“All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
The use of the pronoun “him” in this verse is contrary to all grammatical precedent; for, in the two previous verses with which it is connected [John 1:1-2], there is nothing stated which calls for its use. “Word” in English is a neuter noun; and logos, meaning “word,” “speech,” “saying,” “purpose,” or “intent,” also represents that which in actuality is neither masculine nor feminine. This liberty [in using a masculine pronoun] is taken by the translators without due warrant. The Greek word translated “him” is autos. No Greek scholar will deny that in such instances as Matthew 10:11, where the word has reference to a city or a house, the pronoun “it” is a quite proper translation. (For confirmation see A.V., R.V., S.&G., and others.) Precisely the same reasons apply in John 1:3, for logos—word spoken—is not a personality.
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Author: R. H. Judd
Keywords: Logos, Jesus is the Logos, Logos word, masculine pronoun, masculine pronouns, auto, autos
Bible reference(s): John 1:3
Source: One God: God of the Ages (Oregon, IL: Restitution Herald, 1949).
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.