What is the prologue in John?

Question 1

How do the gospels respectively start?

Answer 1

• Matthew and Luke both begin with the birth narrative
• Mark begins with JC’s baptism by JTB
• John’s gospels begins with the creation of the universe and a mystical poem that links Jesus to God, the OT and JTB, despite never mentioning him by names

Question 2

What is a prologue?

Answer 2

An introductory passage at the start of a longer work that sets out the main themes and concerns

Question 3

What does Hooker say each gospel has?

Answer 3

A prologue that works as a key to unlock the main themes and teachings of the gospel that follows

Question 4

What does Hooker call the Johannine prologue and why?

Answer 4

The ‘glorious key’ because it focuses on the glory of Christ - his supernatural character as a divine being on Earth

Question 5

Why do most scholars see the prologue as a hymn that sums up the Johannine view of Christ?

Answer 5

It may have been a hymn that was sung at church meetings and that was later added on to the gospel. They think this because there is a big change in style from the prologue to the rest of the gospel and Logos is an important term in the prologue but doesn’t turn up anywhere else in the gospel

Question 6

Why does Hooker disagree with the idea that the prologue is just a hymn?

Answer 6

Because she argues that there is a prologue in all 4 gospels and a subsequent discontinuity where the prologue ends and the rest of the gospel begins

Question 7

What is the significance of the prologue beginning with the phrase ‘in the beginning’?

Answer 7

It is a call back to Genesis, which makes clear that Jesus is the pre-existent Logos that was there with God at creation

Question 8

What is the OT significance of John introducing the theme of light?

Answer 8

It echoes God’s first creative act - creating light in Genesis

Question 9

Why does John make so many references to the creation story in Genesis?

Answer 9

Because he is creating a new creation story for a new world and a new religion, one based around JC as well as the father. This sets out the theme of RT from the very beginning

Question 10

What is the significance of the Logos in John?

Answer 10

It is a separate force in creation; a force that is separate from the father but also the same as the father. The prologue says that this Logos is JC

Question 11

What do some scholars believe about verse 6-8 (JTB)?

Answer 11

They think that because it acts as somewhat of an interruption, it must have originally come from a separate poem, with the two being merged together

Question 12

How does John play down the status of JTB?

Answer 12

He makes it clear that JTB is not the Logos/light, and that this is someone else

Question 13

Why do many scholars believe that John went to such great lengths to play down JTB’s status?

Answer 13

They think that there might have been a rival group that worshipped JTB instead of JC. The author therefore wants to make clear that Jesus is greater than JTB

Question 14

What is the significance of John talking about the ‘true light’ ‘coming into the world’?

Answer 14

This is a reference to the key Johnannine idea of incarnation - a divine force from the beginning of time entering the world

Question 15

What is theme does verse 11 introduce?

Answer 15

The theme of mistaken identity - the light is not recognised by the people when they meet him

Question 16

State John 1:11

Answer 16

‘He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him’

Question 17

What theme does verse 12 introduce?

Answer 17

The theme of becoming children of God through faith (RE) - the idea that believing in the light changes humans from ordinary creates into divine beings and grants them life in the name of Christ

Question 18

What is the significance of writing ‘we have witnessed his glory’ in verse 14

Answer 18

It substantiates the idea that the gospel may actually have been the work of the Johannine Community, and that these people have witnesses the glory of JC but can trace their understanding back to an actual eye witness - the beloved disciple

Question 19

How do verses 17-18 introduce the theme of RT?

Answer 19

Moses saw a glimpse of God’s back - but JC has a face to face relationship with God. Moses’ understanding of God was imperfect, but JC offers the truth. JC therefore replaces Moses and hence Christianity replaces Judaism as the true religion of God

Question 20

How does Brown think that the experiences of the Johannine Community influenced how the prologue was written?

Answer 20

He believes that they were a Jewish Christian sect who were banished from the synagogue for their high christological views. This would explain the hostility towards the Jews and the need to radically interpret the OT to refer to JC instead

Question 21

List the 4 main omissions from the prologue?

Answer 21

• There is no reference to the line of David or JC being the Messiah - John does mention these but they are much less important for him
• You would not know from this that JC cast out demons and performed miracles - John would go on to have only 7 signs
• No reference to the Kingdom of God arriving on Earth - while John does mention it, he is much more concerned with eternal life
• There is no birth narrative - Mary is never mentioned by name and JTB’s baptism of JC is never mentioned

Question 22

Why do many see the inclusion of the term Logos as evidence that John’s gospels was of later composition?

Answer 22

Because it is a Hellenic term; showing that it comes from the Greek world rather than the Jewish world JC inhabited

Question 23

What is one explanation for the omissions in John?

Answer 23

It was of later composition; written after JC’s family and friends had died, by someone who did not know Jesus or share his opinions or concerns

Question 24

Why does Dodd argue against the idea that the prologue was of later composition?

Answer 24

• Points to the similarity of John’s language and that of the OT. While other scholars point out the similarities between John and the DSS as evidence that 1st century Jews did think and write in this way

Question 25

What is the main criticism of the way John’s gospels is written in relation to the synoptics?

Answer 25

It focus on symbolism and high christology means that it can be criticised for its lack of social teaching; neglecting to develop JC’s political teachings on things like poverty, peace and justice