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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 1:42 mean?

Explanation

John 1:42 recounts a significant moment in the New Testament when Simon Peter is first introduced to Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Andrew, Simon's brother, has already become a follower of Jesus and he brings Simon to Jesus.

Upon meeting Simon, Jesus gives him a new name: "Cephas," which he explains means "a stone" or "rock." This verse is crucial as it establishes the identity and role that Simon, also known as Peter, would play in the early Christian community.

The act of renaming Simon signifies a transformation and the setting of a new purpose for his life under Jesus' leadership.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John is believed to have been written towards the end of the first century.

At that time, names were often thought to hold prophetic significance or to reveal something about the person's character or destiny.

As such, Jesus giving a new name to Simon was not only an indication of his authority but also a foreshadowing of the role Simon would play.

The name "Cephas" is Aramaic, which was commonly spoken among Jews in Palestine at that time, and the equivalent Greek term is "Petros," which translates to Peter.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is essential in many Christian traditions.

For example, in the Roman Catholic tradition, Simon's new name, Peter (rock), is foundational for the doctrine of Papal primacy, suggesting that Peter is the rock upon which Jesus would build his church, as referenced in Matthew 16:18.

In Protestant thinking, while Peter's role as a leader in the early church is acknowledged, the "rock" is often interpreted as a reference to Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ or Jesus himself as the cornerstone of the Church.

Practical Applications

The practical application of John 1:42 lies in the transformative power of faith and the idea of being given a new identity in Christ.

It speaks to the notion of spiritual rebirth and the potential for personal change when one becomes a follower of Jesus.

In modern life, it can encourage individuals to embrace a new start, realign their purpose with their faith, and take on new roles within their community of faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:18: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Revelation 2:17: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

Language Study

The key word in this verse is "Cephas" (Κηφᾶς in Greek), which comes from the Aramaic word "Kepha" (כיפא) meaning "rock" or "stone." The significance of this word is in its symbolism of strength, stability, and permanence.

By being called Cephas or Peter, Simon would have understood that his new identity was linked with these attributes, suggesting that he would be instrumental in establishing the enduring foundation of the church.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, names and name changes often signified authority, destiny, or a change in status.

For example, in ancient Egypt, the pharaohs took on new names when assuming power.

In Roman tradition, conquerors and leaders often acquired new titles or names reflective of their victories and accomplishments.

In Jewish tradition, notable figures like Abram becoming Abraham and Jacob becoming Israel after encounters with God also reflect this practice of name changes to signify a transformation or a new mission.

Scientific Perspectives

While the act of renaming in John 1:42 isn't directly connected to scientific perspectives, one might consider the psychological impact of a name change.

Modern psychology acknowledges that names can influence the way we are perceived and even the way we perceive ourselves, which can affect behavior and self-concept.

This aligns with the transformative intention behind Jesus' renaming of Simon to Cephas/Peter.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians often remark on John 1:42 as an example of Jesus' authority to appoint and establish roles among his disciples.

Some focus on this verse as evidence of Jesus' insight into his disciples' characters, indicating that he knew Peter would be a 'rock,' a steadfast figure in the founding of the church. Others view the moment as an example of the personal calling and change that comes from encountering Jesus.

Commentators from various Christian traditions debate the implications of this verse for church authority and structure, with some seeing it as a basis for apostolic succession and others as a more symbolic gesture of personal transformation within the Christian faith.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:42 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 1:42 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?