(8) A designation of the gospel of Christ: sometimes simply "the word"; with Jesus "the word of the Kingdom" (
Mt 13:19;
Mr 2:2;
Ac 4:4,
29,
31, etc.). In John's Gospel Jesus frequently speaks of His "word" and "works" as containing the divine revelation and requirements made through Him, which men are asked to believe in, cherish and obey (
Joh 5:24;
6:63,
68, etc.); "the words of God" (
Joh 3:34;
8:47;
14:10;
17:8,
14, etc.); His "word" (logos and rhema) is to be distinguished from lalia, speech (compare
Mt 26:73;
Mr 14:70), translated "saying,"
Joh 4:42 (4:41, "Many more believed because of his own word" (logos); 4:42, "not because of thy saying" (lalia), the Revised Version (British and American) "speaking"); in the only other occurrence of lalia in this Gospel (
Joh 8:43) Jesus uses it to distinguish the outward expression from the inner meaning, "Why do ye not understand my speech?" (lalia), "Even because ye cannot hear my word" (logos).