John 1 - The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

1:1 In the beginning. Christ is eternal, having existed already when the world was created (8:58; Gen. 1:1; Prov. 8:22–31). Word. Divine speech, the living expression of God’s nature and character (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) and thus the revealer of God and His saving purposes (v. 18; 14:9). was with God. He is a person distinct from the Father and in eternal relationship with Him (v. 18; 17:5,24). was God. He possesses one and the same deity and divine nature as the Father (10:30; Phil. 2:6) and so is the proper object of worship (20:28). The same expression (God without the Greek article) is often used of God the Father (v. 18; 8:54; etc.). This teaching that the Son of God is a distinct person from the Father, yet is Himself God, is a key component of the doctrine of the Trinity.

1:1–18 This is the prologue of John’s gospel. It contains a summary of vital truths about Christ: He is God, the Creator of the world and the Source of all the true knowledge of God mankind has ever had. He is the Fountain of all saving grace, who came to earth to reveal God’s saving truth to fallen mankind.

1:3 All things . . . by him. Christ is the Creator of the entire universe, including men and angels (v. 10; Col. 1:16–17; Heb. 1:2,10–12). This clearly implies that He was not created, for any thing made was created by Christ.

1:4–5 In him was life. He possesses the life of God and so is the giver of all life (5:26; 6:57; 11:25), possibly a reference to the Holy Spirit (6:63; 7:38–39; cf. vv. 32–33). light. Truth, the wisdom that exposes sin and guides in a righteous and blessed life (vv. 7–9; 3:19–21; 5:35; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9–10; 12:35–36,46). darkness comprehended it not. This evil world neither receives Christ’s light (3:19–20) nor is able to overcome His light—the Greek verb can bear either meaning.

1:6–8 witness. John the Baptist was appointed by God to bear testimony to Christ as His forerunner (vv. 15,19–36). John, however, was a mere man and not the equal of Christ (v. 27). all. Not every individual in the world but many in Israel and elsewhere (Matt. 3:5–6).

1:9 lighteth every man. Christ came to bring God’s truth to people of all nations (18:36–37). To “enlighten” people can mean to teach them the truth (Ps. 119:130). This refers to natural revelation, which leaves all men without excuse (Rom. 1:20). This is not a statement of universal grace, for Christ’s light does not shine in the hearts of unbelievers (11:10; Matt. 6:23; Eph. 5:8).

1:10–11 the world knew him not. Though Jesus is the Creator come in the flesh (vv. 1–3,14), His own creation rejected Him (“know” often implies love and intimacy; 10:14). his own, and his own. His property and His people. The King of Israel (vv. 45,49) came to the people who had the promises of His coming, but they rejected Him.

1:12–13 received . . . believe. Saving faith is resting upon and receiving Christ for all that He has revealed Himself to be (his name). power. Authority, the right. sons of God. Literally, “children of God,” beloved and adopted by the Father and given His image (11:52; 1 John 2:29—3:2,10). born . . . of God. The reason some trust in Christ when most do not (vv. 10–11) is that God has brought about a new birth or regeneration in them (3:1–8; Titus 3:5). Salvation does not come from being born of the right human lineage (not of blood ), nor of man’s will in his fallen condition (will of the flesh), nor of a parent’s decision (will of man, or “of a husband”), but of God’s grace alone.

1:14 the Word was made flesh. The eternal Lord (v. 1) took upon Himself human nature, body and soul, in the weakness and mortality of man’s fallen condition (3:6; 6:51–56,63; 8:15; 17:2). He truly became a man, although He was without sin (Heb. 2:14; 4:15). dwelt. Literally, “tabernacled,” for Christ is the true tabernacle or temple by whom God’s glory dwells with man (2:19–21; Ex. 25:8; 40:34), the fullness of deity in bodily form (Col. 2:9). only begotten. A term for an only or unique child (Luke 7:12; 8:42; 9:38; Heb. 11:17), used of God’s Son (v. 18; 3:16,18; 1 John 4:9) in contrast to mere men and women born again and adopted into God’s family (vv. 12–13) because of the unique relationship in which the Father eternally shares the whole divine nature with His Son (5:26; 6:57). grace and truth. Saving power and doctrine, or God’s undeserved favor and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6; cf. Ex. 33:12—34:9).

1:15 preferred before me . . . before me. Jesus ranks far above John the Baptist because Jesus existed before John was born, although John was born first (Luke 1:57,63). John understood the truth of Christ’s eternal deity.

1:17 law . . . grace and truth. The moral and ceremonial law, both of which prepared and called for Christ. Christ came as the Savior of lawbreakers and so is greater than Moses, who was merely a prophet.

1:18 No man hath seen God. Every revelation of God, in both the Old and New Testaments, was through the Son of God (8:56). only begotten. See note at v. 14. in the bosom. Close to, in a position of intimacy and fellowship with (13:23; Luke 16:22). Christ is able to reveal the Father because of His unique relationship with Him (Matt. 11:27).

1:19 record. Literally, “testimony.”

1:21 Elias. Elijah (cf. Mal. 4:5–6). that prophet. Moses foretold that a great prophet would come; this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus (Deut. 18:15).

1:23 voice of one crying. John confessed to being the forerunner spoken of by Isaiah (Esaias; Isa. 40:3). John the Baptist’s ministry was to prepare the Jewish nation for the coming of Christ. By his powerful preaching and multiple baptisms he shook the whole of society.

1:24 Pharisees. A powerful religious sect of Jews at the time.

1:25 baptizest. John did not enter his remarkable ministry through the conventional method of the rabbinical schools, and thus his authority to baptize was challenged.

1:27 shoe’s latchet. Sandal strap. unloose. Untie.

1:28 Bethabara. Bethany, an important place in Jesus’ ministry (12:1).

1:29 next day. There are four successive days referred to in this passage (vv. 19,29,35,43). Lamb of God. Christ is the God-appointed sacrifice for the sins of all who believe in Him (v. 36; 1 Peter 1:18–20), foreshadowed in the animal sacrifices (Heb. 10:1–4). taketh away the sin. Atones for sin so that the sinner is forgiven (Ex. 34:7; Num. 14:18; Ps. 25:18). of the world. Christ’s death on the cross is the only effective sacrifice for mankind, and it will save many, though not all.

1:32 Spirit descending from heaven. The miraculous sign at the time Jesus was baptized by John that revealed to John that Jesus was indeed the Christ (Matt. 3:16). abode. Remained.

1:33 Ghost. Spirit.

1:37 disciples. Followers of a master or teacher who sought to embrace His ways.

1:38 dwellest. Stays, resides.

1:39 tenth hour. Likely reckoned after the Jewish time, 4:00 p.m.; or perhaps 10:00 a.m. according to the Roman method of reckoning.

1:41 Messias. The Messiah, literally, “the anointed one,” which in Greek is Christ.

1:42 Cephas. Aramaic for stone (as Peter is Greek for “rock”). Jesus made a prophetic statement that Simon would one day be a great leader in the church (Matt. 16:16–18).

1:43 day following. See note at v. 29.

1:45 Nathanael. Likely Bartholomew (Matt. 10:3).

1:46 Nazareth. A lowly city. Though born in Bethlehem, Jesus was raised in Nazareth (Matt. 2:23).

1:47 guile. Deceit, perhaps a word play, since “Jacob” (whose name was changed to Israel; Gen. 35:10) means “deceiver” (Gen. 27:36). Nathanael was a man sincerely devoted to God, a member of the true spiritual Israel (Israelite indeed).

1:48–49 under the fig tree. Christ’s supernatural vision provoked Nathanael to confess Him as the divinely sent Teacher, Ruler, and Savior (Rabbi . . . Son of God . . . King of Israel ).

1:51 Verily, verily. Truly, truly, or literally, “Amen, amen,” a statement of certainty. angels of God ascending and descending. Christ is the fulfillment of Jacob’s dream of the ladder between earth and heaven (Gen. 28:12–13), the true Mediator between God and men who sends His angels to do His will. Son of man. The heavenly King appointed by God to rule forever over all (Dan. 7:13–14; also 3:13–14; 5:27; 6:27,53,62; 8:28; 12:23,34; 13:31).

Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship: Chapter 1

1. When John called Jesus “the Word,” he implied that Christ not only brings us a message from God but is Himself the Message. Jesus is God in the flesh, the infinite glory and grace of the Father dwelling among men in the tabernacle of a human body. Therefore, to believe in Christ is much more than trusting Him to teach us or help us; saving faith is receiving Him as our God, our very life. What difference does it make to the Christian faith that Christ is God?
2. John the Baptist shows us that a preacher’s calling is to point away from himself to Christ and to lift the Savior high before men’s eyes. A minister can do this only by having a low view of himself and a high view of Christ. A Christ-centered ministry is particularly a cross-centered ministry, focusing regularly (though not exclusively) on Christ’s death as the Lamb of God. How can you pray for ministers that they would be like John in this manner?
3. To find Christ is the most wonderful discovery of all. It is too good to be kept to oneself. How can you become more like these early disciples who eagerly told their family and friends about Jesus?