The Way

The original Greek word in the New Testament that we know in English as Way is pronounced hodos. It literally means road - a route to a destination. It was also used most often in a figurative sense, as a means - a vehicle to a destination. Both describe Jesus Christ very well indeed.

The English word way translates the original Biblical word with a high degree of accuracy. It originates from the ancient Old English word weg, which despite its spelling was pronounced way. It meant road, or route. It's still commonly used today, such as in highway or Santa Monica Freeway.

An extension of the original word way was wain. It meant a way vehicle of that time i.e. a wagon was called a wain, and a wagon maker was called a wainwright. The modern English words weigh and weight also have their origin from the same source. People would weigh their wain to see how much weight they were transporting on the way.

When our Savior described Himself as The Way, He was in effect summing up His mission. Those two words represent a very large part of what Christianity is all about (see Christian Living).

Jesus Christ is The Way. Without Him as our means, our route and vehicle to salvation and eternal life, the modern ironic saying, "Can't get there from here," takes on a whole new meaning.

Fact Finder: How did Jesus Christ describe the two ways of living our mortal lives - one whose destination is life, the other whose destination is death?
Matthew 7:13-14