Prologue of John Flashcards
What is the first theme of the prologue?
What is the second theme of the prologue?
What is the third theme of the prologue?
What is the fourth theme of the prologue?
What is the first theme in John’s prologue?
The Word / Logos:
- The word is central to Jesus nature and person; as it reveals his identity as a member of the trinity
- The logos is the divine reason in Hellenistic philosophy
- The word relates to creation and has G-d’s creative power in Jewish belief
- “In the beginning” - Jn 1:1 evokes the beginning of everything in Genesis
What is the second theme in John’s prologue?
Light, Life and Darkness:
- Jesus holds the key to eternal life
- In order to attain eternal life you must come to the light (Jesus) which overcomes the darkness (Death and Resurrection)
- John TB came as a signpost (Hooker) to direct people to the light, which was Jesus
What is the third theme in John’s prologue?
Incarnation, Children of G-d and the Son of G-d:
- Those who believed in the word were given the right to be children of G-d
- Becoming G-d’s children was not by birth or heritage but through his grace (theological birth)
- The Son of G-d sonship is based on divine begetting, separating him from the children of G-d
What is the fourth theme in John’s prologue?
Grace, Truth and the Law:
- G-d has already given the written law (Torah) but this is superseded through the grace and truth that comes through Christ
- Law = The law finds fulfilment in Jesus; as not only does he teach and interpret it with full authority, but he is also able to obey it in perfection
- Grace = It means G-d’s undeserved favour that cannot be earned but only received
- Truth = seen as meaning “the reality”, The truth of Christ replaces the law in revealing grace and truth (replacement theology)
