NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... believing in more than one god. Others have translated it the Word was divine, but this could lead to a faulty view of Christ. If this verse is correctly understood, it helps make clear the doctrine of the Trinity. The Word is eternal; the Word is in relationship to God the Father, and the Word is God (Bible Knowledge Commentary). If there is the Word who is God, and there is no way that there can be two supreme creators of the universe, then God must have different parts, God the Father, God the Son (the Word), and God the Holy Spirit.
The same was in the beginning with God. The same, found here, is to say, This one, as in the Logos spoken of in John 1: 1. This is merely repeated for clarity. It is characteristic of Johns literary style (Robertson). John joins together two of the ideas that he has already stated earlier, the Word was in the beginning, and, the Word was God, so therefore, the Word was in the beginning with God.
If the Word was in the beginning with God, then there is logically only one way that this can be interpreted. If the Word was in the beginning with God, then God did not create the Word, but rather the Word is God. All things were made by Him. Which is to say, all things were made by the Logos (Clarke).
In Genesis 1: 1, God created all things. In this verse, it is said that Christ created all things. The same Holy Spirit spoke to Moses as spoke to John, so once again we can assume that God the Father and Christ are one (Clarke). In interpreting all things, one cannot limit it to any part of the universe, it is to say, everything that exists was made by him (Barnes). Were made is from the original Greek word for to be. If sticking only to this, you must interpret the passage to say, All things were by him.
However, in this passage there is an expressed idea of creation, so therefore, were by him becomes were made by him (Barnes). All things means every detail of creation, not creation as a whole, but every single detail. Everything, whether material, spiritual, angelic or human has come into being through Christ (POSB Commentary). In the Greek, ta part, meaning, all the things, can also be found in 1 Corinthians 8: 6. Egeneto, or were made, covers the creative activity, looking at it as one event in contrast with existence which is continuous (Robertson). All things were made by Him, and not as an instrument.
This story of Gods complete creation of all things shows the qualification of Christ for the work of our redemption and salvation (Matthew Henry). I believe that God did not use Christ as an instrument in order to bring about the creation of the universe; I believe that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are distinct, but yet they are three-in-one. They were all present before the foundations of the world and they will be present for eternity. Without Him was not anything made that was made. This can be interpreted, without the exertion of His power. This is a strong statement designed to confirm beyond the shadow of a doubt that what John has just said is truth (Barnes).
Was not anything made, once again states that not one single thing, no matter how small or miniscule was not made by Him (Barnes). In Him was life and the life was the light of men. Many people connect this with the preceding verse, since all things were made by him, then life was made by him. But, the life in this verse is the light of men (Adam Clarkes Commentary). That is not to say that the life is literally light. I believe that John is trying to express everlasting life in an understandable way.
This life becomes the light to guide all who would believe into Heaven. The normal usage for the Greek word zoe was to mean, life in general. But John, took the word and used its meaning to designate the eternal, divine life given to the believers (New Commentary on the Whole Bible). Whatever life is and all that life is, it is all in Jesus Christ. The very thing that is distinctive about life is that it is eternal.
It lasts forever and it will eventually exalt the believer to the highest life in eternity with Christ (POSB Commentary). The power that creates and sustains life in the universe is Logos (Robertson). Life is mans most important asset. To lose life is tragic. John affirmed that in the sense that life is in Christ. Mans spiritual and physical life comes from Him.
To be separate from Christ is to be dead whether spiritually or physically (Bible Knowledge Commentary). And the light shines in the darkness. The darkness here is sometimes interpreted as the heathen world, the Jewish people, or the fallen spirit of man (Adam Clarkes Commentary). It can also be interpreted to say that the darkness denotes ignorance, guilt, or misery (Barnes). When it is said that the light shines in the darkness, it is to saying that Christ came to teach an ignorant and wicked world (Barnes).
It is also said that light reveals, strips away, makes chaos disappear, and guides. It shows the way, the truth, and the life (POSB Commentary). I believe that this darkness is an evident allusion to the darkness brought about by sin. The Word, the only real moral light, keeps on shining both throughout eternity, and as the incarnate God-man. And the darkness comprehended it not. The Greek word katelaben in this context means that the darkness did not lay hold of, grasp, apprehend, or comprehend.
It could also mean to overcome or overpower (New Commentary on the Whole Bible). The darkness did not take the light in, men did not receive the light. However, neither was the light overpowered or conquered by the darkness (New Commentary on the Whole Bible). Adam Clarke stated, Even in the midst of that darkness of ignorance and idolatry which overspread the world, this light of Divine wisdom was not totally eclipsed: the Jewish nation was a lamp perpetually shining to the surrounding nations; and many bright luminaries, among the heathen were never wanting in just and worthy notions of the attributes and providence of Gods wisdom; which enabled them to shine in some degree, though but as lights in a dark place. The great mass of men, sunk in sin, will not receive his teachings, and be enlightened and saved by Him. Sin always blinds the mind to the beauty and excellence of the character of the Lord Jesus.
It indisposes the mind to receive his instructions, just as darkness has no affinity for light; and if the one exists, the other must be replaced (Barnes). Darkness does not understand the light, it does not overcome the light, and it does not extinguish the light (POSB Commentary). This brings us to the purpose of this paper, which was to discover the theological meaning of John 1: 1 - 5, the eternal Word incarnate. In this paper, we have discussed and have drawn conclusions on the theological meanings John presented here in the prologue of his Gospel.
We have also done an in depth word study into the original Greek texts, as well as discussing the relevance of the text to its context. Very simply stated, the theological meaning of John 1: 1 - 5 is that Jesus Christ has been from eternity, He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. He is, was, and ever will be. He alone is the one and only way to receive eternal life and live forever with God. Bibliography: Bibliography 1) Bible Knowledge Commentary; Thompson Bible Study Library CD-ROM 1997 2) Bible Background Commentary; Thompson Bible Study Library CD-ROM 1997 3) NAB Commentary; Thompson Bible Study Library CD-ROM 1997 4) Matthew Henrys Concise Biblical Commentary; Thompson Bible Study Library CD-ROM 1997 5) Life Application Notes; Thompson Bible Study Library CD-ROM 1997 6) Teachers Commentary; Thompson Bible Study Library CD-ROM 1997 7) NASB Greek and Hebrew Dictionary; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM. Parsons Technology 1999 8) Robertson's Word Pictures; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM.
Parsons Technology 1999 9) POSB Commentary; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM. Parsons Technology 1999 10) New Commentary on the Whole Bible POSB Commentary; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM. Parsons Technology 1999 11) Inter Varsity Press Bible Background Commentary POSB Commentary; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM. Parsons Technology 1999 12) Barnes Notes on the New Testament POSB Commentary; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM. Parsons Technology 1999 13) Adam Clarkes Commentary POSB Commentary; Quick Verse 6. 0 CD-ROM. Parsons Technology 1999
Free research essays on topics related to: greek word, bible study, holy spirit, jesus christ, cd rom
Research essay sample on Cd Rom Holy Spirit
