PrevJohn 1:7Next

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 1:7 mean?

Explanation

John 1:7 speaks about the role of a person who came to bear witness to the “Light,” with the purpose that through his testimony, all might believe. The "Light" is a metaphor for Christ, representing truth, purity, and divine revelation.

The verse is part of the prologue of John's Gospel, which introduces the concept of Jesus as the incarnated Word of God and the Light of the world.

In this context, "the same came for a witness" refers to John the Baptist, who is discussed earlier in verses 6: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John the Baptist's primary role was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus and to testify about Him.

This verse underscores the idea that believing in Jesus comes through the witness of John, who points away from himself to Christ, the true source of spiritual illumination.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John is traditionally believed to have been written near the end of the first century, around AD 90-100.

The Gospel was written in a Hellenistic cultural context where Greek philosophy intermingled with Jewish religious thought.

At the time, concepts of light and enlightenment had profound philosophical significance, encompassing truth, knowledge, and ethical purity.

Within this framework, the Gospel of John anchors its narrative in the familiar Jewish prophetic tradition while also resonating with a broader audience familiar with Greek philosophical language.

John the Baptist, a well-known historical figure, is represented as a bridge between the old and new covenants , preparing the way for Jesus, the fulfillment of messianic prophecies.

Theological Insights

This verse, while short, offers deep theological insights.

It touches upon Christology, the study of the nature and work of Christ, presenting Jesus as the divine Light.

It implies the importance of witness and testimony in the Christian faith.

John's role as a witness forms an essential part of the salvific history, leading others to faith in Christ.

Different theological viewpoints may emphasize aspects of this verse differently: some may focus on the pre-existence of Christ as the divine Light, others on the historical mission of John the Baptist, and still others on the evangelical call to all believers to bear witness to Jesus.

Practical Applications

John 1:7 offers several practical applications in daily life.

It inspires believers to act as witnesses to their faith, inviting them to share the "Light" of Christ with others.

This can manifest in various forms, such as living an example of Christian values, engaging in evangelism, and offering personal testimony about one's faith journey.

The verse also serves as a reminder that faith in Christ often comes through the testimony of others.

This underlines the importance of community and relationships in the spiritual lives of individuals.

Believers are encouraged to consider how their actions and words bear witness to their faith and impact the belief of those around them.

Cross-References

John 8:12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
John 5:35: "He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light."
1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
John 20:31: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek that are paramount to understanding this verse are "μαρτυρία" (martyria), which means "witness" or "testimony," and "φῶς" (phōs), meaning "light." The verb "πιστεύω" (pisteuō) translates to "believe." The implication is that the testimony (martyria) of John the Baptist about Jesus (the Light, phōs) is a catalyst to lead others to believe (pisteuō).

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, many ancient cultures had myths about light being associated with divine knowledge and truth.

For instance, in ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra was a symbol of light and life.

In Greek mythology, Apollo was associated with light and truth.

John's Gospel taps into this universal symbolism but redirects it towards the specifically Christian understanding of Jesus as the true divine Light.

In non-Christian religions, there are comparable figures who bear witness to spiritual truths, for example, prophets in Islam or the Bodhisattvas in Buddhism who lead others towards enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, light is fundamental to life on earth; it is essential for vision and is the basis of photosynthesis, which is the process that sustains the planet’s food chain.

While the scientific understanding of light as electromagnetic radiation is vastly different from the metaphorical concept in John 1:7, the importance of light in both realms underscores its universal significance.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentators have offered insights into John 1:7.

Matthew Henry comments on the importance of John the Baptist's role as a witness, emphasizing that his testimony was not for his own glory but to direct people to Christ.

The MacArthur Study Bible notes that John the Baptist's testimony was so compelling that some thought he might be the Messiah, but he was clear in his witness that he was not the Light but was sent to bear witness of it.

The ESV Study Bible addresses the theological implications of the verse, highlighting that John's purpose in bearing witness to the Light was that a universal offer of belief might be extended to "all men."

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:7 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 1:7 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?