2.1 the prologue in John

Question 1

What did Morna Hooker say about the prologue?

Answer 1

the prologue is the ‘glorious key’ to understanding the rest of the gospel
- it reveals the theological intent to link the beginning of the account of Jesus to the beginning of the Hebrew scriptures

Question 2

What did Raymond Brown say about the prologue?

Answer 2

the opening of John functions as an ‘overture’ to the gospel -> an overture is a piece of music used as an introduction to an opera, the prologue sets up the tale of the ministry of Jesus

Question 3

What are the key concepts put forward by the prologue?

Answer 3

• the Logos
• John the Baptist
• the Incarnation
• Children of God
• law and grace
• life, light and darkness

Question 4

Logos - influences and significance

Answer 4

Logos has both Greek and Jewish influences
-> Greek = opinion, reason, discourse, speech, divine force
-> Jewish thought = linked to creation, wisdom, God’s creative power
therefore the logos would have an equal appeal to both audiences

Question 5

What does C H Dodd say about the logos?

Answer 5

‘It is never expressly said in the body of the Gospel, apart from the prologue, that Christ is the divine logos’

Question 6

John the baptist - significance

Answer 6

John the Baptist bridges the gap between the OT and the NT -> showing humanity how to recognise the Word made flesh

Question 7

Where is the logos seen in the prologue?

Answer 7

1:1-3 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…’

Question 8

Where is John the Baptist seen in the prologue?

Answer 8

1:6-8 ‘there was a man sent from God whose name was John… he himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light’

Question 9

What does Stanton say about John the Baptist?

Answer 9

It is more accurate to describe him as John the Witness rather than John the Baptist

Question 10

the incarnation - significance

Answer 10

connects the earthly ministry of Jesus with the pre-existent Son as God becomes fully human, with flesh and blood

Question 11

Where is the incarnation seen in the prologue?

Answer 11

1:14 ‘the Word became flesh’

Question 12

Children of God - significance

Answer 12

those who believe in the Logos are given the right to be children of God
- a spiritual birth rather than a physical birth

Question 13

Life, light and darkness - significance

Answer 13

The logos is the source of life and light for humanity; which darkness can’t overcome
- to be in the light is to be in the knowledge about the nature of Jesus and his authority WHEREAS the darkness is to be ignorant of knowledge

Question 14

Where is life, light and darkness seen in the prologue?

Answer 14

1:4-5 ‘In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness’

Question 15

law and grace - significance

Answer 15

the law is replaced by grace BUT this had been God’s intentions all along - Hooker describes this as a ‘gigantic takeover bid’
- Jesus becomes the only way to salvation

Question 16

How could gnosticism be linked to John’s gospel?

Answer 16

Gnostics believe:
- personal spiritual knowledge is more important than teachings -> replacement theology in John = the Torah is superseded by truth
- there is a supreme, hidden God -> could be the Logos
- gnostic texts deal with the contrast between illusion and enlightenment -> darkness and light contrasted in the Prologue

Question 17

How could it be argued that gnosticism had no impact on the Prologue?

Answer 17

• gnosticism says nothing about Jesus being the incarnation - the idea that God could exist in the metaphysical world would be impossible for Gnostics
• Christian Gnosticism developed after the gospel was written

Question 18

How did Stoicism and platonic thought influence the prologue?

Answer 18

ideas about the Logos can be seen within Greek thought

Question 19

How did Judaism influence the prologue?

Answer 19

John has been said to have been written between AD 90 and AD110, situating the writing in the midst of the aftermath of the falling of the Second Temple

Question 20

What did Kruse say about the prologue?

Answer 20

‘those needing to be convinced that Jesus is the Christ were unbelieving Jews; the messiahship of Jesus was not an issue for Gentiles…’

Question 21

What does it say in John 20:31

Answer 21

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Question 22

What did Brown theorise about the Prologue?

Answer 22

• the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls challenged the theory that the ideas found in the prologue had to derive from the Greek philosophies
• the scrolls made use of abstract ideas such as light and darkness

Question 23

What did Dodd argue about the Prologue?

Answer 23

• John explores the theme in great depth so it would appeal to both a Jewish and Greek audience

Question 24

What did John Marsh note about the Prologue?

Answer 24

• the author used every tool at his disposal to help express the belief that Jesus had come in flesh as the saviour

Question 25

What does the Prologue emphasise that is different to the synoptic Gospels?

Answer 25

• Jesus’ pre-existence and the incarnation whereas the synoptics emphasise his messiahship

Question 26

What does the Prologue introduce the concept of?

Answer 26

the Trinity

Question 27

What were some major heresies concerning the Trinity in the Early Church/

Answer 27

• the belief that Jesus was born human but became Son of God at his baptism
• that the father existed before the Son and then created the son; so Jesus is not seen as God

Question 28

What did these major heresies lead to?

Answer 28

• the formulation of the Nicene creed - states that the Son is cosubstantial with the Father

Question 29

What did Paul argue regarding the law?

Answer 29

• there was no need for converts to follow the Law and that Christ is now the grace from God, not the Law

Question 30

How is the impact of ‘believeing’ seen in Christianity?

Answer 30

• Martin Luther, argued that faith was the only way to salvation resulting in the development of Protestantism
• Evangelical churches focus on personal encounters with Christ