The meaning of the word [Greek: logia] has been much debated.

Perhaps the strictest translation of it is that which has been given, 'oracles'-- short but weighty and solemn or sacred sayings.

I should be sorry to say that the word would not bear the sense assigned to it by Dr.Westcott, who paraphrases it felicitously (from his point of view) by our word 'Gospel' [Endnote 155:1].

It is, however, difficult to help feeling that the _natural_ sense of the word has to be somewhat strained in order to make it cover the whole of our present Gospel, and to bring under it the record of facts to as great an extent as discourse.

It seems at least the simplest and most obvious interpretation to confine the word strictly or mainly to discourse.