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Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
In every chapter we must read the Bible first and try to identify its subjects (paragraphs), then compare our understanding with the modern versions. Only when we understand the original author's intent by following his logic and presentation can we truly understand the Bible. Only the original author is inspired—readers have no right to change or modify the message. Bible readers do have the responsibility of applying the inspired truth to their day and their lives.
Note that all technical terms and abbreviations are explained fully in the following documents: hyperlink, hyperlink, and hyperlink.
READING CYCLE THREE
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five modern translations. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Joh_1:1-18
A. Theological outline of the poem/hymn/creed
1. eternal, divine, creator, redeemer Christ, Joh_1:1-5 (Jesus as Word)
2. prophetic witness to Christ, Joh_1:4-5; Joh_1:7-8; Joh_1:15 (Jesus as Light)
3. incarnate Christ reveals God, Joh_1:10-18 (Jesus as Son)
B. Theological structure of Joh_1:1-18 and recurrent themes
1. Jesus was pre-existent with God the Father (Joh_1:1 a)
2. Jesus was in intimate fellowship with God the Father (Joh_1:1 b, 2, 18c)
3. Jesus shares God the Father's very essence (Joh_1:1 c, 18b)
4. God the Father's means of redemption and adoption (Joh_1:12-13)
5. incarnation, deity becomes a man (Joh_1:9; Joh_1:14)
6. revelation, deity fully revealed and understood (Joh_1:18 d)
C. Hebrew and Greek background of logos (word)
1. Hebrew background
a. the power of the spoken word (Isa_55:11; Psa_33:6; Psa_107:20; Psa_147:15; Psa_147:18), as in Creation (Gen_1:3; Gen_1:6; Gen_1:9; Gen_1:11; Gen_1:14; Gen_1:20; Gen_1:24; Gen_1:26; Gen_1:29) and the Patriarchal blessing (Gen_27:1 ff; Gen_49:1)
b. Pro_8:12-23 personifies "Wisdom" as God's first creation and agent of all creation (cf. Psa_33:6 and the non-canonical Wisdom of Solomon, Joh_9:9)
c. the Targums (Aramaic translations and commentaries) substitute the phrase "Word of God" for logos because of their discomfort with anthropomorphic terms
2. Greek background
a. Heracleitus - the world was in flux; the impersonal divine and unchanging logos held it together and guided the changing process
b. Plato - the impersonal and unchanging logos kept the planets on course and determined the seasons
c. Stoics - the logos was the "world reason" or manager, but was semi-personal
d. Philo - he personified the concept of logos as "High Priest that set the soul of man before God," or "the bridge between man and God," or "the tiller by which the Pilot of the universe steers all things" (kosmocrater)
D. Elements of the developed Gnostic theological/philosophical systems of the second century a.d.
1. An ontological (eternal) antagonistic dualism between Spirit and matter
2. Matter is evil and obstinate; Spirit is good
3. The Gnostic system posits a series of angelic levels (aeons) between a high, good god and a lesser god who was able to form matter. Some even asserted that this lesser god was YHWH of the OT (like Marcion)
4. Salvation came by
a. secret knowledge or passwords which allowed a person to pass through these angelic levels on their way to union with God
b. a divine spark in all humans, which they are not aware of until they receive secret knowledge
c. a special personal agent of revelation that gives this secret knowledge to mankind (the Spirit of Christ)
5. This system of thought asserted Jesus' deity, but denied His real and permanent incarnation and central redemptive place!
E. The historical setting
1. Joh_1:1-18 are an attempt to relate to both Hebrew and Greek minds by use of the term logos.
2. The heresy of Gnosticism is the philosophical background to this highly structured introduction to the Gospel of John. 1 John may have been the cover letter to the Gospel. The theological system of thought called "Gnosticism" is unknown in writing until the second century, but incipient Gnostic themes are found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in Philo.
3. The Synoptic Gospels (especially Mark) veil Jesus' deity (the Messianic secret) until after Calvary, but John, writing much later, develops the crucial themes of Jesus as fully God and fully man (Son of Man, cf Eze_2:1 and Dan_7:13) in chapter one.
F. See Special Topic: John 1 Compared to 1 John 1 at 1Jn_1:1.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why does the committee from Jerusalem ask John the Baptist if he is one of the three Old Testament personages?
2. Identify the Christological statement which John the Baptist makes about Jesus in Joh_1:19-30.
3. Why do the Synoptics and John vary so much on the call of the disciples?
4. What did these men understand about Jesus? Notice the titles by which they call Him (Joh_1:38).
5. What did Jesus call Himself? Why?