God in the World (John 1:1-18)

Introduction

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Biblical History

Intertestamental Period

After the return of Israel into the land, there is about 400 years of silence called the Intertestamental Period. “Events and writings originating after the final prophet mentioned in the OT (Malachi, about 450 B.C.) and before the birth of Christ (about 4 B.C.).” (Harrop, Clayton. “Intertestamental History and Literature.” Ed. Chad Brand et al. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary 2003: 829. Print.)

Events - Rise and fall of the Greeks under Alexander the Great, The Maccabees revolt, Rise of the Roman Empire.

God ends the silence by interacting in the world in a whole new way.

John starts out his Gospel with an incredible proclamation about Jesus.

He will make very clear that Jesus is one of a kind. He is unlike any other human being in the world. He is God.

The Word became Flesh. (John 1:1–3, 14)

Jesus Christ is the eternal Word (1–2).

John 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

The Word (Logos)

“Jesus ⇔ Word of God n. — a title of Jesus understood as God’s ultimate communication of truth about Himself.” (Sense) John is the only one to use this as a title for Jesus. (Here and Rev)

“the independent personified expression of God, the Logos. (Our literature shows traces of a way of thinking that was widespread in contemporary syncretism, as well as in Jewish wisdom lit. and Philo, the most prominent feature of which is the concept of the Logos, the independent, personified ‘Word’ (of God):)” (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 601. Print.)

What about the Word?

“In the Beginning...”

Clear connection to Genesis 1:1.

This Word was in the beginning with God

“…with God”

He was distinct from God.

“…was God”

He is the same as God.

Trinity

There is only one God (Deut 6:4; Isa 43:10; 46:9; Rom 3:30; 1 Cor 8:4; Jas 2:19).

The one whom Jesus called “Father” (John 6:27; 1 Cor 8:6), the incarnate Son (Matt 1:23; John 1:1; Rom 9:5; Col 2:9; Titus 2:13–14; Heb 1:1–3), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3–4; 28:25–27; 2 Cor 3:7–18) all possess the necessary attributes of this God.

These three are not identical; they interact with one another and their identities are constituted with respect to one another (Matt 3:16–17; 12:32; 17:5; Luke 3:21–22; 4:1; John 15:26; 16:7–16; 2 Cor 13:14). They act distinctly but in concert with one another (Gen 1:1–3; John 1:1–3; 2 Cor 4:6; Col 1:15–17; Heb 1:2–3).

Jesus Christ is the creative Word (3).

John 1:3 (NET 2nd ed.)

3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

Created - to come into existence, be made, be created, be manufactured,” (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 197. Print.)

Connection to the creation in Gen 1:1. The Word John is writing about is the creator of everything created.

Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word (14).

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“Became Flesh...”

“person ⇔ flesh n. — a human being understood especially according to its physical nature; sometimes with the connotation of human flesh being tainted with sin.” (Sense)

Theophany/Christophany - A visible appearance of God to humans. (ex. 1 of the 3 visitors to Abraham, 4th person in furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)

What John is talking about here is different than those instances. He is talking about God coming into the world in a new way and living amongst them.

He came and lived His life. (God is born of Mary, dependent on His parents to provide for Him, He is growing physically and maturity, He started His ministry, Died on the cross, rose to life again, ascended into heaven.)

Dwelt - to settle (pitch a tent) v. — to take up residence or dwell in or as if in a tent; sometimes conveying temporariness. (Sense)

“The Greek word translated took up residence (σκηνόω, skēnoō) alludes to the OT tabernacle, where the Shekinah, the visible glory of God’s presence, resided. The author is suggesting that this glory can now be seen in Jesus (note the following verse). The verb used here may imply that the Shekinah glory that once was found in the tabernacle has taken up residence in the person of Jesus. Cf. also John 2:19–21. The Word became flesh. This verse constitutes the most concise statement of the incarnation in the New Testament. John 1:1 makes it clear that the Logos was fully God, but 1:14 makes it clear that he was also fully human.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

The Light in a Dark world. (John 1:4–13)

Light of the World (4-5)

John 1:4–5 (ESV)

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

“Life…Light”

Life - life source n. — the inherent capacity for producing (and maintaining) living beings; especially understood as a life characterized by healthiness, happiness, exuberance, energy, vitality, and the like. (Sense)

Giver of Life - Creation; Giver of eternal life - Salvation. John uses this word Zoe both ways throughout his gospel. This context addresses both.

Light - was the light of humanity John alludes to the initial act of creation involving light (Gen 1:3) and invokes the association of light with divine glory (Isa 60:19). Light is often used in the OT as a metaphor for salvation and spiritual awakening (see note on Isa 51:4). (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

Psalm 36:7–9 (ESV)

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

“Life, especially eternal life, will become one of the major themes of John’s Gospel.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

Jesus is the source of life (Creation and Salvation) and source of light (Creation and salvation).

Light in the World (6-11)

Witness to the Light (6-8)

John 1:6–8 (ESV)

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John the Baptist (John 1:19-34)

Reaction to the Light (9-11)

John 1:9–11 (ESV)

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

World (10)

The World that He created did not know Him.

His People (Jews) (11)

Those who have been given the revelation of God through the OT did not receive Him.

Receive - Sometimes the emphasis lies not so much on receiving or taking over, as on the fact that the word implies agreement or approval, accept: with regard to person.(Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 768. Print.)

Believe in the Light (12-13)

John 1:12–13 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Receive - Receive someone in the sense of recognizing the other’s authority. (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 584. Print.)

Believe - to believe something to be true and, hence, worthy of being trusted—‘to believe, to think to be true, to regard as trustworthy.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 369. Print.)

“children of God...”

Galatians 3:26 (ESV)

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Romans 8:14–16 (ESV)

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

The Son of God (John 1:14–18)

The Only Son (14-15)

John 1:14–15 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”

“Only Son...” (Same idea as John 3:16)

“From here it passes easily to a description of Isaac (Heb 11:17 and Josephus, Ant., 1.13.1 [1.222]) who was not Abraham’s only son, but was one-of-a-kind because he was the child of the promise. Thus the word means “one-of-a-kind” and is reserved for Jesus in the Johannine literature of the NT. While all Christians are children of God, Jesus is God’s Son in a unique, one-of-a-kind sense. The word is used in this way in all its uses in the Gospel of John (1:14; 1:18; 3:16, and 3:18).” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

Grace and Truth in the Son (16-17)

John 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Grace - practical application of goodwill, (a sign of) favor, gracious deed/gift, benefaction. (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 1079. Print.)

Romans 5:20–21 (ESV)

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Truth - the content of that which is true and thus in accordance with what actually happened—‘truth.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 672. Print.)

John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Revelation through the Son (18)

John 1:18 (ESV)

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John has been focusing on the uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth. He is unlike any other human being. John is not emphasizing that ho one ever saw God (Moses), but that Jesus saw God in a unique way. Jesus is unique because he is God, Creator, Life giver, Provider of Salvation, Gracious, Truthful, and revealer.

Known - to make something fully known by careful explanation or by clear revelation—‘to make fully and clearly known. (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 339. Print.)

John 14:9–10 (ESV)

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:19 (ESV)

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Lessons from John

God stepped into His creation in a new way in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus came revealing God in a fuller way with grace and truth.

Jesus came to provide salvation through His life, death, and resurrection , so we can have eternal life and adoption as sons of God. This is received through believing in Him.