God weighed in. I like this rhema stuff. It's sometime referred to as a "still, small, voice".

As I said previously, in this regard, the church has not helped us to "know the Lord" as that still, small, voice. Today's church focuses on logo. I hope to call attention to rhema. There will be mistakes. That's when we talk to Him and ask Him "What happened? I messed up. I need Your help." Talk to Him. He will talk back.

Nell