Summary
I chose John 1:1-8 as my passage for my exegesis because it’s interesting how John wrote the verses the way he did, and how he introduced Jesus. He introduces Jesus in a very unique way. He made it look like Jesus existed before the creation, and he took the words from Genesis 1:1 as the basis for his opening to the Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The logos was face-to-face with God. That is the literal translation.
Context (The Word)
John 1:1 is the opening verse of the Gospel of John and the New Testament. It begins with the exact phrase found in the Old Testament, ‘At the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and utilizes many of the exact words, such as “life”, “light”, and “darkness”. John is the only Gospel to proclaim the pre-existence of Jesus as the ‘Logos’ and to explain how the ‘Word became flesh’. It is the only Gospel to include a poetic introduction.
Broad Context
John 1:1-3
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- He was in the beginning with God.
- All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.
John’s prologue claims that Jesus, the Word, existed before anything was created and was central to God’s identity and purpose. He asserts that creation originated from Jesus’ life-giving agency, as nothing came into being apart from the Word (King James Bible, 2023). This claim is reminiscent of the Genesis creation story, in which God speaks everything into existence. Thus, John’s account of Jesus as the Creator suggests that Jesus is not only God’s Son but the very source of all life in the universe.,
Narrow Context
John 1:5-8
- The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it.
- There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
- This man came as a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
- He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness to that Light.
- That was the true Light that gave Light to every man coming into the world.
John is one of the gospels that talk about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The context consists of the coming of Jesus and his role in revealing the truth of God to humankind (Van der Merwe, 2019). In John 1:5-8, John the Baptist testifies to Jesus being the true Light that gives Light to everyone and reveals the truth of God to the world (King James Bible, 2023). Therefore, in both texts, Jesus is presented as the one who has come to the world to reveal God’s truth and bring salvation to all who believe in him.
Structure and Genre
Genre: Narrative and Argumentation
The passage is a narrative text with different verses in its structure. It is divided into three main parts; each is unique and serves its purpose. The first part, verses 1-2, introduces the concept of the Word, who is God. The second part, verses 3-5, elaborates on the Word, explaining its relationship to creation and its nature as the source of life (King James Bible, 2023). The third part, verses 6-8, concludes the passage by introducing John the Baptist as a witness to the truth of the Word. The genre of John 1:1-8 is mainly a theological narrative, integrating elements of narrative and argumentation.
Parallel Text
There are some parallel texts to John 1:1-8 in the New and Old Testaments. Gospels of Mark 1:1-3, Luke 1:35-37, and Matthew 3:17 emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God, each including a reference to John the Baptist (King James Bible, 2023). The Old Testament background texts for this passage include Isaiah 9:6, which emphasizes the divinity of Jesus, and Genesis 1:1, which talks about the role of the Word in creation and wisdom. Therefore, these texts contribute to an understanding of John 1:1-8, which emphasizes the divinity of Jesus.
Background and Origin
John 1:1-8 is part of the Gospel of John, which is part of the New Testament. The author is John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples. Although the time and place of writing are uncertain, it is believed to have been written between 85 and 90 CE in Ephesus, currently known as Turkey (MacGregor, 2020). The text was initially written to various churches in Asia Minor to address their doubts about Jesus’ divinity. John aims to emphasize Jesus as God’s divine Son and establish the Christian faith.
Detailed Exegis
The Meaning of the Text’s Words and Statements
John 1:1-8 is one of the most significant passages in the New Testament, presenting a theological statement on the nature of Jesus Christ. The text introduces Jesus as the Word and establishes his eternal existence. The Word is identified as God, showing that Jesus is divine and co-equal with God the Father. In addition, this verse reflects the creation story in Genesis 1:1, which begins, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (King James Bible, 2023). The Gospel of John uses the phrase to refer to the beginning of creation, emphasizing Jesus’ eternal existence before the world’s creation.
As a result, the introduction of the text informs the readers about the identity of Jesus. After realizing that Jesus is the ultimate reason for everything, John took up this idea and called Jesus the logos, the Word. The whole universe was made for him. He was the Logos before there was anyone else to communicate with.
That is the reason why we are here. It is all going to be summed up in him. He is the Reason Why. In the beginning, the Logos was already there, face to face with God in a personal relationship, and he was God. The logos was not created, nor was he any less than God: he was equal with God.
John used the passages to illustrate the power of Jesus as the Word of God. In verse 2, John writes, “He was at the beginning with God” (King James Bible, 2023). The verse reinforces the notion of Jesus’ eternal existence and his co-existence with God the Father. The word “with” underscores the relational aspect of God and recommends a difference between the Father and the Son.
This is similar to 1 John 1:2, which states, “The life was manifested, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us” (King James Bible, 2023). Therefore, John reveals the existence of Jesus even before creation and his relationship with God the Father.
Moreover, verses 2-4 elaborate on the nature of the Word to the audience. The Word is described as the source of all Light and the source of all life. The statement that the Word is the “light of men” implies that it is the source of truth and salvation since it is through the Word that individuals can access knowledge and understanding.
This reverberates in Genesis 1:26, which states, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” (King James Bible, 2023). This is a powerful statement as it implies that God is the source of all creation and that all living things exist through Him. The Word is a powerful metaphor for God’s presence in people’s lives and His power, the source of all life and Light.
In the passage, Jesus is called the world’s Light because his teachings and life bring Light and hope to those in the darkness of sin and despair. The text shows that Jesus Christ is the world’s Light and that darkness cannot overcome his Light (Boyle, 2021). This idea is found in other parts of the New Testament, such as John 8:12, where Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but have the Light of life.” This is a reminder that following Jesus is the route to true hope and happiness. Thus, in a world full of darkness, knowing that the Light of Jesus Christ exists and can never be overcome is comforting.
Describing the Text Through History, Geography, Customs, and Institutions
John 1:1-8 is one of the most critical passages in the Bible as it introduces the concept of the Word, which is Jesus Christ. John was among the twelve original disciples of Jesus and is believed to have written the text in about 90 CE (MacGregor, 2020). He talks about Jesus’ power since He was in the beginning with God and was God. John describes Jesus as “the life and the light of men” (King James Bible, 2023).
In addition, this message is significant to Christians since it emphasizes the importance of Jesus’ role in their faith and the power of His teachings. It serves as a reminder that the Word of God is powerful and can bring life and Light to the world. Therefore, the text reminds believers of the importance of faith, as Jesus’ Word brings hope and peace.
In Christianity, the Trinity is the belief that the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons but are all part of one divine being. This belief is demonstrated in John 1:1-8, where the Word is described as being both with God and being God (Kim, 2018). This passage is an integral part of the Christian faith because it emphasizes the importance of Jesus as the savior of humanity.
Through Jesus, God was able to bridge the gap between humanity and Himself, providing hope and redemption to those who believed in Him (Kim, 2018). John 1:1-8 is a powerful passage that speaks to the core of the Christian faith. It expresses the importance of Jesus as the Son of God, the Word of God, and the hope of humanity. Thus, the passage is a reminder of the power of faith and the hope that Jesus brings.
The Message of the Text
Historical
John 1:1-8 presents a powerful message of God’s love, further reinforced by Jesus being the Word of God. The text speaks of the power of Jesus, as the one through whom all things were created and the one who alone can bring salvation (Kim, 2018). It emphasizes his divine origin and role as a mediator between God and humanity. In its time, this text would have offered hope and assurance to its readers, reminding them of God’s great love and power and of Jesus’ role in bringing salvation.
Actualization
The text speaks to everyone about God’s power, majesty, and sovereignty over all creation. It reminds individuals of the special place Jesus holds in the heart of God and that He was with God in the beginning (Kim, 2018). In addition, it reminds people that they can have a relationship with God through Jesus and that God is with all and desires to be in a relationship with everyone. As a result, the passage reminds humans that God is sovereign, loving, and exists in their lives regardless of their geographical location.
References
Boyle, K. R. (2021). “And the Word was God”: rejection, consideration, and incorporation of spiritual motivations in modernist literature [Unpublished Honors Program Thesis Project]. The State University of New York.
Kim, S. (2018). The kingship of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
King James Bible (2023). King James Bible Online. Web.
MacGregor, K.R. (2020). Who Is the Author of the Gospel of John, and When Was It Written? In: A historical and theological investigation of John’s Gospel. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Van der Merwe, D. G. (2019). The divinity of Jesus in the Gospel of John: The ‘lived experiences’ it fostered when the text was read. HTS Theologies Studies/Theological Studies, 75(1). Web.
Unlocking The Bible, A unique overview of the whole Bible by J. David Pawson, M.A., B.Sc with Andy Peck