In the Beginning

I am writing this edition a little unsure of myself. On one instance, I think learning about the Bible, and sharing our thoughts on the Bible communally is an extremely good idea. On the other side, I tend to have a bit of a big head about my knowledge and ability to read between the lines and I hate doing anything without pure reasons.

That being said, we are all human, and I'm never going to have completely pure reasons for anything. Well not on my own anyways. So, here is a Bible study I did on John 1. I hope you like it. I hope it inspires you to delve deeper into the Bible. I hope you also know that these are my opinions and should be taken as such. I tried to make sure the personal thoughts were pretty obviously apart from the words of John.

The web site I used to help me gleen information was: http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm

I hope you enjoy.

Here is John 1:1-18

Logos: spoken word

Katelaben: Down-Got; Grasped, overtaken

Para: Beside

phOtizei: IS-LIGHTenING; is-enlightening: 1. give information to somebody: to give clarifying information to somebody 2. free somebody from ignorance: to free somebody from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition

exousian: authority; right

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it. Side note: These are fighting words. Much of the time we sideways think (like in Star Wars) that evil is stronger than good. In here it doesn’t say evil doesn’t have a foothold, but it does say that it hasn’t overtaken what is good. In a very poetic way it is saying have hope for good is stronger than evil and evil will not overcome good.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. Side note: the word which is translated here into “sent from” is more accurately translated into “Beside”. As in, God sent John to work beside himself. In other words God sent someone to work with him. Interesting huh? ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. Side note: it seems a better translation would be to enlighten everyone as in to clarify and free from ignorance. This poetry makes a lot more sense now. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Side note: This seems to also be able to be translated such: “He gave them the authority of children of God” In ancient times kings had a signet ring. If the king gave said signet ring to another, they gained their authority much like in Esther. I’m thinking that it works the same way with us. We don’t have the physical power of God but we can move mountains because we have been given the authority of children of God. The spirit world sits up and listens. This means we are definitely not pansies.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and^[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Last thoughts: We often say things like the Trinity. Three beings one person. How this works is a bit of a fuddle. From reading this, here is my thought.

If “word” is Logos which means the spoken word or divine will, and that “word” became flesh, as in Jesus, than Jesus was the devine will of God placed into flesh and blood and sent out to enlighten the world as to who God is. Thought provoking huh?