The Genesis of John

Novel Commentary

Steven Grant

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9781532685941
  9781532685958
• eBook ISBN:
  9781532685965
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

Do you think commentaries can be dry, overly technical, or boring? If so, at least two things are true. First, you're right! Second, you've not read a Novel Commentary. Please consider this an invitation for cultural immersion in the first-century world of historical fiction to experience the transcription of the scrolls of Scripture. This first book in the series covering John the apostle, The Genesis of John, allows the reader to live alongside John and his amanuensis, Polycarp, while putting the Gospel account to parchment. This ten day "real-time" account provides an original outline for the Gospel based on John's references to Genesis, a new "Hebraic" translation from the Greek, and fresh scriptural observations captured within the dialogue of the five main characters. Spend over a week in Ephesus and be both entertained and illuminated by The Genesis of John!

1

Rabbi and Disciple

Yom Chamishi1

Yochanan2 opened his eyes to another barely breaking morning anxious for prayer and dictation. His amanuensis, Polycarp3, lay on the raised mat not far from him, positioned near the only door of the adobe. Yochanan set his feet on the cool dirt floor, stood gradually, stretched silently, and reached for his linen cloak and wood walking stick. His hand grasped the knobbed area at the top that was smooth and discolored from the oils of his right wrinkled palm. As he moved slowly and silently past his disciple he was again thankful for this dedicated scribe and realized that Polycarp was living up to his new name; he was becoming very fruitful indeed. “Yahweh4 is gracious,” he whispered ever so slightly, as if it were a soft exhale directly from his soul, as he remembered the meaning of his own name.

The Father’s grace had certainly produced fruit with this pairing of an aging Rabbi and a young disciple scribe. Approaching the doorway, he noticed the worn gapped cedar boards of the front door and the tearing leather hinges that would soon need repair. He dismissed this readily because of more exciting thoughts. Today, instead of the cold pitch of the rooftop he wanted to feel the early barley all around him as he knelt to pray. The feeling of First Fruits5 was still lingered in the air, which brought a new excitement for everyone in the small Jewish enclave on the outskirts of Ephesus. He slipped on his worn sandals and crossed the threshold of the adobe. As he lumbered to the side of the nearby field closest to Jerusalem, he knelt in the dark fertile soil, looked up and began to pray.

Stirring with a sense of purpose Polycarp awoke and looked immediately toward his Rabbi’s mat while rising to his knees. Suspecting Yochanan had already left, he felt shadowed with aloneness even before he saw the empty mat. Turning to face Jerusalem, he recited his morning prayers. After taking some of the brittle branches that he had gathered last night, he stirred the remaining glowing ashes of the fire and set them on the embers. He lowered his large thin, cloaked frame to the rim of the charred fire pit and blew a long strong, focused breath toward the coals. Ash lifted into the dark air as the thin branches grew bright with the coals. He then lifted the nearby half-full water kettle to the hook at the top of the iron tripod that straddled the pit. He made careful preparation the night before, knowing Yochanan would want to get an early start with the new project. After laying out some black olives, honeycomb and challah, he threw a measure of barley in the small water kettle just as the door abruptly swung open and let in the morning sunlight.

Yochanan, silhouetted by the incoming dawn provided by the opening, entered the small adobe and greeted his scribe with a quick but meaningful embrace.

“Shalom Saphar, I see you have breakfast ready, thank you.” Saphar was the Hebrew word for scribe and had become Polycarp’s nickname with the new project. Yochanan took from the prepared plate, gently broke off some of the challah, looked upward and chanted,

“Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam, hamotzi lehem min ha’aretz.”6 Polycarp responded,

“Amen.” The two enjoyed their breakfast in silence.

Finishing their meal, Polycarp said,

“I am anxious to get started Rabbi.”

“I’m glad for that Saphar, but first let us take a walk to the market and talk about how we are to go about this important project.”

Polycarp gathered the wooden plates, quickly rinsed them with the water in the basin across the room, and removed the kettle from the fire, which had burned down to a steady umber glow. Then, grasping the rusty iron latches of the four wooden window coverings, he let in the glowing sunshine by swinging each shutter open as wide as the creaking hinges would allow. The smell of the morning dew rushed the room. Yochanan grasped his surprisingly heavy staff and the two treaded down the now bustling dirt road toward the market.

1. Hebrew for Fifth Day—Thursday

2. Hebrew name for John

3. Irenaeus, Tertullian and Jerome testified that Polycarp (many fruits) was one of Yochanan’ s disciples

4. Covenant name of Adonai (God)

5. Biblical feast just after Passover that initiates the counting of the Omer to Shavuot (Pentecost)

6. Blessed are you Yahweh our Adonai, King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth

2

The Project

Polycarp welcomed these times of walking and talking with Yochanan. There was a privileged formula during these strolls of Yochanan teaching, plus Polycarp absorbing, which equaled blessings for both.

“We must continue to proclaim the good news of Messiah Saphar. The circulation of the account of Yocnanan Markos7 is a blessing. However, no matter how many produce accounts there will never be enough to contain all that our Master accomplished. I cannot escape the nudge, no, the compulsion of the Spirit, to lay out more than a historical string of amazing events over the years. Now, this we will do, however, there is an additional depth to our Master’s accomplishments I wish to convey. He was, is, and ever will be the Son of Yahweh. As the Father gave us all that we see, so the Son gave us all that we could be. He provides a great spiritual opportunity to the sons of Yaakov8 as well as to all who believe.”

As they made their way through the fragrant market, Polycarp purchased a variety of fruit from the smiling vendors for lunch. He wanted to purchase a few more things for dinner but Yochanan cut the walk short of the typical time in order to prepare for the project. They both headed back to the adobe kicking up the morning dust with a slightly quickened pace.

“You see Saphar, the Father and the Son created worlds for us to enjoy; this world and the next.” Yochanan turned toward his disciple while continuing the pace. “Where do we see the Father’s creative work?”

“B’resheet9 of course” replied Polycarp.

“Yes, and I wish to convey that the spiritually creative life of Messiah parallels the physically creative work of Adonai. It is this worldly, or better said, other worldly connection between the Father and the Son we will reveal. The six days of creation reveal important things about the Father. Similarly, six events of the Sons life provide this same revelation. This is how we will introduce our version of the greatest story of history.”

As they crossed the threshold of the adobe, Polycarp pulled the distressed but sturdy wood scribal desk and cross-legged chair from the wall and situated them in the corner of the living area. Yochanan handed him the parchm...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Hebrew Names
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Rabbi and Disciple
• Chapter 2: The Project
• Chapter 3: Light
• Chapter 4: Glory
• Chapter 5: Baptism
• Chapter 6: Illumination
• Chapter 7: Three Couplets
• Chapter 8: Life
• Chapter 9: Adam in Eden
• Chapter 10: Adam in Jerusalem
• Chapter 11: Disciple Servant
• Chapter 12: Apostle and Proselyte
• Chapter 13: Messiah Begins
• Chapter 14: Born Anew
• Chapter 15: Burial Spices
• Chapter 16: Irenaeus
• Chapter 17: Wilderness Mikvah
• Chapter 18: Ethos Not Geos
• Chapter 19: Nephesh Not Genus
• Chapter 20: White For Harvest
• Chapter 21: Junia
• Chapter 22: Physical Atonement
• Chapter 23: Spiritual Atonement
• Chapter 24: Ya’aqobe
• Chapter 25: Physical Feeding
• Chapter 26: Physical Rescue
• Chapter 27: Spiritual Feeding
• Chapter 28: Spiritual Rescue
• Chapter 29: Evening Meal Invitation
• Chapter 30: Sermons of Sukkot
• Chapter 31: Water of Life
• Chapter 32: A Spiritual Invitation
• Chapter 33: Light of the World
• Chapter 34: Rejection of the Light
• Chapter 35: The Blind Receive Sight
• Chapter 36: Those Seeing are Blind
• Chapter 37: The Light of Ya’aqobe
• Chapter 38: Living Psalm 23
• Chapter 39: Who is Elohim?
• Chapter 40: Lazarus in Languish
• Chapter 41: Lazarus Lifted
• Chapter 42: Recollections and Repairs
• Chapter 43: Anointing the Son
• Chapter 44: Glorifying Adonai
• Chapter 45: Proclaiming Adonai
• Chapter 46: Pharisees and Scribes
• Chapter 47: Patience and Passover
• Chapter 48: Betrayal and Honor
• Chapter 49: Love and Peace
• Chapter 50: Plans and Perseverance
• Chapter 51: The Vine and the Advocate
• Chapter 52: Overcomer of the Cosmos
• Chapter 53: Timeless Prayer of the Redeemer
• Chapter 54: Arrested
• Chapter 55: Inspected
• Chapter 56: Tormented
• Chapter 57: Resurrected
• Chapter 58: Chavah’ s News
• Chapter 59: Project Planning
• Chapter 60: Yeshua and Yehoshua
• Chapter 61: Propagation Preparations
• Chapter 62: The Southern Messengers
• Chapter 63: Copies Complete
• Chapter 64: The Northern Messengers
• Chapter 65: The Enclave Apostle
• Bibliography