The Eternal Word

The eternal Word was with and is God through whom all things were created. He came to earth in human form to declare who God is. Many rejected Him but those who believed received the privilege to become children of God.

Arc

editing

John 1:1-18

nkjv

na28

mine

nasb

In the beginning was the Word ,

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος,

Jesus Christ was from everlasting, (Before He came to earth, He was revealed as the "Word". His Human form was called Jesus Christ)

a In the beginning was b the Word, and the Word was c with God, and d the Word was God.

and the Word was with God ,

καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν,

and Jesus Christ was distinct from God the Father and God the Spirit but He was with them,

and the Word was God .

καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.

and Jesus Christ was God Himself. (That is He was God the Son and "Son" speaking of the likeness to the Father, and by no means of a being of reproduction)

series

He was in the beginning with God .

οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν.

He was from everlasting with God.

1 He was in the beginning with God.

ideaexplanation

All things were made through Him ,

πάντα διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο,

Everything created was made through Him,

a All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

and without Him nothing was made that was made .

καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν

and apart from Him nothing was created that existed.

negativepositive

In Him was life ,

ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν,

Therefore, in Him was life,

a In Him was life, and the life was b the Light of men.

and the life was the light of men.

καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων•

and the life was the light of men. (Perfect harmony of Adam's relationship with the Lord before the fall)

progression

And the light shines in the darkness ,

καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει,

And with Christ's entrance as God-Man to earth and His perfect conduct in grace and truth: the light shines in the darkness of the heart of men (men's self-pleasing and selfish ways apart from God),

a The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not 1 comprehend it.

and the darkness did not comprehend it.

καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.

and you'd think people appreciate the light but surprisingly the people in the darkness did not embrace the light. (The people in darkness prefer their own way separate from God and fellowship with Jesus Christ.)

situationresponse

inference

There was a man sent from God , whose name was John .

Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος, ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης•

Now in more detail, the darkness, men's sin, separated him spiritually from God, yet God chose to bring deliverance by the Word, His Son, Jesus Christ. As God promised through the prophet Isaiah, He sent a witness to prepare the way for Jesus Christ to unit men with God.

There 1 came a man sent from God, whose name was a John.

This man came for a witness , to bear witness of the Light ,

οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν διʼ αὐτοῦ.

In other words, John came to testify of Jesus Christ,

1 He came 2 a as a witness, to testify about the Light, b so that all might believe through him.

that all through him might believe .

so that all people might through his testimony receive the God-send Deliverer and Eternal Live-Giver who is the perfect God-Man Jesus Christ.

actionpurpose

He was not that Light ,

οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλʼ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός.

John was not the promised Christ,

1 a He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

but was sent to bear witness of that Light .

but was sent to testify of Christ.

That was the true Light

῏Ην τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον.

Jesus was the true Christ (contrary to many false claims of deceivers to be Christ)

There was a the true Light 1 which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

which gives light to every man coming into the world .

who is the source of existence of every human being that comes into the world.

He was in the world ,

ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω.

Now Jesus Christ came into the world,

He was in the world, and a the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

and the world was made through Him ,

which was created through Him,

and the world did not know Him .

but the people in the world did not know Him (because of sin).

concessive

He came to His own ,

εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.

Even His own chosen people, the Israelis, to whose forefathers He revealed Himself, and who had the writings of the Old Testament that spoke of Him,

He came to His 1 own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

and His own did not receive Him .

nevertheless did not receive and believe in Him (because of sin).

comparison

But as many as received Him , to them He gave the right to become children of God , to those who believe in His name:

ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,

But some received Him and were therefore given the right to become children of God, that is to those who believe in who Jesus Christ is.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become a children of God, even b to those who believe in His name,

who were born,

οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλʼ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν.

Now those who believe became children of God by spiritual birth,

a who were 1 born, not of 2 blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

not of blood,

that is, not of the earthly life for existence that God gives at conception,

nor of the will of the flesh ,

nor is it by the will and desires in the body of man,

nor of the will of man ,

nor is it of the will and power of man, (Men failed in his own attempts to make a way close to God, now over a period of 6000 years. All religions are attempts to make ones way to God in self-efforts.)

but of God .

but the only way to God is by spiritual birth, not by men's works. A right standing with God is only through right relationship which comes through a birth that is from God upon believing. (Just as a baby does no work to be conceived and be born)

And the Word became flesh

Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας.

In other words, The eternal Word (Jesus Christ) took a human body,

And a the Word b became flesh, and 1 c dwelt among us, and d we saw His glory, glory as of 2 the only begotten from the Father, full of e grace and f truth.

and dwelt among us,

and lived among us mortal beings on earth,

locative

and we beheld His glory , the glory as of the only begotten of the Father , full of grace and truth .

and we saw and marveled at His glory (beauty of character), the glory in the likeness of God the Father, that is full of grace and truth. (It's true that all people sinned but grace is to receive what is not deserved, that is the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ)

John bore witness of Him

Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων• οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον• ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν.

John the baptist testified of Jesus Christ

John * a testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘ b He who comes after me 1 has a higher rank than I, c for He existed before me.’”

and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘ He who comes after me is preferred before me,

when he cried out, saying: "This was He of whom I said: "He who comes after me is greater then I,

for He was before me.’ ”

because He was before me (He is from everlasting, i.e. He is God).""

ground

temporal

And of His fullness we have all received , and grace for grace .

ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος•

Now of His fullness we (born of God) have all received on gracious gift after another.

For of His a fullness 1 we have all received, and 2 grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses,

ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο.

Because the law (which showed us that we all have sinned by for example lying, theft, adultery, disrespect to God given authority, covetousness, etc) was given through Moses,

For a the Law was given through Moses; b grace and c truth 1 were realized through Jesus Christ.

but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ .

but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has seen God at any time.

Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε• μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

No mortal has ever seen God at any time.

a No one has seen God at any time; b the only begotten God who is c in the bosom of the Father, d He has explained Him.

The only begotten Son , who is in the bosom of the Father , He has declared Him .

Now Jesus Christ has shown us God. He knows God perfectly because He was with Him and is the only perfect image of God the Father in human form.

change in tense. From past to presence.

"comprehend" some translate with "overcome". The darkness surly did not overcome the light but in context I believe this speaks about how people rejected the light and preferred the darkness. 1:10

"Sent" presupposes separation. Yet "sent" shows desire for connection.

"all" God's good will for man includes everyone.

He came in the appearance of man to relate to man.

Grace and truth in declaring the Father

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Philippians 2:6 NASB)

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (1 Corinthians 8:6 NASB)

For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; (John 5:26 NASB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, (John 11:25 NASB) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 NASB)

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12 NASB) While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:5 NASB) I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. (John 12:46 NASB)

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19 NASB)

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, (Matthew 3:1 NASB)

Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” (Acts 19:4 NASB)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NASB)

On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. (1 John 2:8 NASB)

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (1 Corinthians 8:6 NASB)

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16 NASB)

in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Hebrews 1:2 NASB)

and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (John 11:52 NASB) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ( Galatians 3:26 NASB)

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5 NASB) In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. (James 1:18 NASB) for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23 NASB) No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9 NASB)

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18 NASB) This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. (1 John 3:23 NASB) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13 NASB)

Physical body

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11 NASB) It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:27 NASB) This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ (John 1:30 NASB)

which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:23 NASB) and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19 NASB) until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13 NASB) For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, (Colossians 1:19 NASB) For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, (Colossians 2:9 NASB)

“Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” (John 7:19 NASB)

so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21 NASB) For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14 NASB)

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 NASB) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 NASB) Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37 NASB)

But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:20 NASB) Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. (John 6:46 NASB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15 NASB) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16 NASB) No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12 NASB)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB) By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9 NASB)

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. (John 3:11 NASB)

How can you be born of blood? What does it mean? Jesus mentions later in John 6 metaphorically His blood and the necessity of drinking His blood for eternal life.

discourse

Notes

Purpose and Weaknesses of earthy pictures teaching heavenly truth John writes in earthly pictures to convey heavenly truth. He does that because man is limited to perceive the eternal since the fall of man. Earthly pictures help to reveal eternal truth, especially about God's attributes. It is often difficult to understand the truth that the picture is intended to convey and it is easy to read more or something wrong into the pictures. The reader has to discern what the pictures say and what they do not say. The right tool to discern is scripture itself. That means, that the picture cannot contradict a clear statement about truth elsewhere in scripture or in other words, the picture has to agree with what scripture says elsewhere about that truth.

Apostle John summarizes a large portion of the book in the first 5 verses. He writes about: the eternal God the unity of Jesus Christ and God Creation through Jesus Christ and men's rejection of the Savior Jesus Christ. Verse 1 "In the beginning" First mention in Gen 1:1 at the creation of the earth and the heavens. The Word was in the beginning - The Word was from everlasting. "Word" Mentioned only 5 times at the beginning in the book of John, speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ before His incarnation. Verse 2 "He was in the beginning with God." Jesus Christ was not created by God but is God Himself. He was from eternity past in a glorious relationship with God the Father. John 10:30 Verse 3 "All things were made through Him" More insight on who the Word is: Jesus Christ the Son of God - Heb 1:1-4; Col 1:15-20 Verse 4 "In Him was life" Life consists because of the Word. Everything was made through Him and is sustained by Him. "and the life was the light of men." Life is not possible without light. Plants need light. People and animals need light. The Word -> Life -> Light Verse 5 "And the light shines in the darkness," Jesus Christ shines in the darkness through His deeds which were always full of grace and truth. The majority of the Israeli's rejected to come into a close relationship with the Lord Jesus because of their evil deeds. They loved darkness rather than the light and Jesus presence was convicting them. "darkness did not comprehend it" The tense changed from past to present. The darkness ceases when light is present i n the physical realm . John writes about the spiritual darkness of men since the fall. Men rejects to come into a relationship with the Light because of their darkness, that is their evil deeds. The Light exposes the darkness and men hates to be exposed. It is a humbling experience to come into a relationship with the Light, yet a great privilege to be right with God.

Comments

About Biblearc · Online courses · Report abuse

Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.

Biblearc app Path Courses Courses Learning Resources Login / Free Account Subscription
Glories Authors Groups Donate Gift certificates Ownership, thanks, copyrights and terms