Shepherd's Notes: John

Dana Gould

• Publisher: Holman Reference
• Year: 1998
• eBook ISBN:
  9781433669231
• Print ISBN:
  9781558196933
• Topic: Theology & Religion

You grew up using the well known black and yellow striped Cliff's Notes to help you grasp everything from great literary works to algebra. Unfortunately, what "Cliff" forgot was the greatest literary work in history: the complete Holy Bible. Enjoy the ease of understanding the Bible like never before, book by book. Shepherd's notes helps reader's learn about the inspired authors of the Bible books and when and where they were first penned. Each Bible book is revealed in simple understandable steps that outline and underscore the focal points and personalities of the biblical text. You'll look to these unique books for their use in Bible studies, teaching, personal devotions and even in sermon preperation! Christian and home schools will find Shepherd's Notes an invaluable resource.

JOHN 1

John opens his Gospel with an eloquent prologue: “In the beginning was the Word.” The first eighteen verses introduce themes which John elaborates on in the rest of his Gospel.

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John the Apostle

John was the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. John is always mentioned in the first four lists of the twelve apostles. He is also among the “inner three” who were with Jesus on special occasions. Five books of the New Testament are attributed to John: this Gospel, three epistles (1, 2, 3 John), and Revelation. In each case, the traditional view that the apostle was the author of this Gospel can be traced to the following second-century writers: Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian. Neither the Gospel nor the epistles identify their author by name.

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THE PROLOGUE (1:1–18)

Meaning of the Term Word to
John's First Readers

AUDIENCE	MEANING
1. Jews	Power—the Word of God that “spoke” the world into being
2. Greeks	Principle—the rational principle or rational mind that rules the universe
3. Christians	Proclamation—the preaching of the Gospel

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“The Word was God” (vv. 1–3)

No other book in the Bible has a prologue as overtly theological as does the Gospel of John. First, John makes a clear and decisive statement regarding the nature of Jesus: “The Word was God.” John wanted it known that Jesus Christ is fully God in human form.

Three Basic Affirmations of
Christian Doctrine in John 1:1

AFFIRMATION	SIGNIFICANCE
1. “In the beginning was the Word”	The Word existed before creation
2. “The Word was with God”	The personal relationship of the Word to God
3. “The Word was God”	The Word is true deity

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Word

The term logos was probably chosen for several reasons: because of (1) its meaning in the Old Testament, (2) its use in Greek, and (3) its use in contemporary Hebrew literature, where the concepts of wisdom and word were being spoken of as essential attributes of God. John saw that the same agent of God who created the universe was at work in a new creation inaugurated by Jesus' coming. The creative Word of God became flesh—showing forth the glory of God (John 1:14).

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And yet, John makes clear that while he equates the Word with God the Word is distinct from the Father.

The Purpose of the Word (vv. 4–5)

Christ, the Word, brings life, a life that serves as the “light” for all people. The life that Christ offers is not temporal; it is eternal. It is of God. The questions and concerns of this world that find no ultimate answers are met by the Light that pierces all darkness with the brilliance of truth, yet this truth has been rejected.

John expresses two purposes with the concepts of light and life: (1) Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal the person and character of God; and (2) Christ came to redeem people.

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“The Logos here is more than reason, more than word; it is more than wisdom personified. The term designates a Person, distinct from and yet co-eternal and identical in essence with God—‘all that God is the Logos is’” (G. Turner and Jesus Mantey, The Gospel According to John, p. 54).

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The Word that existed prior to creation has now become human in a person, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The Word is now dwelling among mankind, displaying the glory of God and shining the Light of life in a dark, sinful world.

Points of Contrast Between Light
and Darkness in John's Writings

LIGHT	DARKNESS
God	Satan
Truth	Lies
Holiness	Sin
Life	Death

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Light

The concept of “light” appears numerous times in both the Old and New Testaments. Light was the first creation of God (Gen. 1:3). It is the source of life and energy in the universe. Light enables us to see. As with physical light, so with God. He is light—not physical light but the source of all creation. It is only in Him that we see spiritually.

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THE WORLD AND THE WORD (1:6–18)

Jesus as the Light. The Word has come into the world as a Person. The witness to that Person will be given by another p...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• How To Use This Book
• Introduction
• John 1
• John 2
• John 3
• John 4
• John 5
• John 6
• John 7
• John 8
• John 9
• John 10
• John 11
• John 12
• John 13
• John 14
• John 15
• John 16
• John 17
• John 18
• John 19
• John 20
• John 21
• Reference Sources Used