Articles
John’s Prologue 1:1-18
John’s Prologue 1:1-18
The gospel of John has often been called the ‘gospel of belief’, but believe WHAT? Who was this Jesus? What did he say about himself? What did others say about him? These are the questions addressed in this gospel.
The very purpose of John is recorded in John 20:30-31 30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
John begins his gospel with a ‘prologue’ in John 1:1-18.
“… the reader should be forewarned that this Prologue is one of the most complex theological statements in the Bible. An entire seminary semester’s course could be taught on these eighteen verses. Study of this text takes time, but those who ponder these magnificent words will learn that God will reward his children who diligently and prayerfully seek for understanding. The reader is welcomed to an intellectual, spiritual, and life-challenging pilgrimage with an evangelist who continues to call us to new dimensions of believing.” (Gerald Borchert, New American Commentary).
Indeed, here you will read one of the most complex and challenging synopses of who this Jesus is. Here, John doesn’t attempt to prove any of this, but simply makes a statement concerning the nature, character, and being of Jesus.
· He is the WORD.
· He was WITH God in the beginning.
· He WAS God.
· He created all things.
· He has life ‘on his own’, not a contingent life as we have it.
· He is the Light of the world.
· He was in the world, became flesh, and dwelt among us.
· The world did not know/acknowledge Him.
· He came to his own people (the Jewish people) and they did not receive him.
Later John records Jesus as saying: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). And again: "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" ( John 8:24)
Are you believing this? It will determine your eternal destiny.
Hugh DeLong
