John 1:1-18 "In the beginning"

I. John the pastor

A. "Elder" (; )

B. For the 7 Churches in Asia Minor

Ephesus ()

Smyrna ()

Pergamum ()

Thyatira ()

Sardis ()

Philadelphia ()

Laodicea ()

II. "In the beginning..."

A. Difference from the beginning of Matthew, Mark, and Luke

B. Christ is the foundation of the world, the Ultimate Truth ("first principles")

C. New Creation ("light and life")

Light (; )

Darkness as ignorance ( )

Darkness as fear ()

Darkness as betrayal ()

Darkness as hopelessness ()

Life (; )

Dwelling ()

Sabbath/Tabernacle pointing to Christ ()

Purpose of the Gospel ()

Foundational reality (Truth => Life => Communion with God)

D. Important "7's"

New 7 days of creation (, , , ; )

7th day is a wedding

7 "I Am's"

Pictures of freedom and provision (Exo 3)

7 Signs

Symbols of New Creation

Going from Old => New (Water to Wine)

E. New Creation for John's audience

Gnosticism: division between spiritual and material

New Creation (God's Kingdom): the blessings of heaven have come near

F. Authority

archḗ = "primacy" ()

; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Nature of Christ's Kingdom: new life, coming to know God

III. Logos

A. Jesus is named "Word" because the goal is to know God

B. Word = revelation

Logos is "collection" (from légō "to gather [things to say]"

Christ is the sum total of the definition of God (; )

Homoousios vs. Homoiousios (is Jesus fully God or only similar to God?)

C. How does John use Logos?

Greek thought: the emanation of the divine that creates OR the best of human reason

John displays Logos as fully divine, a Person with a will who comes to dwell (tabernacle)

Logos => the glory of God, bringing heaven and earth together

D. What are we to do with the Logos?

Recognize (come to know)

Receive (language for believe)

Become a witness

John the Baptist (, , ; )

The Father "sends" ()

Authorized by experience (; ; )

That all might believe