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John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

What does John 1:40 mean?

Explanation

John 1:40 speaks of the moment immediately following the testimony given by John the Baptist about Jesus Christ.

In this verse, it is revealed that one of the two disciples who heard John’s proclamation and decided to follow Jesus was Andrew, who is also identified as Simon Peter's brother.

This verse serves as an introduction to the first disciples of Jesus and highlights the beginnings of Jesus' ministry and the gathering of His closest followers.

The deeper meaning here emphasizes the significance of personal witness and testimony in bringing others to faith.

It also shows Andrew's role as an early evangelist, being among the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and immediately taking action by following Him.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of John, which is believed to have been written towards the end of the 1st century A.D.

The authorship is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, one of Jesus' original disciples.

At the time, Judea was a province of the Roman Empire, and Judaism was the prevailing religion in the region.

John the Baptist had garnered a significant following due to his preaching and baptism practices, and he played a pivotal role in preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry.

In this social and religious context, the decision by Andrew (and the other disciple, who is often thought to be John the Apostle himself) to follow Jesus would have been a significant and potentially risky shift in allegiance.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates the concept of discipleship in Christianity.

Andrew's action is seen as a model of immediate response to divine revelation.

Theological interpretations often view Andrew's following of Jesus as an act of faith and discernment, recognizing Jesus as the prophesied Messiah.

Furthermore, the mention of Simon Peter establishes a connection to another central figure in Christianity, linking the establishment of the church to this intimate circle of Jesus’ first followers.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse centre around the idea of responding to divine truth when it is revealed.

Believers may take from this the importance of actively listening for spiritual guidance and being prepared to act upon it.

It also speaks to the role of personal connections in spreading faith; just as Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, individuals are encouraged to share their faith with their immediate social circles.

Additionally, Andrew's decision to follow Jesus can inspire a commitment to discipleship and an active pursuit of spiritual growth.

Cross-References

John 6:8: "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,"
Matthew 4:18-19: "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

John 1:35-37: "Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus."

Language Study

In the original Greek, key terms in John 1:40 include ‘heard’ (ἤκουσαν, ēkousan), ‘speak’ (λαλέω, laleō), ‘followed’ (ἠκολούθησεν, ēkolouthēsen), ‘Andrew’ (Ἀνδρέας, Andreas), and ‘brother’ (ἀδελφός, adelphos). Examining these words:

ēkousan implies not just physical hearing but also comprehension and response to what has been heard.
laleō reflects the act of communicating; here it signifies John the Baptist’s testimony about Christ.
ēkolouthēsen indicates a literal following, as in physically going after Jesus, as well as a figurative following, in terms of becoming a disciple.
Andreas is the Greek form of Andrew, which means "manly" or "brave."
adelphos suggests a blood relationship, emphasizing the close familial connection between Andrew and Peter.

By examining these key terms, we gain deeper insights into the dynamics of the discipleship being described.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religious traditions, the action of following a spiritual leader as a disciple bears resemblance to various cultural practices.

For example, in Buddhism, individuals leave their worldly attachments behind to follow the Buddha and his teachings.

In Greek philosophical schools, students would attach themselves to a philosopher in a similar manner to how Andrew followed Jesus.

It reflects a common motif across cultures of seeking spiritual enlightenment or truth through a mentor or guide.

Scientific Perspectives

There is no direct intersection between this Biblical verse and scientific understanding, as the concepts of discipleship and faith are matters of personal belief and religious experience.

However, the fields of anthropology and sociology can provide insight into the human behaviors and social dynamics related to religious conversion and group formation which are exemplified in this verse.

commentaries

Commentators have offered various interpretations and insights into John 1:40:

John Calvin sees Andrew’s immediate following of Jesus as evidence of divine calling and the powerful impact of John the Baptist’s testimony on his disciples.
Matthew Henry notes Andrew's role in bringing others to Christ, suggesting that it's not enough to come to Jesus ourselves but also to bring our relatives and friends to Him.
William Barclay places importance on the transformation of ordinary lives, noting that Andrew, a simple fisherman, is brought into an extraordinary adventure of faith by his willingness to follow Jesus.

Each of these commentaries provides a unique perspective on the themes of discipleship, witness, and the personal transformation found in the journey of following Jesus.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:40 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 1:40 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?