1. The Prologue to the Gospel of John John 1:1-18

2. Outline to the Prologue of the Gospel of John Identity of the Word – 1-5 Identity of the Word – 1-5 John the Baptist’s mission – 6-8 John the Baptist’s mission – 6-8 The Jews rejection of the Word – 9-13 The Jews rejection of the Word – 9-13 The incarnation of the Word – 14-18 The incarnation of the Word – 14-18

3. Four attributes of the Jesus in vss: 1-2 God’s message the Word (Logos) God’s message the Word (Logos) Pre-existence – “In the beginning” Pre-existence – “In the beginning” Fellowship with the trinity – “with God” Fellowship with the trinity – “with God” Essence of deity – “was God” Essence of deity – “was God”

4. Jesus is identified as the Word (Logos) Various options: Greek philosophy – Greek philosophy – Stoicism = the soul of the world Stoicism = the soul of the world Heraclitus = Underlying cosmic principal which controls the universe Hebrew – Psalm 33:6 associates the word with creation and cosmic order Hebrew – Psalm 33:6 associates the word with creation and cosmic order John’s new Christian meaning - John’s new Christian meaning -

5. John’s New Christian Meaning of the Word (Logos) Key verse – John 1:18, Jesus “has explained God” Key verse – John 1:18, Jesus “has explained God” As a word explains what something is or what it is like, Jesus came to explain who God is and what God is like As a word explains what something is or what it is like, Jesus came to explain who God is and what God is like Jesus is God’s message which reveals all the great mysteries of life Jesus is God’s message which reveals all the great mysteries of life Heb. 1:1-3 – Jesus is God’s ultimate and final revelation Heb. 1:1-3 – Jesus is God’s ultimate and final revelation

6. Jesus’ Pre-existence “In the beginning” Goes back to Gen. 1:1 Goes back to Gen. 1:1 Before the beginning of the material universe or anything, Jesus was co- existing with the Father and Spirit Before the beginning of the material universe or anything, Jesus was co- existing with the Father and Spirit Micah 5:2 Micah 5:2

7. Jesus’ Fellowship with the Trinity – “with God” Greek pros = with, toward Greek pros = with, toward How can this be? Jesus is with God and Jesus is God. Answer: Plurality of persons in the Godhead How can this be? Jesus is with God and Jesus is God. Answer: Plurality of persons in the Godhead Speaks of fellowship and intimacy Speaks of fellowship and intimacy John 1:18 – In bosom of the Father I John 1:1-3 – We are called into fellowship with the trinity

8. Jesus’ Essence of deity – “was God” Not a god (polytheism) but God. There is no article in the Greek Not a god (polytheism) but God. There is no article in the Greek John is deductive rather than inductive like the synoptic gospels about the true essence of the Christ John is deductive rather than inductive like the synoptic gospels about the true essence of the Christ The trinity provides us philosophically with how unity and diversity can co- exist in the universe The trinity provides us philosophically with how unity and diversity can co- exist in the universe

9. Jesus’ Deity Other passages declaring Christ to be God Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:6 John 1:18 John 1:18 John 8:58 with Exodus 3:13-14 John 8:58 with Exodus 3:13-14 John 20:28 John 20:28 Titus 2:13 Titus 2:13 Hebrews 1:8 Hebrews 1:8 II Peter 1:1 II Peter 1:1

10. Jesus As Creator – Vs: 3 The question of philosophy: Why is there something rather than nothing The question of philosophy: Why is there something rather than nothing Answer: Because God decided to create the universe Answer: Because God decided to create the universe The trinity works together: The Father plans, the Son executes and the Spirit empowers The trinity works together: The Father plans, the Son executes and the Spirit empowers

11. Jesus As Creator – Vs: 3 The question of philosophy: Why is there something rather than nothing The question of philosophy: Why is there something rather than nothing Answer: Because God decided to create the universe Answer: Because God decided to create the universe The trinity works together: The Father plans, the Son executes and the Spirit empowers The trinity works together: The Father plans, the Son executes and the Spirit empowers Col. 1:16-17 – Jesus is creator and upholder Col. 1:16-17 – Jesus is creator and upholder

12. Jesus As The Essence Of Life – Vs: 4 John uses zoe meaning the very essence and principal or essence of life and not bios (where we biology) meaning physical life or duration of life John uses zoe meaning the very essence and principal or essence of life and not bios (where we biology) meaning physical life or duration of life Jesus creates and sustains both physical and spiritual life Jesus creates and sustains both physical and spiritual life John 11:25 – Jesus is the resurrection and the life John 11:25 – Jesus is the resurrection and the life

13. Jesus As The Essence Of Light – Vss: 4b-5 Light is the Greek phos Light is the Greek phos Jesus is God’s lighthouse showing the way to safety, security and protection of God Jesus is God’s lighthouse showing the way to safety, security and protection of God John 8:12 – Christ will lead a person from spiritual darkness into a relationship with God and into enlightenment of God’s ways John 8:12 – Christ will lead a person from spiritual darkness into a relationship with God and into enlightenment of God’s ways

14. John the Baptist’s mission vss: 6-8 John’s mission was to like holding a flashlight up to the sun

15. The Jews Rejection of the Word - vss: 9-13 Perhaps John 1:10-11 are the saddest verses in the Bible

16. The Incarnation of the Word - vss: 14-18 John 1:14 is literally: “The Word pitched His tent” a reference to the incarnation

17. Jesus the Son of God John 1:34 – John the Baptist says that Jesus is the Son of God Does the term “Son of God” refer to Jesus being created and finite rather than self-existent and eternal?

18. How did the Jews understand the term Son of God? John 5:17-18 John 10:33 John 19:6-7 The Jews understood it to mean that Jesus was making the claim that He was God.

19. Why did Jesus call Himself the Son of God? It fulfilled Psalm 2:7-8 This is repeated in the NT to substantiate Christ's Messiahship: Acts 13:33 Heb. 1:5 Heb. 5:5

20. Son also means identity with a group or an association II Kings 2:3 – sons of the prophets Mark 3:17 – sons of thunder II Thess. 2:3 – son of destruction

21. Where not others called sons of God in the Bible? Yes: Angels in Job 38:7 People of God in Hos. 1:10 and Gal. 3:26 But no one other than Jesus is call the Son of God except one time. Adam in Luke 3:38 is called the son of God.

22. Jesus is not just called the Son of God but the “Only Begotten” Son of God John 3:16 Greek: Monogenes 1. Only generated 2. One of a kind 3. Unique The older church fathers referred to Jesus as the eternal generation of the Son